Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday.
SOL Freedom Division
WILLIAM TENNENT 14, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 4 (5 innings)
Meg Curtis and Gigi Demito drove in four runs apiece to lead the Panthers to the mercy rule win in Friday’s conference game.
The Spartans put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the first, but the Panthers got one of those back in the bottom of the inning without collecting a hit. They added three in the second, thanks to a two-run double by Meg Curtis and a sacrifice fly by Gigi Demito.
The Panthers took a 4-3 lead into the fourth when they plated three runs. Ella Mednick led off with a single, and one out later, Anna Coulter singled. A walk to Curtis loaded the bases, and a pair came home when Demito singled to left. The third run crossed the plate on a bases-loaded walk, and the Panthers led 7-3.
It was a 7-4 game heading into the bottom of the fifth when the Panthers erupted for seven runs.
Mednick, who led off the inning with a single, scored when Mackenzie Clee ripped a triple to center field. Anna Coulter drew a walk and Curtis followed with a single that plated a pair. Another run crossed the plate when Demito lofted a sacrifice fly to left field. The Panthers, who benefitted from four walks in the inning, led 12-4 after Olivia Clee’s sac fly. Mednick, whose single started the offensive outburst, hit a two-run single to bring an early end to the game.
Mednick was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored while Curtis was 2-for-2 with a double, four RBIs and two runs. Demito was 1-for-2 with four RBIs, and Clee was 1-for-2 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Clee earned the complete game win, allowing three hits and four runs in five innings – only one earned – while striking out seven and walking two.
William Tennent (4-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Quakertown for a crossover game on Monday, and Springfield Township (1-6, 1-4) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday.
Springfield Twp 201 01 4-3-1
William Tennent 130 37 14-8-4
UPPER MORELAND 17, CHELTENHAM 2 (3 innings)
The week had not been especially kind to the Golden Bears, who suffered back-to-back mercy rule losses to Hatboro-Horsham and Wissahickon. Upper Moreland balanced the scales a bit with a mercy rule win of its own on Friday.
“After two tough losses this week, our girls were eager to get back on the field and play well,” UM coach Melanie Martino said. “They came out strong and ran the bases well to get a nice lead in the first. The Cheltenham team made some nice plays in the field today.”
Lea Rizzo notched the win for the Golden Bears.
Grace Ounan led the Bears’ attack with a 3-for-3 effort. Gabrielle Wiley had a pair of RBIs, Natalie Walton had an RBI double, Alexis McDermott contributed an RBI single, and Liz Santry also had an RBI.
Upper Moreland (5-3, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Monday, and Cheltenham (1-6, 0-3) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday.
Cheltenham 101 2
Upper Moreland 827 17
Non-league
HATBORO-HORSHAM 1, SOUDERTON 0
This game was the very definition of a pitcher’s duel.
Kendal Leitner and Abby Burns were in complete command, and hits were few and far between on both sides. It didn’t take long to figure out one run could win it, and that’s exactly what happened.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Amya Lundy smashed a one-strike pitch over the right field fence for a solo home run that turned out to be the game-winner.
“Technically, it’s like her freshman year, and she’s off to a great start,” Krier said. “Kendal just pitched a gem of a game. Everyone defensively stepped up when we needed to. I said to them at the end of the game – as coaches we loved seeing there was no quit. They just kept on pushing and pushing and pushing.
“It was great softball on both sides. Souderton fielded cleanly, their pitcher had a great game, and they had some timely hits. It’s just that Kendal pitched out of a couple of tough situations.”
In the top of the fourth inning, the Indians had a golden opportunity to get on the board when they had runners on second and third with one out after back-to-back singles by Riley York and Ryan Zimmerman. Leitner coaxed a popup to second out of the next batter she faced and struck out the next to end that threat.
“She didn’t buckle,” Krier said of Leitner. “I felt confident when they had runners in scoring position that she was going to settle in, hit her pitches. From a coach’s point of view, that is a very good thing to have – that faith in your pitcher. Also, her defense had faith in her.”
Leitner – who retired 11 of 12 batters to close out the game – allowed just three hits in the shutout win, striking out 14 and walking two.
“She’s focused, and she is an incredibly hard worker,” Krier said of her junior pitcher. “She takes care of her body with fitness and is in tune with doing the right things to stay healthy.
“In the game, she hits her pitches. She knows when she has to bring it and get the outs herself, but she also knows that she has a solid defense behind her. Her overall attitude is just one of determination. She likes working hard. She’s happy if she’s on the mound, she’s happy if she’s in the field. She just loves the game, and she loves to compete.”
Burns absorbed the loss, allowing just four hits and one run
“We hit the ball and had a couple of base runners on at different times,” Krier said. “But they just made really great plays and played solid defense. Their pitcher had a great game as well. She put the ball in places that our batters hit ground balls or popups, so she did a great job.”
Three of the Hatters four hits were for extra bases. Alyssa Tooley hit a one-out double in the second, but Burns struck out the next two batters she faced. Leitner tripled immediately after Lundy’s home run, but Burns struck out the next batter she faced to end the inning.
Lundy – in her first varsity season – is hitting .524. Friday’s home run was her second of the season. She also has five doubles and 12 RBIs.
“She’s come up big time,” Krier said. “She loves to compete too.
“After losing a season, it’s great to see girls around the league being able to play the game, showing off how talented they are and having fun. It’s great to be around.”
Hatboro-Horsham (6-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury Saturday for a non-league game at 10 a.m. Souderton (9-3, 3-2) will travel to Pennsbury for a crossover game on Monday.
Souderton 000 000 0 0-3-1
Hatboro-Horsham 000 100 x 1-4-0
NORTH PENN 5, NESHAMINY 2
As beginnings go, they don’t get much better than the Knights’ torrid start to Friday’s crossover game against the visiting Redskins.
The Knights put their first six batters on base, a stretch that was capped by Bri Wilmot smacking a grand slam that put the Knights on top 5-0. It was Wilmot’s second home run in as many games, and this one jumpstarted the Knights, who bounced back nicely from their first loss of the season on Tuesday. Mady Volpe notched the complete game win.
The pivotal first began with Julia Shearer doubling to center, and Sarah Sabocsik followed with a single. Annabelle Smink drew a free pass to load the bases, and Volpe’s single to center plated a single run.
That set the stage for a marvelous at-bat by Wilmot, who fouled off several two-strike pitches and then nailed a shot to center field that gave the Knights an early five-run cushion.
Shearer led off the second inning with a triple but was stranded as junior Kennedie Ruth was finding her groove, retiring not only the next three batters but 13 in a row until Gianna Cimino singled with one out in the sixth.
Mia Barone led off the top of the fourth with a solo shot to left that put the Redskins on the scoreboard. They added another run when Ruth delivered a sacrifice fly to right, making it a 5-2 game.
The Redskins – as a result of a leadoff walk to Ruth and a single by Kylie Siwek – brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh. Volpe closed out the game with a strikeout.
Volpe allowed three hits and two runs (one earned), striking out 12 and walking three. Ruth absorbed the loss, allowing six hits – two after the first inning. She struck out 11 and walked two.
North Penn (7-1, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Monday, and Neshaminy (5-3, 4-1) will host Pennridge on Monday.
Neshaminy 000 200 0 2-3-0
North Penn 500 000 x 5-6-1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 23, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 (4 innings)
The Colonials broke a scoreless tie with five runs in the second and added five more in the third. They brought an early end to the game with a 13-run outburst in the fourth.
Sophomore Molly Moore pitched three innings of no-hit ball, striking out five and walking one. Freshman Julie Price closed out the game with a scoreless fourth inning.
“It was a great way to finish off the week with a solid pitching performance by Molly Moore and big hits up and down the lineup,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “We’re excited to see what the second half of the season has in store for us starting next week.”
Moore also was 3-for-4 at the plate with a two-run double in the five-run second. Freshman Marissa Perez was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Junior Hannah Suh was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Junior Lauryn Kane was 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. She had a team high five RBIs. Sophomore Molly Lynch was 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-5, 2-3 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Monday, and New Hope-Solebury (2-6, 2-2) will host Abington on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 055 13 23-23-2
New Hope-Solebury 000 0 0-1-4
QUAKERTOWN 19, PENNRIDGE 2 (6 innings)
The Panthers took a 4-0 lead in the second inning and added four more in the fifth before bringing an early end to the game with an 11-run outburst in the sixth. The win capped a 3-0 week for Quakertown.
Highlighting the Panthers’ four-run second was a two-run double by Cadence Lewis. In the bottom of the fourth, the Rams made it a 4-1 game when Catelyn Thrush hit a solo home run.
In Quakertown’s four-run fifth, Emma Hilton contributed her first of two doubles. In the sixth inning, Syd Andrews led off with a single, but it looked like the Rams would see their way out of the inning when two of the next three Panther batters were retired.
With two on and two outs, Hilton hit her second double of the day with this one driving in a pair. Ava Beal followed with an RBI single, and an error opened the floodgates as the Panther scored eight more runs – all unearned. Andrews hit a two-run single, and then Grace Baker delivered the big blow – a grand slam to left field.
Beal and Andrews led the Panthers with three hits each. Lewis and Hilton had two apiece.
Andrews notched the complete game win, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out 11 and walking two.
Madison Silber’s two hits – both doubles – led the Rams.
Quakertown (8-2, 3-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Monday, and Pennridge (3-7, 1-4) will travel to Neshaminy on Monday,
Quakertown 040 0411 19
Pennridge 000 101 2
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