Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday.
Autism Awareness (CR North/Bensalem softball/baseball)
On Monday, April 15, the CR North baseball and CR North softball teams will be hosting Bensalem baseball and softball in a league matchup at CR North. Both programs are coming together at 3 p.m. on the CR North varsity softball field to participate in wearing autism awareness shirts during pregame. Bensalem head coach Dan Schram’s son, Andrew (a student at Goodnoe Elementary School), is autistic and will be giving a speech about autism prior to the start of the games. Andrew is the nephew of Council Rock North head baseball coach Matt Schram.
Both varsity baseball teams will walk together to the softball field and meet with the softball programs for this great opportunity to show unity and “team.” All players will be wearing team shirts that were designed and created by the Council Rock ACHIEVE students. All proceeds go to Autism Awareness.
Boys Varsity game will start at 3:45 p.m.
Girls Varsity game will start at 3:30 p.m.
SOL National Conference
BENSALEM 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
The Owls won their third game in as many days, their fifth in their last six, and they needed just one inning to take care of business in this one, erupting for seven runs in the top of the first.
Haley Keenan continued her torrid offensive production, collecting her second home run in three days. This one ignited the seven-run first and came after Jess Klein led off the game with a single.
It looked like that’s where the inning would end as the next two Bensalem batters were retired on well-hit balls, but Chloe Munyon singled to keep the inning alive. Maggie Formichelli drew a walk, setting the stage for a two-run double by Angelia Micalizzi. Isabel Nagle followed and hit the second home run of the inning, this one a two-run blast that gave the Owls a 6-0 lead.
And they weren’t finished yet.
Deja Seilhamer followed with a triple, and she scored when Klein slapped an RBI double to put the Owls on top 7-0.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard in the second when Emily Merrigan hit a solo home run. The Owls got that run back in the fifth when Formichelli hit an RBI double.
Each team had just one strikeout in a game that Bensalem coach Dan Shram called a ‘hitting fest.’ It certainly was for the Owls, who collected 11 hits – six for extra bases.
Formichelli also earned the win in the circle, allowing four hits while walking one and striking out one.
“Truman can really hit,” Schram said. “It was a good win against a real good team. Gotta keep playing.”
Bensalem (6-2, 3-2 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Monday for a conference game that will be preceded by a special Autism Awareness event at 3 p.m. Harry S Truman (2-4, 2-2) will host Pennsbury on Monday.
Bensalem 700 010 0 8-11-0
Harry S Truman 010 000 1 1-4-0
NESHAMINY 5, WILLIAM TENNENT 4
The Redskins needed a dramatic late-inning comeback to eek out an exciting win over a pesky Panther squad.
“It was crazy,” Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti said. “It was huge coming back on the road against a good team.
“For Kennedie (Ruth) to hold her composure – she had to come back in the sixth and seventh innings and pitch to the meat of their lineup. She really dug in and did a great job.”
The Redskins scored the game-winner in the top of the seventh. Kiley Gurysh hit a single to lead off the inning.
“Kiley has turned it on – she’s hitting the ball well, she’s playing a great third base, and that was a huge spot to start off that inning and get a runner on base, which we had to do,” Chichilitti said.
Gurysh was replaced by pinch runner Mia Barone, who immediately stole second.
Asia Barnard followed with a single, and Fee delivered a single that plated the game-winner.”
“We came out and we wanted to score early, and we scored two in the top of the first,” Chichilitti said. “Then their shortstop (Hannah Reimel) hits a two-run homer to tie it in the bottom of the first.”
Reimel’s round tripper plated Caitlyn Mitros, who singled to lead off the inning.
The Panthers didn’t stop there. Pitcher Mackenzie Clee helped her own cause when she ripped a solo home run to lead off the third. The Panthers stranded runner on second and third in the inning as Ruth came up with a pair of clutch strikeouts.
In the fourth, the Panthers tacked on another run to go on top 4-2, benefitting from a Redskin error as well as back-to-back two-out singles by Mitros and Clee.
“They’re up 4-2 and we’re just hitting balls right at people,” Chichilitti said. “Their shortstop (Reimel) made a couple of fantastic plays. She is very good.”
The Redskins evened the score in the sixth. Fee led off the inning with a single, and Liana Jones ripped a two-run home run. An inning later, Fee delivered a hit that brought in the game-winner.
Leading the Redskins at the plate were Fee (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs), Kylee Jones (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, run) and Liana Jones (home run, 2 RBIs). Rachel Kohler had a double.
The Panthers’ one, two and three hitters – Mitros (2-for-4, 2 runs), Clee (2-for-4, HR, RBI, run) and Reimel (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, run) – led the attack.
“Their first five batters are just as good as anybody else’s first five batters,” Chichilitti said.
Ruth notched the complete game win, allowing 10 hits and four runs while striking out nine.
Megan Curtis absorbed the loss.`
Neshaminy (6-1, 4-1 SOL) will host Conwell Egan on Friday in a non-league game. William Tennent (2-4, 1-3) will travel to Council Rock South on Friday.
Neshaminy 200 002 1 5-9-2
William Tennent 4-10-1
PENNSBURY 14, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2 (5 innings)
A little piece of hitting advice went a long way for the Falcons, who erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the first and never let up on their way to the big win.
“I have to hand it to our kids,” coach Frank McSherry said. “We moved them back in the box because (Danielle Walters) threw so hard. I said to our kids afterwards – ‘Murph (assistant coach Dave Murphy) and I don’t remember a Pennsbury team coming out like you guys did in the first inning and swinging the bats like we did.’ Every single ball that we hit was hard.”
The inning began innocently enough with a Sierra Daly single. Carly Parsons was hit by a pitch, and freshman, Caitlyn Martell delivered an RBI double. A run crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice by Casey Glynn. Karli Haines drew a base on balls, and Lizzie Pingor followed with an RBI single.
Freshman Riley Mahoney – in just her second start – had a two-strike, two-run single. Karissa Turk hit an RBI single, and Daly collected her second hit of the inning, this one with an RBI. Just like that, the Falcons led 8-0. The Golden Hawks never threatened.
“I told the kids yesterday – ‘This team is primed for an upset because they’re a good team, and their pitcher is a good pitcher. They’re due to knock somebody off, so you guys better come out fired up, don’t take anybody lightly just because of their record because they’re way better than their record,’” McSherry said. “Fortunately, we did. That’s how we played in the first inning.”
Daly finished the game 2-for-3, and Haines was also 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored. Mahoney was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Turk was 2-for-2 with a run. Kaylie Capriotti, Martell, Glynn and Caitlyn Ferry each had a double.
Pennsbury (7-0, 5-0 SOL) will be competing in the 2019 Mount St. Dominic Softball Invitational on Saturday, taking on Immaculata at 10 a.m. and Red Bank Catholic at 2 p.m. Council Rock South (1-6, 0-4) will host William Tennent on Friday.
Council Rock South 000 11 2
Pennsbury 832 1x 14
SOL Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 1, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 (11 innings)
This one was an instant classic.
It took a two-out single in the top of the 11th – with the international tiebreaker in effect – by freshman Sophia Collins to win it in a contest dominated by West’s Kayla Gallagher and Sara Yoder and North Penn’s Mady Volpe.
Gallagher and Volpe were on top of their games, but nobody was going to beat Volpe on Thursday. The sophomore pitcher put up mind-boggling numbers in the complete game win – allowing just a bunt single to Ebani Welsh in the ninth inning while striking out 23. Yes, that’s 23 strikeouts, leaving just 10 outs for the Knights’ defense to record, and if you haven’t heard a number like that before, you’re not alone.
“In 30 years of coaching, I have never, ever had a game like this,” North Penn coach Rick Torresani said. “Mady pitched so well yesterday (in a 3-2 win over Quakertown) in a pressure situation, and then to come back today – I don’t even have words to explain the pressure she was under constantly.
“She was getting stronger as the game went along. As a sophomore, to be able to hang in there, hit her spots, and she struck out 23 people. They got one ball to the outfield. In the 10th inning, they had the bases loaded with two outs and a 3-2 pitch, and she struck the girl out. It was just unbelievable.
“At the end of the inning, she’d just smile and come in. I said, ‘Are you all right?’ She said, ‘I’m fine coach. You better not take me out.’ When we got on the bus, she said, ‘You know I’m pitching tomorrow.’ It was an amazing game, just amazing.”
The top of the 11th began with Elia Namey on second, and she moved up to third on Jamie Beer’s sacrifice bunt. Volpe followed and drew a base on balls. Yoder recorded the second out on a fly ball. Collins, however, was waiting in the wings and singled to bring home the game’s only run.
“It was a great game, it was an unbelievable game,” Torresani said.
Gallagher threw nine shutout innings for the Bucks, allowing five hits while striking out seven and walking seven.
“CB West played really well,” Torresani said. “Their pitcher played really well, kept us off balance. (Gallagher) is one of the fastest kids we’ve seen this year, so our timing wasn’t on her, and we kept flying out again. She pitched well.
“Like I said – every team is bringing their ‘A’ game. West is a good team. They’re going to beat a lot of people.”
North Penn (7-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Haverford for a non-league game Friday, and Central Bucks West (5-3, 1-3) will host Council Rock North Friday in a non-league game.
North Penn 000 000 000 01 1
Central Bucks West 000 000 000 00 0
PENNRIDGE 6, SOUDERTON 3
The Rams have quietly and without fanfare won five of their first six games to open the season, and any thoughts that there might be a letdown Thursday after their impressive win over Central Bucks South two days earlier were put to rest when they scored five unanswered runs after the Indians opened up a 2-1 lead.
“The girls continue to impress me with their confidence up to bat and composure on defense,” coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “In our last couple of games, we’ve played really solid defense, and combining that with timely hits, we’ve been able to come out with wins against strong teams in the league.”
After the visiting Rams plated an unearned run in the first, the Indians scored a pair in the second, thanks to a two-run, two-out double by Jess Lepore.
In the third inning, Gianna Iadonisi singled, and with two outs, Morgan Henry delivered a two-run homer to right that put the Rams on top 3-2.
“Morgan Henry’s home run really helped our momentum on offense,” Iadonisi said.
Pennridge added single runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to seal the Indians’ fate.
Iadonisi (2-for-3, run), Henry (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, run) and Makenna Patterson (2-for-4) led the Rams’ nine-hit attack.
Patterson also earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out five and walking three.
“Makenna Patterson has been so impressive in the circle, and our defense has done a great job behind her,” Iadonisi said.
Riley York’s 3-for-4 day at the plate with a double and RBI led the Indians. Alina Skrzat and Julia Kistler each had a double.
Abby Burns absorbed the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits. She walked three and struck out one.
Pennridge (5-1, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Lansdale Catholic for a non-league game Friday, and Souderton (4-3, 2-3) will travel to Neshaminy on Monday.
Pennridge 102 101 1 6-9-0
Souderton 020 000 1 3-6-3
QUAKERTOWN 8, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3
The Panthers pounded out 13 hits and blew open a close game with five runs in the top of the seventh to earn the conference win.
“This was a good win for us,” coach Dave Scott said.
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the first when Alyssa Catron, who doubled, scored on Amelia Funston’s RBI single. That lead was short-lived.
In the top of the second, Sarah Stofik evened the score with one swing of the bat, ripping a home run to center. The Panthers added a pair of runs in the third to go on top 3-1, again taking advantage of the long ball. This time it was Syd Andrews hitting a two-run home run to center that plated Bri Lefkoski, who singled.
The Patriots made it a one-run game in their half of the third, thanks to an RBI double by Catron. That 3-2 score stood until the seventh.
After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Stofik doubled, and she scored when Maddie Moyer hit an RBI single. Jenna Blair was hit by a pitch, and an Abby Schwartz single loaded the bases for LauraRose Morelock, who delivered a bases-clearing double. Morelock scored on a passed ball, and the Panthers led 8-2.
Haley Aspinwall hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the inning for the 8-3 final.
Leading the Panthers were Stofik (3-for-4, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 runs), Lefkoski (2-for-4, run), Moyer (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Schwartz (2-for-4, run).
Aspinwall (3-for-4, HR, RBI, run) had a big day out of the leadoff spot for the Patriots. Catron was 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and one run, and Bailey Schellhorn was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles.
Freshman Syd Andrews earned the complete game win, allowing nine hits and three runs in seven innings while striking out four and walking none.
“This win was keyed by a couple of freshman – Syd Andrews first varsity in win in the circle, LauraRose Morelock with a key bases-clearing double in the seventh,” Scott said. “The continued hot hitting for Maddie Moyer and Sarah Stofik.
“We had zero errors defensively, which is huge for our success. It was a very nice bounce-back win after a tough loss to North Penn.”
Soleil Dooner absorbed the loss.
Quakertown (4-4, 2-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Monday, and Central Bucks East (1-7, 0-5) will travel to Pennridge Monday for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
Quakertown 012 000 5 8-13-0
Central Bucks East 101 000 1 3-9-0
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5, UPPER DUBLIN 3
Dana Moyer doesn’t hand out medals for standout performances, but if she did, the PW coach wouldn’t have had any trouble deciding on a recipient after Thursday’s win.
“If I had medals today, (Gianna Fazio) would definitely get a medal,” Moyer said. “She was just focused and ready today. She took solid swings, and she adjusted from pitch to pitch, which really shows her maturity. She’s really grown as a player, and I’m happy to see the way she played today.”
It was Fazio roping a two-out double to left center to plate the tying run, and in the sixth, the senior first baseman had an RBI single to give the Colonials a two-run cushion.
“It just felt like a good day,” Fazio said. “We came out here strong. Even though it was cloudy, we had such an uplifting spirit today and were really behind each other.”
The game didn’t start out on an especially promising note for the Colonials as the Cardinals plated an unearned run in the first and added two more unearned runs in the second to go on top 3-1.
“I was looking at scores, and Upper Dublin has been putting numbers on the board, so we had to come ready,” PW coach Dana Moyer said. “Did we have some errors early? Absolutely, but we came back. That’s a testament to this team too.
“They never give up. Every person understands what they need to do and the adjustments they need to make. I’m just proud of them. They didn’t give up. They came back.”
The Colonials benefitted from a Cardinal miscue to plate an unearned run of their own in the third, and in the fourth, the Colonials knotted the score 3-3 when Fazio doubled home Kamryn Kropinski, who had walked.
“Our team never gives up,” Fazio said. “If one person has a bad at-bat, the next person comes up and gives it their all and just keeps pushing.
“Even when there’s two outs, we never stop. We push each other.”
Josee Tassoni led off the fifth inning with a double to deep center, and she scored a run that turned out to be the game-winner when Kayla Yeager singled up the middle. Kropinski doubled to lead off the sixth, and she scored the game’s final run when Fazio hit an RBI single.
The Cardinals had runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh, but Lauryn Kane – although only a freshman – never lost her composure, notching a strikeout for the game’s final out.
“I just like to calm down, take a deep breath and tell myself everything’s okay,” Kane said. “I like to reset, just act like nothing happened and move on to the next batter.
“I focus on the batter and try not to think about what’s going on around you.”
Kane, who also bats cleanup for the Colonials, allowed just four hits and three runs (all unearned) while striking out eight and walking three.
“As a freshman, they’ll come in and just the immaturity – she doesn’t have that,” Moyer said. “She’s very poised and very mature as a ballplayer.”
Kane has the unwavering support of her teammates.
“As a team, we’ve always had each other’s backs, but with her being a freshman, I think we’re more there for her, trying to cheer her on and make her feel as comfortable as possible,” Fazio said. “Even if there are errors, we’re always there for each other, and I think that’s the big difference.”
Moyer also pointed to the play of Tassoni behind the plate and on the base paths as key.
“She was on third base, there was a ball hit to either the third baseman or shortstop, and she ran home and did a head first slide into home,” the PW coach said. “She’s fearless. She’s grown so much with her softball IQ with being a catcher and knowing what needs to be done and just keeping Lauryn (Kane) focused back there – I’m so proud of her.”
Fazio (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs) and Kropinski (2-for-2, 2B, RBI, 2 runs) led the Colonials at the plate. Meghan Muth was 2-for-3 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot for the Cardinals.
The two teams combined to strand 21 base runners with the Cardinals leaving 11 runners on base.
“We’re doing a lot of good things,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “Our offensive play has been better, but we were talking after the game – now we need to kick it up to the next level. We don’t need kids who can just hit in the non-pressure situations – we need kids that can hit in the clutch, and that’s where we’re lacking.
“At Abington on Tuesday, we left 15 runners on base, and today – I didn’t count them up yet, but I know we left a number of them. Bases loaded once and two on in the seventh, so now we need to work on getting up there in the clutch. That takes reps, that takes experience, that takes confidence. You’ve got to want to be the girl and not look down the lineup and say, ‘If I get out, this person will have my back.’ You’ve got to want to be the one. That takes grit. We’ll get there.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-1, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Friday, and Upper Dublin (6-3, 2-3) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 011 111 0 5-7-5
Upper Dublin 120 000 0 3-4-2
WISSAHICKON 11, ABINGTON 2
Mike Borkowski didn’t have the fondest memories of Abington, and it’s hard to blame him. The last time the Trojans played the Ghosts on April 25, 2015, Borkowski was in his first year at the helm, and the non-league game lasted all of three innings as the Ghosts rolled to a 15-0 win.
On Thursday, it was the Trojans who were in command.
“This was a big win for us,” Borkowski said. “The last time we played Abington a few years ago – I don’t even think the bus driver got the bus parked and our game was over.
“They’re a good team. They’ve got some good players over there. They have a good pitcher. The kids were all excited today – I was very happy for them. They’ve worked hard. For us to beat a team like that, I thought it was great for our program.”
Rory Goodrich set the tone for an impressive offensive outing for the Trojans with a two-run home run in the second to break a scoreless tie. The Trojans added a single run in the third and three more in the fourth before blowing the game wide open with five runs in the fifth inning.
Siani Paige-Miller led off the fifth with a double, and Emma Clayborne followed with an RBI double. Ashley Radell also contributed an RBI double in the frame, and Kailyn Pappanastasiou had a two-run single.
Julie Burkhardt’s solo home run put the Ghosts on the board in the third. They added a single run in the fourth.
Paige-Miller was a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Pappanastasiou was 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
“We were moving the runners, hitting behind runners,” Borkowski said.
Clayborne earned the complete game win, allowing three hits while striking out four and walking one.
“The best thing that’s keeping us in the game is we’re not giving up the simple thing like walks,” Borkowski said.“Our walks are way, way down.
“We have three real good starting pitchers that control the ball. Emma throws hard, but she used her defense today.”
Wissahickon (3-4, 3-2 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Monday, and Abington (2-6, 2-3) will host Central Bucks South in a non-league game Friday.
Abington 001 100 0 2
Wissahickon 021 350 x 11
UPPER MORELAND 11, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1 (5 innings)
Jocie Baumeister had a big day in the circle and at the plate, leading the Golden Bears to the big win in the abbreviated contest. The junior pitcher allowed two hits and one run while striking out eight and walking three. She also was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
Jackie Martino also was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and four runs scored. All told, the Golden Bears collected 11 hits.
A two-run home run by Bean Hughes ignited a three-run first inning, and the Golden Bears were off and running. They led 7-1 after three innings and brought an early end to the game with a three-run fifth.
“We jumped on them early, knocked in a couple in the second,” coach Scott Ludlow. “It was very workmanlike. We spread the hits out, we nickeled and dimed them every inning and ended up with an 11-1 victory.
“We had five errors, and they had three errors. We played through some bad ball today. Jocie got out of bases-loaded one inning, second and third one inning, mostly because of miscues on our end.”
Upper Moreland (5-2, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh for a key conference battle Monday, and Springfield Township (0-5) will host Cheltenham Monday.
Springfield Township 001 00 1-2-3
Upper Moreland 331 13 11-11-5
HATBORO-HORSHAM 17, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
The Hatters received big performances up and down their lineup, and Mikayla Fedele allowed just one hit while striking out five and walking none to earn the win in the abbreviated contest.
Fedele (2-for-3, 2 runs), Brit Hubler (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 3 runs) and Marisa Rapino (2-for-2, 2 runs) led the Hatters’ attack. Kendal Leitner also had a home run and three RBIs. Kristen Myers was 1-for-2 with one RBI and two runs scored. Joyce Bloome was 1-for-1 with an RBI and two runs, and Emily Mahmde was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-3, 4-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday, and Cheltenham (0-7, 0-5) will travel to Springfield Township on Monday.
Hatboro-Horsham 15-2-0 17-12-2
Cheltenham 000 0-1-5
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