To view photos of the Hatboro/Quakertown game, visit the photo gallery and click on the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
‘Hatters Score Big for Breast Cancer’ (Hatboro-Horsham 15, Quakertown 0)
Inspired by their school’s ‘Think Pink’ lacrosse game as well as the fact that field hockey and lacrosse coach Marie Schmucker has waged her own personal battle with breast cancer, members of Hatboro-Horsham’s softball team decided to initiate a day to promote breast cancer awareness as well.
“We said, ‘If you’re interested, look into it, and we’ll help you,’” coach Kelly Krier said. “We wanted to see where they went with it.”
The girls organized a bake sale that was held at Thursday’s ‘Hatters Score Big for Breast Cancer’ game against Quakertown, and the players wore pink jerseys and socks.
“It wasn’t a huge money-making event, but it was good for the girls to do something for other people,” Krier said. “I said to them before the game started, ‘This is what coaches want from their players – their kids giving back.’
“Oftentimes kids want to know what people are doing for them. It’s nice to see them doing something for someone else. I said that we were proud of them and that they were doing a really good thing. For a first-year venture, it was very successful on a personal level for them.”
The benefits, according to Krier, went beyond simply raising awareness about breast cancer.
“To see them take initiative and work together as a team – they did a nice job,” the Hatters’ coach said. “We talk about it a lot – winning and being successful is important, but we also talk about the importance of working together, working as a team, problem solving and giving back. They did all of those things, which was really nice to see.”
Quakertown’s coaches, according to Krier, were supportive of the idea.
“It was a nice day,” the Hatters’ coach said. “I think next year we’ll do it again and build on what we started.
“Marie (Schmucker) is the figure everyone is rallying around, but there are a lot of other teachers – three that I know of – that are battling breast cancer as well. A lot of students are touched in the classroom and family members they know in their own personal lives that are impacted as well. To see people so young wanting to help and making a difference is really nice.”
Central Bucks South 1, North Penn 0
It was a day of milestones for Central Bucks South.
Not only did the Titans clinch at least a share of their fourth conference title in six years with their win over the Maidens, the win was number 100 of a stellar coaching career for Jennifer Robinson, and as wins go, they don’t get much better than this one.
“I’m really excited,” Robinson said. “That obviously wasn’t the focus. Obviously, our goal as a team is to win this game and our next game, but afterwards, I was really excited. It’s a mile marker.
“I’m really proud of it, and to win it in a game like this – it’s one of those close games that could go either way. To have your team work hard and pull it out at the end makes it that much sweeter.”
On the subject of sweet, Titan hurler Fran Carrullo – one week removed from being hospitalized for a day – turned in a mighty sweet performance on the mound. The junior mound ace needed just 70 pitches to create a masterpiece, and if she was feeling any effects from her illness, she certainly didn’t let it show.
“I feel good, very good,” Carrullo said with a smile. “I’m actually perfect.”
Carrullo’s performance was very close to perfect. The Maidens managed just three hits, and only one of those left the infield, but when it was over, the Titans’ junior mound ace was far more interested in talking about her team’s accomplishments than her own.
“I’m excited that we’re coming up to districts, and we’re almost at that Suburban One League champs title,” Carrullo said. “Beating North Penn is always a good one.
“They knew what they were coming up against, and they definitely prepared well and gave us a great game.”
The last time the two teams met, the Titans won 10-0 in a game that saw the mercy rule go into effect.
“I knew they just had a bad day the last time,” Robinson said. “We talked about it yesterday – they have been a quality program. Last time wasn’t a true representation of what their team is like.
“We knew they were going to be more pumped to come out and play us, so we had to have our ‘A’ game, no errors. We played a clean game. I’m so happy with the way they played.”
Thursday’s game – error-free on both sides - bore no resemblance to the early-season meeting, and it was the Maidens who actually had the chance to get on the scoreboard first.
In the second inning, Steph Kulp reached first on a one-out infield single. She was erased at second on a fielder’s choice, but the Maidens had runners on the corners after freshman Michelle Holweger lined a single to right. That’s when the rally ended as Carrullo coaxed a harmless groundout to second out of the next batter she faced to retire the side.
Despite coming up empty, the Maidens, according to Holweger, weren’t worried.
“I was pretty sure we would get a run easily,” she said. “We just wanted to win. We didn’t want the same thing to happen to us that happened the last time. We wanted revenge.”
After their second-inning threat, the Maidens had just one base runner the rest of the way. That came in the fourth inning when Steph Farrar hit a slow roller down the third base line that was ruled fair. Other than that, Carrullo was in complete command, retiring 16 of 17 batters to close out the game.
What was the secret to her complete mastery of the Maidens?
“It was basically just staying focused but also making sure I’m spinning the ball because even if my speed isn’t on, I have to make sure my spins are working,” Carrullo said.
Carrullo’s spins were definitely working, and while she was working her magic, her counterpart, Kellianna Bradstreet, was throwing a gem of her own.
The Titans managed just one hit through five innings, but they staged a two-out rally in the sixth. Haileigh Stocks got things started with a single to left, and Morgan Decker followed her lead, lining a single to left.
The bases were loaded after Lauren Klepchick drew a four-pitch walk, and although a walk to the Titans’ hard-hitting catcher didn’t seem like such a bad idea, it took its toll when Michelle Gessner worked a tough, seven-pitch walk to plate Stocks.
“All I needed was that one run, and I knew we would shut them down,” Carrullo said.
The Titans threatened in the seventh after back-to-back singles by Shana Steigerwalt and Jae Epstein, but leftfielder Holweger gunned down Steigerwalt – who was trying to score from second - at home to retire the side.
“I just picked it up and tried to keep my throw low,” Holweger said. “I thought if I could get her out, it would be a spark for our team.”
Carrullo silenced the Maidens in the bottom of the inning, retiring the Maidens’ four, five and six batters in order to put the finishing touches on a stellar outing.
“She definitely looked like she lost a little stamina in her outing on Tuesday,” Robinson said of her four-inning effort against CB West. “Her pitches weren’t working as well for her, but it’s tough because she’s coming off of several days of illness.
“You always have a little concern – is she going to be able to hold it together because she’s not in peak health. She showed me today I had nothing to worry about it.”
Despite the outcome, Maiden coach Rick Torresani had no complaints.
“Considering where we were three or four weeks ago to where we are now – I’m extremely excited for these kids and how they’re playing,” he said. “You lose a game 1-0 on a walk on a bad pitch that I called – you sit back and say, ‘I shouldn’t have called that pitch.’
“The defense was great, Kelianna’s back in form the way she has been before. We’re gearing for the playoffs, and win or lose this game today, we should be in third place, the same position we were in last year. I don’t know how many hard-hit balls there were for either team – there weren’t many, I know that. The pitching was good, the defense was good. It was just a great softball game.”
Norristown 3, Upper Dublin 2
Norristown clinched sole possession of its second American Conference title in as many years, thanks to Thursday’s hard-fought win over Upper Dublin. The Eagles pounded out nine hits, led by the two-hit efforts of Maggie Creciun, Shari Lynne Kluth and Gina Pellechio. Both Creciun and Pellechio contributed doubles.
Also contributing hits were Gabbie Berry, Julia Santoro and Stephanie Dinolfi.
The Eagles scored a single run in the first and added two more in the third. Upper Dublin scored one in the third and then made it a 3-2 game in the sixth after Amy McCaffrey delivered a solo home run.
Ashleigh Sharp and Rachel Mintz (double) both had two hits for the Flying Cardinals.
Dinolfi, according to coach Jon Kandrick, continues to rob opposing teams of base hits, and Taylor Copestick sparked the Eagles’ defense with a stellar day behind the plate and a potentially game-saving catch of a bunt in the bottom of the seventh with runners on and less than two outs.
Daisy Foster tossed another complete game, striking out nine. Kristin Ganderton absorbed the loss, allowing eight hits and two earned runs.
Souderton 2, Pennridge 1
The Indians celebrated Senior Night by playing a rare night game, and they made the most of the opportunity, edging their neighboring rival.
“The girls were really excited about playing under the lights, and we finally were able to shut them down even when they put runners on base,” coach Courtney Hughes said. “Before what was happening was they would get people on, and our defense was letting it through.
“Finally, we played really well defensively behind Liz Parkins, and that was the one of the biggest differences from the past couple of games. We really wanted this game, and the girls were loose and having fun. They just knew they wanted to win.”
The Rams struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first with the benefit of two hits and a walk. It could have been worse, but with runners on second and third and one out, Parkins struck out a pair.
“That was huge,” Hughes said.
The Indians got that run back in the second when Alex Faccenda delivered an RBI double. They won it in the third when Mollie Burrell came through with a clutch two-out RBI single, plating freshman Sarah Derstine who had singled. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Sarah Yerk led the Rams with a near-perfect 3-for-4 day at the plate.
Springfield 11, Upper Moreland 3
The Spartans pounded out 13 hits en route to their big win over the Golden Bears. Elise DiFilippo had a double and two RBIs while Brighid Flynn had a triple and two RBIs. Kellie O’Donnell also had a pair of RBIs while Samantha Juliano, Carly Ludwig and Maria Vido each had one RBI. Juliano notched the win on the mound, striking out five and walking a pair.
The Golden Bears collected six hits – all singles.
Central Bucks East 11, Central Bucks West 5
West jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning, sparked by singles from Hannah Nicholson and Jen Toland that were followed by a two-run double from Jaclyn Rupert. Taylor Bobek drew a walk, and Jenna Klawiter followed with a single. Aimee Schnecker closed out the scoring with an RBI groundout.
East battled back. Robyn Fiore started the game with a leadoff walk, Kaylynn Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Allie Chase followed with an RBI single.
East held West scoreless in the second inning and continued to fight back, scoring 3 runs in its half of the second with singles from Kaylynn Johnson, Julia Schoenwald, Jess Haug, and Taylor Huckfeldt. Robyn Fiore drew another walk, and Robyn Ziegler reached base on an error.
CB West scored again in the third inning, and the sixth innings, but East sealed the game by scoring two runs in the fifth and five runs in the sixth inning.
For CB East, Shannon Devlin was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, Julia Schoenewald was 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple, two RBI's and two runs scored. Jess Haug, Ali Vavala, and Taylor Huckfeldt all were 2-for-3. For West, Nicholson was 2-for-4, Klawiter was 2-for-3 with a triple, and Roth was 2-for-4.
William Tennent 2, Council Rock South 1
The Panthers received RBI doubles from both Ashley Alden and Leah Johnston in their hard-fought win over the Golden Hawks. Kelly Hendrickson notched the win on the mound.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 16, Cheltenham 6
The Colonials scored 12 runs in the top of the seventh inning to erase a two-run deficit, including a home run by junior Alexa Borkowski and 2 2-run home runs by Carly Nosek.
Pennsbury 8, Harry S. Truman 0
Kait Schilling fanned seven in the shutout win while the Falcons received doubles from Mackenzie Obert, D’Anna Devine, Savanna Grantham and Tyler Bidlingmeier.
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