SOL Softball District Preview (5-21-18)

Eleven SOL softball teams will be competing in the District One Tournament – nine in Class 6A, one in Class 5A and one in Class 3A. Check out the preview capsules.

#1-1 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH (Opening round bye)
Central Bucks South

16-3 overall
9-3 SOL Continental Conference co-champions with North Penn
Kylie Kenney boasts an 11-3 record with three saves and an earned run average of 2.54. In 96.1 innings, the Titans’ junior ace has allowed 66 hits and struck out 122.
Led by senior shortstop and captain Alex DeLeon (.471, 19 runs, 22 RBIs, .574 OBP, .588 slugging pct.), sophomore outfielder Maddie Rowley (.417, 20 runs, 10 RBIs, .478 OBP, .617 slugging pct), sophomore second baseman Katie Hines (.397, 12 runs, 20 RBIs, .415 OBP, .604 slugging pct.) and junior outfielder Alexa Ortman (.388, 19 runs, .403 OBP, .537 slugging pct.)
Regular season win over Class 6A #5 Hatboro-Horsham (9-1) and swept regular season series with 14 Souderton (1-0, 12-2) and #16 Central Bucks West (6-4, 1-0).
Split regular season series with Class 6A #4 North Penn (5-3, 0-3).
Won nine of 10 to close regular season.

#1-4 NORTH PENN (Opening round bye)
North Penn

15-4 overall
8-3 SOL Continental Conference co-champions with Central Bucks South
Led by Emily Groarke (Sr., RF), Elia Namey (Jr., 1B), Jordan Pietrzykoski (Jr. 2B), Victoria Juckniewitz (Soph., 3B), and Mady Volpe (Fr., P).
Regular season wins over Class 6A #5 Hatboro-Horsham (7-2), #17 Owen J. Roberts (14-7), #18 Haverford (6-1) and swept season series with #16 Central Bucks West (13-9, 6-0).
Split regular season series with Class 6A #1 Central Bucks South (3-5, 3-0).
Won 10 of 11 to close out regular season.

#1-5 HATBORO-HORSHAM (Opening round bye)
Hatboro-Horsham

18-2 overall
14-0 SOL American Conference champions
Led by Kyleigh Dinnien (Sr., CF), Brittany Hubler (Jr., C), Maddy Yeager (Sr., RF), Mikayla Fedele (Jr., P), Antoinette Spinosa (Sr., 2B)
Swept regular season series with Class 6A #13 Quakertown (10-7, 7-0), Class 5A #5 Upper Moreland (6-3, 12-0) and Class 5A Springfield Township (10-2, 12-0).
Won 14 of 15 to close out regular season.

#1-6 NESHAMINY (Opening round bye)
Neshaminy

16-3 overall
10-2 SOL National Conference champion
Anchored by a strong senior class that includes Amber Brugger (Sr., P), Sarah Dowalo (Sr., P), Amanda Kurtz (Sr., 1B), Hallie Duffy (Sr., 2B), Victoria Smith (Sr., SS), Natalie Rios (Sr., 3B), Paige Metz (Sr., C) and Alexis Watkins (Sr., RF).
Also making major contributions are Olivia Fee (Jr., LF) and Liana Jones (Soph., CF).
Regular season win over Class 6A #13 Quakertown and split regular season series with #10 Council Rock South (12-1, 2-4) and #19 Council Rock North (12-0, 11-12).

#1-10 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (Opening round bye)

Council Rock South

14-4 overall
8-3 SOL National Conference second place
Sophomore Danielle Walters is a threat out of the leadoff spot and has been a rock in the circle with over 110 strikeouts. Her batterymate, junior Ally Kirschner, brings leadership behind the plate and a strong bat to the lineup.
Infield includes senior Devon Bradley, who brings power to the lineup and plays second base, and senior Mackenzie Marino, who also sees action in the circle, at first base. Sophomore Shortstop Shorty Thompson, according to coach Frank Marino, makes hard plays look routine and brings a good bat to the lineup. Sophomore Alex Hopko anchors the hot corner.
Outfield includes a combination of senior Makenna Diamond, juniors Karly DeSpirito, Olivia Zoldi, Emily Cary and Josie Kauffman and freshman Julie Barron, who also plays second.
Regular season win over Class 6A #20 Methacton (10-0) and split regular season series with #6 Neshaminy (12-1, 2-4) and #19 Council Rock North (5-11, 6-5).
Won 10 of 11 to close out regular season.

#1-20 METHACTON at #1-13 QUAKERTOWN (Monday, May 21, 4 p.m.)
Quakertown

14-4 overall
11-3 SOL American Conference second place
Junior Tori Caputo has been a workhorse on the mound, compiling a 14-4 record with an earned run average just under 2.00
Abby Schwartz & Bri Lefkoski set the table at the top of the lineup for RBI leaders Nikki Vanelli, Maddie Moyer, Sarah Stofik & Halle Frederick
Designated player Jenna Blair has had a solid year at the plate, and left fielder Morgan Thrush had been effective at turning the lineup over from the number nine spot.
The key for the Panthers has been solid defense and solid pitching
Regular season wins over Class 6A #4 North Penn (5-3) and Class 3A #2 Springfield Township (11-0, 11-0).
Split regular season series with Class 5A #5 Upper Moreland (1-2, 5-0)

Methacton

12-7 overall
10-6 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division tied for third
La Salle commit Aubrey Seal – who is coming off rotator cuff surgery last year – handles the pitching duties
Regular season wins over Class 5A #10 Upper Merion (16-8), #13 Phoenixville (3-2) & Class 4A #4 Pope John Paul II (6-4).
Split regular season series with Class 6A #16 Owen J Roberts (0-1, 7-4).
Won four of five to close out regular season.

#1-19 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH at #1-14 SOUDERTON (Monday, May 21, 3:45. p.m.)
Souderton

12-6 overall
7-5 SOL Continental Conference third place
Turnaround season for Indians after winning just three games last year
Alex Scheeler contributes at the plate and in the circle. The senior hurler is 12-6 with a 2.03 earned run average. She is the team’s top hitter and is batting .500 with 20 RBIs.
Leadoff batter Bri Neely, a University of Maine recruit, is hitting .380 with 10 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Jen Klepfer is batting .377 with 10 RBIs, and Ali Gould is second on the team with 18 RBIs.
Swept season series with #1-4 North Penn (3-1, 5-4) and split season series with #16 Central Bucks West (6-8, 1-0).
Won five of six to close out regular season.

Council Rock North

12-7 overall
7-5 SOL National Conference third place
Advanced to the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals last season.
Led by veterans Taylor Briggs (Sr., 3B), Riley Sheehy (Sr., CF/C), Lauren Begg (Jr., P) and Julianna Shields (Jr., SS)
Split regular season series with Class 6A #6 Neshaminy (0-12, 12-11) & #10 Council Rock South (11-5, 5-6)
Won five of six to close out regular season.

#1-17 OWEN J ROBERTS at #1-16 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Monday, May 21, 4 p.m.
Central Bucks West

12-7 overall
5-7 SOL Continental Conference tied for fourth with Central Bucks East
First trip to the postseason in close to a decade
Led by Angelina Sherba (Sr., P/1B), Kayla Gallagher (Soph., P/DP), Sam Trafford (Sr., SS), Julia Perez (Sr., C) and Maddie Leatherbarrow (CF).
Regular season wins over Class 6A #19 Council Rock North (1-0) and Class 5A #7 Mount St. Joseph Academy (2-0)
Split regular season series with Class 6A #14 Souderton (8-6, 0-1)
Closed regular season with five straight wins – four straight shutouts.

Owen J. Roberts

13-7 overall
12-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference second place
Junior catcher Casey Walker carries a big bat and was an All-PAC first team selection last year. Junior Madison Twaddell, a second team all-league selection last year, anchors the outfield and can also do damage at the plate.
Sophomore Ally Maupay handles the pitching duties.
Regular seasons wins over Class 5A #10 Upper Merion (5-3) and #13 Phoenixville (4-2) as well as Class 4A #2 Upper Perkiomen (3-2) and #4 Pope John Paul II (14-5).
Split regular season series with Class 6A #20 Methacton (1-0, 4-7)
Lost four of five to close regular season

CLASS 5A
#1-12 MERION MERCY at #1-5 UPPER MORELAND (Monday, May 21, 4 p.m.
Upper Moreland

12-5 overall
9-5 SOL American Conference third place
Led by Chloe Tice (Sr., C), Brianna Hughes (Soph., SS), Jocelyn Baumeister (Soph., P), Jenna Sadowski (Jr., P), Maura Casey (Sr., 1B).
Regular season win over Class 3A 4 St. Basil Academy (8-4) and swept regular season series against Springfield Township (7-2, 2-0).
Split regular season series with 6A #13 Quakertown (2-1, 0-5)
Won five of six to close out regular season

Merion Mercy

9-8 overall
Last year’s trip to districts was program’s first in more than 15 years
Regular season win over Class 4A #3 Nazareth Academy (8-7) and swept season series with Class 3A #4 St. Basil Academy (5-4, 9-3)
Won five of seven to close out regular season

CLASS 3A
#1-3 NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY at #1-2 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
Springfield Township

7-8 overall
6-8 SOL American Conference
Led by Mary Kate Smith (Sr., C), Gabby Gaskin (Jr., 3B) and Hannah Sebenick (Jr., P)
Competes in conference with five Class 6A schools and one Class 5A school

New Hope-Solebury