Six SOL softball teams will be in action in Wednesday’s second round of the District One 6A Tournament. Check back for recaps of all the games. Pennsbury photos provided courtesy of Cindy Hanson (https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p475808795)
District One Class 6A
#16 COATESVILLE at #1 PENNSBURY
To say the Falcons have been a dominant team in the SOL would be an understatement. This year’s SOL Patriot Division title was the third in four years for the seniors, who lost their sophomore season to the COVID-19 pandemic. The seniors have never lost a game in SOL play during their four years (and three seasons), and they were 16-0 in league play for the second straight year. “That was very important,” senior Ainsley McClure said of winning the league crown. “For some of these girls – the freshmen coming in – this is their first win and for the sophomores, it’s the second, and every little victory is one game that went well, one team effort that went well. While it might be overlooked, it definitely marks an achievement our team made and putting our best effort into everything. They put their best effort in even if wasn’t playoffs yet, and (the league title) marks that.”
Pennsbury
- 19-1 overall, 16-0 SOL
- SOL Patriot Division champions for third time in as many seasons. The Falcons are 44-0 in SOL play in that span
- Senior Ainsley McClure has been a fixture in the circle since she stepped on the diamond as a freshman, earning first team honors every year
- Shippensburg University signee Caitlyn Martell anchors the infield at shortstop while senior Rowan Mulholland, a Colgate University signee, forms the other half of an outstanding battery. Senior Quinn McGonigle, who has signed with Fairfield University, and Catholic University commit Riley Mahony anchor the outfield.
- Also making major contributions are right fielder Taylor Askey, first baseman Sam Raub and designated player Laney Freiband.
Senior Ainsley McClure says: “Losing an entire year to COVID puts (the postseason) in perspective because we only had three years. We had two shots, and every year we got closer, and this is it. Our team is all in. It definitely feels different as a senior. The drive is still there. We’ve always wanted to win, but knowing this is your last chance – it adds more weight to it. Our whole team agrees. The seniors have talked about it. This is our year.
“We’ve played together most of our lives, but some of these girls are new. I think it’s just – our team is really kind, and our team really focuses on that team mentality. Coach (Frank) McSherry has always said – we, not I, and all of that. He wants us to focus on a team win. He’ll point out individual accomplishments because they are things to be rewarded, but we always have been taught and we recognize a team effort regardless of whether someone hit three home runs in a day or someone made a good pick at first, which is just as influential. We just like to see each other succeed. That’s what sets us apart. Travel ball – people play for the individual, they play for recruitment, but school ball is so unique because you play for your school, for school spirit. Everyone wants everyone else to succeed regardless of whether it means you have to give up your spot even. Everyone wants to do what’s best for the team, and I think that’s what sets us apart.”
Senior Caitlyn Martell says: “Our team chemistry is just outstanding. Our four years we’ve always had good chemistry. That’s something we take pride in at Pennsbury. This year it’s something special. Everyone clicks, and that’s really important knowing everyone has each other’s backs, especially Ainsley’s when she’s pitching.
“We know especially in the game of softball any team can beat any team. As a senior, I’m just trying to cherish every moment I have. We’re just trying to take it all in, and we don’t take anyone lightly.”
#14 AVON GROVE at #3 NORTH PENN
North Penn’s only loss came at the hands of Pennsbury on April 29 (5-4). Since then, the Knights have won seven straight and outscored their opponents 95-4. “Obviously, we did not play our game – that was not North Penn softball, but since then we have been able to bounce back,” NP junior co-captain Julia Shearer said. “We’re going into every game with full intensity and trying to not let that happen again. It was a wake-up call. We knew it was going to be a hard game, but we expected to win. That loss really gives a push that we can’t take anything for granted. We were on a hot streak for so long, and we expected it to keep going. Obviously, there’s a little bit of a rivalry with Pennsbury. As it was setting in on us that we lost, we were like, ‘We have to wake up, get a new streak going, we have to make a comeback,’ and I feel that’s what we’re doing.” Coach Rick Torresani is letting his players do the talking heading into districts. “I will let the girls speak for our family,” the Knights’ coach said. “That is how much respect I have for the captains and the players on this team.”
North Penn
- 19-1 overall, 15-1 SOL
- SOL Colonial Division champions (sixth in last seven years)
- Only loss at the hands of top-seeded Pennsbury
- Defending PIAA 6A State Champions with a combined record the last two years of 45-3
- Knights boast a team batting average of .398 and have scored 203 runs and allowed 13 (four earned)
- Led by University of Maryland commit Julia Shearer in the circle and at the plate. The junior leadoff batter has a team high batting average of .646 with 42 hits, 41 runs scored, 22 RBIs and five home runs.
- In the circle, Shearer is 19-1 with 18 complete games and 14 shutouts. In 119 innings pitched, she has struck out 216 and allowed just 12 runs (four earned) for a 0.25 ERA.
- Senior shortstop Sophia Collins, a Kutztown University signee, is hitting .339 with 20 hits, 14 runs scored, 20 RBIs and four home runs.
- Key contributors also include junior first baseman Brie Wilmot (.542, 32H, 28R, 36 RBIs, 4HR), junior third baseman Annabelle Smink (.441, 26H, 30R, 30 RBIs), junior catcher Sarah Sabocsik (.382, 21H, 30R, 14 RBIs), sophomore second baseman Gianna Cimino (.358, 24H, 15R, 22 RBIs), senior rightfielder Maddy Gronback, a Lebanon Valley commit, (.339, 18H, 10R) and junior centerfielder Reyna Doherty (.302, 13H, 15R).
Senior Sophia Collins says: “I think the loss to Pennsbury was something we needed to experience because obviously – it was our first loss. We knew it was bound to happen. What coach Torresani keeps saying is – the only team that can beat us is ourselves, and that’s what happened that game. I think because last year Pennsbury was our first loss too – we were trying to rewrite what happened last year. We wanted to come at them hard because they were very aggressive last year. I think we just got in our heads a little.
“We know we have to win Wednesday’s game to keep going, so we’re just trying to keep the same thing going that we’ve been doing. A district title would be great to add on to our state championship title, but we’re just going one game at a time. We just have such great team chemistry, and we don’t have stressful practices. We practice how we play – we know what we have to do to win, and I think we do that each time we play. We just trying to go out with a bang.”
Junior Julia Shearer says: “I know we had a great season last year, but our goal as a team is to be better than we were last year, and I feel we’re really pulling that off right now. We want to continue that into the postseason. (As the defending state champions), there’s pressure on all of us. We know that people are aiming for our backs, and we know that beating the state champions – there’s nothing better than that, so all season we know that people were gunning for us. We’ve been able to use that. We’re going out with a chip on our shoulders. As a pitcher, obviously, I play a big role in how the game goes. With that, I’ve been trying to contribute as much as I can because that can set the pace of the game, it can set the momentum. I’ve just been trying to go out and do my job the best I can. While I’m sitting through school all day, I’m just looking forward to coming out. These girls are my best friends and being able to play with them and be successful with them, it’s a whole new level of fun. We have great team chemistry, we love hanging out with each other. It’s just fun going out there and being able to support each other because it’s just so easy when you get along.”
#11 NESHAMINY at #6 HATBORO-HORSHAM
The Hatters won the SOL Liberty Division title, winning 15 in a row after dropping three of their first four games and getting outscored in those game 31-4. “It was so big winning this because obviously at the beginning of the season with the rough start we were kind of like – ‘oh my goodness, why is this happening to us? We know we have talent, why is this happening?’” senior tri-captain Kendal Leitner said. “We all were able to bring ourselves together and we knew if we all worked together and got our bond back – we knew everything would be fine.”
Wednesday’s second round game is a rematch of last year’s district quarterfinal game, a 3-1 Neshaminy win. The Redskins defeated #22 Perkiomen Valley 8-1 in an opening round game, pounding out 12 hits.
Hatboro-Horsham
- 16-3 overall, 15-1 SOL
- SOL Liberty Division champions
- 15-game winning streak heading into postseason
- Led by senior tri-captains Kendal Leitner, a Binghamton University signee, Ursinus College commit Megan Mills & Bucknell University commit Marissa Rapino. “Each of them offers a different dimension to our team, and that has helped us,” HH coach Kelly Krier said. “Their experience – they all got playing time as freshmen before I was the coach, so they’ve been around a long time. They’re all playing at the collegiate level next year. Beyond what they do in the field, they’re just three great young adults to work with. They’re dependable. Megan in the outfield – with Kendal lately – hasn’t had much to do, but when called upon, she’s always a presence in the outfield and has helped tremendously with our younger players. Marissa has been so important to us. Just the ability to put her anywhere. Last year we put her on first base for the first time, and she made first team. This year she moved to shortstop, and she overcame a pretty serious injury early in the season. Her return to our team changed our season. Kendal over the last month has just been so important, so dependable. That started last year for us, and she’s just continued to build on that skill set as a person you know is going to go out and give everything she’s got.”
- Leitner has come on strong in the circle. In 76.2 innings, the senior ace has 165 strikeouts and has allowed 29 hits with a 2.83 earned run average. She hit .462 with a 1.290 OPS, 24 hits, 23 runs scored and 19 RBIs. Rapino (.600, 1.395 OPS, 27H, 22R, 15 RBIs) and Mills (.400, 22H, 13R, 11 RBIs) also have been come up big at the plate.
- Juniors Tess Kearney (.500, 1.240 OPS, 29H, 18R, 27 RBIs), Amya Lundy (.446, 1.171 OPS, .750 slugging, 25H, 21R, 25 RBIs) and Abby Waeltz (.370, 1.046 OPS, 20H, 24R, 17 RBIs) as well as sophomore Alyssa Tooley (.439, 1.124 OPS, 29H, 26R, 14 RBIs) are also major contributors. “Tess, Amya and Abby have been a steady rock for us, Krier said. “Then to follow up with Alyssa Tooley, who has really been special her sophomore year. We have been putting things together with other players. We had some stumbling blocks early on, but because of our senior and junior leadership, we’ve been able to really turn it on and become the team that we knew we were.”
Senior Marissa Rapino says: “This program has been nothing short of amazing the past three years with Krier and Coach Rach as our coaches. The girls on the team bring such different and fun personalities, so being together is always refreshing and a good time. Being a senior, I definitely want to make it farther than we ever have before, but I also want everyone to enjoy being with each other and playing the game we all love because the four years really do go by quickly.”
Senior Megan Mills says: “This is such an exciting time for my team and myself. We had a rough start to our season, but we overcame our struggles and started playing the best we have in a while. Our team grew such a strong connection and bond over the past few months. We were able get past the obstacles we faced at the start and turn our season around. It is hard to think about our season coming to an end, and I know we all want to make it last as long as we can. The group of girls on this team are all so incredible, and I am so lucky to have been able to be a part of such an amazing program the past four years.
Senior Kendal Leitner said: “Winning the last several games and winning the league was huge. It was so much fun, and it gives us momentum going into playoffs. As a senior, it’s bittersweet because I want to see how far we can go, and I want playoffs to happen because I love playoffs. I think it’s the most exciting time of the year, but then again, you have to play every game like it’s your last because for the seniors you never know which game is going to be your last one. Neshaminy is such a talented group of girls. I’m so excited for the game.”
Neshaminy
- 16-5 overall, 12-4 SOL
- Finished second to top-seeded Pennsbury in the SOL Patriot Division
- Led offensively by Meryn Bellacima (shortstop), Lindsey Gorka (designated player/first base), Amanda Slabicki (pitcher and center field) and Carena Barr (left field).
- Kennedie Ruth and Amanda Slabicki handle the pitching duties and have combined for a team WHIP of .81 and ERA of 1.68.
Senior Meryn Bellacima says: “This is pretty exciting since it’s my last year and my last chance to make it as far as possible. We definitely want to win, but I definitely want to have fun in the process. I feel as if we’re winning but we’re not having fun – it’s not as rewarding. The key will definitely be communication – we need communication in the dugout and on the field.”
#10 RIDLEY at #7 QUAKERTOWN
In Monday’s opening round, Ridley sent #23 Pennridge home for the season with a 6-1 win. The Panthers, meanwhile, had an opening round bye and are looking to duplicate last year’s postseason success that included a fourth place finish in districts and a berth in the state tournament. “I think the girls are excited to get started with the playoffs,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “There’s some pressure on us to go further than we did last season. How the players handle that pressure is going to dictate how we do in the playoffs. Obviously, we have to do the little things right to go on a run.”
Quakertown
- 17-3 overall, 14-2 SOL
- Finished second to Hatboro-Horsham in SOL Liberty Division
- Led in the circle by senior Syd Andrews, who is also one of the team’s top hitters with a .484 batting average and a 1.169 OPS with a team-high 30 hits and 22 RBIs. The senior ace is 17-2 with a 0.58 earned run average. In 108 2/3 innings, Andrews has struck out 206, allowed 49 hits and 18 runs (9 earned runs).
- Shortstop Skyler Williams is hitting .491 with a 1.035 OPS, 17 hits, 17 runs scored and 12 RBIs. Sophomore second baseman Ava Beal is hitting .456 with a 1.252 OPS and a .702 slugging percentage to go along with 19 runs scored and 16 RBIs, and senior Trinity Lucas is batting .444 in a utility role with a 1.168 OPS, 16 hits 13 RBIs.
- Also making major contributions are catcher Maya Hellyer (.397, 16H, 17 RBIs), center fielder Emma Hilton, who boasts a .375 batting average with 18 hits and a team-high 23 runs scored, and right fielder Katie Muller, who is hitting .351 with 20 hits, 17 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
Senior Syd Andrews says: “This year I definitely think we have a target on our backs. We’re definitely out there now, we’re well known now. It’s going to be a lot more difficult as we go along because everyone knows us now – we can’t sneak in there. It puts pressure on us especially for the freshmen that are starting this year. They didn’t know about last year as much as we do. We’re just going out, leaving everything on the field and hoping for the best. Especially with playoffs starting, knowing it can be my last game – I’m definitely trying to leave everything out there and play for my team. Our team – we’re so well-knit together, and it’s a lot of fun with them.”
Senior Trinity Lucas says: “This feels like our last shot before graduating with graduation being so close, and we’re going to give it our all. After last year, we know everyone is gunning for us, so we have to be ready for any outcome. This year was so much fun. The bonds on the team are just so close and just being there together makes everything 10 times better. We just have to go out there, give it our best and leave everything on the field because it could be our last game.”
#18 SOUDERTON at #2 SPRING-FORD
In Monday’s district opener, the Indians – behind the strong arm of Abby Burns and Riley York’s big bat – edged #15 Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-0. Burns allowed just three hits, struck out 12 and retired 17 in a row during one stretch. York had a pair of doubles and scored both runs.
Defending district champion Spring-Ford (18-1) suffered its only loss in the PAC semifinals, falling to Boyertown 2-0. The loss snapped a 66-game PAC winning streak for the Rams, who are led by senior pitcher Jules Scogna, a first team all-state selection and Boston University signee.
Souderton
- 13-8 overall, 9-7 SOL
- Senior slugger Riley York has a team-high 8 home runs, 28 RBIs and 26 runs scored. The St. Joseph’s University bound senior is hitting .418 with an OPS of 1.491 and a .985 slugging percentage.
- Senior Abby Burns, who will continue her softball and swimming career at Kean University, has been a starter in the circle since she was a freshman. She recently surpassed the 400-strikeout milestone for her career. This season she has struck out 140 and walked 14 in 101 innings and has an earned run average of 1.94. She is batting .275.
- Junior shortstop Kayley York, a Rider University commit, hit 338 with 23 hits, 22 runs scored and 12 RBIs.
- Freshman outfielder Kendell Clemmer batted .354 in an outstanding rookie season.
- Also key for the Indians are catcher Brooke Scotti and first baseman Taylor Nelson.
Senior Riley York says: “This really is different because this feels like our last hurrah as seniors. We want to put everything on the line because, for the seniors, this is it, and it’s crazy because a lot of our seniors aren’t playing in college, so we really want to leave it all on the field. The key for our team is really to keep our energy high and to stay positive, no matter how the game is going because you never know where a game could go – even if you’re losing by a lot, you could still come back, and we have to really focus on the communication with each other as teammates and support one another.”
Senior Abby Burns says: “I just want to go out good. I want a close game, which they gave us last year when we played them in the playoffs, so I hope we at least get a good game out of this either way. I want to go far this year, but as long as we go out with a bang, I’m good with it. I think we have to play loose and stay positive.”
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