Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Monday. Bensalem/Upper Moreland photos provided courtesy of Kathy Leister Photography. CB East/Villa Maria Academy photos provided by Tracy Valko. Click back for galleries of both games.
Non-league
BENSALEM 15, UPPER MORELAND 4 (6 innings)
Maggie Formichelli had an opening day to remember. The Owls’ junior hurler earned the win in the circle, scattering four hits while striking out nine and walking four. She also had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Her two-run double in the sixth brought an early end to the game.
The visiting Golden Bears got on the scoreboard in the top of the first.
“Their leadoff hitter hit a check swing home run in the wind to start the game” said Bensalem coach Dan Schram, whose team answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning and added three more in the third to go on top 7-1.
Upper Moreland never threatened.
Also for the Owls, Mackenzie Kramer was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Jess Klein was 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
Bensalem (1-0) will host Little Flower in a non-league game on Tuesday for its Senior Day game. Upper Moreland (1-1) will be on the road at Lower Moreland for a non-league game on Wednesday.
Upper Moreland 100 210 4
Bensalem 403 332 15
HARRY S TRUMAN 11, PENNCREST 0 (5 innings)
The Tigers won for the second time in as many games. This time it was Kylee Thomas in the circle earning the win. The junior pitcher allowed four hits while striking out six in the complete game win.
Mara McKeon turned in a monster performance at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an inside the park home run and five RBIs. A four-year starter, McKeon is 5-for-7 after two games.
“She hit the ball hard all day, and Thomas pounded the strike zone, throwing 45 of 62 strikes,” coach Rick Palmer said.
Courtney Nau also was 3-for-3 and had one RBI. Emily Merrigan was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Hannah Smith was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in a contest that saw Truman pound out 16 hits.
The Tigers put three runs on the board in the first and all but put the game out of reach with a six-run second.
“The girls have worked really hard on staying mentally focused on the field, and it’s paying off early,” Palmer said.
Harry S Truman (2-0) is off until next Monday when the Tigers will host Nazareth in a non-league game.
Penncrest 000 00 0-4-2
Harry S Truman 362 00 11-16-0
QUAKERTOWN 14, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 (5 innings)
The Panthers erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the first and added five more in the second on their way to the mercy rule win. In the circle, Syd Andrews was in complete command, allowing three hits and striking out 12 in five shutout innings. She also drove in a run that turned out to be the game-winner with an RBI double in the bottom of the first to spot the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Ava Beal delivered the inning’s big blow, a two-out bases-clearing double that plated three runs.
All told, the Panthers pounded out 13 hits. Contributing two hits each were leadoff batter Beal (2-for-3, 2B, run, 3 RBIs), LauraRose Morlock (2-for-3, 2B, two runs), Mary Wilkinson (2-for-3, two runs, RBI), Maya Hellyer (2-for-3, three runs, 2 RBIs) and Emma Hilton (2-for-2, 2 2B, two runs, 2 RBIs). Skyler Williams had a double and scored a run. Julia Reich was 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, and Katie Muller had an RBI as the Panthers received contributions up and down their lineup.
The Panthers played flawless defense behind Andrews.
Quakertown (1-0) will travel to North Penn on Tuesday for a non-league game.
Central Bucks West 000 00 0-3-3
Quakertown 751 1x 14-13-0
SOUDERTON 16, ABINGTON 0 (6 innings)
Abby Burns owned Monday’s season opener, tossing a one-hit shutout in a game that was halted after six innings for the mercy rule. The Indians’ junior pitcher struck out 14 and did not walk a batter. She threw only 66 pitches – 57 for strikes – and fanned the first 11 batters she faced.
Riley York led the Indians 19-hit barrage, finishing the day 4-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and three runs scored. Kayley York was 3-for-4 with a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored. Ryan Zimmerman was 3-for-5 with a triple RBI and two runs scored.
Megan Kummery was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored, and Burns helped her own cause with a 2-for-4 day at the plate that included one RBI and three runs scored. Maya Smith was 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and two runs. Taylor Nelson had one hit, two RBIs and a run scored while Brooke Scotti had one hit and three RBIs. Sierra Ripka doubled and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot.
Kummery, who doubled, scored the game’s first run on a single by Ryan Zimmerman. Kayley York had a two-run single to center to give the Indians a 3-0 lead after one inning. That was more than enough for Burns.
Meghan Strange accounted for Abington’s lone hit.
Souderton (1-0) will host Neshaminy in a non-league game Tuesday, and Abington (1-1) will travel to Upper Dublin next Wednesday for its SOL opener.
Souderton 303 019 16-19-0
Abington 000 000 0-1-4
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, VILLA MARIA ACADEMY 1
Soleil Donner tossed a complete game gem in Monday’s season opener. The senior captain allowed one run on five hits, striking out eleven and walking none. For good measure, she also had a huge day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored.
Villa got on the scoreboard in the top of the first, and the Patriots got that run back in the bottom of the second. They added single runs in the third and fourth innings and scored a pair in the fifth to seal the win.
Senior captain Bailey Shellhorn was 1-for-2 with an RBI and reach based on all three trips to the plate. Senior shortstop Alex Frenia was 1-for-3 with a perfectly placed bunt. She scored a run and also played an excellent game defensively at shortstop.
Sophomores Elizabeth Gray (center field), Mackenzie Wilson (first base) and Elise Waddington all played their first official game at East since the 2020 season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trio combined for two hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Gray stole a pair of bases.
“She’s got tremendous speed and is very aware and has a very good sense of base running,” coach Karl Knapp said of his speedy centerfielder. “Today she stole second and noticed that the third baseman never got back to cover third when she was on second, and she stole third right away.”
According to the Patriots’ coach, junior catcher Amelia Funston called and caught an excellent game and added an RBI.
Central Bucks East (1-0) will travel to Wissahickon Tuesday for a non-league game.
Villa Maria 100 000 0 1-5-3
Central Bucks East 011 120 x 5-7-1
About the Author
