CB West won in nine innings, Bensalem earned a walk-off win, and Quakertown earned an impressive Senior Night win. Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Monday. (Abington/NP photos provided courtesy of John Marasheski.)
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 5, PENNRIDGE 3 (9 innings)
Angelina Sherba stole the spotlight in Monday night’s conference showdown at Druckenmiller Park. And deservedly so. The senior standout struck out 20 in the complete game win, forcing her fielders to record just seven outs. She scattered eight hits and did not allow an earned run.
If that wasn’t enough, Sherba also smacked a pair of two-run home runs – her second with two outs and two strikes to win the game in the top of the ninth inning.
“She pitched a whale of a game,” coach Geoff Thompson said. “I was amazed. She’s been pitching well – even in the games we lost.
“I told them at the beginning of the game – this is a playoff atmosphere so all out. That was the most intense I’ve seen the girls all year. It was fun under the lights. Pennridge is a good team.”
It looked as though the Bucks would win it in seven. They not only took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, they had two outs with Kylie Watson – who doubled with one out – still on second. A costly error kept the inning alive, and Skylar Hengeveld made it hurt, delivering a two-run single that plated a pair and sent the game into extra innings.
“That was tough – we had it won and we had that error on a popup,” Thompson said. “But the girls bounced back nice. They kept fighting.”
Sherba’s two-run home run spotted the Bucks a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Rams cut that lead in half with a run in the third, but the Bucks tacked on a run in the sixth, setting the stage for the wild finish.
Sherba was 2-for-5 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Bucks. Grace Dryden was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
For the Rams, Hengeveld was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Sara Sztenderowicz singled and drove in a run.
Kailyn Bell absorbed the loss, allowing nine hits and five runs (only two earned) while striking out eight and walking one.
For those who missed Monday’s classic battle, there will be a rematch on Tuesday when Pennridge (7-8, 3-6 SOL) travels to Central Bucks West (8-7, 4-7 SOL) for a 3:45 p.m. contest.
Central Bucks West 200 001 002 5-9-2
Pennridge 001 000 200 3-8-3
SOL American Conference
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 7, UPPER DUBLIN 3
The Spartans found themselves on the short end of a 2-1 score heading into the fifth inning when they scored a pair of runs and then added three more in the sixth to seize control of the game. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday at Springfield.
Hannah Sebenick earned the win for the Spartans, allowing eight hits while striking out four and walking two. She also helped her cause at the plate with a pair of hits, including a two-run double in a three-run sixth inning. She finished the game with three RBIs.
Gabby Gaskin also had a productive day for the Spartans with a double and three RBIs. Mary Kate Smith was 1-for-2 with a triple and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
For the Flying Cardinals, Sarah Sharp was 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the seventh. Bela Soriano was 2-for-2 with a run scored, and Brianna Parker was 2-for-3.
Erin Gallagher absorbed the loss for the Flying Cardinals.
Springfield Township (5-6 SOL) will host Upper Dublin (5-6, 5-8) on Tuesday.
Springfield Township001 023 1 7
Upper Dublin 002 000 1 3
Non-league
QUAKERTOWN 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Quakertown celebrated Senior Night with an impressive non-league win over the visiting Panthers. Tori Caputo tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out six.
“We played a great game,” coach Ray Fox said. “Tori (Caputo) pitched a great game.
“We just played a really good game. We only had three hits too. That’s not a lot of hits.”
The host team made them count, plating a run in the bottom of the first when Abby Schwartz and Nikki Vanelli (RBI) hit back-to-back doubles. They manufactured a run in the third. It began with Vanelli drawing a leadoff walk.
“She stole second, she went to third on a ground ball to second, and she scored on a ground ball to second,” Fox said. “We scored a run without a hit, and you know what – good teams do that. They find a way to push a run across without getting a hit.
“We had no errors. In fact, William Tennent played a very nice game too. They had one error the entire game.”
Quakertown honored its two seniors – Vanelli and right fielder Becca Hall, who is back in the lineup after being sidelined her entire junior season with an injury.
“It was really a wonderful night for our seniors,” Fox said. “Nikki is a four-year starter, and Becca Hall had a nice game tonight too. She had a sacrifice bunt that was excellently executed.
“The young girls worked hard. (Shortstop) Abby Schwartz made an over-the-shoulder catch in left field that was unbelievable – the kind that Spenser Gray used to make. Our catcher (Halle Frederick) caught a ball diving up against the fence again. She did that at North Penn too. We just played a very tight game defensively and did enough at the plate to have a fun night.
“I told the girls – play this kind of game tonight and set the tone for the week because we have three more games this week. We’re off on Monday, and then we have PW and Pennridge Tuesday and Wednesday. My hope is they put a winning streak together to finish the season strong.”
For Tennent, Jenna Cragin was 2-for-3 with a double.
Quakertown (11-3, 9-2 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Tuesday, and William Tennent (7-10, 2-8) will host Central Bucks East.
William Tennent 000 000 0 0-3-1
Quakertown 101 000 x 2-3-0
BENSALEM 5, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4
Allison Goodman – who had singled – scored on a hustle play with two outs in the bottom of the seventh after Maddie Buechner delivered a clutch double, giving the Owls the dramatic walk-off win.
“It was very heads up,” coach Dan Schram said. “Maddie Buechner hit a double that got Ally to third. On the relay back to the infield, the shortstop dropped the ball on the relay, and I sent Ally home.
“There was a play at the plate, and she was probably safe anyway, but the ball got knocked out of the catcher’s glove too.”
The win capped a wild game that saw the Owls open up a 4-0 lead in the third only to watch the Patriots come back and knot the score. The Owls’ four-run third was highlighted by a two-run single by Buechner as well as an RBI bunt single by Haley Keenan.
“The game had its miscues,” Schram said. “We had a couple of girls called out on interference in the first two innings.”
Buechner’s double in the seventh inning capped a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate for the gifted freshman.
“It was great to see Maddie Buechner, who is very talented, coming into her own on the varsity,” Schram said. “She’s a lot of fun to have on the field. The girls in the pregame were having a ‘make-fun-of-coach-Schram’ session.
“It was hilarious – they were making fun of all the things I was saying, and she was helping to lead the charge. My response to that was – imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
“Maddie is loose – most of the time freshmen come in and they’re a little bit on edge because the coach is demanding. I’ve just seen a real change in her where she’s become a key member of the program. The girls like her and really embrace her, and I think that’s part of why she’s really producing now. She really feels like she’s a part of it, and that’s really good to see.”
Also for the Owls, senior Katie Mulvey celebrated Senior Day by going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Dani Sharpe closed it out with an inning and a third of scoreless relief to earn the win. Haley Sauer started and threw 5.2 innings.
“Haley pitched really well, but in the sixth inning, they started to catch up to her,” Schram said. “I thought both of our pitchers pitched really well. They backed each other up, and we played clean defense. No errors, and that means a lot to me.”
For the Patriots, Steph Kuhns was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored, and Hailey Aspinwall was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Bailey Schellhorn doubled and drove in a pair of runs.
The Owls are 24th in the latest District One 6A power rankings while the Patriots dropped to 25.
Bensalem (6-9, 2-7 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Wednesday, and Central Bucks East (6-9, 5-5) will be on the road at William Tennent Tuesday.
Central Bucks 000 013 0 4
Bensalem 004 000 1 5
NORTH PENN 8, ABINGTON 3
The Knights took a 2-1 lead into the fifth when they scored three runs and then added three more in the sixth to go on top 8-1 before the Ghosts plated two late runs.
Emily Groarke was 3-for-5 with two runs scored to lead the Knights. Amanda Greaney was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs, and Jamie Beer was 2-for-2 with a run scored and RBI. Elia Namey was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
In the three-run sixth that put the game out of reach, Greaney doubled to drive in a pair, and Namey drove in a third run with a single.
Freshmen Mady Volpe and Rachel Lowry split time in the circle. In three innings, Volpe allowed two hits and one run, striking out seven and walking none. Lowery threw four innings, allowed three hits and two runs while striking out two and walking none.
For the Ghosts, Kierstin Gant hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.
“Abington played well, and we played clean defensively, but I know my team was looking forward to tomorrow,” said coach Rick Torresani, whose team is sixth in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
North Penn (14-3, 7-2 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Tuesday, and Abington (3-11, 1-8) will be on the road at Harry S Truman Tuesday.
North Penn 020 033 0 8
Abington 001 0001 1 3
HARRY S TRUMAN 7, CHICHESTER 1
The Tigers opened up a 4-0 lead after three innings and never looked back on their way to the non-league win.
Elle Olivero had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. No other Tiger had more than one hit. Kailea Heston singled and drove in two runs. Chrissie Huhn and Rylee Worthington contributed one RBI each. Vanessa Tancini doubled and scored a pair of runs.
Haley Carter earned the win, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four and walking three in five innings. Jalecia Blackston closed out the game, allowing one hit and no runs.
The Tigers are 14th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Harry S Truman (8-6, 4-3 SOL) will host Abington on Tuesday.
Chichester 000 010 0 1-5-4
Harry S Truman 112 003 x 7-7-2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 11, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 0 (5 innings)
Mikayla Fedele and Grace Daniels combined for a two-hit shutout in the abbreviated non-league contest. Fedele, who earned the win, threw three innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Daniels allowed one hit in two innings, striking out one and walking one.
Kyleigh Dinnien and Maddie Yeager led the Hatters at the plate. Dinnien was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored out of the leadoff spot while Yeager was 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored. Yeager singled in a run in the first and tripled in a pair in an eight-run second.
Brittany Hubler was 1-for-1 with two RBIs and a run scored. Fedele, Logan Cummings and Kayla Tauber each singled and drove in a run. Alicia Tauber also had an RBI for the Hatters, who did not commit an error in the game.
The Hatters are third in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Hatboro-Horsham (14-2, 11-0 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Lansdale Catholic 000 00 0-2-2
Hatboro-Horsham 182 0x 11-9-0
WILLIAM PENN CHARTER 3, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
The Colonials managed just four hits off a pair of pitchers in Monday’s non-league contest. Penn Charter broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fourth and added two more in the fifth.
Contributing one hit each were Jennifer Byrne, Peyton Baldwin, Emma Carney and Sydney Melillo.
Allison Beausoleil scattered five hits and allowed one run while striking out one and walking none in four strong inning. Kayla Yeager closed it out for the Colonials.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-5, 7-3 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 000 0 0-4-3
William Penn Charter000 120 x 3-7-0
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