Check out the recaps for the SOL softball teams in action Thursday.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 11, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 5
“Strive to be your best; anyone can be mediocre”
That message is inscribed on a plaque attached to a bench at Council Rock North’s softball field honoring the memory of one of its own.
Megan Longo Villanella, a softball player and 2000 graduate of Council Rock, was hit by a car and tragically killed along with her unborn child on March 3, 2017, and prior to Thursday’s game, the bench was unveiled.
“We’ve had the bench covered since it was installed, so it was nice to actually reveal it,” Rock North coach John Engelhardt said. “I hope every player who plays in the program has an opportunity to learn about Megan’s story and the type of person she was.
“It was really cool to hear her friends talk today. You didn’t hear them talk about how good a player she was or how many wins they had or if they won a district championship. You just heard about the memories and the fun times and not to take life too seriously.
“I think that’s a great message for my kids because these girls take this game so seriously, and there’s so much pressure on them. Megan will be remembered as a fun-loving person who did things for others. Close to $50,000 was raised on a Go Fund Me page, so you can see the impact she had in a short period of time.”
The Go Fund Me page was initially set up to raise funds for the bench but far exceeded the amount needed.
“Overnight we raised $2,500, and that was more than enough for the bench, so we said – ‘Why would we stop? Let’s have the remaining proceeds go to her daughter, Isabelle’s college fund,’” Engelhardt said. “Isabelle was there with Megan’s husband Jim, who’s an incredible man.
“People are willing to put their money behind something that had an impact on them. Megan’s parents gave out wristbands with her quote – ‘Strive to be your best; anyone can be mediocre’ – on them. Each girl got a wristband. It’s just a reminder – times are tough. We have a lot on our plate, but do your best. That’s all that matters.”
******
The Indians fell behind early in Thursday’s game against their neighboring rival. The Golden Hawks scored a pair of runs in the first, but the Indians answered with five in the second to take a lead they would not lose. They made it a 9-3 game with a four-run outburst in the third to all but put the game out of reach.
The top four hitters in the Indians’ lineup did all of the damage. Lauren Begg was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and two RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Riley Sheehy was 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two RBIs and three runs scored. Taylor Briggs was 2-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and two stolen bases, and Julianna Shields was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Begg also picked up the win in the circle, allowing six hits and three runs in six innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Engelhardt credited Begg for her effort in relief on a bitterly cold day and also tipped his hat to Rock South pitcher Danielle Walters.
“She’s a very good pitcher,” the Indians’ coach said. “She’s beaten us once and she played us tight in the district playoff game where we were three outs away from losing to her, so we know what kind of pitcher she is. In the cold weather, it’s just tough to grip the ball and do things.”
The Indians are without senior outfielder Elena Calibeo, who was injured during a collision in Rock North’s game against William Tennent.
“She has a knee fracture, so we got decent news that she’ll come back in the middle of May, so we were happy to hear that,” Engelhart said. “She’s come so far since she was a sophomore, and she’s determined to come back. I would have traded a loss today if I could get her back.”
Council Rock North (4-1, 1-0 SOL) will host Archbishop Wood on Saturday at 1 p.m., and Council Rock South (0-1) will be on the road at Cheltenham Friday for a 3:30 p.m. contest.
Council Rock South 201 020 0 5
Council Rock North 054 020 x 11
NESHAMINY 14, BENSALEM 1 (6 innings)
The Redskins continued to rip the cover off the ball, pounding out 12 hits and scoring 14 runs to bring their run total in four games this season to 47. In Thursday’s SOL opener, their top five hitters accounted for eight of the team’s 12 hits.
Amber Brugger was 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run out of the leadoff spot. Natalie Rios was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Liana Jones was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, and Amanda Kurtz was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Alexis Watkins was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored out of the seven hole as the Redskins received contributions up and down their lineup. Victoria Smith doubled and scored a run, finishing the game 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored.
Eight different players contributed RBIs for the Redskins, who scored four runs in the top of the second. Jones started the rally with a single, and Kurtz followed with a double. Smith and Brugger also doubled in the frame.
The Owls scored their only run in the bottom of the inning. The Redskins responded with three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and closed it out with a five-run sixth.
Sarah Dowalo earned the win, allowing three hits and one run in 4.1 innings while striking out two and walking one.
Neshaminy (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to William Tennent for a non-league game on Friday at 3:30 p.m. Bensalem (0-1) will host Friends Select in a non-league game Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Neshaminy 040 325 14
Bensalem 010 000 1
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, PENNRIDGE 5
Maddie McShane – in her own words – was “just looking to ease back into things” after a memorable postseason run with her Titan basketball squad that culminated with a trip to last Tuesday’s state title game. The Titans’ senior catcher had been to just two practices and spent Thursday’s season opener against the Rams cheering her team on from the dugout.
Until – with two outs, two on and the Titans trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh – coach Kevin Rosini called her number. McShane needed just one pitch and one sweet swing to send the Titans into a state of ecstasy, ripping the first pitch she saw into right center for a double that plated a pair and gave the Titans the walk-off win.
“I was thinking, ‘That would be weird if it came down to me and I had to go in,’” McShane said. “(Coach Rosini) told me, ‘I’m going to try and get you an at-bat here and there,’ and when he told me to start swinging, I thought ‘Okay.’
“When I went in, I was like – ‘I just have to relax because it’s my first at-bat back. No matter what happens – I just have to relax.’ She just happened to throw it in the spot where I like to hit it. I just took the first pitch.”
“It’s the first time Maddie has seen live pitching,” Rosini said. “To be honest with you, when she’s hitting in the cage, she’s always got good pop off the bat. We’re just easing her in.
“We told her today she wasn’t going to play, but we needed a hit. One thing about Maddie – she’s aggressive. Even if she was going to make an out, she was going to be aggressive.”
The Titans’ comeback negated a remarkable comeback by the Rams, who – after managing just one hit through six shutout innings off Kylie Kenney – scored five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to erase a 4-0 deficit. With one out, Morgan Henry drew a walk, but she was erased on a groundout. An infield single by sophomore Gianna Iadonisi kept the inning alive, and the bases were loaded when Ally Motts was hit by a pitch.
Singles by pinch hitter Emily Hegan (2 RBIs) and leadoff batter Kylie Watson (RBI) set the stage for Sara Sztenderowicz, who lofted a double to deep center that plated the tying and go-ahead runs.
Coach Carol Atkinson was not surprised by her team’s gutsy comeback.
“We have a core group of seniors this year that are out to win,” the Rams’ coach said. “They’re a good group of girls. These girls play together. They give their heart and soul each time at practice, in games.
“They’re not putting their heads down. They’re staying high. I told them at the end of the game, ‘There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It was a good game.’”
Earlier, the Titans appeared to be in control after breaking a scoreless tie with four runs in the fifth. The Titans benefitted from a one-out error, a single by Alexa Ortman, an RBI double down the left field line by Maddie Rowley, a bloop RBI single to right by Alex DeLeon and an infield single by Tara Tumasz that plated a run. The Titans’ 4-0 lead looked like it would be more than enough, but the Rams had other ideas.
“We’re a different team than we were last year,” Rosini said. “We lost a ton of good players. A lot of these guys haven’t played, so things are going to happen.
“We’re going to hit some bumps in the road. We had a freshman catcher in there today, our corner infielders are brand new, our right fielder is brand new.
“One thing about this team – they came in and said, ‘Let’s get two runs and win.’ There was no – whoa is me. I give our kids a lot of credit. I really do. Give (Pennridge) a lot of credit because five runs with two outs in the top of the seventh – come on now. That’s a good team we just played. Their pitcher is a good pitcher. It’s not a fluke that this game was 0-0 in the fifth inning.”
Katie Hines (2B), DeLeon, Ortman and Tumasz each had two hits to lead the Titans. No Pennridge player had more than one hit.
Kenney earned the win, allowing five hits while fanning eight. Kailyn Bell, who struck out 11, absorbed the loss.
“This was definitely a team win,” McShane said. “We had so many games that were cancelled (four). We were just excited to play.”
Central Bucks South (1-0 SOL) will host St. Hubert’s in a non-league game on Friday at 3:30 p.m., and Pennridge (0-1) will be on the road at Harry S Truman for a non-league game Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Pennridge 000 000 5 5
Central Bucks South 000 040 2 6
NORTH PENN 13, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 9
The Knights pounded out 12 hits and put 13 runs on the board, and they needed most of them on a day that saw the Bucks on the receiving end of nine walks.
“We did really well hitting, and we did really well hitting in Myrtle Beach because we have so many returning players,” coach Rick Torresani said of his team’s spring break trip to South Carolina.
The Knights received big offensive performances from several players. Emily Groarke was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Amanda Greaney was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. Jordan Pietrzykoski was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Jamie Beer was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Angelina Sherba led West with a 3-for-4 effort that included a solo home run in the sixth inning.
Freshman Mady Volpe earned the win for the Knights, allowing two runs in five innings with four strikeouts and six walks.
“Our pitchers gave up a lot of walks – it was so cold they couldn’t grip the ball,” Torresani said. “Our ninth grade pitcher, Mady Volpe, who came out of Myrtle Beach as our number one – she pitched well today considering the cold.
“I was extremely happy with the job she did even though she went home thinking she didn’t do well because of the walks – she normally doesn’t walk people. She’s just pitching really well for us right now.”
North Penn (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday for a 3:45 p.m. contest, and Central Bucks West (0-1) will be on the road at William Tennent on Friday for a 3:30 p.m. game.
North Penn 420 025 0 13
Central Bucks West 100 301 4 9
SOUDERTON 7, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2
The visiting Indians notched a big win over the Patriots, benefitting from several costly Patriot errors to plate five first-inning runs. Only one of those runs was earned.
“That was huge,” coach Liz Parkins said. “Even in our win against Truman, we came out pretty early, and that’s the one thing I’ve been stressing – swinging at good pitches. We’ve worked on hitting a lot, and it’s just nice to see it translate into the game.
“East always has a solid program, and it was nice to get that first league win under our belt.”
Bri Neely was safe on an error to lead off the first, and she scored on a double by Jess Lepore. After Jen Klepfer drew a walk, Alex Scheeler followed with an RBI single. Two out’s later. Alina Skrzat singled, and two runs scored when Megan Hamilton doubled, giving the Indians a 5-0 lead.
East got two of those runs back in the third, capitalizing on singles by Hailey Aspinwall, Tara Harper, Alyssa Catron (RBI) and Isabel Parker (RBI). In the top of the fourth, the Indians scored a single run when Julia Kistler, who reached base on a bunt single, scored on a two-out RBI single from Klepfer. In the sixth, Kistler doubled and scored on a groundout by Neely to give the Indians their final margin of victory.
“Last year a lot of our games were close – one, maybe two-run games, and our offense wasn’t that strong,” said Parkins, whose team did not win a game in league play. “This year it’s amazing the improvements the players have made in the offseason and working throughout the winter, and just seeing it translate onto the field – it’s incredible.”
Alex Scheeler earned the complete game win, allowing eight hits and two runs while striking out two and walking two.
“She threw really well,” Parkins said.
The Indians’ second-year coach also credited her team’s defense, pointing to a catch by centerfielder Bri Neely that robbed Hailey Aspinwall of a hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh.
“Bri just cut off a base hit on a line drive in right center, and she did a really good playing the ball,” Parkins said. “For us, that was a huge momentum thing because Aspinwall already had two singles.”
Leading the Indians’ 11-hit attack were Lepore (2-for-4, RBI, run), Klepfer (2-for-2, RBI, run), Scheeler (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Kistler (2-for-3, two runs).
For the Patriots, Aspinwall (2-for-4, run) and Harper (2-for-4, run) led the attack.
Souderton (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Norristown in a non-league game on Monday at 3:45 p.m., and Central Bucks East (0-1) will host Quakertown in a non-league game Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Souderton 500 101 0 7
Central Bucks East 002 000 0 2
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 7, WISSAHICKON 6
The Colonials took a 5-1 lead into the fifth inning when the visiting Trojans erupted for five runs to go on top by one. The Colonials answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to eke out the win.
After the Trojans sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth to score five runs, Josee Tassoni drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the frame. One out later, Lauren Fuhrmeister singled. A Trojan miscue allowed Tassoni to race home with the tying run. Fuhrmeister scored a run that turned out to be the game-winner on a groundout by Emma Carney.
Tassoni reached base three times and scored three runs. Fuhrmeister was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
Kayla Yeager earned the complete game win in the circle, striking out seven.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Friday for a 3:30 p.m. contest, and Wissahickon (0-1) will host Quakertown on Monday at 3:30 p.m.
Wissahickon 001 050 0 6
Plymouth Whitemarsh 041 020 x 7
QUAKERTOWN 15, UPPER DUBLIN 5 (6 innings)
A trio of players – Nikki Vanelli, Sarah Stofik and Morgan Thrush – accounted for eight hits and 10 RBIs in the Panthers’ win. Vanelli was 3-for-4 with a solo home run in a three-run fourth. She drove in a pair of runs and scored four runs. Stofik was 2-for-4 with a double, triple, five RBIs and two runs scored. Only a single separated Thrush from the cycle. The sophomore slugger was 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and a solo home run in the fourth inning. She had three RBIs and scored four runs.
The Panthers led 4-1 heading into the top of the fourth when they tacked on three runs. The Cardinals – sparked by Megan Muth’s bases-clearing triple – answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a 7-5 game, but a six-run outburst by the Panthers in the fifth all but put the game out of reach.
The Cardinals received big offensive performances from several players. Muth was 2-for-4 with a three-run triple and a run scored. Sarah Sharp was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Taylor Avery was 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the second inning.
Tori Caputo earned the win, allowing 10 hits and five runs in six innings. She fanned seven and walked none. Erin Gallagher absorbed the loss.
Quakertown (1-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East for a non-league game at 3:30 p.m., and Upper Dublin (1-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Quakertown 202 362 15
Upper Dublin 010 400 5
Non-league
WILLIAM TENNENT 5, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 3
The Panthers used a five-run fourth to erase a 3-0 deficit and defeat their neighboring rival in a non-league contest. Sophomore Hannah Reimel led the attack with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate that featured a pair of doubles. Freshman Makenzie Clee pitched 3.5 scoreless innings, allowing only three hits.
William Tennent (3-0) will host Central Buks East on Friday.
Archbishop Wood 102 000 0 3
William Tennent 000 500 x 5
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