Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday. NP/CR North photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko Photography. Pennsbury/CB East photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for galleries of both games.
NORTH PENN 4, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
It’s been quite a week for Mady Volpe. The Knights’ ace tossed 19 shutout innings in three North Penn wins, and during that span, Volpe has allowed six hits, struck out 36 and walked seven.
The visiting Indians were Volpe’s latest victim. The senior standout allowed two hits while striking out 12 and walking three in the complete game seven-inning win.
The Knights plated an unearned run in the second when Bri Wilmot, who singled, scored on a two-out error, and it was a 1-0 game until the fifth when the Knights added a pair.
Sofia Collins led off the inning with a single, and two outs later, Sarah Sabocsik singled, setting the stage for Annabelle Smink’s two-run double to right. With two outs in the sixth, Carley DiGiuseppe ripped a solo home run to left for the 4-0 final.
“North Penn is one of the strongest teams, top to bottom, in the district and ultimately the state, so I’m really proud of our girls for coming out and playing them as tough as they did,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “That team has dominant pitching, great defense in all nine positions, and can hit one through nine; so to head into the bottom of the fifth with the game being a 1-0 pitcher’s dual, and a final score of 4-0, I really couldn’t be happier.”
Kat Hastings kept the Indians in it, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) with three strikeouts and two walks.
“Kat Hastings threw a tremendous game,” Yee said. “We actually went into the game with a plan to make an early switch to Gabby Cohen who is more of a low velocity/spin ball pitcher, thinking that North Penn wouldn’t like that style of pitching, but Kat was in such control she made it impossible for me to go ahead with the switch. She really came to play today against a fantastic hitting team, and I couldn’t be happier for her and the day she had.”
“North Penn is so talented, they have such depth, and such fantastic coaching – getting to play toe to toe with that type of program is just a lot of fun. They are going to make noise in districts and states, and they are going to make us better for having to try and rise to their level when we play them.”
For the Knights, Sabocsik was 2-for-3 with a run score while Smink was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
North Penn (11-1, 5-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday, and Council Rock North (5-6, 2-2) will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
EXTRA INNINGS: Friday’s game was a reunion of sorts for Yee. “I actually have a couple of my travel players who play for North Penn, so it was fun to get to see them,” the Rock North coach said. “It wasn’t as much fun watching Annabelle Smink lace a double off the wall as it is when she does it in our uniform, but ultimately it was a good time. We have three travel players on North Penn’s team: Annabelle Smink (third base), Reyna Dougherty (right field) and Lacey Drolsbaugh (out injured), and a fourth on my team at North, Jayme Bordner (right field). Three of our four coaches at North coach our travel team – myself, Scott Spiegel, and Farryl Groder. and the North Penn JV coach Sarah Rambo is a former travel player of ours as well. Not to mention Rick Torrisani is a family friend, and Ellie White was my high school coach who I’m still close with, so it really was a fun day of good softball with lots of close relationships battling each other.” Yee and White played fast pitch softball together for several years after Yee’s graduation from Abington. “I’m looking forward to being back on the same side as her (and Rick for the first time) when we coach the SOL Carpenter Cup team together this summer,” Yee said.
Council Rock North 000 000 0 0-2-1
North Penn 010 021 x 4-6-1
PENNSBURY 5, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4
Things weren’t exactly going the Falcons’ way, and they trailed the visiting Patriots 4-0 with two outs in the fifth inning when their offense showed signs of a pulse. Pennsbury plated a run that marked the beginning of a comeback that culminated two innings later with a walk-off single by Cynthia Ehrenfeld, plating courtesy runner Presley Foote with the game-winner in yet another thriller.
“Between Cynthia and J-row (Jess Rowe), they must have three or four walk-offs,” coach Frank McSherry said of his team’s only two seniors. “We were pretty lucky, but you know what – we stayed in there and we battled.
“We put some pinch hitters in there that really battled and either got on or made her throw a lot of pitches.”
The Falcons’ coach pointed to the at-bat of pinch hitter Ali Charlier in the sixth inning as an example.
“She must have had six, seven, eight pitches, fouling off, fouling off,” McSherry said. “She finally struck out, but she had a great at-bat and forced her to throw a bunch of pitches, and then Liz Jordan came up and gets a base hit.”
The Falcons were without a pair of key players. McSherry knew he was without first baseman Jess Rowe, who has been on a tear at the plate due to illness (non-COVID related), but he didn’t know he’d also be without his center fielder/leadoff batter.
“We’re warming up, and Riley Mahony, who’s been nursing a bad arm, can’t go because her arm’s too sore,” the Falcons’ coach said. “I had to change the whole lineup.”
Things didn’t improve when – two-and-two-thirds innings into the game – ace Ainsley McClure was forced to leave the game.
“Her groin pull acts up again,” McSherry said. “By that time with two outs in the third inning, we’re down 4-0.
“Quinny (McGonigle) hasn’t even warmed up. We’ve only played her in right field, center field, first base and pitcher, and she was at first base today for J-row. We have to bring her in cold.”
McGonigle certainly answered the call, allowing just three hits in four-and-a-third scoreless innings while striking out six and walking none to earn the win.
The Falcons’ heroic comeback began with two outs in the fifth when Taylor Askey – with two strikes – singled, and Caitlyn Martell follows with a single. An error on Sam Raub’s hard shot to the infield allowed a run to cross the plate.
In the sixth, the Falcons benefitted from a pair of errors and three hits to score three runs, knotting the score 4-4. Ehrenfeld singled, and delivering clutch two-out singles were Liz Jordan (RBI) and Askey (2 RBIs). The stage was set for the dramatic seventh.
The Patriots held an 8-7 advantage in hits with Alex Frenia and Mackenzie Wilson each collecting a pair of hits to lead the Patriots.
Frenia started and threw six-and-a-third innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out seven and walking one. Kayla Mitchell allowed one hit and walked none.
Pennsbury (10-1, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (9-4, 4-1) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 004 000 0 4-8-5
Pennsbury 000 013 1 5-7-1
HARRY S TRUMAN 10, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4
The Tigers took an early 3-0 lead only to watch the Bucks rally to knot the score in the fourth. The Tigers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would not lose.
Teyana Turner led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left field, and in the third inning, the Tigers added two more, benefitting from a walk and back-to-back RBI doubles from Mara McKeon and Courtney Nau to go on top 3-0.
In the bottom of the inning, Allison Mackwish singled and scored on a passed ball. After Anna Rodebaugh drew a walk, Lauren Molenari ripped a two-run home run to left, knotting the score 3-3 with one swing.
The Tigers benefitted from a pair of walks, two errors, a hit batsman as well as singles from McKeon (RBI) and Nau to score three runs. They added four more over the next three innings to go on top 10-3 before the Bucks – thanks to an Abby Lineman solo home run – added a run in the top of the seventh.
Emily Kuvulic hit her fifth home run of the season – a solo shot in the seventh – and finished the game 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs. Nau was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Towner was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and four runs scored out of the leadoff spot. McKeon was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs.
Kylee Thomas, who threw the final 3.2 innings, earned the win. Jalecia Blackston threw the first 3.1 innings, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out seven and walking one.
Harry S Truman (7-5, 3-2 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Saturday at 11 a.m., and Central Bucks West (1-11, 0-5) will travel to Archbishop Wood on Monday for a non-league game.
Central Bucks West 000 300 1 4-9-2
Harry S Truman 102 331 x 10-11 2
BENSALEM 11, PENNRIDGE 10
The visiting Owls – owners of an 11-2 lead heading into the sixth inning – looked as though they could coast to the easy win. The Rams had something to say about that and were a base hit away from a win with runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
That’s when Maggie Formichelli came up with a huge strikeout for the inning’s second out, and the Owls escaped with a win when the next batter was retired on a fly ball to center field. The Owls’ junior pitcher went the distance, striking out seven and walking one in the complete game win.
It was Formichelli putting the Owls on the scoreboard in the first when she delivered a two-out RBI double that plated Emma Lostracco, who started the two-out rally with a double.
In the second, Maddie Buechner doubled and scored on a groundout to give the Owls a 2-0 lead, but it was the third inning that was the difference in the game as the Owls erupted for six runs. Highlights of the inning included a two-run home run from Lostracco, and a two-run double from Destiny Howard. Mackenzie Kramer’s RBI single capped the six-run outburst that put the Owls on top 8-0.
That lead grew to 9-0 before the Rams got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth when Catelyn Thrush ripped a two-run home run to center field.
The Owls got those two runs back when Kramer hit a two-run shot to left field in the top of the fifth. The rest of the game belonged to the Rams, who used singles by Reagan Bauman, Thrush, Madison Silber (RBI), Cassandra Schillo, Mackenzie Owens (RBI) and Olivia Crognale (RBI) to plate four runs in the sixth.
They didn’t stop there. In the seventh inning, they added four more runs. The rally included singles by Anna Hensler, Bauman, Thrush, Silber (2 RBIs) and Owens (RBI) as well as a costly error. That’s when Formichelli slammed the door on the rally, preserving the Owls’ lead.
Klein had a huge game out of the leadoff spot for the Owls, finishing the game 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Adding two hits each were Lostracco (2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Angelina Sponheimer (2-for-3, 1 run), Formichelli (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) and Kramer (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 1 run).
For the Rams, Thrush (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs) had a huge day at the plate. Also contributing multiple hits were Bauman (2-for-3, 2 runs), Silber (2-for-4, 3 RBIs, 1 run), Schillo (2-for-4, 1 run) and Owens (2-for-4, 2 RBIs).
Bensalem (6-7, 1-5 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday, and Pennridge (3-10, 1-4) will travel to Council Rock North on Tuesday.
Bensalem 110 120 0 11-14-2
Pennridge 000 204 4 10-13-2
NESHAMINY 4, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
The Redskins notched their seventh win in eight games, and if there was a defining moment in their most recent win, it came in the top of the sixth when the Titans – trailing 1-0 – loaded the bases with one out.
“Mia Barone took the mound and got her team out of the jam without allowing a run,” Neshaminy coach Tim Quense said.
Barone entered the game in relief of starter Kennedie Ruth, who held the Titans scoreless through five.
The Redskins got on the scoreboard in the second when Amanda Slabicki hit a sacrifice fly. That 1-0 lead stood until the bottom of the sixth when – after escaping the Titans’ threat – the Redskins plated three runs.
Stringing hits together were Kylie Siwek, Barone, Kylee Jones (RBI), Danielle Monaco (2 RBIs) and Slabicki.
In the top of the seventh, the Titans got on the scoreboard when Ella Brennan delivered an RBI single that plated Suzie Williams.
Leading the Redskins’ attack was Monaco (2-for-3) while Siwek (1-for-3), Barone (1-for-2, BB), Jones (1-for-3, RBI) and Slabicki (1-for-3, RBI) each contributed to the scoring.
For the Titans, Williams was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Nicole Pilla contributed a double.
Maddy Borowski absorbed the loss, allowing six hits while striking out five.
Neshaminy (8-3, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday, and Central Bucks South (5-6, 2-3) will be on the road at Avon Grove for a non-league game Saturday at 11 a.m.
Central Bucks South 000 000 1 1-5-3
Neshaminy 010 003 x 4-6-1
ABINGTON 6, WILLIAM TENNENT 3
Jess Sokolski came up big when it mattered most, working her way out of a seventh inning jam that saw the Panthers strand a pair when she came up with a strikeout for the game’s final out.
Sokolski went the distance, allowing nine hits and three runs, striking out six and walking three.
“On a very windy day, we had great pitching by Jess Sokolski, and her catcher Lauren Everitt was outstanding,” Abington coach Bob Baginski said. “Our defense was almost flawless today despite the conditions.
“Mia Scheuer played great defense at shortstop. We had key hits by Everitt, Jess Sokolski and Madison Cornell. We had a busy week and finished 3-1. The weekend rest will be welcomed.”
The Ghosts, who led wire to wire, put three runs on the board in the top of the third in an inning highlighted by Lauren Everitt’s two-run double to center field. In the top of the fifth, the Ghosts upped their lead to 5-0 when Madison Cornell delivered a two-run single.
The Panthers put a run on the board in the sixth when Katie LaPlaunt, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on Jamie Maier’s one-out single. The Ghosts got that run back in the top of the seventh when they scored an unearned run to go on top 5-1.
In the seventh inning, the Panthers made things real interesting. With one out, Meg Curtis ripped a triple to right, and she scored on Gigi Demito’s double to right. LaPlaunt followed with an RBI single, and the Panthers had the tying run at home plate after Sarah Cummins singled. That’s when Curtis brought an end to the rally.
The Ghosts were led offensively by the 2-for-3 effort of Everitt, who doubled and drove in a pair. Annie Sokolski was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Curtis (2-for-3, 3B, 1 run), Demito (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 1 run) and LaPlaunt (2-for-3, RBI, 1 run) led the Panthers’ nine-hit attack.
Abington (5-6, 0-5 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Tuesday, and William Tennent (4-3, 2-0) will travel to Upper Moreland on Monday.
Abington 003 020 1 6
William Tennent 000 001 2 3
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 16, UPPER MORELAND 4 (5 innings)
The Colonials pounded out 21 hits with 12 different players collecting at least one hit in the five-inning mercy rule win.
“Our team is really coming together nicely right now,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “It’s a tight-knit unit on the field and in the dugout, and they really battle for each other every game.
“I’m proud of the way they’ve turned our season around after our 1-3 start, and I’m excited for the rest of the season.
Talia Carr led the charge with a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and seven RBIs. She hit a three-run blast in a six-run third and a leadoff homer in the top of the fifth.
Carly Rosenberger was also 3-for-4 with three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Marissa Perez was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Lauryn Kane was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs. Molly Lynch was 2-for-2 with a double and RBI. Hannah Suh also was 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored. Haylie Lindley hit a solo home run in the fifth.
Molly Moore had another strong outing in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out nine in the five-inning win.
For the Golden Bears, sophomore Malia Walton hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-5, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Lower Moreland on Tuesday, and Upper Moreland (5-6, 4-0) will host William Tennent on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 336 13 16-21-0
Upper Moreland 001 03 4-6-1
UPPER DUBLIN 15, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
Chloe Foster had quite a day in Friday’s abbreviated mercy rule win for the Flying Cardinals, who opened up a double-digit lead after two innings.
The UD hurler did not allow a hit in three shutout innings, striking out seven and walking one in a winning effort. At the plate, she smashed a three-run home run to ignite a four-run second inning. Foster finished the game 1-for-1 with four RBIs.
Kaelin Penna had a big game at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Rachel Bilger was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Upper Dublin (6-6, 1-4 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (1-9, 0-3) will be on the road at Lower Moreland on Monday.
Cheltenham 000 0-0-2
Upper Dublin 645 15-12-0
QUAKERTOWN 15, LOWER MORELAND (3 innings)
Syd Andrews picked up where she left off in Thursday’s perfect four-inning game against Abington, retiring all nine batters she faced in Friday’s game – seven by strikeout.
The Panthers scored seven runs in the first and added seven more in the second. Ava Beal led off the first with a double and scored when Emma Hilton followed with a double. LauraRose Morelock was hit by a pitch, and Andrews followed with an RBI single. Skyler Williams and Trinity Lucas (RBI) hit back-to-back singles, and Beal’s two-run single capped the seven-run outburst.
Beal was 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Hilton was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Andrews was 1-for-1 with two RBIs. Jenna Geiger was 1-for-1 with a double and two RBIs, and Katie Muller was 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs.
Quakertown (11-2, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday, and Lower Moreland (2-6, 2-2) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Lower Moreland 000 0-0-1
Quakertown 771 15-12-0
HATBORO-HORSHAM 17, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (3 innings)
Kendal Leitner threw three perfect innings, striking out eight in the abbreviated mercy rule win. The Hatters’ junior ace retired nine straight with a two-out groundout to second in the first inning the only ball hit in play.
The Hatters put four runs on the board in the top of the first. Kristin Myers led off with a single, and one out later, Kayla Tauber drew a walk, setting the stage for Amya Lundy’s two-run double to center field. After a Spartan error plated a third run, Abby Waeltz roped an RBI double to center for a 4-0 Hatters lead.
They added six more runs in the third inning. Tess Kearney smashed a three-run home run to left, and after Tauber doubled and Lundy walked, Leitner followed Kearney’s lead, ripping a three-run shot to left field that put the Hatters on top 10-0.
All told, the Hatters collected 13 hits in three innings. Myers was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot, and Marissa Rapino was also 3-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Kearney was 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run while Tauber was 1-for-1 with a double and three runs. Lundy was 1-for-1 with a double, two RBIs and three runs while Leitner was 1-for-2 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs. Waeltz was 2-for-3 with two doubles, four RBIs and one run. Megan Mills also had an RBI.
Hatboro-Horsham (10-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon on Monday, and Springfield Township (1-9, 1-4) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 467 17-13-0
Springfield Twp 000 0-0-3
WISSAHICKON 9, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0
Emma Clayborne tossed a one-hit shutout, striking out nine. The Wissahickon senior also had a big day at the plate, contributing four RBIs.
Danielle Ciliberto continued her torrid offensive production, finishing 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and four runs scored.
Wissahickon (8-4, 3-1 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and New Hope-Solebury (2-9, 2-2) will host Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
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