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National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4, HARRY S TRUMAN 3
Greg Heydet Sr had a simple message when he took over the helm of a struggling Rock South program this year.
“I told them the first time I met them – you have to believe,” the first year coach said. “You gotta believe.”
If they didn’t believe back then, the players certainly do now.The Golden Hawks continued their remarkable season with a one-run win over the Tigers, and thanks to Pennsbury’s win over Tennent, the Hawks now find themselves atop the conference standings with a half game lead over the Panthers, who have played one less game.
“The girls are overjoyed,” coach Greg Heydet, Sr said. “They’re singing, they’re dancing, they’re cheering, they’re up on the fence.
“It’s really just them having confidence.”
The Hawks trailed 1-0 after the Tigers plated a single run in the bottom of the third, but they took care of that little matter with a four-run fourth. Jackie Schneider led off the inning with a double. Mikayla Becker was safe on an error, setting the stage for a three-run home run by Melanie Wilkinson, who turned on an 0-2 pitch and hit it over the left field fence. Becca Dougherty followed with a solo shot to left, and just like that, the Golden Hawks led 4-1.
Rock South needed every one of those runs as Truman’s Mary Cairns answered with a two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-3 game.
Earning the win on the mound was freshman Stephanie Andreoli, who allowed three hits and fanned four.
Rock South managed just four hits in the win.
The Golden Hawks (7-3, 6-2 SOL) are scheduled to play William Tennent on Tuesday and Pennsbury on Wednesday, weather permitting.
The Tigers fell to 4-5 in league play (4-8 overall).
Council Rock South 000 400 0-4
Harry S Truman 001 200 0-3
PENNSBURY 6, WILLIAM TENNENT 3
The Falcons put themselves back in the thick of the National Conference race with Monday’s win. More importantly, they got back on track after dropping two of three games last week.
“We needed this bad,” coach Frank McSherry said. “We had a bad week last week.
“We said to them before the game, ‘There are times in a season when you can point to a particular game and say – this is all about our character, so let’s go make a statement today,’ and they did. They came out swinging the bats, and they played really good defense. We made one error, but we played really solid defense, particularly Mia Pitt and Bailee Zaccaro on the left side – two freshmen at third base and shortstop. They did a really, really nice job.”
Farryl Groder – after being sidelined for more than a week – was a welcome return to the lineup, and she wasted little time before making her presence felt, delivering a two-run triple to highlight a three-run first inning. Freshman Maddie McQuaid also had an RBI single in the inning, and Marguerite Salamone got the inning started with a base hit.
The Falcons upped their lead to 6-0 by adding three more runs in the third inning. Once again, Groder was in the middle of the action – this time leading off the inning with a double. McQuaid and freshman Nikki Naylor both had RBI singles in the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Nikki Alden showed why she is one of the most feared hitters in the area when she lofted a home run to deep left field.
“Nikki Alden hit it so far and so high – it was a bomb,” McSherry said. “Mike Schmidt used to hit long, high home runs. This was a Michael Jack Schmidt home run. It was so far. It went down to the jayvee field.”
The Panthers added a run in the fifth inning, thanks to a hit batter with the bases loaded. In the sixth, Sara Keeny delivered an RBI single for the 6-3 final.
Groder finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
“It’s good to have her back,” McSherry said of his veteran.
McQuaid, Salamone and Bailee Zaccaro also each collected a pair of hits for the Falcons, who had 11 hits.
Casey Boltersdorf earn the win on the mound, allowing six hits while walking three and fanning four.
“Casey helped herself too,” McSherry said. “She made a couple of nice plays on shots up the middle.”
The Falcons are 6-3 in league play (6-7 overall) while the Panthers suffered their second conference loss, falling to 5-2 in the league (8-3 overall).
Pennsbury 303 000 0-6
William Tennent 001 011 0-3
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7, ABINGTON 6
Nothing seems to come easily for National Conference squads these days, and the Indians were happy to escape with a win when they made the trip to Abington Monday.
“I don’t know what’s going on in the rest of District One, but I said to my girls – it was almost like a playoff atmosphere today,” coach Hollie Woodard said. “Their team was cheering so hard, their fans were so into this game.
“I said to the girls – that was such an intense environment the last inning. I’m looking at the scores and thinking - we’re all just scraping by, and whoever comes out of this is really going to be ready for playoffs because that’s a lot of pressure.”
The Indians took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Bailey Bigler, who has been on a bona fide offensive tear, got things started with a double. An error and fielder’s choice set the stage for a two-run single by Hannah Mumber. One out later, Kalli Segal delivered an RBI single.
In the bottom of the inning, the Ghosts – sparked by singles from Jamie Gosselin, Nicolette Ray (RBI) and Aubrey Cataldi (RBI) – got two of those runs back to make it a 3-2 game.
The Indians plated two runs in the third inning to go on top 5-2, benefitting from a two-run single by Bigler.
In the fifth, the Indians extended their lead to 7-2. Bigler was once again in the middle of the action, delivering an RBI triple. Nicole Rounsavill followed with an RBI double.
Bigler finished the game 3-for-5 with a single, double, triple, three RBIs and two runs scored.
“She’s on fire,” Woodard said.
Rounsavill was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
For the Ghosts, Gosselin (2-for-5), Ray (2-for-3, RBI), Maddie Malfara (2-for-4, RBI) and Cataldi (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) all had multi-hit days.
Hannah Mumber earned the win on the mound but was relieved by Amanda Camp in the fifth and then came back to collect the final out of the game with a run already across and the tying run on base.
The Indians upped their league record to 5-4 (7-5 overall) while the Ghosts fell to 1-8 in league play (4-8 overall).
Council Rock North 302 020 0-7
Abington 200 021 1-6
NESHAMINY 9, BENSALEM 8
In yet another National Conference nailbiter, the Redskins withstood a late Owl comeback attempt to eke out the important win. The Owls – with a run already across in the seventh – had runners on first and third with no outs.
“They hit a fly ball to left field,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “Carly Coleman catches it, and he sends the runner from third. She throws an absolute strike and gets the girl out at the plate – a double play on a ball that was hit pretty well.
“If she doesn’t do that, we might still be playing. These games come down to the last out.”
The Owls struck often and early, using four hits and two walks to plate three first-inning runs. The Redskins got one of those runs back in the top of the second, thanks to an RBI single by Carly Coleman, but in the bottom of the frame, the Owls tacked on three more runs to go on top 6-1. Tatyana Keshanech delivered the big blow in the second – a two-run double.
In the third, Jen Walker and Sophie Beretski got the ball rolling with back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. The Redskins plated a pair on back-to-back fielder’s choice plays, and with two outs, the Owls could see their way out of the inning.
The Redskins, however, had other ideas.
Nikki Wild and Hunter Hart singled, and Walker drew a walk. Pinch hitter Mackensie Compton stepped to the plate and delivered a grand slam, and the ‘Skins weren’t finished yet as Olivia Zaino and Walker (RBI) followed with singles. All told, the Redskins collected seven hits in the pivotal seven-run frame.
“Five or six runs used to get you a win, no doubt,” Chichilitti said. “Not any more.
“If you’re down five or six runs and you have three or four at-bats, you can’t get down on yourselves because you know at any given moment anybody can put up five or six runs.”
Jenny Rakita and Sydney Powell split time on the mound with Rakita starting and then re-entering the game to close it out.
Compton finished the game 3-for-3 with a double, home run and five RBIs. Walker, Wild, Sarah Snider-Leonhauser and Zaino each had two hits.
For the Owls, Jenny Campbell had a huge day, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs. Carley Smith was 3-for-4, and Kate Reiss was 2-for-3.
The Redskins are 6-3 in league play (11-3 overall) while the Owls are 1-6 in the league (5-7 overall).
Neshaminy 017 010 0-9
Bensalem 330 100 1-8
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, NORTH PENN 0
Hailey Warner struck out 14 and scattered six hits in a complete game shutout win that gave the Titans a sweep of their season series with the Maidens.
What was the secret to Warner’s success?
“I wish I knew, so we could do it every game,” coach Dan Hayes said. “She made really good pitches, obviously, on a couple of their hitters.
“They really have a strong lineup, and she had their number. She changed speeds a little bit, moved the ball around and was just very, very effective.”
At one point during the game, beginning with the third out of the third inning, Warner fanned seven straight batters. In the sixth inning, the Maidens loaded the bases with three straight hits – two of them bleeders, according to Hayes. She escaped unscathed, coaxing a popup to first for the first batter she faced and then fanning the next two.
“Four of their girls played on my travel team, so I know they’re good,” Hayes said. “They’re tough outs.”
Erin Maher accounted for three of her team’s six hits.
“She had three hits, but two of them didn’t even bend the grass when they landed – they were so soft,” Hayes said. “Two of the other hits were also really soft hits. Erin hit a ball hard her last time up for a double. That was the hardest hit ball of the game.”
While Warner was working her magic on the mound, Taylor Marinelli was playing the role of hero at the plate. It was Marinelli’s solo home run to left with one out in the third inning that spotted the Titans an early 1-0 lead. In the fifth, she delivered an RBI double, and Warner had all the runs she would need.
“It really was a big win,” Hayes said. “Sweeping North Penn and sweeping Pennridge is really big. The young kids are coming along, and hopefully, this will give them some confidence.
“This was a quality win for us.”
The Titans upped their league record to 6-3 (7-5 overall) while the Maidens are 5-4 in the league (6-6 overall).
North Penn 000 000 0-0
Central Bucks South 001 010 x-2
SOUDERTON 8, HATBORO-HORSHAM 6
There was absolutely nothing to suggest that Tuesday’s game would have a happy ending for Souderton. The Indians struggled defensively, and with two outs in the seventh inning, they still trailed by two runs.
But suddenly things started to go their way when – with the bases loaded and one strike on Missy Wiley – a high foul popup was dropped.
“That would have been it – they would have won 6-4,” coach Steph Rummel said. “It’s always sketchy on those plays, and it’s tough because it’s straight up. The girls have depth perception problems when it’s straight up like that, but it was in her glove.
“I literally was about to walk off the field when it popped out. It was like, ‘Okay, new life. Here we go.’ The very, very next pitch, Missy hit a grand slam. I never thought that would happen.”
The stage was set for Wiley’s late-game heroics when the Indians loaded the bases with one out. Erelle Sowers was safe at first after a missed tag on her bunt down the first base line. One out later, Paige Shelly was safe on an errant throw, putting Indians runners on second and third. A walk to Haley Delany loaded the bases. A popup to the shortstop for the inning’s second out brought Wiley to the plate, and the rest is history.
Wiley’s walk-off slam capped a marvelous day for the sophomore, who had a two run home run in the fourth inning as well. She finished the day 2-for-4 with six RBIs. Dayna Shelly was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs. Amanda Brush was 2-for-4 with a double, and pitcher Erelle Sowers helped her own cause with two singles and a double.
All told, the Indians collected nine hits off a pair of Hatter hurlers. The Hatters collected eight hits off Sowers, who fanned six. Their three, four and five hitters did most of the damage. Daria Edwards was 1-for-2 but drew a pair of walks and scored three runs. Jen Cader had just one hit but scored two runs, and Jackie Locke, who hits out of the five hole, was 4-for-4. Jayne Black also had a pair of hits.
“We totally beat ourselves,” Rummel said. “It was like a circus. If there were circus music, it really would have been the perfect time to start playing that.
“We were throwing from outfield to home to second to third. People were dropping the ball and picking it up and winging it. It was like, ‘What are we doing?’ We had girls running through stop signs, getting into pickles. It was terrible. The thing that killed us was our communication and straight up errors that put us in a hole.”
The Hatters scored three runs in the top of the fourth, but Wiley’s two run homer made it a 3-2 game. The two teams exchanged two-run innings in the fifth, and when the Hatters tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh, they led 6-4, and things didn’t look promising for the Indians.
Until, that is, their remarkable comeback in the seventh.
“This is definitely huge,” Rummel said. “Usually the team that makes the (least) errors is the one that wins, and that’s not the case in this game.
“I’m happy with the girls that they came back, but we’re always working on playing better ball. We need to get these mistakes out of our system. It’s nice that we got them out of our system in this game and still had the win, but we still have work to do. The girls know that, and they’re willing to face that, which is what we need to do.”
The Indians maintain their stronghold on first place in the conference standings, upping their record to 7-1 in league play (9-2 overall). The Hatters are 5-4 in league play (6-4 overall).
Hatboro-Horsham 000 320 1-6
Souderton 000 220 4-8
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 9, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
The Patriots scored four runs in the first and added three more in the third to go on top 7-0 early. The Bucks plated their only run in the third inning.
For the Patriots, Theresa Haug was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Kayla Ventura was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Ventura earned the win on the mound, working the first three innings. Haug tossed four scoreless innings to close it out.
East coach Erin Scott credited Amanda Wolfgang for turning in a strong performance behind the plate for the Bucks.
The Patriots upped their record to 7-2 in league play (7-5 overall) while the Bucks are 0-9 in the league (1-10 overall).
Central Bucks West 001 000 0-1
Central Bucks East 431 001 x-9
PENNRIDGE 7, QUAKERTOWN 3
Liz Nase threw a complete game on the mound to earn the big win for the Lady Rams. She received plenty of offensive support from her teammates, led by the three-hit effort of Emily Mayhew. Alisa Horne, Haley Taylor and Morgan Labs each added a pair of hits with Taylor contributing a double and triple.
For the Panthers, Becca Robison had two hits and two RBIs. Also collecting two hits were Spenser Grey, Maddie Mulhall, Alyssa Wilkinson and Maddie Calder.
The Lady Rams are 2-6 in league play (4-7 overall) while the Panthers are 3-6 in the league (6-6 overall).
American Conference
CHELTENHAM 4, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 2
Becca Simms delivered a solo home run in the fifth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie and propelling the Lady Panthers to the important win.
“We had a lot of big hits, and that was really the story,” coach Ron Perlstein said. “We had three triples and one home run.”
The Lady Panthers’ coach went on to tip his hat to the Colonials.
“Every time we play PW it’s always close,” Perlstein said. “Coach Dana (Moyer) – she’s outstanding, she’s a great coach.
“Her kids always play tough. They’re usually very aggressive defensively, and they’re hitters. They always give us all we can handle.”
The Colonials served early notice that they were not going to make things easy for the Panthers, plating a single run in the top of the first. The Lady Panthers got that run back in the second inning. Kelly Graham got things started with a leadoff triple to center, and Maddie Baer brought her home with a single.
In the third inning, Rita Laychock led off the frame with a triple, and she scored on Nina Jackson’s RBI single to the right side. The Colonials threatened in the fourth, putting runners on second and third with none out, but pitcher Grace La Rosa slammed the door on that potential rally.
The Colonials knotted the score with a single run in the fifth, benefitting from a Cheltenham error, but it could have been worse as this time LaRosa worked her way out of a second and third, one-out jam without further damage.
“Gracie got a popup, and Susan Janfrancisco - personally, I believe she is the best catcher in District One. She’s very strong. She’s a great player. I’ve been suffering through her for three years,” Perlstein said. “She flied out to center field with (runners on) second and third, and that was really a big out. I think that was a big transition for us because in the bottom of the inning, Becca came up and hit a solo shot.”
Simms’ blast gave the Lady Panthers a 3-2 lead, and they added an insurance run when Jackson, who tripled, scored on a bunt for the 4-2 final.
Jackson and Laychock both collected a triple and single to lead the Lady Panthers. Marissa Mancinelli was on base on all three of her trips to the plate, twice drawing walks and also collecting a single.
DeRosa once again earned the win on the mound, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out six.
The Lady Panthers upped their league mark to 7-1 (8-2 overall).
Plymouth Whitemarsh 100 010 0-2
Cheltenham 011 020 x-4
UPPER MERION 10, UPPER MORELAND 4
Monday’s game at Upper Moreland, according to coach John Whitney, was much closer than the final score suggests.
“It was a struggle,” the Vikings’ coach said. “They did a good job, and they were in the game. It was 2-0 going into the fifth, and then finally the girls had the big inning.
“They had a little meeting on their own. Mads (captain Maddalana Ghanayem) asked if she could have a meeting with the kids. I stayed out of it, and the kids came out of it in the top of the sixth banging the ball.”
The Vikings erased that 2-0 deficit with three runs in the fifth. They took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning when they exploded for eight runs. Nicole Kowalski ignited the Vikings with a double, but the biggest blow was a bases-loaded triple by Micaela Ghanayem that plated three runs.
“That was big,” Whitney said. “The umpire called two strikes on her that weren’t really good strikes, and she was so mad.
“She called timeout and was talking to me, and I said, ‘Just get in there, get your composure back.’ She must have been mad because she tattooed it. She really ripped it.”
Kowalski finished the game with a pair of doubles while Ghanayem had a triple and four RBIs. Dez Kandy, Olivia Sblorlini (double) and Abby Volpe (two RBIs) all finished the day with three hits to lead the Vikings’ 18-hit attack.
“The kids at the top of the lineup hit the ball pretty good,” Whitney said.
Sborlini earned the win on the mound, allowing five hits.
“It was one of those games she had to work at it,” Whitney said. “It didn’t come easy, but she’s like a bulldog. She just kept working.
“Sometimes you have all your best stuff, and sometimes you don’t, and you just have to work through it. We started throwing the drop ball a lot, and that seemed to be working for her. Some games are easier than others. We didn’t help her the one inning with a few errors, but she worked through it and did a good job.”
The Vikings are 8-0 in SOL play (9-2 overall) while the Golden Bears fell to 5-3 in league play (6-3 overall).
Upper Merion002 008 0-10
Upper Moreland 000 030 1-4
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 16, WISSAHICKON 3
The Trojans took a 3-0 lead into the fourth inning when the Spartans exploded for eight runs. They added eight more in the fifth to bring an early end to the game.
Courtney Amey led the Spartans’ 13-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort that included one RBI and two runs scored. Jewell Ringgold was 2-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Katelyn Gilinger (2-for-3, one run) and Alexis Wilmot (2-for-4, RBI, two runs) also turned in multiple hit games for the Spartans.
Brittany Gelman once again had a big day at the plate for the Trojans, contributing a pair of doubles and scoring a run. Halle Segal also had a pair of hits and one RBI. Donna Intintola and Emily Kaissi both contributed a hit and RBI.
Springfield 000 88-16
Wissahickon 021 00-3
NORRISTOWN 7, UPPER DUBLIN 6 (8 innings)
It took eight innings, but the Eagles eked out their first win of the season Monday. Kathleen Watson finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored, and she delivered the game-winning RBI in the eighth. Stephanie Orman earned the win on the mound, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking four. She led off the first with a double and also scored the winning run in the eighth inning after collecting a lead-off triple. Allison Taylor was 2-for-4 with a run scored and triple.
For the Flying Cardinals, Mary Kate McInerney was 4-for-5 at the plate, and Rachel Hyman was 2-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs, a run scored and two stolen bases. Ana Cubit also had two hits and an RBI. Tara Monaghan absorbed the loss, working two-plus innings while allowing three hits, one earned run, one strikeout and one walk.
The Flying Cardinals took a 6-1 lead into the fifth inning when the Eagles exploded for five runs to knot the score and exend the game into extra innings.
The Eagles are 1-7 in league play (1-8 overall) while the Flying Cardinals are 3-4 (3-7 overall).
Upper Dublin 100 113 00-6
Norristown 100 050 01-7
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