SOL Softball District Preview (5-26-21)

Nine 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.

#16 SOUDERTON at #1 PENNSBURY

Pennsbury

19-1 overall
16-0 SOL Patriot Division champions
Junior Ainsley McClure has been a study in consistency in the circle.
Caitlyn Martell, Rowan Mulholland and Jessica Rowe lead the Falcons at the plate.
Wins over #2 North Penn (4-3), #11 Neshaminy (9-3, 4-2), #13 Central Bucks East (5-4), #16 Souderton (4-2), #17 Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-0), #18 Harry S Truman (3-0, 11-1) and #23 Bensalem (7-2, 4-0)
Only loss to #3 Hatboro-Horsham (6-2) on April 24
Falcons bring a 12-game winning streak into districts

Souderton

14-7 overall
10-6 SOL Colonial Division tied for second place behind North Penn
Junior Abby Burns has an ERA of 2.48 with 171 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 121 innings.
Junior left fielder Riley York, a St. Joseph’s University commit, leads the Indians and is batting .603 with nine home runs (three in one game), nine doubles and 28 RBIs.
Senior third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is batting .403 with two home runs and 20 RBIs, and sophomore shortstop Kayley York is hitting .400 with nine combined doubles/triples.
Wins over #11 Neshaminy (3-0), #17 Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-3), #18 Harry S Truman (8-3) & #23 Bensalem (5-1)
Edged #17 Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-1 in an opening round district game Monday.

Next up: The winner will play the winner of the #8 Quakertown – #9 Methacton contest.

#15 OWEN J ROBERTS at #2 NORTH PENN

North Penn

19-1 overall
15-1 SOL Colonial Division champions
Senior Mady Volpe boasts a 0.92 ERA with 11 shutouts. In 122 innings, the Coastal Carolina commit has struck out 256. Also, she is hitting .344 with 21 RBIs and two home runs.
The Knights – who have a team batting average of .365 – have scored 135 runs and give up 16.
Sophomore leadoff batter Julia Shearer (CF) is hitting .590 with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs and 15 RBIs. Sophomore Brie Wilmot (1B) is batting .517 with six doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 26 RBIs.
Other key contributors at the plate are Gianna Cimino (F/DP/2B, .471), Annabelle Smink (So/3B, .344, 21 RBIs, 2 HR), Sophia Collins (Jr/SS, .296, 12 RBIs, 2 HR), Sarah Sabocsik (So/C, .279, 12 RBIs, 3 HR) and Carley DiGiuseppe (Sr/LF, .278, 3 HR).
Wins over #3 Hatboro-Horsham (1-0), #7 Haverford (4-1), #8 Quakertown (1-0), #11 Neshaminy (5-2), #13 Central Bucks East (10-2, 3-2), #16 Souderton (8-0, 4-3), #18 Harry S Truman (12-0), #21 Perk Valley (11-1) and #23 Bensalem (11-0)
Only loss at the hands of Pennsbury (4-3) on April 20
Knights bring a 13-game winning streak into districts

Owen J Roberts

12-6 overall
5-5 PAC Liberty Division
Senior second baseman Sam Walsh, who also sees action in the circle, is committed to play softball at Manhattanville College
Sophomore Natalie Alldred has been a key contributor in the circle and at the plate.
Wins over Class 5A #6 Phoenixville (5-0) & #12 Pottsgrove (10-0)
Split season series with #21 Perkiomen Valley (11-2, 9-11)
Defeated #18 Harry S Truman 5-1 in Monday’s opening round of districts.

Next up: The winner will play the winner of the #7 Haverford – #23 Bensalem contest.

#14 WILLIAM TENNENT at #3 HATBORO-HORSHAM

Hatboro-Horsham

19-1 overall
16-0 SOL Liberty Division champions
Junior captain Kendal Leitner has been outstanding in the circle and at the plate.
Leading the team are senior captains Kayla Tauber, a St. Joseph’s University commit, who anchors the infield at shortstop, and Kristen Myers, a University of Rochester commit.
Wins over #1 Pennsbury (6-2), #8 Quakertown (4-1, 9-0), #14 Wissahickon (5-1, 3-2), #16 Souderton (1-0), #17 Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-5, 5-0) and #19 William Tennent (8-4)
Only loss at the hands of #2 North Penn (1-0)

William Tennent

14-4 overall
11-4 SOL Freedom Division champions
Mackenzie Clee has been hitting close to .600 out of the leadoff spot.
Win over Class 5A #9 Upper Dublin (7-6)
Defeated #19 Wissahickon 8-7 in eight innings in district opener

Next up: The winner will face the winner of the #6 Ridley – #11 Neshaminy contest.

#9 METHACTON at #8 QUAKERTOWN

Quakertown

17-3 overall
13-2 SOL Liberty Division second place behind Hatboro-Horsham
The Panthers, who start four or five freshmen every game, had just two returning players with varsity experience.
Junior Syd Andrews has 13 wins and boasts a 1.605 ERA with 181 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 104.2 innings. She also is hitting .450.
Key contributors at the plate include LauraRose Morelock (Jr/C, .482), Ava Beal (Fr/SS, .478), Mary Wilkinson (Fr/1B, .354), Emma Hilton (So/LF, .381), Maya Hellyer (So/DP, .333) and Skyler Williams (Fr/2B, .373).
Wins over #13 Central Bucks East (3-2), #14 Wissahickon (4-0, 11-1) and #17 Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-2, 5-3)
Only losses came at the hands of #2 North Penn (1-0) & #3 Hatboro-Horsham (4-1, 9-0)

Methacton

15-4 overall
7-3 PAC Liberty second to Spring-Ford
Senior Paige Deal is a key contributor in the circle and at the plate
Caitlin Woolbert (Jr), Caraline Newman (Sr), Serena Goodridge (Sr) and Deal anchor the top of the Warriors’ lineup
Wins over #15 Owen J Roberts (4-2, 6-3), #21 Perk Valley (7-2, 9-0), #22 Unionville (8-0)and Class A #6 Phoenixville (6-2), #7 Upper Perk (2-1) and #8 Kennett (6-1)
Defeated #24 Conestoga 14-2 in five innings in Monday’s district opener. Deal, Newman, Goodridge and Riley Kairer each hit a home run.
Earned a 14-2 mercy rule win over #24 Conestoga in Monday’s opening round of districts.

Next up: The winner will play the winner of the #1 Pennsbury – #16 Souderton contest.

#11 NESHAMINY at #6 RIDLEY

Neshaminy

15-5 overall
12-4 Patriot Division second place behind Pennsbury
Junior Kennedie Ruth (P/OF) is batting .391 and tired for team lead in RBIs with 15 to go along with three doubles, two triples (tied for team high), four home runs (tied for team high). Senior Mia Barone (P/OF) has a .400 batting average and shares the team lead for RBIs with 15. She has six doubles, two triples (tied for team lead) and two home runs). Senior Kylee Jones (SS) has a .439 batting average to go along with 10 RBIs, seven doubles (team high), one triple and three home runs. Sophomore Lindsey Gorka (DH) is batting a team leading .600 with 10 RBIs, three doubles, one triple and three home runs.
Also making contributions are Danielle Monaco (Sr/C, .370, 13 RBIs, 2 2B) and Kylie Siwek (Sr./2B, .385, 11 RBIs, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR)
Wins over #13 Central Bucks East (9-1), #18 Harry S Truman (8-2, 10-1) and #23 Bensalem (16-5, 14-4).
Neshaminy rolled to an 11-1 mercy rule win over #22 Unionville in Monday’s opening round.

Ridley

18-2 overall
Central League co-champions
Pitcher Riley Chapman surpassed the 100-strikeout mark for the season
Sophomore shortstop Haley McMenamin is a high level recruit
Wins over #12 Garnet Valley (6-4, 11-4), #24 Conestoga (10-0, 10-0) and Class 5A #1 Interboro (5-2), #2 Springfield-Delco (2-1), #4 West Chester East (7-1), West Chester Rustin (17-3) and #10 Strath Haven (10-0).
Split season series with Haverford (2-1, 3-10)

Next up: The winner will take on the winner of the #3 Hatboro-Horsham – #14 William Tennent game.

#13 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST at #4 SPRING-FORD

Central Bucks East

14-7 overall
10-6 SOL Colonial Division tied for second place behind North Penn
Speedy sophomore centerfielder Elizabeth Gray leads the Patriots with a .403 batting average and a .500 OBP. She has 27 hits and has stolen 20 bases on 20 attempts. She is also covers a lot of ground in the outfield
Alex Frenia and Soleil Dooner have anchored the Patriots in the circle and have played key roles in the team’s success.
Junior catcher Amerlia Funston calls all the pitches and has been a rock behind the plate. She is batting .350 and leads the team with 22 RBIs and five home runs.
Wins over #16 Souderton (8-1, 3-2) #18 Harry S Truman (9-5) & #19 Wissahickon (15-0).

Spring-Ford

16-0 overall
10-0 PAC Liberty Division champions
Senior Brianna Peck – a Virginia Tech commit who was the 2019 PA Gatorade Player of the Year – does it all for the Rams. A power hitter, she is a tough out at the plate and is also a standout pitcher
Outfielder Noelle Reid is a Miami of Ohio commit
Wins over #9 Methacton (2-0, 3-1), #15 Owen J Roberts (3-2, 13-3), #21 Perk Valley (9-0, 10-0) and Class 5A #6 Phoenixville (13-0) and #7 Upper Perk (2-1).
Earned a 20-2 mercy rule win over #20 Downingtown East in Monday’s opening round.

Next up: The winner will face the winner of the #5 Downingtown West – #12 Garnet Valley game.

#23 BENSALEM at #7 HAVERFORD

Bensalem

11-10 overall
6-10 SOL Patriot Division fourth place
Owls young lineup includes Emma Lostracco (Sr/Catcher), Jess Klein (Sr/IF), Maddie Buechner (Sr/IF), Maggie Formichelli (Jr/P), Kira Hutchinson (Jr/IF), Ayva Knowles (So/OF), Destiny Howard (So/OF), Lina Sponheimer (Fr/IF), Mackenzie Kramer (Fr/IF), Meg Klein (Fr/IF) and Kayla Clarkson (Fr/P)
Meg Klein (33 hits) and Lina Sponheimer (25 hits) have had the most hits in recent memory for freshman starters.
Catcher Emma Lostracco has thrown out and picked off 16 base runners.
Wins over #13 Central Bucks East (3-2) and Class 4A #2 Villa Joseph Marie (10-2)
Upset #10 Avon Grove 3-0 behind the shutout pitching of Maggie Formichelli

Haverford

17-3 overall
13-2 Central League co-champions
Junior pitcher Emma Taylor, a Yale commit, surpassed the 200-strikeout mark for her career this season.
Fords have scored 199 runs and allowed 22
Eight-game winning streak heading into districts
Wins over #12 Garnet Valley (8-0, 3-1), #24 Conestoga (10-1, 12-1), Class 5A #3 Marple Newtown (7-0), #4 West Chester East (10-1) and #10 Strath Haven (10-0).
Split season series with #6 Ridley (1-2, 10-3).