Pennsbury and Hatboro-Horsham survived the elements to earn wins in SOL softball action Thursday.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 2, ABINGTON 1
With his team playing in conditions that were hardly ideal for a softball game – or any outdoor sport, Frank McSherry had an idea that runs might be hard to come by for both teams.
The Falcons’ coach was right.
“It was one of those games – it was so cold, so nasty, it was rainy,” McSherry said. “At one point, the sun came out and, no exaggeration, three minutes later it started to sleet, and the wind picked up. It was miserable. It was miserable for the kids.
“We knew all along there would not be many runs scored. It was one of those days.”
The Ghosts took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kierstin Gant delivered an RBI double, and that lead held until the sixth inning when Karli Haines delivered a clutch two-out, two-strike single to drive in a pair. Setting the stage for Haines’ big hit were Allison Rose and Olivia Mauro, who both singled.
Haines’ 2-for-3 effort at the plate led the Falcons, who had five hits.
Abington collected nine hits – all singles – off winning hurler Alyssa Hileman, who struck out two and walked one.
Hileman worked her way out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh when the Ghosts had a runner on third with one out after Julie Burkhardt, who singled to lead off the frame, advanced from first to third on a sacrifice bunt.
“It was a close play at third, but she got under the tag,” McSherry said. “They had a runner on third base with one out and their three and four hitters coming up.”
A pop foul to first for the second out was followed by a line drive to shortstop for the game’s final out.
For the Ghosts, Olivia Bernstein was 2-for-4, Tori Brandenburger was 2-for-4, and Sam Marasheski was 2-for-2 and scored a run.
Pennsbury (2-7, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Friday, and Abington (2-3, 0-3) will host Bensalem on Friday.
Pennsbury 000 002 0 2
Abington 010 000 0 1
SOL American Conference
HATBORO-HORSHAM 15, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
The Hatters continued their torrid offensive production, pounding out 13 hits and bringing an early end to Thursday’s game after three innings.
The Lady Panthers kept the Hatters off the scoreboard for two innings, but in the third, the Hatters’ offense exploded for all 15 of their runs. Kristen Myers had the big blow – a grand slam. She finished the game 2-for-3 with five RBIs and a run. Also contributing multiple hits were leadoff batter Kyleigh Dinnien (2-for-4, 2 runs), Logan Cummings (2-for-3, RBI, two runs), Antoinette Spinosa (2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), and Kayla Tauber (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs). Brittany Hubler was 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs. Maddie Yeager was 1-for-2 with a double, RBI and two runs.
Mikayla Fedele earned the win in the abbreviated contest, allowing just one hit and fanning two while walking one.
Hatboro-Horsham (7-1, 7-0 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (0-8, 0-6) will host Wissahickon on Monday.
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