Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. Photos of the Pennsbury/CR North game are provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of game action photos.
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 8, PENNSBURY 4
With the score deadlocked and two down in the top of the seventh, Hannah Stalker roped a grand slam to dead center field, giving the Indians the lead on their way to the exhilarating win.
“This is my first year, and to beat Pennsbury with the program they have – we called this a program-setting win,” coach John Engelhardt said. “Our girls are very confident, but they still know that Pennsbury and 
Neshaminy are the two teams that are the perennial powers, and that’s where we want to get back to.
“The girls have said they never beat Pennsbury twice in one season since 2003. We’re not looking ahead, but this is a game that was circled on the calendar, and it was a defining game to see where you’re at early in the year. What I take away – even if we lost 4-3 – is that my girls kept their heads up the entire game. Because we were kicking the ball around a little bit, there was opportunity for the girls to put their heads down and say, ‘Today’s not our day. We’ll just pack it in,’ but they stayed in the game all seven innings, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Stalker’s late-game heroics made a winner of freshman Jenn Khantzian in her first varsity start. She allowed seven hits and one earned run while fanning five and walking three.
“As a freshman pitcher, it’s nice for her to get that first win,” Engelhardt said. “She was very nervous, and she now knows what big-time high school softball is about. For the next four years, this helps set the table for her, and she knows what to expect.”
The seventh inning began with Madison Tomlinson working a fullcount and then crushing a single to left field.
“We tried to move her over by a sacrifice bunt, but my nine hitter, Elena Calibeo, wasn’t able to get it down,” Englehardt said. “With two strikes, she got enough of the ball to put it in play, which was good enough – just like a bunt, and we moved the runner to second base.”
Sabrina Crane hit a ball into the gap that plated the tying run. Taylor Briggs followed with a single. With runners on second and third, the Falcons elected to walk Nicole Rounsavill. It looked as though the Falcons might see their way out of the inning when they got a forceout at home for the inning’s second out, but Stalker had other ideas.
“She hit to center field with the wind blowing in – she crushed it,” Engelhardt said of the grand slam. “The girls were confident going into the seventh, and they went out and competed. Madison Tomlinson really started us off.”
Earlier, the Falcons capitalized on a pair of errors to plate a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first.
“My girls were very nervous,” Engelhardt said. “Pennsbury is a big name. They know the program. Frank (McSherry) has done a terrific job there.
“We kicked the ball around, which made it tough. My freshman pitcher – even though she’s the big name, she’s still a 15-year-old girl who has not pitched in big high school games, which is different than travel.”
The Indians scored a single run in the second and both teams scored a pair in the fifth, and the Falcons led 4-3 heading into the seventh.
“Pennsbury played really well, and their girl pitched really well, but we just were not getting a break,” Engelhardt said. “Pennsbury put a bunt down – it would go between two of my players.
“Sabrina Crane was crushing the ball, and it was going right to the centerfielder. We hadn’t gotten any breaks. We did some good base running to manufacture a run in the second.”
For the Falcons, Crane was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, Stalker was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and Taylor Amazeen also was 2-for-4.
Council Rock North (2-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday. Pennsbury (0-2 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Thursday.
Council Rock North 010 020 5 8
Pennsbury 200 020 0 4
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 15, BENSALEM 10
In a slugfest that featured 25 runs and 33 hits, it was the Golden Hawks – who pounded out 21 hits – having the better of play. They broke a 10-10 tie with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win by that margin.
“Thank god for the hitting,” Rock South coach Greg Heydet said. “Honestly, they had two earned runs.
“We had five errors. We can’t score 15 runs every game. We’re just not together yet. This is the first week we have everyone, and we’re still trying to figure it out.”
Sabrina Dobron led the Hawks’ hit parade with a 4-for-5 effort that included a solo home run in the third inning and three RBIs. Phylicia Wilkov was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Melanie Wilkinson was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI, and Julie Keegan was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Mikayla Becker was 2-for-5 with two RBIs, Emily Freed was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Makenna Diamond was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The two teams spent the contest exchanging runs. Both scored a run in the first, and the Hawks tacked on four runs in the second to go on top 5-1. That advantage was quickly erased, and at the end of four innings, the two teams were deadlocked 7-7. It was 10-10 after five, setting the stage for the Hawks’ big sixth.
Meg Nally had a big day for the Owls, finishing 3-for-5 with a double and home run. Tori Yorgey was 2-for-5 with a home run.
Stephanie Andreoli earned the win, allowing 12 hits while walking seven and fanning two.
Council Rock South (2-1, 2-0 SOL) will be on the road at Abington on Thursday, Bensalem (2-2, 0-2) will host Pennsbury on Thursday.
Bensalem 140 230 0 10
Council Rock South 102 435 x 15
NESHAMINY 12, ABINGTON 2 (5 innings)
The Redskins exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the first inning – an inning that began innocently enough with a sky-high popup.
“We’re playing at Neshaminy where it’s always windy, and (Mackensie) Compton leads off and hits a major league popup that no one touches,” coach Dave Chichilitti said.
The floodgates were opened, and by the time the inning was over, the ‘Skins had an 8-0 lead.
“I thought we played very well today against a team I knew was a very good team,” Chichilitti said. “We made some poor fielding plays the other day (in a win over Bensalem), and it was miserable, but that’s no excuse.
“We wanted to play better defense today, and we know Abington is a team that prides itself on putting the ball in play – slapping balls, bunting balls, and we knew we were going to be tested.”
The ‘Skins made one error that allowed the Ghosts to score a pair of runs in the fourth, but by that time, Neshaminy led 10-0. The Redskins got those two runs back in the fifth to bring an early end to the game.
Compton (3-for-4), Olivia Zaino (3-for-4, 2 RBIs), Hunter Hart (3-for-3) and Alexis Watkins (2-for-3, double, 3 RBIs) led the Redskins.
The Redskins return almost their entire lineup from last year, but according to Chichilitti, there have been plenty of changes.
“Every single person playing an infield position for Neshaminy is playing a different position,” the Redskins’ coach said. “We’re trying to find continuity, and I think only making one mistake was very good.
“I was very, very happy. We have many of the same kids, but they’re all playing different roles this year.”
Nicolette Ray had a double for the Ghosts, who managed just three hits in five innings off winning pitcher Sarah Dowalo
Neshaminy (2-0 SOL) will host William Tennent on Thursday while Abington (1-1 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South Wednesday to complete its game against the Titans that was halted after one inning with the score knotted 4-4.
Abington 000 20 2-3-3
Neshaminy 802 02 12-13-1
WILLIAM TENNENT 12, HARRY S TRUMAN 3
The Panthers opened up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back on their way to the decisive win. Five players had multi-hit performances on a day that saw the Panthers hammer out 14 hits.
“We really have been struggling hitting the ball,” coach Biz Keeny said. “The funny part is we’ve had better weather days, and all of a sudden today, the weather was terrible, but our bats were hot.”
Jackie Heim was 2-for-4 with a double and home run. Her two-run home run accounted for both of her team’s runs in the fourth inning. Brianna Koonce was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, including a two-run double in the second inning. Marissa Govan was 2-for-5 with two doubles out of the leadoff spot. Leah Hetzel and Reilly Dougherty were both 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
William Tennent (2-2, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Thursday, and Truman (0-4, 0-2) will host Council Rock North on Wednesday.
Harry S Truman 010 020 0 3
William Tennent 323 202 x 12
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, NORTH PENN 2
Sparked by the glittering performances of Theresa Haug and Kayla Ventura in the circle, the Patriots handed the defending conference champions their first loss of the young season. The duo allowed just two hits and one unearned run.
The Maidens got on the scoreboard with a run in the second, but the Patriots answered with three runs in the third inning. Highlights of the inning included an RBI double by Ventura and an RBI single by Alyssa Catron.
North Penn plated a single run in the fourth to make it a 3-2 game only to watch the Patriots blow the game wide open with a five-run fifth. Tara Harper delivered the inning’s big blow – a two-run double.
Harper led East’s 11-hit attack with a 4-for-5 effort that include a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Ventura (double, RBI), Audrey LaBopuliere (run scored) and Madi Michvech (run scored) all finished the day 2-for-4. Haug, Catron and Nicole Tracy each had one hit, one RBI and a run scored.
Central Bucks East (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday, and North Penn (1-1, 1-1) will host Quakertown on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 003 050 0 8-11-2
North Penn 010 100 0 2-2-6
Hatboro-Horsham 2, Central Bucks South 7
By Kyle Morhardt for Suburbanonesports.com
The Hatboro-Horsham Hatters hosted Central Bucks South in an important league clash on Tuesday. The Hatters jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off of an RBI single by Bridgette Schaffer in the bottom of the first. CB South returned the favor in the top of the second with RBI singles by Maddie Bieber and Taylor Marinelli. CB South extended its lead in the top of the fifth from a huge two-out, three-run homerun by Taylor Marinelli.
“On a day like today with that wind and cold, it was unbelievable,” South coach Dan Hayes said. “In her first at-bat, she hit a foul over the trees, so she was really zoned in.”
A walk set up an RBI double by Alexis McConomy to put the Titans on top 6-1 after five innings.
The Hatters scraped one more run through a series of walks before CB South finished the game off with one more run in the top of the seventh to close out the game 7-2.
Taylor Scuibba started in the circle for the Hatters, allowing five hits and six runs (two earned) with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Kaeli Simmons finished out the game for Hatboro-Horsham and recorded a strikeout of her own.
CB South split time as well in the circle starting with Alexis McConomy, who worked the first three innings and closed out the game by collecting the game's final three outs, finishing the game with a strikeout. Freshman Kylie Kenney threw three innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out three and walking four.
Hatboro-Horsham was led offensively by Kaeli Simmons, who recorded a 2-for-2 outing today with a single and a double, and Brynn Griffith, who had an RBI single of her own. CB South was led offensively by Taylor Marinelli who hit 2-for-3 with a homerun, a single, and 4 RBI’s.
CB South (2-1, 1-0 SOL) will resume its game against Abington Wednesday. The game was halted after one inning because of the weather with the teams deadlocked 4-4. Hatboro-Horsham (4-2, 0-2) will travel to Central Bucks East in an important away league match in its next game.
Central Bucks South 002 040 1 7-7-0
Hatboro-Horsham 100 001 0 2-6-3
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, PENNRIDGE 3
Last year the Bucks won just twice in SOL Continental Conference play. They’ve already equaled that win total in just two games, thanks to Tuesday’s hard fought 4-3 win at Pennridge.
Angelina Sherba once again came up huge for the Bucks, allowing just four hits and one earned run while fanning three and walking none in the complete game win. Her solo home run to left center in the top of the seventh broke a 3-3 tie and proved to be the game winner.
The Bucks served early notice that they meant business, plating a run in the top of the first when Emma Dryden – who doubled to lead off the inning – scored on Cara Hatzinger’s RBI single. They took that 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth when the Lady Rams knotted the score, capitalizing on singles by Meghan Johnson and Grace McGinley and a sacrifice fly by Krista Yerk.
In the top of the fifth, the Bucks benefitted from a pair of Lady Ram errors that allowed Abby Morrison to cross the plate with the go-ahead run.
Pennridge scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to go on top 3-2, but the resilient Bucks knotted the score in dramatic fashion when pinch hitter Shannon Stewart roped a solo home run to right center in the sixth inning.
Sherba and Fisher led the Bucks with two hits each. Johnson accounted for two of Pennridge’s four hits.
Kailyn Bell was charged with the loss, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while fanning five and walking two.
Central Bucks West (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Souderton on Wednesday, and Pennridge (2-2, 0-2) will be at Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Central Bucks West 100 011 1 4-7-2
Pennridge 000 120 0 3-4-3
SOUDERTON at QUAKERTOWN (Postponed to Friday, April 8)
American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 12, WISSAHICKON 10
Sparked by a three-run home run off the bat of pitcher Amber O’Connor, the Golden Bears exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning, erasing a 6-3 deficit on their way to the important conference win. O’Connor’s three-run blast knotted the score, and she added a double later that same inning. Noelle Woodman also had a double in the eight-run uprising.
“That inning was the story of the game,” coach Scott Ludlow said. “Nicole Drummond singled and Allie Miller singled to open the inning, and we started timing their pitcher a little bit. O’Connor got one up and got it good.”
O’Connor, who also earned the complete game win, finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Nicole Drummond also was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Miller was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Kim Benge was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs, and Wood was 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored. Alison Creighton had a double in a game that saw the Golden Bears pound out 16 hits.
The Trojans did some serious hitting of their own, also collecting 16 hits. No one had a bigger day than Michela Coleman. The Trojans’ leadoff batter was a perfect 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles, one RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. Jaclyn McLaughlin was 3-for-4 with a run scored while Zoe Trumbore was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored and Siani Paige-Miller was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Contributing doubles were Julianne Griffin, Andrea Mazurek, Destini Paige and Macey Segal.
The Trojans put four runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Coleman jumpstarted her team with a leadoff single and scored on Mazurek’s RBI double. Segal followed with a two-run single, and McLaughlin capped the four-run outburst with an RBI single.
The Golden Bears cut that lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the second and made it a 4-3 game with a single run in the third. Wissahickon scored a pair in the fourth to go on top 6-3, setting the stage for the eight-run fifth.
“It was a nice win,” Ludlow said. “We got down early – they hit the ball hard, but we bobbled a couple. We kind of chipped away, got two back in the bottom of the first.
“They got a couple more, we made it 6-3, and Amber O’Conner’s run kind of ignited that inning. They made a mistake or two, but we hit the ball hard that inning and ran the bases well and broke it open.”
The Trojans didn’t go down quietly, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh. Hanna Genell pushed a run across on a groundout, Coleman delivered an RBI single, and Trumbore had a two-run single to make it a 12-10 game.
“They certainly didn’t roll over,” Ludlow said. “They had the tying run at home plate in the seventh.”
Upper Moreland (4-0, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Thursday for a battle of the conference’s unbeaten teams. Wissahickon (0-2 SOL) will play Wilson on Thursday in a non-league contest.
Wissahickon 400 200 4 10-16-0
Upper Moreland 201 081 x 12-16-1
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 5, NORRISTOWN 2
Jen Hammons had another big day for the Spartans, fanning 10 and allowing just five hits and one earned run in the complete game win. For good measure, she also had a pair of hits and two runs scored.
The Spartans struck first, plating a run in the bottom of the first when Hammons, who had singled, scored on Kaitlyn Cannon’s RBI single. The Eagles got that run back in the top of the third, but the Spartans scored a pair in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would not lose. Gabby Gaskin’s two-run double highlighted the inning. The Spartans increased their advantage to 5-1 with a run in the fifth before the Eagles – thanks to an RBI double by Stephanie Orman – scored a single run in the top of the seventh.
Mary Kate Smith was 2-for-3 out of the leadoff spot with one RBI and one run scored, and Cannon also was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Amy Iorio’s 2-for-3 day at the plate led the Eagles, who also received a triple and RBI from Kathleen Watson.
Orman absorbed the loss, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while fanning eight.
Springfield (2-0 SOL) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Thursday, and Norristown (1-2, 0-2) will host Upper Merion.
Norristown 001 000 1 2-5-0
Springfield 103 100 x 5-7-3
UPPER DUBLIN 15, CHELTENHAM 5 (6 innings)
The Flying Cardinals continued their remarkable run production, upping their run total to 40 after just three games. After playing just three innings in their first game and five in the second, the Cards were extended to six innings in yet another mercy rule win.
Sarah Tannenbaum’s three-run home run in the fifth highlighted a four-run fifth for the Cardinals. Megan Muth was 2-for-5 with a two-run double in a four-run fourth. She also scored two runs. Erin Gallagher was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored.
The Lady Panthers led 1-0 after one inning and a two-run third gave them a 3-2 lead that was erased when the Cardinals scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Cheltenham made it a 6-5 game with a pair of runs in the fifth, but the Cards began to seize control of the contest, scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth and bringing an early end to the game with five runs in the sixth. The Cardinals, who had a pair of errors, benefitted from five Cheltenham errors.
For the Lady Panthers, Morgan Gianelle had a pair of hits and three RBIs.
Rebecca Matricardi notched the win in the circle, allowing five hits and three earned runs while fanning six and walking four in six innings.
Upper Dublin (3-0, 2-0) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday, and Cheltenham (1-3, 0-2) will host Springfield.
Cheltenham 102 020 5
Upper Dublin 020 445 15
UPPER MERION 4, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The visiting Colonials took a 1-0 lead over the Vikings in the top of the second, but in the bottom of the inning, the Vikings got that run back plus three more to take a 4-1 lead that held the rest of the way. Alyssa Adinolfi’s solo home run highlighted the four-run second.
“The pitching was very good,” UM coach John Whitney said. “We didn’t hit as much as we could, but their defense was good.
“We just need to hit a little more.”
Olivia Sborlini threw the first three innings for the Vikings, fanning seven, and Nicole Kowalski tossed the final four, striking out five as the duo combined for 12 strikeouts.
Upper Merion (2-1, 2-0 SOL) will be on the road at Norristown on Thursday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-2 SOL) is off until next Wednesday when they will host William Penn Charter.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 010 000 0 1
Upper Merion 040 000 x 4
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