Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday.
SOL Patriot Division
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 14, BENSALEM 11 (8 innings)
The Indians saved their best for last, rallying from an 8-5 deficit to knot the score in the seventh and then exploding for six more runs in the top of the eighth on their way to the come-from-behind win.
“This game definitely wasn’t the cleanest game Suburban One has ever seen, but it sure could have been one of the most exciting, and it was a lot of fun to be a part of,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Both teams had so much fight and absolutely no quit. You could really see the heart and hustle of every player on both squads.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Bensalem, they have a lot of talent and they are ‘hungry.’ Their top two batters are like lightning, and their catcher was super quick. She almost made an amazing play leaping into the backstop after a foul ball late in the game, and I really think that kind of effort is what defined the day. Both teams gave everything they had, took advantage of the other’s miscues, and really looked to make things happen. It was a dogfight from start to finish.”
Trailing by three heading into the seventh, the Indians came out swinging. Jayme Bordner was safe on a two-base error to lead off the inning. Emma Zoldi followed with her fourth hit of the day, an RBI double. A single to left by Taylor Gearhart put runners on the corners. After Gearhart stole second, Sofia Shields hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Zoldi, and Molly Sheehy’s RBI single to center brought Gearhart home with the tying run.
The bottom of the inning was not without drama as the Maggie Formichelli and Emma Lostracco collected back-to-back singles to open the inning, but Kat Hastings escaped a jam. She coaxed a fly ball out of the next batter she faced, and shortstop Zoldi snagged a ball up the middle and tagged the second base bag for the inning’s second out. Hastings delivered a huge strikeout to end the inning.
Riding the momentum of their three-run seventh, the Indians scored six runs in the top of the eighth. Senior Bella Pellitta led off the inning with a single to right and was replaced by pinch runner Sophia Levy. Back-to-back singles by Noelle Wood and Bordner loaded the bases. Zoldi was hit by a pitch to push the go-ahead run across. Wood scored on a throwing error, and Shields drew a walk to load the bases. Sheehy hit a shot to the wall to clear the bases. Pinch hitter Kali Anderson drew a walk, and Levy stepped to the plate for her first at-bat and singled up the middle to score courtesy runner Abby Green from second. The Indians took a 14-8 lead into the bottom of the inning.
The Owls did not go down quietly. Megan Klein legged out a bunt single and scored on back-to-back errors. A run crossed the plate on a groundout, but Sheehy gunned down a runner attempting to steal second. Hastings was injured on the play and was replaced by senior Gabby Cohen. The Owls added a run on a single to center, but Cohen induced a pop-out to third for the game’s final out and the dramatic win.
“Once again I could not be more proud of the fight our girls showed,” Yee said. “Down three runs heading into the final frame, they easily could have said, ‘You know what, nobody expected us to be any good this year, we had a good run, but we had to lose at some point.’ However, that thought never entered any of their minds. I didn’t once have to pump them up, it was all the girls.
“They are a fantastic group from top to bottom and are so supportive of each other it’s amazing. Every kid in our dugout played a role today and it was great to see. They were up, they were cheering, they were sharing observations with each other to try and be more successful on the field, they were calling stealing runners, they were keeping each other loose, and they were all ready when they needed to step in and play a role, no matter how big or small. The girls put forth a 9-3 closing effort over the final two frames, and in that time we had 13 different players step onto the field whether it be to hit, run, field, or pitch. It really was a total team effort.”
Zoldi was 4-for-4 at the plate, which included a solo home run to lead off the first inning. She also had a double and three RBIs. Sheehy had a career day, finishing 4-for-5 with two doubles and seven RBIs. Gearhart was 2-for-3, and Pellitta was 2-for-4. Hastings notched the win in the circle.
“As a high school kid, it’s so easy to get down and focus on the things that aren’t going the way you want, but this group is just so mature in that aspect,” Yee said. “They don’t get down on somebody when they make a mistake, they don’t get upset when a teammate steps in to take their place if the situation calls for it, and that’s really a credit to them and a big part of the success they have been able to achieve together so far.
“Coming into this season our girls knew they were the underdogs. Nobody was talking about North being a tough team to beat. When people would preview our league and division, Council Rock North wasn’t a program that even got mentioned, and our girls have really embraced that. They have a bit of a chip on their shoulder, wanting to prove that they should be a part of the conversation when looking around the league, and with that chip, they have gone into every game with a ‘nothing to lose and everything to gain mindset.’ That has really helped them, particularly at the plate where they have pounded out 17 hits in consecutive games.
“We can’t rest on our offensive laurels though; we have a tough task ahead of us over the rest of the week having to go up against Neshaminy and Pennsbury for our next two games. Those are great programs with strong coaching and a long history of success. They both have phenomenal pitching that will really challenge our bats. We are going to have to play good D and stop relying on our ability to outscore people if we have a chance of coming out on top. Once again, we will come in as the underdog, but with our girls’ team chemistry and heart, nothing is impossible for this group.”
Council Rock North (4-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday, and Bensalem (2-2, 0-2) will travel to Council Rock South on Wednesday.
Council Rock North 201 020 36 14-17-7
Bensalem 002 321 03 11-13-3
NESHAMINY 9, HARRY S TRUMAN 2
The Redskins – who had seven new starters on the field – put four runs on the board in the top of the first and never looked back on their way to the conference win.
Carina Barr and Kylee Jones opened the game with back-to-back singles, but a screaming line drive to first resulted in a double play. The Redskins, however, were far from finished. Mia Barrone was intentionally walked and Amanda Slabicki also drew a few pass to load the bases. Danielle Monaco delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single, and Monaco and Slabicki both scored on the same passed ball, giving the Redskins an early 4-0 lead.
Neshaminy led 5-0 before the Tigers put a run on the board in the third, and they upped that lead to 7-1. They added a pair of runs in the seventh after the Tigers scored a single run in the bottom of the sixth.
All told, the Redskins pounded out 13 hits and were on the receiving end of six walks. Jones and Kylie Siwek were both 2-for-4 to lead Neshaminy.
Kennedie Ruth notched the complete game win, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out six and walking two.
Neshaminy (2-2, 2-1 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Wednesday, and Harry S Truman (2-1, 0-1) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Wednesday.
Neshaminy 410 020 2 9
Harry S Truman 001 001 0 2
SOL Colonial Division
PENNRIDGE 7, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 6
The Rams scored six runs in the first inning and then managed just one more the rest of the way, withstanding a late comeback rally by the Bucks to hold on for the win.
Sophomore Anja Puketza notched a win in her first start of the season.
“She kept her composure when there were a couple defensive miscues in the first inning and then again in the top of the seventh inning,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said.
The Bucks struck first with three runs in the top of the first, benefitting from a dropped third strike as well as an error. Chloe Dryden and Abby Lineman (RBI) both singled in the inning.
The Rams answered with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the inning. They loaded the bases without collecting a hit, thanks to a pair of walks and a hit batsman. Madison Salber’s single plated a run, and then it was sophomore Reagan Bauman ripping a grand slam to left field. An error allowed the sixth run to cross the plate.
The teams exchanged single runs in the third, and the Bucks staged a rally in the seventh, an inning that was highlighted by a Dryden double as well as RBI singles from Lineman and Anna Rodebaugh. With runners on second and third, Puketza came up with a huge strikeout to close out the game.
Silber was 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Rams.
For the Bucks, Dryden and Lineman were both 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Lineman also had a pair of RBIs.
Puketza allowed eight hits and six runs (three earned) while striking out five and walking three to earn her first varsity victory.
Pennridge (2-2, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Wednesday, and Central Bucks West (0-5, 0-3) will be on the road at Central Bucks East.
Central Bucks West 301 000 2 6-8-2
Pennridge 601 000 x 7-5-3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
It was another classic matchup between the neighboring rivals with the Patriots breaking a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fourth and then riding the arms of pitchers Alex Frenia and Soleil Dooner the rest of the way.
“It was a good game,” East coach Karl Knapp said. “Nobody was really dominating anybody. It was just a couple of timely hits.
“I said to (assistant coach) Dave (Schulman), ‘This game scares me’ because you can never go by records.”
Frenia notched the win in the circle, but an injury to shortstop Elise Waddington forced Knapp to make the tough decision to move Frenia from the circle to shortstop to solidify the infield for the final three innings.
Frenia allowed just one hit and an unearned run while fanning five in four innings. Dooner threw three scoreless innings to close out the game. The Titans loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but Dooner escaped unscathed.
“Alex was doing really good pitching,” Knapp said. “We don’t really have people that can play that position. Bailey Shellhorn can do it because she’s a good athlete, but she’s such a good second baseman. If you move her over, you’re weakening two positions.
“That’s why we took Alex out. She wasn’t happy to come out, but we told her, ‘You’re that good, we have to put you there.’ You just have to do what you thinks going to win you the game.”
The Titans plated an unearned run in the top of the third, but the Patriots evened the score in the bottom of the inning, thanks to an RBI single by Taylor Molesky. The Patriots scored a pair in the fourth. Ava Catron drove in the go-ahead run with a single.
Early in the contest, Molesky delivered the defensive play of the game.
“It was a blooper hit out to right field, and she ran in and literally scooped it off the grass which kept a run from coming in,” Knapp said.
Frenia, Shellhorn and Catron accounted for the Titans three hits. Elizabeth Gray, who scored a run, stole three more bases.
For the Titans, Suzie Williams was 3-for-4 with a double, stolen base and run scored. Nicole Pilla had a hit and her team’s lone RBI.
Maddy Borowski pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing three hits and two earned runs while fanning 11 and walking two.
Central Bucks East (5-1, 3-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday, and Central Bucks South (1-3, 1-2) will travel to North Penn on Wednesday.
Central Bucks South 1-4-2
Central Bucks East 3-3-2
NORTH PENN 8, SOUDERTON 0
Just four games into the season, coach Rick Torresani is running out of superlatives to describe pitching ace Mady Volpe.
“Fifteen strikeouts, one hit and pitched another great game for us,” the Knights’ coach said. “Like I keep telling everybody, ‘Mady is being Mady.’ That’s what Mady does.”
What Volpe does is baffle hitters with an assortment of pitches that keeps hitters guessing. She was brilliant in Tuesday’s win, throwing just 84 pitches in six innings and recording 15 of 18 outs on strikeouts. The senior pitcher, who says she uses four or five different pitches, struck out the side in order in the first, second, fifth and sixth innings.
“I’m trying to develop a new pitch every season just to keep myself sharp,” Volpe said.
Volpe – like the rest of the world – didn’t have a junior season, but she’s certainly making up for lost time. Three of her four wins have been shutouts, and in 26 innings, the senior standout has struck out 61.
“Last year really hurt us a lot,” Volpe said. “I think it really shows in how we’re hitting and fielding how much we missed being out here, showing who we are and how North Penn plays softball.
“Coach has been telling us to play every game like it’s our last because we can never predict the circumstances. Especially last year, that really taught us as a team a lesson to just go out and play our game.”
For the past three years, Volpe’s batterymate was Amanda Greaney, who is now playing at Lehigh University. The transition to sophomore Sarah Sabocsik behind the plate has appeared seamless.
“Amanda really mentored her last year in the time we had, especially in the fall,” Volpe said. “Sarah and I have been working together since the fall workouts this year and last year as well. I’m really impressed with her – she’s doing so good.”
The Knights’ senior pitcher is hardly a one-woman show. Sophomore Julia Shearer is a star on the rise and with Tuesday’s 3-for-4 effort is now 10-for-12 in four games. Her double led off a two-run first for the Knights.
“It just really shows how she can set the tone for the game,” Volpe said. “Getting a runner on in the first inning with no outs really shows who we are as a team. She’s stepped up big time, and I’m really proud of her.”
Volpe brought Shearer home with a two-out double of her own in the first, and Bri Wilmot’s first of three hits on the day plated the second run. In the second, Sophia Collins led off with a double to right, and Gianna Cimino singled. An error allowed a run to cross the plate, and Shearer’s RBI single put the Knights on top 4-0.
Shearer hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run fourth. Her blast plated Rachel Lowry, who singled. Volpe also singled in the inning, and courtesy runner Lacey Drolsbaugh stole second and scored on an RBI single by Wilmot.
For good measure, the Knights tacked on a single run in the fifth when Reyna Doherty, who singled, scored on a groundout by Shearer.
Shearer put the finishing touches on a big day by pitching a scoreless seventh. After allowing a leadoff single to Kayley York, the sophomore struck out the side to put an exclamation point on the win. She finished the day 3-for-4 with a double home run, four RBIs and two runs.
“She’s amazing,” Torresani said. “What a start for a kid. She works hard.
“I wasn’t going to take Mady out, and I looked at Mady and said, ‘Are you okay?’ and she said, ‘Yeah, put her in, put her in.’ I wanted to give her a shot.”
Wilmot, one of the game’s unsung heroes, was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Volpe was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI and Carley DiGiuseppe was 2-for-3.
North Penn (4-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Wednesday, and Souderton (4-2, 1-2) will host Pennridge on Wednesday.
Souderton 000 000 0 0-2-1
North Penn 220 310 x 8-14-0
SOL Liberty Division
QUAKERTOWN 4, WISSAHICKON 0
Runs didn’t come easily, but the Panthers scratched out an early run and then put three insurance runs on the board in the sixth. Syd Andrews tossed the six-hit shutout.
“We struggled early in the game offensively but stayed patient and figured out their pitcher,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “She threw well and kept us off balance.
“Finally, we got to her in the sixth with some key two-out hits from (Grace) Baker and (Cadence) Lewis.”
The Panthers put a run on the board in the top of the third. Ava Beal hit a two-out single, and she scored a run that held up for the game-winner when LauraRose Morelock doubled to left field.
That 1-0 score stood until the sixth inning. Syd Andrews hit a one-out single, and one out later, Skyler Williams doubled to right. Lewis brought home a pair with a double to center, and Baker capped the two-out rally with an RBI single to center for a 4-0 lead that held the rest of the way.
The Trojans left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first and stranded seven base runners as Andrews got the big outs when she needed them. The Panthers’ junior pitcher allowed six hits while striking out nine and walking one in the shutout win.
“Syd didn’t have her best stuff, but she battled and worked her way out of a few jams,” Scott said.
For the Trojans, Danielle Ciliberto allowed seven hits while striking out eight and walking none.
Emma Clayborne was 2-for-2 to lead the Trojans. Ciliberto doubled and had the lone extra base hit for Wissahickon.
Quakertown (5-1, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday for a key division game, and Wissahickon (1-3, 1-1) will host Upper Dublin on Wednesday.
Quakertown 001 003 0 4-7-0
Wissahickon 000 000 0 0-6-1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 12, UPPER DUBLIN 5
Molly Moore stole the spotlight in PW’s win Tuesday. The sophomore pitcher struck out 16 in the complete game win, and she also had three hits.
“All of her pitches were working today, and she showed the dominant pitcher she can be,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “It was great to see her bust out offensively as well. She has all the potential in the world, and I’m excited for her future at PW.”
The Colonials gave Moore plenty of run support, putting five runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Lauryn Kane drew a one-out walk, and Talia Carr doubled. With two outs, Emily Caffrey was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Molly Lynch followed with an RBI single, and Regan Gehman’s double to center emptied the bases.
The Cardinals got one of those runs back in the second, thanks to Ally McDaid’s RBI single. It was a 5-3 game after Kaelin Penna’s two-run double in the top of the third, but the Colonials – capitalizing on a pair of UD miscues – answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go on top 8-3. Marissa Perez’s RBI double highlighted the frame.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Colonials sealed the Cardinals’ fate when they added four runs to make it a 12-3 game.
Carr continued her torrid start at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Moore was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run while Perez was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs and Gehman was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs.
“It was a total team effort offensively with 13 hits and seven different players knocking a run in, including five RBIs out of the 7-8-9 slots,” coach Perez said. “We have the potential to be a very good offense, so it was nice to see things working today.
“We’re hoping to keep the momentum going with two more games this week.”
Moore allowed eight hits and five runs while fanning 16 and walking four.
For the Cardinals, Dani Lucidi was 2-for-4 with a run scored, Penna and McDaid were both 2-for-4 with an RBI and Chloe Foster had an RBI double.
Foster absorbed the loss in the circle, striking out nine and walking one.
Both teams left seven runners on base.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-3, 1-2 SOL) will host Abington on Wednesday, and Upper Dublin (1-2) will host Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Upper Dublin 012 000 2 5-8-3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 503 040 x 12-13-1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 19, ABINGTON 2
It certainly looked as though runs would be hard to come by when the two teams went into the fourth inning locked in a scoreless tie. The Hatters scored three in the top of the inning, but the Ghosts answered with two in the bottom. It turns out the Hatters were just getting started. They erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth and put the game completely out of reach with 11 in the seventh.
Kendal Leitner and Megan Mills split time in the circle with Leitner throwing three shutout innings to open the game. She did not allow a hit, striking out eight and walking one. Mills allowed four hits and two runs in four innings in relief.
In the three-run fourth, Kayla Tauber opened the inning with a single to center and stole second. She scored on Amya Lundy’s single to center. The Hatters also benefitted from a pair of Abington miscues as well as singles from Abby Waeltz and Kristin Myers as well as an RBI groundout by Mills to go on top 3-0.
In the bottom of the inning, Madison Cornell legged out a bunt single, and Leanna Schenck followed with a two-run blast to right field that made it a one-run game, but not for long.
Tess Kearney got the ball rolling with a triple to center to lead off the fifth, and Tauber drew a walk. Lundy followed with a two-run single to center, and then it was Leitner ripping an RBI double to left. Alyssa Tooley (RBI), Mills and Marissa Rapino (RBI) also singled, and the Hatters led 8-2 on their way to the convincing win.
Myers was 4-for-5 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored to lead the Hatters’ 19-hit attack. Lundy was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs, Kearney was 2-for-5 with two triples, four RBIs and two runs, and Tooley was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs.
“Kristen Myers, Amya Lundy and Tess Kearney had big days at the plate,” HH coach Kelly Krier said. “We had a strong defensive outing – both Kendal Leitner and Megan Mills pitched well, and Kayla Tauber had big plays at shortstop.”
For Abington, Schenck was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Bella Oquendo had a double for the Ghosts, who used four pitchers in the contest.
Hatboro-Horsham (2-0 SOL) will host Quakertown in a key conference game Wednesday, and Abington (1-4, 0-3) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 350 11 19-19-0
Abington 000 200 0 2-4-3
SOL Freedom Division
UPPER MORELAND 17, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (3 innings)
The Golden Bears scored early and often, bringing an early end to the contest. Freshman pitcher Eowyn Stainback had another solid outing, tossing a no-hitter in the abbreviated contest.
The Bears scored five runs in the top of the first and added to the lead in the next two.
“Our team came out strong and ready to play today,” UM coach Melanie Martino said. “Everyone hit up and down the lineup today.”
Wiley led the Bears with a 3-for-3 effort, which included a 2-run double in the five-run fist. Liz Santry was also 3-for-3. Chloe Kramer, Rylee McDade, Devyn Kniese, Natalie Walton and Ava Bailey all contributed RBIs.
Upper Moreland (3-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Friday, and Springfield Township (0-2) will host Lower Moreland on Wednesday.
Upper Moreland 593 17
Springfield Twp 000 0
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