Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action this week.
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 14, CHELTENHAM 3 (6 innings)
Gretchen Wolpert had a varsity debut to remember, ripping a three-run triple in the fourth inning to ignite a five-run Cardinal uprising. The freshman catcher finished a productive day 2-for-4 with six RBIs.
Brianna Parker delivered a two-run triple in a five-run third inning that turned a 1-0 UD deficit into a 5-1 lead. Erin Gallagher was 2-for-3 with a double in the fourth inning. Korynn Bischoff was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Ellie Kelcy was 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
For the Lady Panthers, Morgan Gianelle was 1-for-2 with a solo home run in the second that spotted Cheltenham a 1-0 lead. Erin Kuchler was 1-for-3 with a triple.
Gallagher earned the win in the circle for the Cardinals, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out five. Veta Blair Kraybill absorbed the loss.
Upper Dublin (1-0) will host Cheltenham (0-1) in a rematch on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 005 504 14
Cheltenham 010 011 3
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, ABINGTON 1
The Indians broke a 1-1 tie in dramatic fashion with two outs in the top of the seventh with back-to-back solo home runs by Riley Sheehy and Taylor Briggs.
Jenna Khantzian earned the complete game win, fanning five and walking five.
Council Rock North (3-1) will be on the road at Harry S Truman for Tuesday’s SOL opener, and Abington (0-1) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday.
Non-league
NESHAMINY 10, QUAKERTOWN 3
Amber Brugger did it all for the Redskins in Wednesday’s battle of last year’s conference champions. The senior pitcher earned the win in the circle, allowing six hits and two runs while fanning 10 and walking none. She also was an impossible out at the plate out of the leadoff spot, finishing the day 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. The home run – a solo shot in the sixth – was Brugger’s first career home run.
The win came on the heels of a 10-9 loss to Kellam on the team’s trip Virginia Beach last weekend.
“For Amber to come back and to pitch as strongly as she did – obviously, I was very, very happy,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “Did she have her best stuff in Virginia? No. Was the zone very small for both teams? Yes, that’s why it was 10-9, and it also was 32 degrees, but there was no snow there.”
The Redskins split their two games in Virginia Beach Saturday, falling to Virginia power Kellam and rolling to a 14-2 win over Bayside.”
“I walked away and I wanted to be upset, and then I looked at the book – I saw we made one error, we got the next girl out, and we outhit them,” Chichilitti said. “I’m thinking – I don’t know if there’s anything to really be upset about.
“The next game (a 14-2 win) was a game where everybody got a chance to play, so you come back from that trip, and you get one day outside. You’re actually looking to improve upon a game you lost, but you didn’t do really bad.”
Natalie Rios had another big day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs.
“She had a huge weekend – she had a double, triple, home run and six RBIs and came up here today and had two more,” Chichilitti said. “She’s played really well.”
Olivia Fee was 2-for-4 on a day that saw the Redskins’ top three hitters go a combined 7-for-12. Victoria Smith and Isabella Collins each had a double.
Quakertown was led by the big bat of Sarah Stofik, who hit a two-run home run in the seventh. She also had a double.
The Redskins took a lead they would not lose in the top of the first. Rios drove in the first run with a two-out triple, and she scored on an RBI single from Amanda Kurtz. Neshaminy scored two more runs in the second, and after the Panthers got one of those back, they added three runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Neshaminy (2-1) will host Central Bucks East in a non-league game Tuesday, and Quakertown (0-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon for Tuesday’s SOL opener.
Neshaminy 220 301 2 10-14-1
Quakertown 010 002 0 3-6-2
SOUDERTON 9, HARRY S TRUMAN 3
The Indians broke a 2-2 tie with a six-run fifth on their way to the convincing win in Wednesday’s non-league opener.
The fifth inning began with a pair of free passes – Bri Neely was hit by a pitch and Jess Lepore followed and drew a walk. Both runners advanced on Jen Klepfer’s sacrifice bunt, and Alex Scheeler was intentionally walked to load the bases. That decision proved costly when Ali Gould delivered a two-run single up the middle. Naila Neilly followed with an RBI single to left and then Alina Skrazat singled to left, plating two more.
A pair of Truman miscues set the stage for a drag bunt by Julia Kistler, and while teammate Megan Hamilton – who reached base on an error – was caught in a rundown, Skrazat raced home to put the Indians on top 6-2.
Earlier, the Indians benefitted on a pair of Truman errors as well as singles by Jess Lepore and Scheeler to plate a pair of runs in the top of the third. Truman got those runs back when Chrissie Huhn delivered a two-run home run over the center field fence in the bottom of the inning .
The Indians tacked on their final run in the sixth when Lepore, who doubled, scored on Scheeler’s RBI single. Truman scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning when Huhn, who walked, scored on a throwing error.
The Indians held an 11-2 advantage in hits. Bri Neely had a pair, including a double. She also stole two bases and scored a pair of runs. Lepore was 1-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and one stolen base. Klepfer was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored, and Sheeler was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
Scheeler also notched the complete game win in the circle, allowing just two hits while striking out a pair and walking one.
Souderton (1-0) will host Methacton in a non-league game on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (0-1) will host Council Rock North in Tuesday’s SOL opener.
Souderton 002 061 0 9-11-2
Harry S Truman 002 001 0 3-2-3
Tuesday, March 27
WILLIAM TENNENT 12, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 (5 innings)
The Panthers came out strong in their season opener on Tuesday. Senior Kayla Finkelstein notched the complete game win in the abbreviated contest, allowing only four hits in five innings.
Senior Kate Clark led the hit parade with a 3-for-4 effort and four RBIs. Junior Brianna Koonce also was on fire, finishing the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Sophomore Hannah Reimel had a multiple hit day with two hits in three at-bats.
William Tennent (1-0) will host Pennsbury on Thursday for its home opener at 11 a.m.
Monday, March 26
SPRING-FORD 4, PENNSBURY 2
The visiting Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but the Rams answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would not lose. Maddie Walsh delivered a solo home run for the Rams, who were led by the two-hit effort of Bridget Parsons.
Carley Parsons had a pair of hits to lead the Falcons. Alyssa Hileman absorbed the loss in the circle.
Pennsbury (0-1) will travel to William Tennent for an 11 a.m. contest on Thursday.
Pennsbury 001 010 0 2
Spring-Ford 003 100 x 4
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