SOL District SB Preview Capsules (5-26-15)

Upper Merion and Springfield will be in action in Tuesday’s district softball action.

CLASS AAA Semifinal
#2 Upper Merion vs. #3 Villa Maria Academy (at Harriton High School, 4 p.m.)
Upper Merion

17-3 overall
13-1 SOL American Conference champions
Two of the Vikings’ losses came at the hands of Class AAAA schools (Bensalem and Conestoga).
Split regular season series with #9 Upper Moreland, winning the first 4-1 but falling in the second 21-20 after they Vikings had clinched the regular season crown.
Pitcher Olivia Sborlini has been a mainstay in the circle.
Regular season 3-0 win over third-seeded Villa Maria Academy and 5-0 win over #11 Marple Newtown

How they got here:

After an opening round bye, Upper Merion edged seventh-seeded Pottsgrove 3-2 in nine innings. The two teams were deadlocked 1-1 after seven innings. After the Falcons scored a run in the top of the ninth, Michaela Ghanayem delivered a walk-off RBI single to plate to winning run. Earlier in the inning, it was Abby Volpe – down to her last strike – contributing an RBI single to knot the score.

Villa Maria Academy

15-6 overall
Regular season wins over #8 Gwynedd Mercy (7-2, 4-3) and #10 Villa Joseph Marie (10-8, 5-4).
Lost three straight games to close out regular season.

How they got here:

After an opening round bye, Villa Maria Academy defeated 11^th-seeded Marple Newtown 3-0. Pitcher Maddie Abbott retired all 21 batters she faced, fanning 10 in a perfect game effort. She fanned seven of nine during an overpowering stretch and notched the 200^th strikeout of her career. She also drove in a run in the fourth. Hannah Chambers had an RBI single in the second.

CLASS AA Semifinal
#4 Springfield Township vs. #1 Christopher Dock (at Upper Dublin High School, 4 p.m.)
Springfield

Christopher Dock

16-5 overall
Regular season wins over #3 New Hope-Solebury (18-2, 10-2), #4 Springfield Township (10-0) and Class AAA #9 Gwynedd Mercy (4-1).
Fell to Bristol 2-1 in BAL title game.