Ten SOL teams will be in action on Wednesday. Check back for a recap of all the games.
Wednesday will be a busy day for SOL softball teams.
Ten SOL softball teams will be in action with nine competing in the District One AAAA Tournament while Upper Moreland opens play in the District One AAA Tournament. Four of six SOL teams in action Monday advanced as the league once again put on a strong showing, but if the league squads needed a reminder that past success does not guarantee anything, they got it when six of seven SOL baseball teams were eliminated in Monday’s opening round, including defending state champion North Penn.
#16 METHACTON at #1 WILLIAM TENNENT
William Tennent
- 14-4 overall
- 11-3 SOL National Conference co-champions with Pennsbury
- Swept season series with #13th-seeded Council Rock North (11-1, 6-3) and split league games with fifth-seeded Pennsbury (2-0, 3-6) and seventh-seeded Neshaminy (12-10, 3-6). Defeated eighth-seeded Central Bucks East (6-5) in season opener.
- Won seven of eight to open season and closed regular season with five straight wins.
- Senior pitcher Nikki Alden threw back-to-back no hitters late in the season.
Methacton
- 17-4 overall
- 14-4 PAC-10 (tied for second place)
- Defeated Owen J Roberts 2-0 to capture PAC-10 Championship
- Split league games with 12th-seeded Perkiomen Valley (5-4, 5-6) and swept 18th-seeded Owen J Roberts (5-3, 5-3, 2-0)
How they got here: The Warriors defeated 17th-seeded Unionville 3-1, sparked by the two-hit effort of Megan Stauffer, who fanned seven. The Warriors were without shortstop Amanda Kulp (concussion-like symptoms). Sarah Rambo contributed an RBI double on a day that saw the Warriors get just four hits.
#14 WEST CHESTER EAST at #3 SOUDERTON
Souderton
- 14-4 overall
- 11-3 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Program’s first conference title since 2004
- Scored five or more runs in 11 games
- Split conference games with eighth-seeded Central Bucks East (4-1, 5-8) and ninth-seeded North Penn (4-10, 9-3) and swept 15th-seeded Central Bucks South (1-0, 6-5) and 21st-seeded Hatboro-Horsham (8-6, 3-2).
- Earned early season 13-5 non-league win over 13th-seeded Council Rock North
West Chester East
- 13-7 overall
- 12-7 Ches-Mont League
- Tied for third with Downingtown East behind co-champions Avon Grove and West Chester Henderson
- Season highlights include a win over second-seeded Avon Grove (2-0) and a pair of wins over sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson (10-5, 5-1).
How they got here: West Chester East defeated American Conference champion Cheltenham 7-1, using its speed on the base paths to earn its first district win since 2012. Leadoff batter Amy Atwell created havoc on the base paths in a contest that saw East score two runs in each of the first three innings. Olivia Rogers allowed just five hits in the win.
Players to watch: Amy Atwell (Sr., 36-for-68, .529, 17 runs, 14 RBI, 20-of-22 on stolen base attempts), Olivia Rodgers (Jr., 13-6, 2.59 ERA), Steph Batog (Jr., .382), Olivia Francomano (Soph., 34-for-71, .479, 22 runs, 18 RBI, 5 doubles, two triples, two home runs), Amilia Andraos (Fr., 21-for-64, .328)
#21 HATBORO-HORSHAM at #5 PENNSBURY
Pennsbury
- 13-7 overall
- 11-3 SOL National Conference co-champions with William Tennent
- Eight-game winning streak to close out regular season that included a 5-1 win over highly regarded Robbinsville (N.J.)
- Split league games with first-seeded William Tennent (0-2, 6-3), seventh-seeded Neshaminy (6-9, 10-6) and 13th-seeded Council Rock North (3-4, 3-1), dropping the initial game but winning in the second go round with all three.
- Young starting lineup includes one senior.
Hatboro-Horsham
- 11-8 overall
- 8-6 SOL Continental Conference (fifth place)
- Split with eighth-seeded Central Bucks East, winning initial contest 7-4 but falling in the second 3-2
- Defeated 15th-seeded Central Bucks South 3-2 in first go round but fell in second 5-4
- Three wins in last seven games of a regular season that saw Hatters lose five games by just one run.
- Young squad has just two seniors in starting lineup
How they got here: The Hatters won a slugfest over 12th-seeded Perkiomen Valley, earning a 16-12 win. Jayne Black delivered a three-run triple in the fourth inning that gave the Hatters – who trailed 6-2 early – a 7-6 lead. They scored nine runs in the sixth. Meg Hallock (4-for-5), Dee Moyer (3-for-4, five runs scored) and Jen Cader (2-for-3, three RBIs) led the 17-hit attack.
Players to watch: Daria Edwards (Sr.), Meg Hallock (Sr.), Jen Cader (Jr.), Jayne Black (Jr.), Lexi Campbell (Jr.)
#10 KENNETT at #7 NESHAMINY
Neshaminy
- 14-5 overall
- 9-5 SOL National Conference (third place)
- Split league games with top-seeded William Tennent (10-12, 6-3), fifth-seeded Pennsbury (9-6, 6-10) and 13th-seeded Council Rock North (10-9, 2-3).
- Defeated third-seeded Souderton 4-1 in early season meeting.
Players to watch: Carly Coleman (Sr., OF), Jen Walker (Sr., OF), Jenny Rakita (Sr., P)
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “Making the playoffs is always on Neshaminy’s list, so we are very happy to accomplish that goal. After losing our last two games of the regular season, we are looking to regroup and string a bunch of wins together.”
Kennett
- 16-5 overall
- 15-4 Ches-Mont American Division champions
- Wins over 11th-seeded Downingtown East (3-2) and #14th-seeded West Chester East (5-4)
How they got here: Kennett pounded out 16 hits in a 7-3 win over Boyertown. Brooke Harner tossed a four-hitter, striking out 12. She also had three hits, including a double. Katie DeStefano was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Chico Chapman, Calie Beeson and Camille Brown each had two hits.
#9 NORTH PENN at #8 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST
Central Bucks East
- 10-8 overall
- 10-4 SOL Continental Conference (tied for second place)
- Defeated third-seeded Souderton 8-5 in regular season finale after falling to Indians 4-1 earlier in the season.
- Swept league games with 15th-seeded Central Bucks South (10-5, 2-1) and split with ninth-seeded North Penn (8-3, 2-3) and 21st-seeded Hatboro-Horsham (4-7, 3-2).
North Penn
- 14-6 overall
- 10-4 SOL Continental Conference (tied for second place)
- Won seven in a row to close out regular season after a 6-6 start, a strong finish that coincided with the return of Philadelphia University-bound centerfielder Erin Maher to the lineup.
- Returns the nucleus of last year’s squad that advanced to state semifinals
- Avenged early season losses to 15th-seeded Central Bucks South and 21st-seeded Hatboro-Horsham with 2-0 and 3-2 wins, respectively.
- Split with third-seeded Souderton, winning initial meeting 10-4 and dropping second 9-3.
How they got here: Alyssa Shoulberg contributed a double and three RBIs and Jackie Bilotti had a pair of solo home runs to lead the Maidens to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Council Rock South in the opening round. Bilotti also earned the win on the mound.
Players to watch: Erin Maher (Sr., CF), Vicky Tumasz (Sr., SS), Meghan Curley (Sr., 3B), Alyssa Shoulberg (Sr., 2B), Jackie Bilotti (Jr., P), Becky Christoffers (Jr., RF)
Coach Rick Torresani says: “All I can say is they’re a good team. They have a good pitcher, and they have Caroline Schoenewald. We just have to go out there –hit the ball and play a clean game. If we can do that, we should be okay.”
#13 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH at #3 SPRING-FORD
Council Rock North
- 12-7 overall
- 8-6 SOL National Conference (fourth place)
- Won four straight to close out regular season, including a 9-3 win over 24th-seeded Council Rock South to avenge an early season loss to Golden Hawks.
- Split its games with fifth-seeded Pennsbury, winning the first 4-3 but falling 3-1 in late-season meeting.
- Notched a 5-3 non-league win over eighth-seeded Central Bucks East on April 21.
How they got here: The Indians defeated Haverford 3-2. Sophomore Amanda Camp earned the win on the mound, allowing six hits. Hannah Mumber paced the offense with a pair of hits, and freshman Sabrina Crane, filling in for Notre Dame-bound Bailey Bigler, delivered a triple and scored on an error for the game winner.
Coach Hollie Woodard says: “We need to play our game and not let the variables we can’t control distract us, especially if we’re traveling to schools we’re not familiar with. There are a lot of variables that can take you out of your game. We just have to play our game, let me handle the things they can’t control and they just work on controlling the things that they can. We need that mental toughness and the ability to handle adversity.”
Spring-Ford
- 16-3 overall
- 16-2 PAC-10 regular season champions
- Fell to 18th-seeded Owen J Roberts 8-1 in PAC-10 semifinals after defeating the Wildcats twice during the regular season (5-2, 5-3)
- Swept league games with 16th-seeded Methacton (7-3, 2-1) and split with 12th-seeded Perkiomen Valley (4-1, 1-12).
#15 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #2 AVON GROVE
Central Bucks South
- 11-8 overall
- 9-5 SOL Continental Conference (fourth place)
- Split conference games with ninth-seeded North Penn, winning season opener 5-3.
- Defeated 21st-seeded Hatboro-Horsham 5-4 in late-season meeting after dropping the first game to the Hatters.
- Dropped three of five games to close out regular season.
- Pitcher senior Hailey Warner is lone senior starter on young squad.
How they got here: The Titans, who had just one hit entering the fifth inning, scored one in the fifth and nine in the sixth and then withstood a seventh-inning rally to defeat Owen J. Roberts 10-8. Julia Formicola hit a three-run home run and Maddie Decker hit a grand slam to highlight the nine-run uprising.
Coach Dan Hayes says: “I have confidence in Hailey (Warner) coming back and throwing a strong game. I really do. If she throws a real strong game, it will just be a matter of us getting a run or two. It’s not going to be a 10-8 game. I can pretty much guarantee that.”
Avon Grove
- 15-4 Ches-Mont National Division co-champs with West Chester Henderson
- Swept league games with sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson (5-3, 2-0) and 11th-seeded Downingtown East (8-3, 1-0). Also defeated 10th-seeded Kennett (2-1)
- Lost two of three games to close out regular season, falling to Coatesville (2-1) and Downingtown East (3-2) in the finale.
- Led by sophomore phenom Maggie Balint, who already has over 500 strikeouts for her career and fanned 286 in 129.2 innings this season while walking just 38. She is 15-3 with a 0.49 earned run average and has allowed just nine earned runs. Balint has committed to the University of Delaware but is being recruited by some of the nation’s top programs.
- Red Devils are led offensively by Balint (30-for-36, .476, 10 RBIs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run) and Alyssa Herion (23-for-51, .404, 17 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs). No one else on team hitting over .300.
Class AAA
#10 UPPER MORELAND at #7 VILLA MARIA ACADEMY
Upper Moreland
- 9-5 SOL American Conference (third place)
- Won five of six to close out regular season
Villa Maria Academy
- 12-6 overall
- 9-3 Catholic Academies League
- Defeated third-seeded Radnor (3-2) and fourth-seeded Upper Merion (10-3)
- Log in to post comments
