Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. CR North/CR South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. All SOS photo galleries for SOFTBALL can be viewed by clicking HERE.
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 6, BENSALEM 2
The Falcons moved one step closer to defending the division title they own with a win that maintained their three-game lead in the standings with four league games remaining.
“It was a real good game,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “Bensalem is playing well, this is one of their best years.”
The Falcons scored two runs in the first with Sammy Raub and Ava Storlazzi both contributing RBI singles. The Owls knotted the score in the top of the fourth when Maggie Formichelli smashed a two-run home run.
The Falcons put two runs on the board in the fourth to take a lead they would not lose. In the inning, Quinn McGonigle had an RBI single, and Mulholland drove home her second run of the game.
It was still a 4-2 game heading into the sixth inning when the Falcons tacked on a pair. Mulholland drew a bases-loaded walk that pushed a run across, and Raub had a sacrifice fly.
For the Falcons, Caitlyn Martell was 2-for-4 with three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. McGonigle was also 2-for-4 while Presley Foote was 2-for-3 with a double.
Ainsley McClure earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out 13 and walking one.
Formichelli, who absorbed the loss, notched her 100th strikeout of the season, the first time someone has accomplished that feat since Jackie Morell did it in 2015.
“She’s having a stellar season this year,” Bensalem coach Erin Smith said. “Our defense played pretty solid. Centerfielder Ayva Knowles played amazing defense. She tracked down three or four balls that should have been extra bases.
“All in all, it was a loss, but we really played well against one of the top teams in the area. I think it’s one of the best games the Owls have played against Pennsbury in a long, long time.”
Pennsbury (14-1, 12-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday, and Bensalem (9-6, 7-5) will host Harry S Truman on Monday.
Bensalem 000 200 0 2-6-2
Pennsbury 200 202 x 6-9-0
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 13, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 8
The Golden Hawks exploded for 10 runs in the fifth inning, breaking a 3-3 tie and going on to defeat their archrival. Avery Tumolo led Rock South’s potent offensive attack with seven RBIs.
“What a day for a really cool kid,” Rock South coach Dan Schram said. “That’s what we call ‘beast mode.’
“She works hard all the time – takes extra swings after practice and always brings levity. She’s a really good teammate, and she deserved to have a game like this.”
Tumolo’s RBI double in the top of the first spotted the Hawks an early lead, and she scored on a groundout to put the Hawks on top 2-0. The Indians answered in the bottom of the inning. Emma Zoldi drew a leadoff walk, and Sierra Klein legged out a bunt single. Molly Sheehy’s single plated Zoldi, and Sofia Shields hit a sacrifice fly to center to knot the score.
In the third inning, Kaylie Walters singled to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved on to third on a passed ball. She scored on Tumolo’s sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the inning, Sheehy ripped a solo home run to center, and the two teams were deadlocked 3-3.
In the fourth inning, the Golden Hawks took advantage of three errors and two walks with Tumolo’s three-run double the big blow in the inning. By the time the inning was over, Rock South led 13-3, and the Indians – despite fighting gamely – never threatened.
“This game started and finished like a typical North/South grudge match game,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Unfortunately for us, the wheels totally fell off in the top of the fifth defensively, and South hit the gas and didn’t look back.
“We gave up nine unearned runs in that half inning, and while I’m beyond proud of our girls for not giving up and battling back after that, it’s near impossible to put yourself in that kind of hole and claw all the way out against a team as strong as CR South.”
Three pitchers – all freshmen – saw action for the Golden Hawks
“Julia Scannapieco started and did a nice job,” Schram said. “We saw the debut of Leighton Van Steenburgh, and closed out with Lexi Waring.”
For the Indians, Ashlee Haywood-Ogborn and Kali Anderson split time in the circle and allowed just four earned runs combined.
“Our pitchers deserve a lot of credit for their gutsy performance today,” Yee said. “They left everything they had on that field after four consecutive game days in a row. We just didn’t back them up the way we should have.
“However, we did have a couple defensive standouts today including Sarah Teitelman gunning out multiple runners from behind the plate and Noelle Wood robbing several hits by showing off her range in centerfield.”
Sheehy had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBIs. Klein was 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.
“Offensively I was really pleased with the performance of our top four batters today,” Yee said. “Collectively, they did a great job of reaching base, and bringing people in.
“Molly had another monster day at the plate going 3-for-3 with a double, homerun, hit by pitch, two runs scored and four RBI. Sierra Klein also had a really nice showing, going 2-for-3 as well as a hit by pitch including two runs scored and an RBI.”
Council Rock South (7-5, 5-4 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Monday, and Council Rock North (0-13, 0-11) is scheduled to be on the road at Archbishop Ryan on Saturday for a non-league game.
Council Rock South 201 0 10 0 0 13-10-1
Council Rock North 201 023 0 8-7-4
SOL Colonial Division
NORTH PENN 18, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 (5 innings)
Julia Shearer struck out all 12 batters she faced in four perfect innings, and Bella Nunn threw a 1-2-3 fifth, striking out one.
The Knights scored three runs in the first and erupted for 15 – which included three grand slams – in the top of the fifth inning to bring an early end to Thursday’s division game. It was the first of two games on the day for North Penn.
In the top of the first, Shearer drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Annabelle Smink’s single to center brought home the game’s first run, and then Brie Wilmot slammed a home run, spotting the Knights an early 3-0 lead.
The 15-run fifth included plenty of highlights, topped by Smink’s grand slam to right field. The Knights immediately reloaded the bases for Maddy Gronback, who lined a double to center to plate a pair. Then – in one of the most unlikely of all scenarios – Smink stepped to the plate for the second time that inning with the bases loaded yet again and hit her second grand slam, this one a blast to center field.
The Knights weren’t finished yet. A Wilmot single, an error and a walk loaded the bases, and it was Gronback going yard for the third grand slam of the inning, ripping a shot over the left field fence for the 18-0 final.
And, yes, there were some unusual batting lines. Smink’s improbable line for the game: 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and nine RBIs. Gronback also had an extremely productive day, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and six RBIs. Wilmot was 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Sophia Collins was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored.
All told, the Knights pounded out 13 hits before they boarded the bus and headed to Pennridge for the second game of their away-away twinbill.
North Penn 300 0 15 15-14-0
Central Bucks West 000 00 0-0-2
NORTH PENN 15, PENNRIDGE 0
The Knights picked up where they left off in their no-doubt-about-it win over Central Bucks West, pounding out 18 hits, but this game went the distance. It also clinched the SOL Colonial title with four division games still remaining.
Julia Shearer picked up her second win of the day, allowing two hits in the complete game shutout. She struck out 13 and fanned one.
The Knights scored one run in the first when Sarah Sabocsik, who singled, went home on Gianna Cimino’s double to center. They made it a 3-0 game with two runs in the third. With two outs and nobody on base, Cimino doubled and scored when Collins singled. Maddy Gronback’s single brought Collins home.
The Knights scored three in the fourth and then added three more in the sixth. Brie Wilmont led off the sixth with a double, and she scored when Cimino ripped a home run to center field. Collins followed her teammate’s lead and also smashed a home run to center for a 9-0 North Penn lead.
A six-run seventh was highlighted by an RBI double by Brie Wilmot, and then Collins ripped a home run to center field for a two-run shot that gave the Knights a 12-0 lead. Mackenzie Gizankis, who walked, scored on a wild pitch, and Julia Shearer’s line drive double to left brought home a pair of runs for the 15-0 final.
Shearer notched the complete game win, allowing just two hits in the shutout while striking out 13 and walking one.
Collins led the Knights at the plate with a near-perfect 4-for-5 effort that included two home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs. Cimino was 3-for-5 with a double and home run, two runs scored and four walks. Wilmot was 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and one RBI, Shearer was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Casey Sokol was 2-for-4.
North Penn (15-1, 11-1 SOL) will be on the road at Quakertown on Monday, and Pennridge (7-8, 5-8) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
North Penn 102 303 6 15-18-0
Pennridge 000 000 0 0-2-3
SOL Liberty Division
QUAKERTOWN 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Syd Andrews was once again in complete command in the circle, tossing a complete game one-hit shutout, striking out nine and walking one. It was the Panthers’ fourth game in four days, and this one came 24 hours after a huge win over Plymouth Whitemarsh.
“It was just a solid win for us,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “It very easily could have been a letdown game, but they worked through some of the tiredness and did enough positive things to win.
“Syd was great again – four games this week, zero runs allowed. She definitely did not have her best stuff today but battled through it.”
The Panthers scored all the runs Andrews would need in the top of the third. Skyler Williams drew a leadoff walk, and Julia Reich was hit by a pitch. Ava Beal beat out a bunt single to load the bases. An error allowed one run to cross the plate, and with two outs, Beal raced home on a passed ball for a 2-0 Panther lead.
In the fourth inning, Quakertown tacked on two more runs. Andrews singled to open the inning, and Carli Maha was safe on an error. UD hurler Chloe Foster came up with back-to-back strikeouts, but Reich delivered a clutch two-out single that scored two runs, thanks to a miscue on the play, and the Panthers led 4-0. That score held until the final out.
Beal was 3-for-4 with a stolen base and run scored, and Andrews was 2-for-4.
Madden Reilly had the lone hit for Upper Dublin.
“Ava Beal with (three) hits today, Grace Baker with some strong defense at third base,” Scott said. “I was proud of the girls for keeping their focus after the nice win yesterday and a big game looming on Monday.”
Quakertown (13-1, 12-1 SOL) will host North Penn in a non-league game on Monday, and Upper Dublin (4-11, 4-8) will host Lower Moreland on Monday.
Quakertown 002 200 0 4-7-0
Upper Dublin 000 000 0 0-1-3
HATBORO-HORSHAM 13, WISSAHICKON 6
The Hatters upped their winning streak to 10 games, defeating the Trojans in a slugfest to keep pace with Quakertown atop the SOL Liberty standings.
“Today was an exciting division game,” Hatters’ coach Kelly Krier said. “Wissahickon’s hitters kept us on our toes. We missed out on opportunities to score in the first inning.
“(Danielle) Ciliberto struck out our four, five and six hitters to get out of bases loaded, no outs first inning. The game went back and forth until the fourth inning when we scored six runs. Everyone in the lineup contributed with base hits that got the runs in. Our captains, Marissa Rapino, Megan Mills and Kendal Leitner – stepped up both on offense and defense.”
With one out in the bottom of the first, Ciliberto smacked a solo home run, and one out later, Grace Franczyk hit a solo shot to center field, and the Trojans had a 2-0 lead.
The Hatters answered with four runs in the top of the third. Marissa Rapino and Kendal Leitner opened the inning with back-to-back singles. The bases were loaded after Amya Lundy was hit by a pitch. A run scored on an error, and with two outs Megan Mills singled to drive in a run. That gave the Hatters a 4-2 lead.
In the third, Ciliberto and Emma Dutill each contributed RBI singles to knot the score 4-4. The Hatters exploded for six runs in the fourth inning to seize control of the game.
Alyssa Tooley led off the inning with a double, and she scored when Marissa Rapino lined a triple to right field. Leitner drew a walk, and Amya Lundy doubled, plating a pair of runs. Tess Kearney’s two-run triple was followed by Maddie Karpovich’s RBI single, giving the Hatters a 10-4 lead on their way to the win.
Rapino’s 4-for-5 day at the plate with a triple, three runs scored and one RBI led the Hatters. Also providing more than one hit were Tooley (2-for-5, 2B, R), Abby Waeltz (2-for-4, 2B, 2R, 2 RBIs), Kearney (2-for-5, 3B, 2R, 3 RBIs), Karpovich (2-for-5, RBI) and Mills (2-for-5, 2 RBIs).
For the Trojans, Ciliberto was 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBIs. Franczyk was 2-for-3 with a homerun, two runs scored and two RBIs.
Leitner earned the complete game win, allowing eight hits and six runs (five earned) while striking out 10 and walking four.
Hatboro-Horsham (11-3, 11-1 SOL) is scheduled to host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday, and Wissahickon (10-5, 9-3) will travel to Quakertown on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 004 601 2 13-16-0
Wissahickon 202 100 1 6-8-3
SOL Freedom Division
LOWER MORELAND 5, UPPER MORELAND 0
One day after a rough loss to Upper Moreland, the Lions came roaring back to shut out the Golden Bears.
Lower Moreland scored one run in the first inning when Jessica Dugo got on base with a bunt, stole second base, and scored on a Sophia Azzarano single with a hard ground ball down the first base line.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh inning when the Lions scored four more runs. Natalie Shiloni got the offense started with a single and then advanced to second base on a fielder’s choice. Nikki Sahl laid down a bunt and stole second. Shiloni and Salh scored on a single up the middle by Emma Kolesnik. With Kolesnik on second base, Liz Neeld blasted a first pitch over the left field fence for the 5-0 final.
Neeld (1-for-4, 1R, HR, 2 RBIs), Dugo (2-for-4, 1R), Shiloni (2-for-3, 1R), and Kolesnik (1-for-3, 1R, 2 RBI’s) led Lower Moreland offense. Woodman went 2-for-3 for Upper Moreland.
Neeld was in the circle for Lower Moreland allowing 5 hits, no walks, and striking out 13.
For the Golden Bears, the loss represented a marked turnaround from their showing in a 9-1 win the preceding day.
“This was a disappointing loss considering how well Eowyn Stainback pitched today,” UM coach Melanie Martino said. “She had been very consistent for us. We will need to do some restructuring and make some changes moving forward. We have a lot of talent and are working hard to build a program.”
Lower Moreland (7-8, 4-8 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Monday, and Upper Moreland (3-9, 2-7) is scheduled to host Cheltenham on Friday.
Lower Moreland 100 000 4 5-9-1
Upper Moreland 000 000 0 0-5-1
WILLIAM TENNENT 20, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
Tennent erupted for nine runs in the second inning and 11 more in the third to earn a lopsided win in the abbreviated mercy rule win.
The second inning opened with back-to-back triples by Gigi DeMito and Casey Yacovelli (RBI). Carlie Nydick had an RBI double, and Alyssa Lewicki (RBI), Anna Coulter and Vicky Colagreco (2 RBIs) each singled in an inning that included several Panther miscues.
Tennent brought an early end to the contest with an 11-run third inning.
Colagreco was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Kate Smith was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Nydick allowed three hits in two shutout innings and struck out a pair. Katie LaPlaunt allowed one hit while striking out two in an inning of relief.
Nelson, who was 2-for-2, accounted for two of Cheltenham’s four hits.
William Tennent (8-4, 7-3 SOL) is scheduled to host Springfield Township on Friday, and Cheltenham (0-10) is scheduled to host Upper Moreland on Friday.
William Tennent 0-9-11 20-12-0
Cheltenham 0-0-0 0-4-0
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