SOL Softball District Preview (5-22-19)

Eight SOL softball teams will be in action Wednesday in the District 1 Tournament. Check out the preview capsules.

Class 6A
#15 UPPER DARBY at #2 NORTH PENN (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
North Penn

18-1 overall
11-1 SOL Continental Conference champions
Knights have outscored opponents 115-31
Sophomore Mady Volpe is 16-1 with a 1.20 earned run average. In 110.2 innings she has struck out 192 and walked 32.
Dangerous lineup features senior second baseman Jordan Pietrzykoski (.483, 18 RBIs, 4 home runs, 23 runs), senior first baseman Elia Namey (.419, 14 RBIs, 4 home runs, 17 runs), junior catcher Amanda Greaney (.417, 20 RBIs, 6 home runs, 18 runs) & junior shortstop Victoria Juckniewitz (.356, 19 runs, 10 BB).
Notable wins over #7 Haverford (4-3), #10 Hatboro-Horsham (1-0), #17 Quakertown (3-2, 2-1), #19 Pennridge (7-1, 10-1), #20 Souderton (11-0, 7-1).
Split season series with Class 6A #14 Central Bucks South (20-1, 1-3). Titans handed Knights only loss of the season on May 9.

How they got here: Opening round bye

Upper Darby

13-6 overall
Notable wins over Class 6A #16 Ridley (10-1), Class 5A #7, Springfield-Delco (4-3), #8 Interboro (10-2), #10 Marple Newtown (6-3), #15 Strath Haven (12-0)
Split season series with Class 6A #8 Garnet Valley (6-5, 1-5) & #16 Ridley (10-1, 2-8)

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Upper Darby defeated #18 Plymouth Whitemarsh 5-0. Rebecca Sorrentino tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out 10.

Winner will face: Winner of the No. 23 Perkiomen Valley at No. 7 Haverford game.

#14 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #3 PENNSBURY (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
Pennsbury

16-2 overall
12-0 SOL National Conference champions
First solo title for program since 2011
Remarkable turnaround season for a Falcons squad that won just seven games last year.
Freshman Ainsley McClure has had a stellar rookie season in the circle.
Notable wins over Class 6A #6 Neshaminy (7-1, 2-0), #13 Bensalem (11-7, 5-4), #14 Central Bucks South (2-1), #20 Souderton (9-3), #22 William Tennent (5-3, 4-1) & #24 Harry S Truman (4-3, 13-3)

How they got here: Opening round bye

Central Bucks South

14-8 overall
9-3 SOL Continental second place
Bryant University commit Kylie Kenney is 12-7 in the circle with a 2.19 ERA. In 108.2 innings during the regular season, the Titans’ ace has allowed 81 hits while striking out 139.
Offensive leaders are Katie Hines (.424, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 10 RBIs, 11 runs, 1.012 OPS), Maddie Rowley (.422, seven doubles, 16 RBIs, 13 runs), Tara Tumasz (.404, 2 doubles, 16 RBIs, 13 runs) & Alexa Ortman (.400, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 10 RBIs, 21 runs).

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Central Bucks South defeated #19 Pennridge 8-2. Senior Kylie Kenney tossed a three-hitter, striking out 11 and walking two. Alexa Ortman was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Rebecca Hammond was 2-for-4 with two runs. Katie Hines, who doubled, and Tara Tumasz each drove in a pair or runs.

Winner will face: Winner of No. 11 Coatesville at No. 6 Neshaminy game.

#11 COATESVILLE at #6 NESHAMINY (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
Neshaminy

16-4 overall
10-2 SOL National Conference second place
Penn State commit Liana Jones (.436, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs, 22 runs) leads a dangerous lineup that includes Olivia Fee (.421, 22 runs), Kylee Jones (.418, 5 home runs, 8 doubles, 36 RBIs, 18 runs), Asia Barnard (.412, 5 doubles, 28 runs), Kennedie Ruth (.400, 4 doubles, 11 RBIs), Emily Siwek (.391), Rachel Kohler (.310, 7 doubles, 14 RBIs) & Kylie Gurysh (.305).
Freshman Kennedie Ruth has been impressive in her rookie season.
Notable wins over Class 6A #13 Bensalem (15-0, 11-1), #17 Quakertown (9-1), #22 William Tennent (5-4, 6-1), #24 Harry S Truman (11-1, 5-0), Class 4A #3 Upper Moreland (17-5)

Coatesville

15-7 overall
The Red Raiders have a team batting average of .344 with 26 home runs. Fifty-seven of the team’s 206 hits were extra base hits.
Offense led by Kayla Bock (.541, 8 doubles, 10 home runs, 32 RBIs, 28 runs), Payton Landis (.443, 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 18 RBIs, 18 runs), Phoebe Clemens (.414, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 20 RBIs, 27 runs) & Natalie Florschutz (.387, 5 home runs, 23 RBIs).
Florschutz is 9-4 in the circle with a 2.36 ERA. In 127.1 innings, she has 118 strikeouts and 51 walks.
Notable wins over #12 Downingtown East (10-7, 9-6), #21 Kennett (4-2), #23 Perkiomen Valley (8-2) & Class 5A #9 Sun Valley (9-0).
Split season series with Class 6A #4 Downingtown West (4-8, 6-2), Class 5A #2 Bishop Shanahan (5-6, 1-0)

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Coatesville defeated #22 William Tennent 8-4. Natalie Florschutz allowed five hits and struck out 15 in the complete game win.

Winner will face: Winner of No. 14 Central Bucks South at No. 3 Pennsbury game.

#20 SOUDERTON at #4 DOWNINGTOWN WEST (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
Souderton

12-8 overall
5-7 SOL Continental
Indians, who are hitting .309 as a team, are led by Riley York (.408, 20 hits, 8 doubles, 16 RBIs), Sam Nuneviller (.393, 22 hits, 6 doubles, 13 RBIs), Abby Burns (.352, 19 hits, 7 RBIs) and Julia Kistler (.351, 20 hits, 8 RBIs)
Freshman Abby Burns has been a workhorse in the circle, throwing 117 innings with 84 strikeouts and 26 walks and an ERA of 3.21
Notable wins over Class A #6 Neshaminy (4-1) & #22 William Tennent (8-3)
Split season series with Class A #17 Quakertown (7-6, 1-2)

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Souderton edged #9 Bensalem 3-2 in eight innings. Jess Lepore’s booming triple in the eighth plated Julia Kistler, who singled. Freshman Abby Burns earned the complete game win.

Downingtown West

18-2 overall
Ches-Mont National Division champions
Team batting average of .360 with 57 stolen bases and 85 extra-base hits.
Cait Coker (.655, 22 RBIs, 36 hits, 13 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs, 26 stolen bases, 40 runs) is the team’s undisputed catalyst.
Pitcher Natalie Beebe (.349, 18 RBIs) has struck out 146 and walked 24 in 121 innings pitched.
Morgan DeFreitas (.448, 26 RBIs, 9 doubles, four home runs, 13 runs), Taylor Posner (.356, 21 RBIs, 7 doubles, 6 triples, 14 runs) and Carly Grandizio (.355, 15 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 15 runs) also make important contributions.
Only losses to Class 6A #11 Coatesville (2-6) and 5A #1 West Chester East (4-7)
Notable wins over Class 6A #11 Coatesville (8-4), #12 Downingtown East (12-3, 5-0), Class 5A #1 West Chester East (7-1), #2 Bishop Shanahan (6-1, 2-0), #9 Sun Valley (14-0)
Winners of six straight heading into the postseason, including an 8-2 win over West Chester East in a winner-take-all game for the conference title.

How they got here: Opening round bye.

Winner will face: Winner of No. 21 Kennett at No. 5 Conestoga

#17 QUAKERTOWN at #1 SPRING-FORD (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)

13-8 overall
8-4 SOL Continental third place
Leading the Panthers offensively are Maddie Moyer (.552, 1.331 OPS), Sarah Stofik (.457, 1.163 OPS), Laura Morelock (.480, 1.118 OPS), Bri Lefkoski (.356) & Jenna Blair (.321). Stofik leads the team in home runs and RBIs.
Senior Tori Caputo anchors the Panthers in the circle.
Split season series with Class 6A #14 Central Bucks South (12-2, 0-10), #19

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Quakertown rolled to a 10-3 win over #17 Ridley. Freshman Laura Morelock was a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Bri Lefkoski was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Tori Caputo earned the complete game win.

Spring-Ford

21-0 overall
16-0 PAC regular season champions
Defeated Methacton 5-0 to capture the PAC title
Returns entire lineup from last year’s 19-2 squad that was seeded second in the District 1 6A Tournament but fell to Garnet Valley in a second round upset
Sam Lindsay (Fairfield), Maddy Little (La Salle) & Julia Heine (Jefferson) are part of a strong senior class.
Team has 14 shutouts in 21 games behind sophomore pitcher Bri Peck
Wins over Class A #9 Methacton (4-2, 10-0), #23 Perk Valley (8-0, 10-0), Class 5A #4 Upper Perkiomen (3-1), #6 Upper Merion (7-0), #13 Phoenixville (6-0), #16 Pope John Paul III (19-0).

How they got here: Opening round bye

Winner will face: Winner of the No. 9 Methacton at No. 8 Garnet Valley game.

Class 5A
#5 UPPER DUBLIN at #4 UPPER PERKIOMEN

Upper Dublin

14-6 overall (most wins in coach Heather Boyer’s 22-year tenure)
8-6 SOL American
First trip to postseason since the 2004 season.
Warriors are led offensively by Lauren Carboni (.477, 23 RBIs), Taylor Avery (.426, 22 runs), Bela Soriano (.425, 19 runs), Gretchen Wolpert (.404, 24 RBIs, .788 slugging percentage), Korynn Bischoff (.395), Ellie Kelcy (.386, 15 runs) & Meghan Muth (.333, 19 runs).
Chloe Foster anchors the Cardinals in the circle
Notable wins over Class 5A #6 Upper Merion (11-6) & Class 4A #2 Gwynedd Mercy (6-5)
Split season series with Class 6A #18 Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-5, 4-2), Class 5A #11 Wissahickon (2-9, 4-3) & Class 4A #3 Upper Moreland (12-1, 0-7)

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Upper Dublin rolled to a 12-0 win over #12 Chichester. Freshman Chloe Foster allowed two hits in the five-inning shutout win. Ellie Kelcy led the Cardinals’ 12-hit attack, finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Korynn Bischoff was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Lauren Carboni was 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

Upper Perkiomen

15-7 overall
12-4 PAC Frontier Division regular season champions
Led at the plate by junior catcher Morgan Lindsay, a Colgate commit, and junior Alexa Banner. Sophomore Jenna Sullivan, a first team All-PAC Frontier selection as a freshman, brings speed to the top of the lineup.
Wins over Class 6A #17 Quakertown (7-5), #23 Perkiomen Valley (5-4), Class 5A #13 (3-2, 7-4), #16 Pope John Paul II (17-8, 5-3).
Split season series with 5A #6 Upper Merion (5-0, 5-12)

How they got here: In an opening round contest, Upper Perk – which trailed 7-3 in the fifth – edged #13 Phoenixville 10-9 in eight innings. Jenna Sullivan, who drove in the game-winner in the eight, was 4-for-4, and freshman shortstop Dani Freer was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs.

Winner will face: Winner of No. 8 Interboro at No. 1 West Chester East contest.

Class 4A
#3 UPPER MORELAND at #2 GWYNEDD MERCY (Wednesday, 4 p.m.)
Upper Moreland

13-6 overall
11-3 SOL American tied for second place with Plymouth Whitemarsh
In the hunt for share of conference title until final game of regular season.
Senior Jenna Sadowski & junior Jocelyn Baumeister split pitching duties
Infield anchored by junior shortstop Bean Hughes, who also carries a big stick.
Notable wins over Class 6A #24 Harry S Truman (14-5) & Class 5A #11 Wissahickon (6-4, 9-4).
Split season series with 6A #10 Hatboro-Horsham (8-4, 4-9), #18 Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-3, 2-10), Class 5A & #5 Upper Dublin (1-12, 7-0).

Gwynedd Mercy

13-6 overall
Freshman Madison Seidel has been key in the circle and at the plate
Meaghan McGoldrick & Hailee Weiss also add to a balanced attack.
Notable wins over Class 5A #16 Pope John Paul II (4-3) & Class 4A #4 Villa Joseph Marie (10-3, 11-3)
Split with 5A #3 Villa Maria (0-10, 4-1)