Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action Monday. To view photos of the CR North/CB East and Bensalem/CR South games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 BENSALEM 0
Senior Rebecca Dougherty tossed a shutout while sophomore Mikayla Becker delivered an RBI triple to propel the Golden Hawks to the impressive win.
“Going into this, we knew it was going to be a tough battle, but we all believed we had the skill, and we do have the team to complete it,” Dougherty said.
“This brings us up,” added Becker. “I know we just lost a couple. Now that we came out on top, we have the confidence. We just have to get more hits, and we can compete with anyone.”
It was Dougherty – in her first start of the season – walking away with the game ball. She allowed four hits and fanned eight but dodged more than a few bullets as the Owls – benefitting from four Golden Hawk errors – went down in order just once all game.
“We were in trouble all game,” coach Greg Heydet Sr said. “She has a riser that works, and they were popping up everything.”
Dougherty credited the pitch calling of Heydet – himself a pitcher for 30 years.
“It gives me more confidence when coach calls the pitches because I know he knows what he’s doing,” Dougherty said. “Today it was a combination of the different pitches. It was throwing them off their game, keeping it different every pitch.”
The Golden Hawks got on the scoreboard in the first. Sydney Brown drew a leadoff walk but was erased at second on a fielder’s choice by Amanda Sharp. Sharp stole second and scored easily when Becker tripled to deep center, putting the Golden Hawks on top 1-0.
“I knew we needed more runs to build onto that because one run hardly ever wins games,” Becker said. “Each inning I knew we had to get every out and make every play to stop them from scoring.”
The Owls – thanks to a Rock South error and a single – had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but Dougherty coaxed a fly ball to second out of the next batter she faced and collected a strikeout for the inning’s third out.
In the sixth inning, Isabel Hansbury ripped Dougherty’s first pitch into the gap in right center for a leadoff triple. The senior hurler once again made all the right pitches, retiring the next batter on a popup to second. She collected the inning’s second out on a fly ball to shallow right, and the threat ended on a groundout to second.
“It’s all rise balls,” Dougherty said. “It’s a variation of the pitch and putting it in the right spot at the right times.”
With the win, the Golden Hawks upped their league record to 3-2, already exceeding their league win total of the past two years combined when they won just one league game each year.
“At this point, I have tons of confidence,” Dougherty said. “I believe in every single player on this team. I believe we can all do what we do best.
“This is definitely something to fuel the fire. It feels good. It feels good to do well as a team.”
The Owls received two-hit performances from Katie Reiss and Kelly Nolan. Jackie Morell tossed a two-hitter but was forced to absorb the loss.
While the Owls (3-5, 0-5 SOL) continue to search for their first league win, the Golden Hawks evened their overall record at 3-3.
“We can play, I believe, with any team, but we have to get our hits going,” Heydet said.
Bensalem 000 000 0-0
Council Rock South 100 000 0-1
PENNSBURY 3, ABINGTON 1
Casey Boltersdorf turned in a gem on the mound while freshman Maddie McQuaid had herself an impressive varsity debut.
The two teams were locked in a scoreless tie heading into the seventh inning when McQuaid roped a leadoff double to get the ball rolling for the Falcons.
“We just brought her up from the jayvee today,” said coach Frank McSherry, who started four freshmen and three sophomores on Monday. “She bats three times. She hits a come-backer to the pitcher the first time but hits it really hard. The next time up she gets a base hit – a hard line drive over the first baseman’s head, and then she starts the seventh with a double to right.”
McQuaid moved up to third when Toni Andress laid down a sacrifice bunt and legged it out. McQuaid scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch. With two outs, freshman Mia Pitt delivered an RBI single. A third run crossed the plate on a two-base error on Dani Litwin’s single to center.
Boltersdorf took a one-hitter into the seventh when the Ghosts – who collected a pair of hits - broke up her shutout bid with a single run. Boltersdorf’s line for the game was an impressive one – she allowed just three hits while fanning eight.
“She pitched a nice game,” McSherry said.
Offensively, the Falcons, who collected nine hits, were led by the 3-for-4 effort of Litwin. Fiona Link was 2-for-4 while McQuaid was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.
The Falcons improved to 4-1 in the league while the Ghosts fell to 1-5 (4-5 overall).
Pennsbury 000 000 3-3
Abington 000 000 1-1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1, GARNET VALLEY 0
The Titans endured an 80-minute bus trip, but they made it worth their while by earning the hard-fought win.
“It’s a long ride, and I told them that it will be even longer if we don’t play well,” coach Dan Hayes said. “It was a good win.
“They have a pretty nice program out there and a couple of good hitters. We played well and ended up with the win.”
No one played better than pitchers Maddie Decker and Hailey Warner, who combined to toss a two-hit shutout, fanning 14. Decker threw the first three innings, striking out five, while Warner struck out nine in the final four.
The Titans, who collected nine hits, scored the only runs the duo would need in the fourth when Lauren McCarthy delivered an RBI single. Maddie Bieber led off the inning with a single and moved up to second on a slow roller to short off the bat of Kate McNesby.
The Titans had opportunities to add to their lead, most notably in the seventh when Garnet Valley walked Decker intentionally to load the bases with one out. The move paid dividends as they escaped unscathed.
Warner retired the Jaguars in the bottom of the seventh, and the big win was in the books for the Titans.
“We played real good defense,” Hayes said. “Julia Formicola at third base had a couple of nice plays. Morgan Seader had a catch in center field on a major league fly ball early on, but we didn’t have to make a lot of plays in the field.”
South upped its record to 5-3 overall.
Central Bucks South 000 100 0-1
Garnet Valley 000 000 0-0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 5, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3
Bailey Bigler had herself a day at the plate, and Amanda Camp turned in a standout effort on the mound. It all added up to a big non-league win for the Indians.
It was Bigler stepping to the plate with a pair of runners aboard in the fifth and roping a three-run home run to deep center field to put the Indians on top 5-0. Hannah Mumber and Taylor Amazeen singled earlier in the frame to set the stage for Bigler.
“It was a bomb,” coach Hollie Woodard said of Bigler’s blast. “We were hitting pretty good today.”
The senior standout finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Bigler tripled in the fourth inning and scored on Nicole Rounsaville’s sacrifice fly.
In the circle, Amanda Camp scattered five hits and allowed just one earned run.
“Amanda just threw really well,” Woodard said. “She didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning. She just did a good job of getting them to hit ground balls.
“She throws a heavy ball, and balls just don’t jump off their bats.”
The win marked the beginning of a busy week for the Indians, who are scheduled to play four games in five days.
“I’m trying to save Hannah (Mumber) because she’s our starter,” Woodard said. “We wanted to win this non-league game, but we understood that we really have to focus on (Council Rock) South, Tennent and Pennsbury this week.
“Walking away with a win and having Camp throw so outstanding was really great because we know at (district) seeding meeting time, this is going to come up.”
The Indians upped their record to 5-3 overall (3-2 SOL) while the Patriots fell to 4-5 overall (4-2 SOL).
“Beating East is good for us because we were similar in our rankings, and when you beat the Continental, you’re playing for seeding,” Woodard said. “Continental has gotten so many teams in, and this is the year National wants to get more teams in. This is good for us, and it’s also good for the National Conference.”
Council Rock North 010 130 0-5
Central Bucks East 000 003 0-3
QUAKERTOWN 13, PALISADES 3
The Panthers got their bats untracked in Monday’s non-league win over the Pirates. Meghan Klee was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Maddie Calder and Becca Robison were both 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Spenser Gray was 1-for-2 with three runs scored.
In the circle, Maghan Johnson and Allie MacIntyre each pitched three innings.
MOUNT ST. JOE’S 9, WISSAHICKON 2
The Magic scored four runs in the first, and the Trojans answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. That 4-1 score stood until the fifth when the Magic scored three more to all but put the game out of reach.
The Magic held a 12-6 advantage in hits. Brittany Gelman accounted for four of Wissahickon’s hits, finishing the day a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Julianne Griffin also contributed an RBI. Donna Intintolo and Emily Kaissi accounted for the remaining two hits for the Trojans (0-8).
Mount St. Joe’s 400 031 1-9
Wissahickon 100 001 0-2
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