Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. Pennsbury/Neshaminy photos courtesy of Jesse Garber (https://jsgarber.zenfolio.com/p955359409 )
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 10, NESHAMINY 3
The Falcons have the early edge in the battle for supremacy in the SOL Patriot Division, thanks to their decisive win in Tuesday’s battle of division heavyweights.
“This was a big one because we know how good Neshaminy is,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said.
If the Falcons needed a wake-up call, they got it in the bottom of the first when senior Meryn Bellacima smashed a two-run home run to give the Redskins an early 2-0 lead. The Falcons wasted no time getting those runs back, knotting the score in the top of the second.
Riley Mahony led off with a double and scored when Taylor Askey followed with a double. Ava Storlazzi’s RBI single evened the score 2-2.
In the fourth inning, the Falcons plated a pair to take a lead they would not lose. Presley Foote drew a leadoff walk, and Caitlyn Martell made it hurt, slamming a two-run home run that put the Falcons on top 4-2.
Pennsbury scored three runs in the sixth inning. Askey led off the inning with a single, and Martell was safe on an error. Quinn McGonigle’s two-out single drove in a run, and then it was Sammy Raub delivering an RBI single.
For good measure, Martell delivered a two-run double to highlight a three-run seventh inning. A solo home run by Neshaminy sophomore Ashleigh Waskie in the bottom of the inning closed out the scoring.
Martell was 3-for-5 with a double, home run, three runs scored and four RBIs. McGonigle reached base all four trips to the plate, finishing the game 3-for-3 with a walk. Askey was 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
Ainsley McClure notched the complete game win, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out eight and walking two.
Kennedie Ruth took the loss in the circle for the Redskins.
“Kennedie Ruth is a good pitcher – she’s tough,” McSherry said. “I guess maybe we hit a couple of mistakes. We did play some good small ball – we had some bunt singles. That’s big because that puts pressure on them because they’re so good and they can hit so well. Up and down the lineup, they can hit.”
For the Redskins, Alleigh Bellacima was 2-for-4.
“She can flat out hit,” McSherry said.
Pennsbury (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Thursday, and Neshaminy (3-1, 1-1) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday.
Pennsbury 020 203 3 10-13-0
Neshaminy 200 000 1 3-8-3
BENSALEM 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 7
The Owls edged the Tigers in a classic battle between the neighboring rivals. Both teams got contributions up and down their lineup.
“(Our) outfield was phenomenal today,” Bensalem coach Erin Smith said. “Our center fielder Ayva Knowles had three catches at the fence. Camryn Pickering robbed a shot down the right field line with a runner on second, and Kayla Clarkson cut off a ball down the left field line and made a bullet throw to second to hold Truman to a single on a ball that should have been extra bases in the last inning.
“Our outfielders were also solid offensively. Knowles had two hits and a HBP, Pickering had a double, walk and scored three runs and Clarkson had two hits.”
Maggie Formichelli threw six innings and struck out six to earn the win, and Clarkson tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
Megan Klein led off the top of the first with a triple to left and scored on a groundout.
“Leadoff batter Megan Klein continued to be a menace for opponents,” Smith said. “She led off the game with a triple, then dropped a bunt single. She was intentionally walked in her third plate appearance. She drove in a run on a sacrifice fly on a ball that Truman’s center fielder robbed her of what would have been a home run.”
The Owls took a 4-0 lead with three more runs in the second. The Inning was highlighted by singles from Destiny Howard (RBI), Knowles, Klein and Clarkson (RBI).
A five-run outburst in the third inning gave the Tigers a 5-4 lead. Courtney Nau hit a two-run double to left, and Hannah Smith also had an RBI double in the inning.
In the top of the fourth, a two-run single by Formichelli put the Owls on top 6-5, and Howard’s RBI double in the fifth gave the Owls a two-run lead. The Tigers – thanks to Ava Kilner’s RBI single – made it a 7-6 game. The two teams exchanged runs in the seventh.
For the Tigers, Smith was 2-for-4 with a double, home run two runs scored and two RBIs. Her solo home run in the seventh accounted for the Tigers’ final run.
“Truman has a solid team,” Smith said. “Their leadoff batter (Teyana) Towner is a great player, and we made the decision early on to pitch carefully to her and not let her bat hurt us, and she had three walks.
“Their cleanup batter Hannah Smith can really hit the ball. She finished the day with a double and home run, but her other two at-bats were shots we made great plays on.”
Bensalem (2-2, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (1-1) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Thursday.
Bensalem 130 210 1 8-13-0
Harry S Truman 005 010 1 7-6-1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 13, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 6
The Golden Hawks picked up their second win in as many days and their first in league play with a win over their sister school on Tuesday.
“Everybody was up for today’s game,” Rock South coach Dan Schram said. “There’s quite a rivalry between North and South. Coach (Susan) Yee had her team ready. She does an amazing job with her players, and she is a class act on and off the field.
“We had a couple sloppy frames on defense, but we stayed up all game and kept battling. Lexi Waring is very competitive and a great athlete. She makes others better around her. She was 3-for-4 hitting today. Her success on the mound today was the product of great teamwork with catcher Grace Stepp. Grace is a leader on and off the field. Today she hit a four-base knock that helped to open the game wide open. It was a total team effort.”
Waring allowed eight hits and six runs (four earned). She struck out 11. Her 3-for-4 day at the plate included two runs scored and a stolen base. Stepp was 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs. Ameerah Wheet also was 3-for-4 with a double, three runs, RBI and one stolen base. Julia Scannapieco was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Yee acknowledged that the rivalry game against South is always special.
“Today was like any other CR North – CR South rivalry game, the atmosphere was great, both teams came with heart and energy, and regardless of the score it was just a fun environment to be in,” the Indians’ coach said. “Dan Schram is really doing a great job building the program over there.
“They have a young team, but they are playing good fundamental, crisp, softball. They took a disciplined approach at the plate and put the ball in play forcing our defense to have to work and earn our outs. Their two through four hitters really had a day going a combined 11-for-16. and when you can string things together like that, you are going to be tough to beat.”
The two teams were deadlocked 3-3 when the Golden Hawks broke the game open with a seven-run outburst in the bottom of the third. Stepp delivered the inning’s big blow, a three-run home run.
The Indians spent the rest of the day playing catchup, and they never could make up the ground they lost.
“Despite the score, I think our team had some things to be proud of today,” Yee said. “I was really happy with their attitude and the fact that they fought until the very end.
“The first 2.5 innings were great back and forth softball, but when the wheels fell off in the bottom of the third (surrendering 7 runs), it would have been really easy for the girls to look at the 10 – 3 score and fold up tent, but they didn’t do that. They battled the rest of the game until the final out, and I think that mentality is going to pay off in the long run for us. If you exclude the third inning, it was a one-run game, so we just have to keep looking at those positives and keep working to make the tweaks we need to make in order to play our best ball from out number one to out number 21 without any lapses in the middle.”
Sofia Shields had a huge day at the plate for the Indians, finishing the game 3-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and two RBIs. She hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning. Taylor Gearhart was 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored, one RBI and two stolen bases. Jayme Bordner was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Emma Zoldi was hit by a pitch, scored a run and stole a base. Abby Green was 1-for-1 with a stolen base, and Sierra Klein drew a walk and scored a run.
“We had a couple of girls who really put forth some great plate appearances and deserve a lot of recognition for their efforts,” Yee said. “Seniors Jayme Bordner and Sofia Shields both brought their A games today and showed good senior leadership up to bat. Jayme was 2-for-4 and was robbed of a third hit on a great running grab by South’s left fielder to end the fifth inning and strand a runner for what would have been Jayme’s third RBI in three plate appearances, and Sofia was a force at the plate going 3-for-4, including a solo shot over centerfield and a couple of RBIs.
“Additionally, sophomore Taylor Gearheart had an absolutely monster day on both sides of the field going 3-for-4 with two doubles, three runs scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases, while also making a few huge defensive plays – cutting a throw home to redirect the play to second and nail a trail runner to end the first inning, and then gunning down another runner at home in the bottom of the second. She played with a ton of maturity, well beyond what you would expect of a sophomore.”
Council Rock South (2-2, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury on Thursday, and Council Rock North (0-2) will host Bensalem on Thursday.
Council Rock North 201 011 1 6
Council Rock South 127 003 x 13
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
Sienna Lawson turned in a stellar one-hit effort in the circle, allowing one run – unearned – while striking out 12 and walking two to lead the Bucks to their second win in as many days.
“Our entire team fought incredibly hard to win today’s game,” West coach Ali Coleman said. “Sienna Lawson was unstoppable today. She only allowed one hit, walked 2, and had 12 strikeouts.”
The Titans plated an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Abby Lineman got that run back with one sweet swing of her bat in the top of the second, ripping her second home run in as many days, this one a solo shot to lead off the inning.
That 1-1 tie stood until the top of the seventh inning. Emma Haurin led off the inning with a ground single to center, and she moved up to second on a groundout. The Bucks had runners on the corners after a one-out single by Julia Thomas. Haurin raced home with a run that turned out to be the game-winner on a groundout by Molly Gibson.
“Abby Lineman was another key player today,” Coleman said. “She helped tie the game with a solo home run to left field.
“In the top of the seventh, Emma Haurin led off the inning with a single. She ended up scoring the go-ahead run thanks to some great situational hitting by our team.”
With the win, the Bucks evened their record on the young season to 2-2 overall, and the two wins represent one win more than they won in the entire 19-game season last year.
“This has been a huge confidence booster for us,” Coleman said. “We know we are a good team and these past two wins have shown that.”
South freshman Riley Erb pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out seven and walking four.
Central Bucks West (2-2, 1-1 SOL) will host Pennridge on Thursday, and Central Bucks South (1-2, 0-2) will travel to Central Bucks East on Thursday.
Central Bucks West 010 000 1 2-5-2
Central Bucks South 100 000 0 1-1-0
NORTH PENN 7, PENNRIDGE 0
It was another routinely excellent performance for Julia Shearer and her North Penn teammates. The Knights junior ace tossed a complete game two-hit shutout, striking out 14 and walking two. Tuesday’s game was the first game all season she has had to go seven innings.
“She was on again,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “We went seven innings, which we need to do. I was glad to go seven. She threw 95 pitches and didn’t lose any speed throughout.
“We needed to extend her, and today was a good day to do it. This is really Julia’s first year of pitching a lot. Today Grace Helbling kept Pennridge in the game and did a nice job. It was nice to see Julia not lose anything. She was averaging 55-60 pitches in the five-inning games she pitched. She went to 95 and didn’t lose any speed, and the ball was moving. She was excited at the end. Today was a real confidence builder for her”
The Knights, who collected 12 hits, got good production from the bottom of their order. Their seven, eight and nine hitters were a combined 5-for-8. Maddy Gronback was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs.
“Maddy Gronback is a senior, and she earned a spot in right field, and today, she came through with a couple of big hits and drove in two runs,” Torresani said.
Casey Sokol was 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Bella Nunn was 1-for-2 with a double.
“Casey Sokol is a sophomore, who was struggling a little bit hitting, and today she ended up with two hits and had a good game at the plate,” the Knights’ coach said. “That was great to see.
“The last four games, it’s been the first six batters, and today, to see the bottom of our order get some hits was huge for us.”
The Knights put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Shearer lined a single to left to lead off the first. Sarah Sabocsik was safe on an error, and the bases were loaded when Annabelle Smink drew a walk. Shearer scored on an error, and Gianna Cimino hit a sacrifice fly that plated a run. Gronback’s RBI single put the Knights on top 3-0.
That score held until the bottom of the fifth when Brie Wilmot ripped a solo home run to center field.
“She’s been right on,” Torresani said of Wilmot. “Today she hit a mammoth shot and then they intentionally walked her in the sixth inning with (runners on) first and third and two outs.”
In the sixth inning, the Knights added three more runs. Sophia Collins lined a double to left field to lead off the inning, and she scored when Gronback ripped a triple to right field. Sokol’s single plated Gronback, and an Annabelle Smink’s RBI single closed out the scoring on both sides.
“Maddy Gronback and Sophia Collins had the key hits in the three-run sixth,” Torresani said.
Also for the Knights, Shearer (2-for-4, run), and Wilmot (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs) were key contributors.
North Penn (5-0, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Thursday, and Pennridge (1-2, 0-2) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Thursday.
Pennridge 000 000 0 0-2-2
North Penn 300 013 x 7-12-0
SOUDERTON 6, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5
Tuesday’s game at East started off on a good enough note for the Indians.
Riley York ripped a two-out solo home run to center field to spot Souderton an early 1-0 lead, but when the Indians took the field, they were told that Abby Burns – 24 hours removed from throwing a 6-inning perfect game – could not pitch with a taped index finger on her pitching hand.
Sophomore McKenna Schroding came to the rescue. With little to no time to prepare, she entered the game and went on to earn the complete game win.
“McKenna did great, and my defense stood right there behind her,” Souderton coach Carol Atkinson said. “They came up with some really big hits in the sixth inning (to pull to within one). The girls stayed calm, went back out in the seventh inning and put them down. She’s a really good pitcher.”
At the plate, the Indians were sparked by a pair of sophomores – Kendell Clemmer and Cameron Nadolski, who were a combined 5-for-8 with one RBI and four runs scored. The duo collected back-to-back singles with one out in the fourth inning. Both wound up scoring to put the Indians on top 3-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots put a run on the board, but the Indians scored three in the fifth to go on top 6-1. Schroding drew a free pass, and Clemmer collected a two-out single. Nadolski followed with an RBI single, and two runs crossed the plate on a costly error.
The Patriots didn’t go down quietly, pulling to within one with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth. Amelia Funston and Ava Catron opened the frame with back-to-back singles, and with one out, Kayla Mitchell singled to load the bases. Corinn Eads – on the heels of a big offensive night in the Patriots’ win over Pennridge – emptied the bases with a booming triple to right field. She scored on a single by Sara Camposano. Schroding retired the next two batters she faced on groundouts to end the Patriots’ threat.
The Patriots had a one-out baserunner in the seventh when Catron was safe on an error, but Schroding slammed the door on any potential comeback with a strikeout to end the game.
For the Patriots, Amelia Funston (2-for-4) was the lone player with multiple hits.
Souderton (5-0, 2-0 SOL) will host North Penn on Thursday, and Central Bucks East (3-1, 1-1) will host Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Souderton 100 230 0 6-8-2
Central Bucks East 000 104 0 5-8-3
SOL Liberty Division
WISSAHICKON 7, ABINGTON 0
The Trojans brought a welcome end to a three-game skid with a shutout win of the visiting Ghosts, and it may have been a change to the team’s batting order that turned the tide for the Trojans.
“For some reason, we kept finding everyone’s fielders in the last three games,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “We had runners in scoring position, but they weren’t running by me (coaching third base), so I decided to bunch the seniors together at the top of the lineup and let them lead the way. It was a senior-led win.
“I was very unhappy with our play against Council Rock South (in a 7-1 loss) and let the girls know how I felt. I thought they were too good to let these games go. We had one inning in each game where we messed up, and it cost us the game. Today we tightened it up really well. Hopefully, this is the beginning of something good.”
Senior pitcher Danielle Ciliberto tossed a complete game two-hit shutout, striking out 13 and walking none. Borkowski lauded the play of both Ciliberto and her batterymate, catcher Grace Franczyk.
“Danielle and Gracie really had a good game today,” the Trojans’ coach said. “I think Gracie is one of the best defensive catchers around, and Danielle is usually very tough. I never have to call a pitch with Gracie behind the plate.
“Our defense backed up Danielle today. I will admit we are a little young on the left side with sophomore Sienna Miller at third base and freshman Morgan Risnychok at shortstop, but they are going to be good players for us. They did very well today. Junior Emma Dutill is always good at second base. I don’t worry about her and Fitz (Katelyn Fitzgerald) on the right side.”
The Trojans scored all the runs Ciliberto would need in the bottom of the first. Luca Penna led off the frame with a double to center, and she scored when Ciliberto singled to right field. One out later, Franczyk delivered an RBI single, and an RBI groundout by Emi Fox gave the Trojans a 3-0 lead. Emma Dutill followed with a double, and she scored on Risnychock’s RBI single, and the Trojans led 4-0.
In the second inning, Penna, after picking up her second double, scored on a groundout to up the Trojans’ lead to 5-0. They added a pair of runs in the seventh, staging a two-out rally that began with Penna’s third double. Ciliberto was hit by a pitch, and Katelyn Fitzgerald singled to plate a run, and then it was Franczyk driving in a run with her second double of the game for the 7-0 final.
Penna was 3-for-4 with three doubles and three runs scored, and Ciliberto was 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and one RBI. Franczyk finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI. Risnychock was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Fitgerald had a pair of RBIs while Emma Dutill was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Meredith Walsh was also 1-for-3.
Wissahickon (1-3, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Thursday, and Abington (2-1, 1-1) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday.
Abington 000 000 0 0
Wissahickon 410 002 x 7
QUAKERTOWN 10, UPPER DUBLIN 0 (5 innings)
It was the Syd Andrews show in Tuesday’s SOL opener for the Panthers. The senior ace allowed just one hit and struck out 11 in the abbreviated contest. Kaelin Penna led off the top of the first with a single. Andrews retired the next 15 batters she faced.
“She just dominated,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “She really worked ahead of the hitters and mixed up her pitches. It was fun to watch.”
In case her performance in the circle wasn’t enough, Andrews also was 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three RBIs and two stolen bases. It was her two-run single in the bottom of the fifth that gave the Panthers a 10-run lead and the walk-off win.
The Panthers scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Ava Beal doubled to left, and Maya Hellyer walked. Beal scored on a wild pitch, and Andrews singled to center, driving in a run that turned out to be the game-winner.
A five-run second was highlighted by a leadoff single by Grace Baker, an RBI double to left by Skyler William, a two-run single to center by Emma Hilton, a single by Beal and an RBI single by Katie Muller that put the Panthers on top 7-0.
The Panthers added an unearned run in a fourth inning that included an Andrews double.
In the fifth, the Panthers loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Hilton and Beal and a walk that set the stage for Andrews’ late-game heroics.
Also for the Panthers, Beal was 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. Hilton was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Quakertown (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Thursday, and Upper Dublin (1-3, 1-2) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday.
Upper Dublin 000 00 0-1-1
Quakertown 250 12 10-11-0
SOL Freedom Division
LOWER MORELAND 16, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 8
It was a team effort for Lower Moreland in its first league win. Seven players contributed to the LM Lion’s 12 hits and every player in the lineup scored at least one run.
New Hope got on the board with an unearned run in the top of the first inning, but Lower Moreland came right back with three runs on four hits. Liz Neeld led off with a double to deep left field, Jess Dugo laid down a bunt, Sofia Azzarano singled to score Neeld, Isabella Ricciardi singled to score Dugo, and Azzarano scored on a fielder’s choice. Lower Moreland added 3 more in the second inning on a 3-run homerun by Neeld. After adding four more runs in the third inning on some free passes and singles by Nikki Sahl and Dugo, Lower Moreland had a comfortable 10-1 lead.
New Hope was not giving up though. RiRi D’Agostino opened the fourth inning with a double, Grace Lovrinic dropped a bunt, Ciara Carter walked, D’Agostino scored on a wild pitch, and MyCayla Canlas singled to centerfield to bring in Lovrinic and Carter. New Hope scored three more in the fifth inning on singles by Sophia Farina, Emily Wilson, Emily Primavera, and a triple by D’Agostino. The score was 10-7, and New Hope was right back in the game.
But Lower Moreland’s offense was not finished either as the Lions scored five in the bottom of the fifth inning on a 3-run homerun by Ricciardi, a triple by Natalie Shiloni, singles by Payton Lennon and Dugo and a couple of walks. Lower Moreland added one more run in bottom of the sixth inning, and New Hope added another run in the top of the seventh inning before Lower Moreland finally shut them down for a final score of 16-8.
Liz Neeld (2-2, 4 R, 3 RBI’s, 1 2B, 1 HR), Jess Dugo (3-5, 2 R, 1 RBI), and Isabella Ricciardi (2-3, 1 R, 4 RBI’s, 1 HR) led Lower Moreland’s offensive attack. Ricciardi was on the mound (7 K’s, 3 BB’s) and got her first win of the season.
Emily Wilson (2-4, 2 R), Emily Primavera (2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B), and RiRi D’Agostino (2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI’s, 1 2B, 1 3B) led New Hope.
Lower Moreland (4-1, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Thursday, and New Hope-Solebury (1-3, 1-2) will host William Tennent on Thursday.
WILLIAM TENNENT 12, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (6 innings)
It was another win for the defending division champion Panthers, who notched their third win in five days in league play.
Sparked by the six-RBI performance of Gigi DeMito, the Panthers pounded out 13 hits off a trio of Spartan hurlers, and in the circle, Katie LaPalaunt and Carlie Nydick combined for the shutout.
The Panthers scored a pair of runs in the first when DeMito lined a two-run home run to right field. That lead grew to 4-0 in the second. Vicky Colegreco opened the inning with a single and scored when Giselle McLaughlin followed with an RBI double to right. McLaughlin later scored on a passed ball.
That 4-0 lead held until the fifth inning. DeMito was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and she scored when Lainey Scotese doubled to right field.
In the sixth inning, Anna Coulter lined a triple to center to open the inning, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. A bases-loaded walk to LaPlaunt plated a run, and then it was DeMito picking up her second home run of the game – this one a blast to right field for a grand slam and an 11-0 lead. A bases-loaded walk to Olivia Clee closed out the scoring.
The Panthers were led by the multi-hit efforts of DeMito (2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 RBIs), Scotese (2-for-3, 2B, run, RBI), Casey Yacovelli (2-for-4) and Coulter (2-for-3, 3B, run).
LaPlaunt earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits in five shutout innings while striking out five and walking none. Nydick threw a scoreless fifth, striking out one.
William Tennent (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Thursday, and Springfield Township (0-3, 0-2) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Thursday.
William Tennent 220 026 12-13-0
Springfield Township 000 000 0-3-1
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