Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. North Penn/CB South photos provided by Keith Clemens Photography. CLICK HERE for a gallery.
SOL National Conference
NESHAMINY 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 2
It’s official.
The Redskins clinched sole possession of their fourth consecutive conference crown. If it seems as though it might be getting old, guess again.
“It was definitely goal number one to win our conference, and it was something special for our seniors,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “A lot of them are four-year players, and this is back-to-back-to-back-to-back, their fourth year in a row that they’ve done it, so it was really special for them to be able to achieve that.”
Two days earlier, the Redskins lost for the first time in conference play, but they showed no ill effects from that loss on Thursday.
“After a loss like that, it makes everyone work harder, focus a little better,” Chichilitti said. “We had a great practice yesterday, came out today, played great defense, the pitchers were great.
“We scored runs early, and it was enough. Truman is a tough team. They didn’t make one mistake defensively.”
The Redskins scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Amber Brugger led off with a single to center, and Olivia Fee followed with a single. Natalie Rios drew a walk to load the bases, and Liana Jones singled to drive in a pair. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Rachel Kohler and Hallie Duffy accounted for the other two runs.
The Redskins’ lead grew to 6-0 in the second, thanks to singles from Paige Metz and Jones (RBI) as well as an RBI double by Natalie Rios. Truman plated its only runs of the game in the bottom of the second when Grace Pool smashed a two-run home run to make it a 6-2 game. Elle Olivero, who had singled, scored on the play. That’s as close as the Tigers would get.
“We played a good game,” Truman coach Lisamarie Belmonte said. “I’m very proud of my girls. They didn’t give up and came out to play today.”
Neshaminy was led by the perfect 3-for-3 effort of Jones at the plate. She also had three RBIs. Rios was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Victoria Smith added a double.
For the Tigers, Pool was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run, Chrissie Huhn was 2-for-4 with a double, and Vanessa Tancini also was 2-for-4.
Sarah Dowalo earned the win, allowing four hits and two runs while fanning six in three innings. Brugger threw four shutout innings, scattering three hits while fanning six and walking none. If you do the math – the senior duo combined for 12 strikeouts and no walks.
The Redskins are fourth in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Neshaminy (16-2, 10-1 SOL) will host Council Rock South in its regular season finale on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (9-7, 5-4) will host Council Rock North on Friday.
Neshaminy 420 001 0 7-12-1
Harry S Truman 020 000 0 2-7-0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7, PENNSBURY 4
Julianna Shields blasted a three-run home run to highlight a four-run uprising in the fourth that put the Indians on top 6-1. The Falcons never seriously threatened.
The win was the third in a row for the Indians.
“Energy has been the focus,” Rock North coach John Engelhardt said. “When we went 6-1, our energy was there through seven innings.
“When we went 1-5, the energy dropped as soon as we made a few errors or we were struggling at the plate. It was contagious in the whole team. The energy dropped, and it seemed like we weren’t a team – we were breaking down as individuals. That’s been our focus.”
The Indians were two days removed from handing Neshaminy its first conference loss.
“Going into Neshaminy, we said, ‘Let’s not be worried about the results. Bring the energy seven innings, and whatever happens happens,’” Engelhardt said. “That has really helped us because it’s easier to move on from making an error or struggling at the plate when you have a team full of girls that are positive, knowing we have to work together as a team if we want to have the best results.”
Riley Sheehy led the Indians’ 10-hit attack with a 3-for-4 effort that included a double. Elena Calibeo was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and it was her two-out, two-run single that set the tone and spotted the Indians a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Lauren Begg was 2-for-4.
Begg also earned the complete game win, allowing nine hits – all singles – while striking out one and walking one.
The Indians are 13th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
“We’ll see what happens,” Engelhardt said. “We have Truman tomorrow, which will be an interesting one because they beat us the last time. We shall see.”
For the Falcons, Arden Rabiger was 4-for-4 and Sierra Daly was 2-for-4.
Council Rock North (10-6, 6-5 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Friday, and Pennsbury (10-6, 6-5 SOL) will host Conwell Egan in a non-league game on Friday.
Council Rock North 204 100 0 7-10-2
Pennsbury 011 101 0 4-9-0
SOL Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
The Knights had this one marked on their calendar.
And if falling to the Titans – who owned sole possession of first place entering the game – in the initial meeting wasn’t enough, losing to Souderton in eight innings two days earlier simply added fuel to the fire.
Entering Thursday’s game, the Knights trailed the Titans by one game and needed a win if they entertained any hopes of earning a share of the title.
“All last night and all day today, we’ve been so anxious for this game,” junior Elia Namey said. “We’ve been literally texting each other all day, hyping each other up.
“Since the last time we played them, this is all we wanted. We’ve been waiting for this game. We came out, our heads were in it, and we got it done.”
Namey drove in the game winner with one out in the bottom of the sixth when she hit a rocket down the left field line that broke a scoreless tie. It was also Namey who fielded a grounder to first and tug the bag for the game’s final out, setting off a jubilant celebration.
“I was like, ‘Yes, we did it,’” Namey said. “I had all the faith in Mady (Volpe) to finish the game. She played such a great game.
“I was so proud of every single one of the girls on the team and on the bench because we had them backing us up. Everyone had their heads in the game, everyone made that key play we needed.”
No one stood taller than Volpe – the Knights’ freshman hurler – who tossed an impressive two-hitter, shutting out the Titans for just the second time this season.
“Her pitches were on today,” coach Rick Torresani said. “I was so proud of her, and that’s what she can do. The more confidence she gets, the better she’ll be.”
Volpe fanned seven and walked four, issuing all four free passes in the second and third innings. Then she found her comfort zone with an umpire who gave both pitchers the low strikes and retired 13 of the last 15 batters she faced.
“Coach Torresani knew I had to pound the zone and get ahead,” Volpe said. “The umpire’s zone really helped me throughout the game. It helps a lot with the mentality – you know the umpire’s got a good zone, and that’s what you need to work with.”
Sophomore Victoria Juckniewitz – who had two of her team’s five hits – ignited the sixth inning rally with a one-out single to left.
“She hit every time up to bat, and when she got on, I thought – this is the inning,” Namey said. “Amanda (Greaney) will do something, and if not, I’m going to get up there and get her in. That’s what I need to do.
“She’s always our hype man, she’s always getting us riled up.”
Greaney followed and drew a walk, and then it was Namey’s turn, and she delivered, hitting a double that plated Juckniewitz.
“That’s my best friend,” Namey said of Juckniewitz. “I’m going to do this for her, I’m going to do this for our seniors, and we’re going to get it done.”
“That was huge,” Torresani said of Namey’s big blow. “She’s been hitting really well, she’s over .400 now. That was such a clutch hit. Their third baseman played well, but she wasn’t getting that one.”
A bloop double to right by Jordan Pietrzykoski plated a second run, and then it was Jamie Beer laying down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt that she legged out for a single.
“It was perfect – exactly where she needed to go,” Torresani said of Beer’s bunt.
Lost in the shuffle was the standout effort of South ace Kylie Kenney, who allowed just one hit through five shutout innings before the Knights erupted for three in the sixth.
“This is one game out of 20,” South coach Kevin Rossi said. “We’re looking forward. Would we have liked to win today? Sure we would have.
“I thought we were ready to play, but it’s one game out of 20. I look at all the goals of our season, not just one game.”
North Penn (15-4, 8-3 SOL) will travel to Pennridge for its season finale on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and Central Bucks South (14-3, 8-3) will host Nazareth Academy on Monday in a non-league game.
Central Bucks South 000 000 0 0-2-1
North Penn 000 002 x 3-5-1
WILLIAM TENNENT 9, PENNRIDGE 4
The Panthers were facing a must-win if they hoped to keep their district playoff hopes alive, and it might have been easy for coach Deanna Myers to stick with her regular lineup even though it was Tennent’s Senior Day. The second-year coach didn’t do that, giving her six seniors – Kayla Finkelstein, Kate Clark, Nikki Reh, Cassidy Hubmaster, Kate Heim and Sydne Fairall – the starting nod.
They rewarded her with the win.
“You don’t know what to expect, especially going into a game like today where it’s do or die, but it’s their Senior Day – they stepped up and they got us a win,” Myers said. “They did a great job. I couldn’t be happier with the performance that the team had today.
“I don’t know if it was the fact that it was Senior Day and it just got everybody amped up, but it worked.”
The Panthers opened up a 5-0 lead after two innings, but the Rams made things interesting with four runs in the third when Morgan Henry hit a grand slam. Tennent got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the fifth to go on top 8-4 on its way to the important win.
“We carried over Tuesday’s energy and intensity,” Myers said of the Panthers’ 6-0 win over CB East. “It feels like we just picked up where we left off.”
Finkelstein started in the circle and threw four innings. Freshman Mackenzie Clee threw three shutout innings to close out the game.
At the plate, senior Kate Clark and junior Caitlyn Mitros both were 3-for-4 with one RBI. Junior Brianna Koonce went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Hubmaster was 2-for-4 with one RBI, and Reh drove in two runs.
Despite the win, the Panthers remain in the 21st spot in the latest District One 6A power rankings with one game remaining. Twenty teams will make the district field, and Myers is hoping the Panthers can make a return visit for the first time since 2014.
“They’ve been working so hard, and I just want them to get the feeling – hey, we made it to playoffs and what we worked hard for actually paid off and we accomplished our goal,” the second-year coach said.
William Tennent (9-10, 4-8 SOL) will travel to Souderton for its regular season finale on Tuesday, and Pennridge (7-10, 3-8) will be on the road at Gwynedd Mercy on Monday for a non-league game.
Pennridge 004 000 0 4
William Tennent 231 201 x 9
SOL American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 10, WISSAHICKON 3
Maura Casey had herself a day on Thursday. The UM senior slammed not one but two home runs and drove in five runs in a standout offensive outing.
“I have been doing this for 18 years, and it’s the first time I’ve ever seen two hit out of the park by the same girl in the same game,” UM coach Scott Ludlow said.
It was Casey’s three-run shot in the third that spotted the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead. She added a solo home run in the sixth and also had a sacrifice fly.
All told, the Golden Bears pounded out 15 hits. Brianna Hughes was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Jocelyn Baumeister also was 3-for-5. Chloe Tice was 2-for-3 out of the leadoff spot. Jackie Martino was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, and Allie Ludlow was 2-for-4.
For the Trojans, Josie Johnson accounted for her team’s three runs with a bases-clearing triple in the fourth.
Baumeister also earned the complete game win, allowing five hits while striking out seven and walking a pair.
The Golden Bears are eighth in the latest District One 5A power rankings.
Upper Moreland (10-4, 7-4 SOL) will travel to Quakertown for a 4 p.m. contest on Friday, and Wissahickon (2-13, 2-11) will be on the road at Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 103 501 0 10
Wissahickon 000 300 0 3
HATBORO-HORSHAM 8, UPPER DUBLIN 2
Alicia Tauber’s two-run inside-the-park home run and Maddie Yeager’s RBI triple ignited a four-run first inning, and the Hatters had a lead they would not lose, although their run production slowed considerably – they scored just four runs over the next six innings.
In the top of the second, Tauber delivered an RBI double that put the Hatters on top 5-0, and that score stood until the bottom of the sixth when Erin Gallagher stroked a two-run double to pull the Cardinals to within three. The Hatters got those runs back in the top of the seventh when they scored three – two on Yeager’s second triple of the game.
Yeager finished a productive day 2-for-4 with two triples, three RBIs and two runs scored, and Tauber boasted almost identical numbers, going 2-for-4 with a double and home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Logan Cummings added an RBI single.
Grace Daniels earned the complete game win, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out 11 and walking one.
For the Cardinals, Gallagher was 2-for-3 and Korynn Bischoff was 1-for-3 with a triple.
Hatboro-Horsham (16-2, 13-0 SOL) will travel to Archbishop Wood for a non-league game on Friday. Upper Dublin (6-9, 6-7) will host Dock Mennonite Academy in a non-league game on Friday.
Hatboro-Horsham 410 000 3 8
Upper Dublin 000 002 0 2
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 12, CHELTENHAM 2 (5 innings)
The Colonials scored early and often, plating two runs in the first and eight more in the third on their way to the decisive win in the abbreviated contest.
Kamryn Kropinski ignited the Colonials out of the leadoff spot, finishing the game a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. Peyton Baldwin was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, and Emma Carney was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run. Lauren Fuhrmeister tripled and drove in three runs. Josee Tassoni doubled and scored a pair. Giana Fazio and Allison Beausoleil both singled and drove in a run as the Colonials pounded out 15 hits.
Morgan Gianelle led the Lady Panthers with a 2-for-3 effort that included a double and run scored.
Beausoleil, who earned the win, allowed four hits and two runs (both unearned) in three innings. She struck out three and did not walk a batter. Kayla Yeager allowed two hits and struck out three in two scoreless innings in relief.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-6, 8-4 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Monday, and Cheltenham (0-15, 0-13) will host Archbishop Carroll in a non-league contest on Friday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 306 03 12-15-4
Cheltenham 101 00 2-6-1
QUAKERTOWN 11, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (5 innings)
Tori Caputo was in complete command in the circle, allowing just two hits in five innings in the abbreviated contest. She fanned five and walked one.
The junior pitcher received plenty of support as the Panthers put five on the board in the first and added five more in the fourth. Brianna Lefkoski was 3-for-3 out of the leadoff spot with one run scored. Sarah Stofik was also 3-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored. Halle Frederick was 3-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Nikki Vanelli had a pair of hits and scored two runs. Jenna Blair was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Maddie Moyer doubled and drove in a run.
Sam Wynne and Kate Wojeck accounted for the Spartans’ two hits.
Quakertown (12-4, 10-3 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Friday, and Springfield Township (5-8 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Springfield Township 000 00 0-2-1
Quakertown 510 5x 11-16-0
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 7, ABINGTON 3
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning when they scored three runs and then added three more in the fifth to go on top 7-0 before the Ghosts plated three late runs.
After scoring a single run in the first – ignited by Tara Harper’s first of three bunt singles, the Patriots added some insurance in the fourth. Giuliana Ruscio opened the frame with a single, and one out later, Steph Kuhns drew a walk. Ruscio scored on Bailey Schellhorn’s groundout, and Kuhns raced home on Loren Harper’s double. Hailey Aspinwall’s RBI single put the Patriots on top 4-0.
Audrey LaBouliere opened the fifth inning with a solo blast to right field, and Alyssa Catron followed with a solo shot to center. Isabel Parker, who singled, scored on Schellhorn’s single to put the Patriots on top by seven.
In the sixth, Brooke Clewell hit a bases-clearing double after the Ghosts loaded the bases as the result of a walk and two hit batters.
Harper led the Patriots with a 3-for-4 effort that included a run scored. Aspinwall was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and LaBouliere was 2-for-2 with a home run, one RBI and a run scored. Schellhorn was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Clewell’s 2-for-3 effort with a double and three RBIs led the Ghosts.
Ruscio earned the complete game win, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out six and walking two.
Central Bucks East (7-11, 6-6 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Tuesday, and Abington (3-14, 1-10) will be on the road at Council Rock South on Monday.
Abington 000 003 0 3
Central Bucks East 100 330 x 7
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