SOL District Softball Preview (5-22-15)

Five SOL softball teams will be in action in district tournament play on Friday. Check back for a recap of all the games.

DISTRICT ONE CLASS AAAA

#9 OWEN J ROBERTS at #1 NESHAMINY

Neshaminy

19-2 overall
13-1 SOL National Conference champion
Freshman pitcher Amber Brugger (14-2) is surrounded by a veteran cast that can get it done in the field and at the plate.
Regular season wins over #15 Souderton (11-5), #9 Council Rock North (7-0, 6-0), #12 Abington (9-3, 9-4), #13 Pennsbury (14-1, 10-3) and #23 William Tennent (14-4, 11-6)
Only regular season losses came at the hands of Council Rock South (2-1) and New Jersey powerhouse Notre Dame (5-1).

How they got here: After a first round bye, the Redskins defeated 16^th-seeded Downingtown East 8-0. Freshman Amber Brugger tossed a four-hit shutout, walking one while striking out three. Mackensie Compton’s three-run double spotted the Redskins a 3-0 lead in the second. Corrine Garuffe was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Sarah Snider Leonhauser was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. All told, the ‘Skins pounded out five doubles with Sophie Beretski, and Sam Offenback also contributing doubles.

Owen J. Roberts

18-4 overall
15-3 PAC-10 second to Perkiomen Valley
Pair of regular season wins over #17 Spring-Ford (10-7, 7-4)
Fell to Spring-Ford in PAC-10 opening round 6-5
Averaged a league best 8.6 runs during the regular season while allowing 3.8.

How they got here: The Wildcats, who had an opening round bye, were led by the two-hit efforts of Sam Garritano, Camryn Glenn and Alissa Vining (2 RBIs) in a 5-1 opening round win over eighth-seeded Central Bucks South. Brianna Smith had a double and two RBIs. Graceton Griffith earned the win.

#6 AVON GROVE at #3 NORTH PENN
North Penn

19-2 overall
12-2 SOL Continental Conference champions
Led by senior Jackie Bilotti, a four-year starter, who excels in both the circle and at the plate.
Regular season wins over #9 Council Rock North (2-0), #18 Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 1-0), and #20 Great Valley (7-1)
Defeated District 11 powerhouse Parkland 2-1.
Split regular season series with #5 Souderton (losing the first 2-1 and winning the second 9-2) as well as #8 Central Bucks South (falling in the initial meeting 5-3 and winning the second 11-4).
Closed out regular season with 11 straight win.

How they got here: After a first round bye, the Maidens defeated 14^th-seeded West Chester Rustin 5-3 in the most unusual second round contest. They managed just one hit – a bunt single by Anna Gill – but benefitted from 10 walks and two hit batters. Jackie Bilotti earned the win in the circle.

Avon Grove

18-3 overall
16-3 Ches-Mont National Division champions
Defeated North Penn 4-2 in last year’s district semifinal in a game the Maidens led 2-0.
Led by pitcher Maggie Balint, who has 13 shutouts and boasts a 0.35 earned with 273 strikeouts in 140 innings. She has allowed just 46 hits and has walked only 29.
Offensively, Balint, who is hitting .525 (32-for-61), has a .638 slugging percentage with six doubles, four triples and three home runs. Her batterymate, senior Alyssa Herion, is hitting .453 (29-for-64) with 33 RBIs. She has five doubles, three triples and eight home runs.
Courtney Coppack is hitting .432 (32-for-74), Logan Needham is batting .355 (22-for-62) and freshman Rachel Butler is hitting .328 (22-for-67)
Two of the team’s regular season losses came at the hands of #7 West Chester East (4-2, 2-0). The Red Devils split their season series with #11 Downingtown West (falling 2-0 in the first and winning the second 2-0).
Regular season wins over #14 West Chester Rustin (2-0), #16 Downingtown East (5-0), #19 Conestoga (6-0) and #21 Coatesville (8-1)

How they got here: After an opening round bye, the Red Devils pounded out 16 hits in an 8-3 drubbing of #11 Downingtown West. Alyssa Herion (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs), Maggie Balint (3-for-4, 3 runs), Courtney Coppack (3-for-4, 2 runs) and Logan Needham (2-for-4) led the offense. Balint, who struck out 12, allowed six hits.

#20 GREAT VALLEY at #5 SOUDERTON

Souderton

15-4 overall
11-3 SOL Continental Conference second place
Entered the final week of the season with a one-game lead over second place North Penn but fell to the Maidens and Central Bucks East to finish second.
Regular season wins over #8 Central Bucks South (12-2, 4-0), #9 Council Rock North (6-2), #18 Hatboro-Horsham (5-3, 4-1)
Split regular season series with North Penn (winning the first 2-1 and falling in the second 9-2).

How they got here: After an opening round bye, the Indians earned a 6-4 win over 12^th-seeded Abington. Savannah Bostwick’s two-run single highlighted a three-run second. Katie Kehler also had an RBI single while Nicole Link and Dayna Shelly both had doubles. Freshman Alex Scheeler earned the win, allowing five hits while fanning four.

Great Valley

15-6 Ches-Mont American Division co-champions
Regular season wins over #7 West Chester East (8-7), #11 Downingtown West (2-1), #16 Downingtown East (2-1) and #21 Coatesville (10-6)
Split with #14 West Chester Rustin, winning the first game 4-3 and falling 1-0 in the second.
Lost to #3 North Penn 7-1
Led by pitcher Morgan Orlowski and returning first team infielders Emilee Kirk and Marit Vike. Kirk has committed to continue her softball career at Mount St. Mary’s

How they got here: In an opening round 6-1 win over 13^th-seeded Pennsbury, Emilee Kirk led the Patriots 11-hit attack with a pair of home runs. Morgan Orlowski allowed five hits in a complete game win. In Wednesday’s 11-1 thumping of fourth-seeded Springfield-Delco, Kasey Bryan was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Bridget Taylor was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. The Patriots pounded out 11 hits. Orlowski scattered five hits to earn the win in an abbreviated five-inning contest.

DISTRICT ONE CLASS AAA

#7 POTTSGROVE at #2 UPPER MERION

Upper Merion

16-3 overall
13-1 SOL American Conference champions
Two of the Vikings’ losses came at the hands of Class AAAA schools (Bensalem and Conestoga).
Split regular season series with #9 Upper Moreland, winning the first 4-1 but falling in the second 21-20 after they Vikings had clinched the regular season crown.
Pitcher Olivia Sborlini has been a mainstay in the circle.
Regular season 3-0 win over third-seeded Villa Maria Academy and 5-0 win over #11 Marple Newtown

How they got here: Open round bye.

Pottsgrove

12-9 overall
11-7 PAC-10 fourth place team
Extended PAC-10 champion Perkiomen Valley – the second seed in Class AAAA – to the limit before falling 4-3 in 11 innings in the PAC-10 Tournament opener
Won five straight regular season games before falling to PV in PAC-10 Tournament

How they got here: In Wednesday’s 7-0 win over 10^th-seeded Villa Joseph Marie, Gabi Ermish tossed a two-hit shutout, fanning six. Shauna Maggio (3 RBIs) and Sydney Schollenberger led the Falcons’ attack with two hits each.

#9 UPPER MORELAND at #1 CHICHESTER

Chichester

19-1 overall
Only loss came at the hands of Episcopal Academy (8-3) on May 5
Regular season 4-1 win over third-seeded Villa Maria Academy
Meghan Wimmer is the team’s workhorse on the mound

How they got here: Opening round bye.

Upper Moreland

11-8 overall
9-5 SOL American Conference third place
Split regular season series with #2 Upper Merion (falling in the first 4-1 and winning the second 21-10)

How they got here: The Golden Bears defeated eighth-seeded Gwynedd Mercy 7-6. Senior Jenn Freeman, who will be continuing her softball career at Misericordia, delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single in the top of the sixth to give the Bears a 7-3 lead. Amber O’Connor held off a late GMA rally to earn the win. Allie Miller and O’Connor both had a pair of hits. Alison Creighton delivered a big RBI single.