Five SOL softball teams will be in action in Friday’s District One AAAA quarterfinal round.
An all SOL-showdown between top-seeded William Tennent and ninth-seeded North Penn highlights Friday’s District One AAAA quarterfinal action that will see five SOL schools in action. Third-seeded Souderton will host sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson at 2:30 p.m. while fifth-seeded Pennsbury will travel to third-seeded Spring Ford. Seventh-seeded Neshaminy has a date with sophomore sensation Maggie Balint and her Avon Grove teammates. The Red Devils are the tournament’s second seeded team.
In Class AAA action, fourth-seeded Upper Merion will host fifth-seeded Nazareth.
#9 NORTH PENN at #1 WILLIAM TENNENT
William Tennent
- 15-4 overall
- 11-3 SOL National Conference co-champions with Pennsbury
- Swept season series with #13th-seeded Council Rock North (11-1, 6-3) and split league games with fifth-seeded Pennsbury (2-0, 3-6) and seventh-seeded Neshaminy (12-10, 3-6). Defeated eighth-seeded Central Bucks East (6-5) in season opener.
- Won seven of eight to open season and closed regular season with five straight wins.
- Senior pitcher Nikki Alden threw back-to-back no hitters late in the season.
How they got here: The Panthers, who had a first round bye, defeated Methacton 4-1 in Wednesday’s second round. Leadoff batter Sara Keeney was a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple while Jackie Heim had a pair of hits. Keri Ledford had one hit on a day that saw Tennent’s nine, one and two batters account for all of its hits. Nikki Alden earned the win.
Coach Biz Keeney says: “(North Penn) is a very experienced team. They’ve played a lot of close games. We’re an experienced team and played a lot of close games. We have our work cut for us. They do a good job up there, and we’ve done some pretty good things here. I think it’s a good challenge for our kids. I think it will be an exciting game. It will come down to who can execute.”
North Penn
- 15-6 overall
- 10-4 SOL Continental Conference (tied for second place)
- Won seven in a row to close out regular season after a 6-6 start, a strong finish that coincided with the return of Philadelphia University-bound centerfielder Erin Maher to the lineup.
- Last loss to Central Bucks South (2-0) on April 28.
- Returns the nucleus of last year’s squad that advanced to state semifinals
- Avenged early season loss to 21st-seeded Hatboro-Horsham with 3-2 win.
- Split with third-seeded Souderton, winning initial meeting 10-4 and dropping second 9-3.
How they got here: Jackie Bilotti tossed a complete game three-hit shutout in the Maidens’ 2-0 win in 11 innings over Central Bucks East in second round action Wednesday. Senior Vicky Tumasz delivered a two-run single to plate the game’s only runs. In Monday’s opening round, Alyssa Shoulberg contributed a double and three RBIs and Jackie Bilotti had a pair of solo home runs to lead the Maidens to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Council Rock South. Bilotti also earned the win on the mound.
Players to watch: Erin Maher (Sr., CF), Vicky Tumasz (Sr., SS), Meghan Curley (Sr., 3B), Alyssa Shoulberg (Sr., 2B), Jackie Bilotti (Jr., P), Becky Christoffers (Jr., RF)
Coach Rick Torresani says: “We have to be able to hit Nikki Alden. In order to beat them, we have to outhit them, and we have to hit Nikki. It’s going to be another Caroline Schoenewald – we have to keep Nikki from hitting it over the fence and keep it in the ballpark. We know William Tennent. We scrimmaged them at the beginning of the year - it only went three or four innings, and it was 0-0. It should be another great game with two really good pitchers going at it.”
#6 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON at #3 SOUDERTON (2:30 p.m.)
Souderton
- 15-4 overall
- 11-3 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Program’s first conference title since 2004
- Scored five or more runs in 11 games
- Split conference games with eighth-seeded Central Bucks East (4-1, 5-8) and ninth-seeded North Penn (4-10, 9-3) and swept 15th-seeded Central Bucks South (1-0, 6-5) and 21st-seeded Hatboro-Horsham (8-6, 3-2).
- Earned early season 13-5 non-league win over 13th-seeded Council Rock North
- Defeated West Chester Henderson 12-1 on March 22
How they got here: After an opening round bye, the Indians edged West Chester East 6-5. The Indians trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth when they plated three runs to win it. Erelle Sowers, who earned the win on the mound, contributed an RBI single and Paige Shelly drove in a pair. Savannah Bostwick was the lone Indian to collect two hits.
Coach Steph Rummel says: “They’re a really good hitting team, and that (12-1 win) definitely was early in the season. It was our second game. We played great defense, and we hit well, but every team is a different team now than they were at the beginning of the season. We just have to play the best we can and play good defense so our hitting can pick up the slack. Obviously, I think they are going to be coming at us to beat us.”
West Chester Henderson
- 15-4 Ches-Mont National Conference co-champions with Avon Grove
- Defeated 10th-seeded Kennett 5-4
- Team has a .307 batting average, led by Ali Barnes (25-for-61, .410, 18 RBIs, 17 runs), Lauren Butts (24-for-63, .381, 19 RBIs), Miranda Mikelson (22-for-59, .373, 12 RBIs, 6 doubles) and Heidi McCollester (20-of-68, .294, 25 RBIs, three doubles, five triples, five home runs).
- Won 13 of 15 games heading into Friday’s quarterfinals with only losses coming at the hands of second-seeded Avon Grove (2-0, 5-3).
- Opposing batters are hitting .161 against ace Lauren Butts, who has fanned 153 in 119 innings. Her earned run average is 2.11.
How they got here: The Warriors edged Downingtown East 7-6, winning it in the eighth when Heidi McCollester, who had tripled, scored the game winner on a passed ball. Henderson fell behind 6-0 early and still trailed 6-3 heading into the seventh when the Warriors scored three runs. The inning was highlighted by Lauren Friedman’s two-out RBI single. McCollester (2-for-4, two runs) and Ali Barnes (3-for-5, RBI) led the offense. Lauren Butts earned the win.
#5 PENNSBURY at #4 SPRING-FORD
Pennsbury
- 14-7 overall
- 11-3 SOL National Conference co-champions with William Tennent
- Eight-game winning streak to close out regular season that included a 5-1 win over highly regarded Robbinsville (N.J.)
- Split league games with first-seeded William Tennent (0-2, 6-3), seventh-seeded Neshaminy (6-9, 10-6) and 13th-seeded Council Rock North (3-4, 3-1), dropping the initial game but winning in the second go round with all three.
- Young starting lineup includes one senior.
How they got here: The Falcons, who had a first round bye, defeated Hatboro-Horsham 11-5 in Wednesday’s second round. Marguerite Salamone and Fiona Link each contributed a two-run home run. Link finished with a team-high three RBIs while Salamone (2-for-2) and Dani Litwin (2-for-4) had the Falcons only multi-hit games. Casey Boltersdorf earned the win on the mound.
Coach Frank McSherry says: “Because they are a good hitting team, Casey (Boltersdorf) is going to have to be sharp – that’s number one, and we’re going to have to play good defense. We can’t make mental errors, whether it be at the plate or in the field. We have to go out and swing the bats the way we’re capable of and not be lulled into chasing bad pitches or lunging at balls.”
Spring-Ford
- 17-3 overall
- 16-2 PAC-10 regular season champions
- Fell to 18th-seeded Owen J Roberts 8-1 in PAC-10 semifinals after defeating the Wildcats twice during the regular season (5-2, 5-3)
- Swept league games with 16th-seeded Methacton (7-3, 2-1) and split with 12th-seeded Perkiomen Valley (4-1, 1-12).
How they got here: The Rams, who had an opening round bye, pounded out 12 hits – seven doubles – in Wednesday’s 10-6 second round win over Council Rock North. Megan Kern led the hit parade with three doubles while Jess Nattle (double) and Morgan Maziarz each added a pair of hits. Amber Sergas allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings in relief of starter Jenna Lee, who was roughed up for nine hits and six runs.
#7 NESHAMINY at #2 AVON GROVE
Neshaminy
- 15-5 overall
- 9-5 SOL National Conference (third place)
- Split league games with top-seeded William Tennent (10-12, 6-3), fifth-seeded Pennsbury (9-6, 6-10) and 13th-seeded Council Rock North (10-9, 2-3).
- Defeated third-seeded Souderton 4-1 in early season meeting.
Players to watch: Carly Coleman (Sr., OF), Jen Walker (Sr., OF), Jenny Rakita (Sr., P)
How they got here: Senior Jenny Rakita, who allowed just five hits, took a shutout into the seventh inning before Kennett scored a pair in the Redskins’ 4-2 win in Wednesday’s second round game. Jen Walker, who was 2-for-3, contributed a solo home run. The ‘Skins also received RBI singles from Carly Coleman and Olivia Zaino.
Coach Dave Chichilitti says: “The team we just beat (Kennett) played Avon Grove to a 2-1 game, so it’s kind of a comparable team in my mind. I’m sure (Maggie Balint) is going to be good, but hopefully, we’ll go through the lineup a couple of times, make adjustments and do the same thing we did Wednesday.”
Avon Grove
- 16-4 Ches-Mont National Division co-champs with West Chester Henderson
- Swept league games with sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson (5-3, 2-0) and 11th-seeded Downingtown East (8-3, 1-0). Also defeated 10th-seeded Kennett (2-1)
- Lost two of three games to close out regular season, falling to Coatesville (2-1) and Downingtown East (3-2) in the finale.
- Led by sophomore phenom Maggie Balint, who already has over 500 strikeouts for her career and fanned 286 in 129.2 innings this season while walking just 38. She is 15-3 with a 0.49 earned run average and has allowed just nine earned runs. Balint has committed to the University of Delaware but is being recruited by some of the nation’s top programs.
- Red Devils are led offensively by Balint (30-for-36, .476, 10 RBIs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run) and Alyssa Herion (23-for-51, .404, 17 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs). No one else on team hitting over .300.
How they got here: After an opening round bye, the Red Devils eked out a 1-0 win in eight innings over Central Bucks South, plating the game winner on an errant throw. The Red Devils managed just three hits off losing hurler Hailey Warner. Sophomore Maggie Balint fanned 14 and allowed just four hits.
Class AAA
#5 NAZARETH ACADEMY at #4 UPPER MERION
Upper Merion
- 14-6 overall
- 13-1 SOL American Conference co-champions with Cheltenham
- Led by seniors Maddalana Ghanayem and Gabby Sborlini
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