SOL District Softball Preview (Opening Round)

Five SOL softball teams will be in action when the District One AAAA Tournament gets underway Monday. Check back for a recap of all the games.

File Monday’s District One AAAA opener pitting 10^th-seeded Council Rock North and #23^rd-seeded William Tennent under the category of unexpected.

For many reasons.

Topping the list is the fact that Tennent – as of May 6 – was 1-9 in league play (3-11 overall), and no one anywhere was thinking playoffs. But the Panthers closed out their regular season with a four-game winning streak that included wins over Abington, Bensalem, Council Rock South and Pennsbury, and suddenly, they were not only in the hunt but had locked up the 23^rd and final district berth, edging Council Rock South 7.863019391 to 7.827105263.

“I felt all along we would be better the second half of the season,” coach Biz Keeny said. “We had a lot to replace, and I had to find the pieces and get them in the right place.”

That being said, Keeny admits he was surprised when he received word that his team was in the 23-team tournament field.

“I was surprised because Truman beat us twice head to head, but maybe that doesn’t come into play anymore,” the Panthers’ coach said of a Tigers’ squad that boasts an identical record. “Everybody keeps saying quality wins – I know there’s a formula, but I don’t know how you break the numbers down.”

Numbers aside, the Panthers – who endured their share of adversity – have kept their feel good story that was the last 10 days of the season alive.

“The kids battled, and our kids played very well down the stretch, and we’re doing the right things at the right time,” Keeny said. “We tell our kids what we’d normally tell them – it becomes a one-game season, and the team that makes the fewest mistakes and comes up with the clutch hits generally wins the game.

“You throw out the records, and you say, ‘Let’s go play,’ and see where you stand at the end of the day.”

On the other side of the diamond, the Indians have been on a late-season roll of their own, winning five of their last six games.

“This group of softball players – we might not be the best position by position, but what we’ve accomplished with a new coach and no winter workouts is something to be so proud of that we were able to form this family,” coach Chris McDermott said. “It’s almost like this big group of heart.

“They learned a lot of mechanics from me, and I overwhelmed them from the beginning. Then it came down to how much they want it and how much they want it for one another. I have curfews, and they gave up social things. I’m a stickler with that stuff.”

At Saturday’s practice, the first-year coach had a message for her players.

“I told them how proud I was of them,“ McDermott said. “I said, ‘Let’s go in the playoffs and let’s continue what we’re doing.’ We face everybody like we’ve never seen them before. I don’t want them underestimating anyone. We have to give everybody we face respect.

“I told them, ‘We’re going to go into this, we’re going to play with our heart, we’re going to do what’s worked for us, which is play for each other, play for the name in the front, and at the end of the day, leave it between the white lines. If you give it your all, I won’t care about the results. I’ll be so proud of you.’”

Monday’s meeting will be the third between the two squads. Rock North won both games.

#23 WILLIAM TENNENT at #9 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH
Council Rock North

14-6
10-4 SOL National Conference second place
Defeated #23 William Tennent twice during regular season (5-1, 12-7)
Split season series with both #12 Abington (winning initial meeting 12-2 but falling in the rematch 3-0) and #13 Pennsbury (falling in initial meeting 2-1 but winning rematch 3-2).
Won five of last six games to close season, scoring 38 runs in last three wins combined.

William Tennent

8-11 overall
5-9 SOL National Conference tied for fifth place
Closed out season with four-game winning streak over #12 Abington (10-8), Bensalem (12-1), Council Rock South (9-4) and #13 Pennsbury (15-4)
Scored 46 runs in last four wins combined.

#21 COATESVILLE at #12 ABINGTON
Abington

14-6 overall
9-5 SOL National Conference third place
Pair of regular season wins over #13 Pennsbury (4-3, 8-6)
Split season series with #9 Council Rock North (losing first 12-2 and winning second 3-0) and #23 William Tennent (winning initial meeting 10-0 and dropping second 10-8).

Coatesville

10-9 Ches-Mont National Division fifth place
Led by senior third baseman Jackie Walsh – a first team all-Ches-Mont selection as a junior, who has signed a letter of intent to play softball at Kutztown University.
Junior Alexis Lichtner has made a verbal commitment to play softball at Kutztown. Lichtner and freshman Maggie Kane both can hit for power.

#20 GREAT VALLEY at #13 PENNSBURY

Pennsbury

11-9 overall
6-8 SOL National fourth place
Young team lost pitcher Casey Boltersdorf to an injury but regrouped and earned playoff berth.
Split season series with #9 Council Rock North (winning first 2-1 and dropping the second 3-2) and #23 William Tennent (winning initial meeting 6-3 and falling in the second 15-4).

Great Valley

13-6 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

#18 HATBORO-HORSHAM at #15 RIDLEY
Hatboro-Horsham

12-8 overall
7-7 SOL Continental Conference fourth place (tied)
Split with #8 Central Bucks South, falling in the first game 7-3 and winning the second 8-4.

Ridley