Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Monday.
SOL Patriot Division
HARRY S TRUMAN 9, BENSALEM 8
Teyana Towner had herself a day out of the leadoff spot, finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles, two triples, two RBIs, a stolen base and three runs scored. The Tigers needed every one of those hits as they rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to take a 9-5 lead and then held off a seventh inning rally by the Owls.
“We’re still having a first inning problem,” Truman coach Rick Palmer said. “We spotted them a four-spot today with three errors in the first inning. We haven’t had a lot of practice, and I think it’s just the nerves.
“We’re hitting the heck out of the ball. We had 16 hits today.”
Also for the Tigers, Mara McKeon was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Courtney Nau was 2-for-4 with a run scored as Truman’s one, two and three batters were a combined 9-for-12.
The Tigers hit parade began in the first inning when Towner ripped a triple to center to lead off the game, and she scored when McKeon doubled. That 1-0 lead disappeared in a hurry as the Owls – benefitting from several Tiger miscues – put four on the board in the bottom of the first.
Bensalem took a 5-2 lead into a third inning that saw the Tigers rally to knot the score. They added a single run in the fourth, and in a three-run fifth, Jess Adams came off the bench and delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single. The Tigers had a lead they would not lose, although the Owls threatened, plating two runs in the seventh to pull to within one.
Also for the Tigers, Hannah Smith was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored.
For the Owls, leadoff batter Megan Klein was 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Maddie Buechner and Angelina Sponheimer each had three hits.
Jalecia Blackston started in the circle for the Tigers but was forced to leave the game in the second inning.
“She took a line drive off the knee,” Palmer said.
Kylee Thomas threw the final 5.1 innings to notch the win for the Tigers.
Harry S Truman (4-2, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. contest, and Bensalem (3-4, 1-4) will be on the road at Central Bucks South for a crossover game.
Harry S Truman 103 131 0 9
Bensalem 410 001 2 8
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 10, WISSAHICKON 3
The Rams, who pounded out 11 hits, opened up a 6-0 lead after two innings and led wire to wire in Monday’s non-league game.
“It was nice to see our bats coming alive against strong pitching,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “The entire lineup was putting the ball in play and we were able to take advantage of some defensive miscues.”
In the bottom of the first, Reagan Bauman set the tone for the Rams when she led off the inning with a solo home run to center. Catelyn Thrush followed with a single to center, and Grace Helbling doubled. Thrush raced home on a sacrifice fly to left by Madison Silber, and the Rams led 2-0.
In the second inning, Chloe Coughenour and Katie Buccafuri hit back-to-back one-out singles. The bases were loaded when Bauman was safe on a fielder’s choice. Thrush’s sacrifice fly to left plated a run, and after a walk to Helbling, Silber hit a two-run single. An RBI double by Cassandra Schillo put the Rams on top 6-0.
A two-run home run by Katelyn Fitzgerald after Danielle Ciliberto singled made it a 6-2 game in the top of the third. The Trojans pulled to within three in the top of the fifth, thanks to an RBI single by Fitzgerald, but the Ram answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning and two more in the sixth.
Thrush (2-for-3, RBI, two runs), Helbling (2-for-3, 2B) and Coughenour (2-for-3, 2B, run) led the Rams attack.
Fitzgerald was 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored to lead the Trojans.
Helbling notched the complete game win, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out six and walking one.
“Chloe Coughenour was DP and came up big with multiple hits along with Cassandra Schillo with solid contact,” Iadonisi said. “Grace Helbling had a strong outing on the mound and mixed her pitches well.”
Pennridge (3-4, 1-4 SOL) will host Harry S Truman in a crossover game Tuesday, and Wissahickon (3-4, 3-1) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 002 010 0 3-6-5
Pennridge 240 022 x 10-11 2
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 5, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 4
The Golden Hawks needed a win.
They broke a four-game skid Monday despite falling behind 3-1 early. The Hawks rallied to knot the score, then plated two runs in the top of the seventh and held on for the win.
“We needed to break through,” Rock South coach John Engelhardt said. “We’ve gotten off to a slow start in our last three games. We kicked the ball around against (Council Rock) North and were down 7-0 after one, and then we played Bensalem and we were down 10-0 after two. Against North, we battled back. Bensalem we cut it from 10-0 to 10-7, and they ended up winning 13-7.
“Then we played Truman and got off to a fast start but we coughed up the lead. It’s just a matter of us stacking innings, as we call it. It was really the seniors that came through today.”
Senior Kerri DeSpirito was 4-for-4 with two RBIs, including an RBI single in the seventh.
“She was locked in at the plate,” Engelhardt said.
Senior Allie Kitson was 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the two-run seventh.
“She’s been playing with a broken finger and has got her hand taped,” Engelhardt said of Kitson. “She’s been hitting the ball really well the last couple of games, and it was cool to see her come through in a big way in the seventh.
“She hit a huge double that looked like it was going to go out. The Wood player ran through the fence and broke one of the rods that held the fence up. It was neat to see Allie come through because this kid hurt her finger and just wants to continue to play. She stepped up in a leadership role as well.”
The Golden Hawks, according to Engelhardt, have just three returning varsity players.
“Our sophomores are really freshmen since they didn’t play last year,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “We’re still trying to learn to win, so it was neat to pull this out against a young Wood team. Coach Jackie Ecker is as good a coach as you’re going to find, and her team was well prepared.
“It was a good win for us. It was neat for us to come through to lift our spirits and get us back in the winning ways. Hopefully, it carries over this week. We have a challenging two weeks ahead, and with a young team to keep them locked in, it’s good to pick up a win and see that the hard work they’re putting in is paying off.”
Ciara Constance earned the complete game win, allowing eight hits and three earned runs while striking out nine.
“This kid has thrown every game for us,” Engelhardt said. “Here’s a kid that’s going out and competing every single inning. She didn’t pitch much two years ago, so this is a new experience for her.
“For a kid to step in the circle and take the ball, you can’t ask for anymore. The kid shows the same emotion if she’s striking batters out and also if we’re kicking the ball around behind her. She’s just steady, and she gives us a chance. We have a challenging week ahead with CB East, CB West and then North Penn, so with a young team, this was important for us to start to learn to win in these close situations.”
Council Rock South (3-4, 0-4 SOL) will host Central Bucks East on Tuesday.
Council Rock South 011 100 2 5-11-2
Archbishop Wood 210 000 1 4-8-2
SOUDERTON 7, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3
Abby Burns did it all in Monday’s non-league win. Her 3-for-3 day at the plate included a solo home run and led the Indians’ 10-hit attack. In the circle, Burns scattered six hits and allowed three runs while striking out 11 and walking three.
The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Burns and Riley York hit back-to-back solo home runs – both to left field.
In the top of the second, the Colonials bunched four of their six hits to score three runs. Carly Rosenberger delivered the inning’s big blow – a two-run double. In the bottom of the inning, the Indians scored four runs.
Brooke Scotti was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and one out later, Sierra Ripka and Burns singled to load the bases. A walk to Riley York pushed a run across, and Ryan Zimmerman’s triple to left cleared the bases and put the Indians on top 6-3.
Also contributing multiple hits for the Indians were Ripka (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs), York (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) and Zimmerman (2-for-3, 3B, 3 RBIs).
Souderton (7-2, 3-2 SOL) will host Council Rock North in Tuesday’s crossover game, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-5, 2-3) will celebrate Senior Day when the Colonials will host Cheltenham.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 030 000 0 3-6-0
Souderton 240 100 x 7-10-0
UPPER DUBLIN 12, DOCK MENNONITE 2 (6 innings)
Chloe Foster allowed just one hit in a complete game six-inning win, striking out 13 and walking three. The Pioneers collected their only hit in the top of the first – a two-run home run by Melissa Moyer.
“In the circle, Chloe Foster did a good job maintaining her composure after letting up a two-run home run in the first inning,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “She did a great job mixing in her change-up with her other pitches to keep Dock hitters off-balance.
“Offensively, we have had a number of players struggling at the plate in the past few games, trying to get their bats going, so it was great to see a number of girls up and down the line-up contribute to today’s win.”
The Cardinals pounded out 12 hits and erased that early 2-0 deficit with a four-run first inning that saw them plate all of their runs with two outs. They added to that lead with three more runs in the third and brought an early end to the game with a run in the sixth that put the mercy rule in effect.
Gretchen Wolpert had a big bat Monday, hitting an RBI double in the three-run second and then blasting a solo home run in the fourth. Kaelin Penna was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases. Foster helped her own cause with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate that included an RBI double. Ally McDaid was 1-for-4 with an RBI single, two runs scored and three stolen bases. Rachel Bilger hit a two-run double in the fifth inning.
Upper Dublin (2-4, 1-4 SOL) will celebrate Senior Day when the Flying Cardinals host Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Dock Mennonite 200 000 2-1-6
Upper Dublin 430 221 12-12-1
VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 14, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 4
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