Souderton edged CB West in a key conference battle, and North Penn defeated Hatboro-Horsham in a battle of SOL powers. Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday.
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 1, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
For the second time in as many days, the Indians settled a score with a team that had defeated them in the first go round in conference play. On April 18, West defeated Souderton 8-6, and in a game with district playoff implications Friday, the Indians exacted revenge, riding the stellar pitching outing of senior Alex Scheeler to the important win.
“It was a clutch win,” coach Liz Parkins said. “Now that we’re going through the second time around, a good chunk of the teams we did lose to, so these games are important, especially for the playoff race.
“That’s the one thing we talked to our team about – we play every team twice for a reason. Our team has been going above and beyond most days, and it’s awesome to watch. Every win that we’ve had has been a true team win. Our defense has been great, our pitching has been great, our hitting – today it wasn’t that strong, but we had someone step up and do the job.”
Scheeler was in command in the circle, allowing just four hits in the complete game shutout. She struck out four and walked none.
“Alex hit her spots today – she was definitely working the plate, working the corners,” Parkins said. “Again, she gets the ground ball outs.
“We ended the game on a 6-4-3 double play. Double plays have been one of our strong suits this year, which I’m proud of and impressed with.”
The Indians scored the only run they would need in the top of the fourth. Jess Lepore led off with a single to shallow left center, and she moved up to second on Jen Klepfer’s sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Lepore found herself on third base after a groundout to the right side by Scheeler. Ali Gould’s hard-hit single down the third base line plated Lepore with a run that held up the rest of the way.
With the win, Souderton moved up to 16th in the District One 6A power rankings while Central Bucks West is 23rd.
Souderton (9-5, 5-5 SOL) will host North Penn on Tuesday, and Central Bucks West (7-7, 3-7) will travel to Pennridge Monday for a 6:30 p.m. contest with district playoff implications. The Rams are 20th in the latest district rankings
Souderton 000 100 0 1-4-0
Central Bucks West 000 000 0 0-4-0
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 3, UPPER MORELAND 2
Coming off a lopsided loss to PW 24 hours earlier, the Flying Cardinals responded with their most impressive win of the season.
“Between the weather, which has affected everyone this year, we got bit by the injury bug pretty hard as well,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “This is the first week where we’ve actually had what we would want our starting lineup to be in some fashion. Trying to get everybody healthy and keeping them healthy has been a problem.
“We’ve struggled a little bit in the circle, and today we decided to give the ball back to Erin (Gallagher) as a senior and see what she could do with it, and she definitely didn’t disappoint.”
Gallagher earned the complete game win, allowing only three hits and two runs while striking out one and walking six.
“Erin is that kind of kid every coach wants on her team,” Boyer said. “You ask her to do whatever you need her to do, and she will do it with a smile on her face and give you her best effort with no complaints whatsoever, and that’s what she did today.
“If she has her way, she’d rather be at one of the corners where she’s very good, but we needed her to get in there and take a leadership role in the circle today, and she did exactly just that.”
The Golden Bears scored both of their runs in the first inning, both on a wild pitch. The Cardinals erased that 2-0 deficit with three runs in the fourth. Gretchen Wolpert reached base on an error, and courtesy runner Bela Soriano scored on an RBI single from Meghan Muth. Gallagher singled, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Jayme Rubenstein delivered a two-strike hit that plated a pair, giving Upper Dublin its final margin of victory.
The Cardinals, according to Boyer, delivered several big defensive plays which helped strand nine UM base runners.
“Especially leftfielder Korynn Bischoff on a gap ball to left center and Brianna Parker with a diving catch of a foul ball along the first base line,” said Boyer.
The Cards’ coach also lauded the contributions of senior captain Sarah Sharp, who anchors the outfield.
“She made a couple of nice plays today too,” Boyer said. “They (Gallagher and Sharp) have both done a good job of trying to right the ship and get these girls on track for the last six games of the season.
“It was good to see them play to their potential, and it was good to see them bounce back after a disappointing loss to PW, winning a tight game when they were down 2-0.”
Upper Dublin (5-7, 5-5 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Monday, and Upper Moreland (7-4, 5-4) will host Quakertown on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 200 000 0 2
Upper Dublin 000 300 x 3
Non-league
NORTH PENN 7, HATBORO-HORSHAM 2
Rick Torresani described it as a playoff atmosphere, and in reality, Friday’s marque non-league contest under the lights at Hatboro Little League Field was just that, pitting two of the SOL’s and District One’s top squads.
“When the team you’re playing is seeded third and you’re seeded four, it makes for a nice win,” said North Penn coach Rick Torresani.
The battle-tested Knights forced the Hatters into some uncharacteristic miscues that proved costly not only in the game but in the District One 6A power rankings as well.
“Going into the game, we felt we have some team speed, but we also have some smart base runners,” Torresani said. “We were going to try and make them make plays. Some they did, some they didn’t and we were able to capitalize on it.”
Leading the Knights at the plate were Emily Groarke (2-for-4), Jamie Beer (2-for-3, 2 runs), Courtney Neal (2-for-4) and Paige Paciolla (2-for-4, 2 RBIs). While Groarke hits out of the leadoff spot, Beer, Neal and Paciolla bat five, six and seven for the Knights.
“The bottom of the order hit really well tonight,” Torresani said.
It was a five-run third inning that proved to be the difference in the game. Victoria Juckniewitz legged out an infield single to open the inning. Amanda Greaney and Elia Namey (RBI) followed with back-to-back hits. Beer also delivered an RBI single, and the Knights benefitted from a pair of Hatter miscues.
“It was a playoff atmosphere – they knew their seeding and we knew our seeding going into the game,” Torresani said. “There were a lot of points on the line.
“Sometimes when you don’t have games where you’ve been in pressure situations like that, it hurts you. We’ve had those situations because of the league we play in and our non-league schedule.
“I told the girls – and this team knows it – that every game is a playoff game. We have to play like it’s a playoff game, and that helps us as we hopefully go into districts and get a chance to move further in.”
Freshman Mady Volpe earned the complete game win, allowing only five hits and two runs while striking out seven and walking four.
North Penn (13-3, 7-2 SOL) will travel to Abington on Monday for a non-league game, and Hatboro-Horsham (13-2, 11-0) will host Lansdale Catholic on Monday.
North Penn 015 000 1 7
Hatboro-Horsham 100 001 0 2
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 8, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 7
Coach Frank Marino – whose jayvee did not have a game – used Friday’s non-league contest as an opportunity to give several swing and jayvee players some varsity game action. It turned out to be a win-win.
“Obviously, we’re going to try and compete at the highest level, make sure our lineup is strong,” Marino said. “We’ve won a lot of games, the girls are playing some good ball, and it was the right time to insert these girls and see what they could do, and they responded, which is nice for not just them but for the program.”
The Hawks set the tone with three runs in the top of the first. Danielle Walters, who drew a leadoff walk and then stole a base, scored on a passed ball. Shorty Thompson also drew a walk and scored on Julie Barron’s RBI single. Olivia Zoldi doubled, plating Barron and giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
It was a 3-2 game heading into the fifth inning when the Golden Hawks scored four, getting production from several swing and jayvee players. Thompson got the ball rolling with a single and immediately stole second. Maura Salamon, a swing player, brought Thompson home with a single to left. Zoldi singled to center, plating Salamon, and then it was Mackenzie Marino contributing a single. Kerri DeSpirito, a jayvee player, singled to load the bases, and then another swing player, Emma Glosson, delivered the big blow, singling to left to plate a pair.
“The nice thing was getting some of jayvee players in the game and seeing them produce, hit the ball and score some runs for us,” Marino said.
Mackenzie Marino earned the win, allowing eight hits and four runs in five innings. Danielle Walters relieved Marino in the bottom of the sixth and allowed one hit, three walks and three runs. She struck out five.
“It got a little scary in the sixth inning,” Marino said. “We walked a couple, and they got a timely hit to get a few runs across and made it a lot closer than it had been during most of the game.”
The Golden Hawks are seeded 11th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Council Rock South (10-4, 5-3 SOL) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Council Rock South 301 040 0 8
Villa Joseph Marie 020 005 0 7
PENNRIDGE 7, ABINGTON 2
The Rams brought a welcome end to a six-game losing streak with their win over the visiting Ghosts. Kailyn Bell, who earned the win, allowed just two hits and one run (unearned) in 6.1 strong innings. She struck out three and walked one. Makenna Patterson recorded the final two outs.
Morgan Henry led the Rams at the plate with a 3-for-3 effort that included two runs scored. Kiley Watson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Skyler Hengeveld was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Gianna Iadonisi was 1-for-1 with a double, RBI and run scored.
Pennridge (7-7, 3-5 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Monday at Druckenmiller Park (6:30 p.m.), and Abington (3-10, 1-8) will travel to Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Abington 100 100 0 2-2-4
Pennridge 002 023 x 7-10-4
HARRITON 14, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 8
The Colonials had no answer for Harriton’s offense, which exploded for 16 hits and 14 runs.
Things looked promising when PW took a 5-3 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Rams answered with five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Lauren Fuhrmeister had a productive day for the Colonials, finishing the game 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and one run scored. Gianna Fazio was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and Jennifer Byrne was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Kayla Yeager also had an RBI.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-4, 7-3 SOL) will travel to William Penn Charter for a non-league game on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 111 202 1 8-7-3
Harriton 030 533 x 14-16-1
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