Souderton, CB South, Quakertown & Upper Dublin were winners in Monday’s opening round of the District 1 Tournament. Photos provided courtesy of Michele Haddon. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#1-20 SOUDERTON 3, #1-13 BENSALEM 2 (8 innings)
Emotions ran high before Monday’s first pitch was thrown, and the significance of the Owls’ first postseason game since 2005 was not lost on the Bensalem community, which showed up in force to support their softball team.
The two teams put on quite a show, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until Julia Kistler squeezed a fly ball in center field for the game’s final out.
“Even our girls commented – they had such a huge crowd here,” Souderton coach Liz Parkins said. “It was amazing how much support Bensalem had today, and it was just a good game through and through. Extra innings in the playoffs – what more could you ask for?”
Actually, not a whole lot.
It took a mighty blast into the left center field gap by leadoff batter Jess Lepore with two outs in the top of the eighth to plate the game-winner. The two-out rally began with Julia Kistler slapping a single to the right side
“Honestly, I really tried not to think that this could be my last game,” she said. “I just wanted to treat it like it was any other game because then I wouldn’t get as stressed out.
“In every at-bat, I was only hoping for a single. I wasn’t trying to do too much. The last hit – I was just really banking on just getting a single, and that’s what happened.”
Kistler’s single set the stage for Lepore’s booming RBI triple.
“It felt beautiful off my bat,” Lepore said of her game-winner. “I didn’t really even notice that it was our leading run until I touched first base and then I was like, ‘Wait, there was a runner on base.’
“I think we wanted this game more than we wanted any game this season. Our seniors – this could have been their last game. We didn’t want that for them, and we didn’t want that for us. We played as a team today. We just pulled it out. (Bensalem) did tremendous.”
There were highlight reel plays on both sides. For the Owls’, Haley Keenan robbed Souderton’s Alina Skrzat of a base hit in the top of the first with a diving catch, and in the fifth, catcher Angelia Micalizzi – fully extended – caught a foul ball near the backstop.
“Oh gosh, that hurt – I landed right on my stomach,” Micalizzi said. “Every single player tried their best in every way, everyone gave it their all. No one stopped for anything.”
On the other side of the diamond, Lepore, the Indians’ shortstop, snared a line drive heading toward left center off the bat of Jessica Klein in the seventh. That play loomed large when the next batter – Chloe Munyon – doubled down the right field line. In the eighth, it was leftfielder Sam Nuneviller with a running grab of a sharp line drive, robbing Allison Goodman of extra bases.
Freshman hurler Abby Burns retired the Owls in order in the bottom of the eighth to notch the complete game win.
“Abby held her own today and only gave up one or two big hits,” Parkins said. “She kept working the zone. She and Alina (Skrzat) learned the zone early and just went to work. Our defense behind her was just outstanding. Outfielders making awesome catches. Again, kudos to Bensalem because they played a really good game as well.”
The Indians put single runs on the board in both the second and third innings. Jen Klepfer’s one-out double in the second was followed by an RBI triple to center by Sam Nuneviller. Naila Neely doubled to left center with one out in the third, and she scored on Skrzat’s ground single up the middle.
The Owls battled back. With one out in the fifth, Maggie Formichelli and Micalizzi hit back-to-back infield singles. With two outs, Jessica Klein – who entered the game with an .814 batting average with runners in scoring position – singled to right. A throwing error on the play allowed the Owls’ first run to cross the plate.
In the sixth inning, Allison Goodman lined a two-out single to center, and Haley Keenan followed with a double to left center, putting Bensalem runners on second and third. Dan Schram called for a suicide squeeze, and Formichelli executed it to perfection with a bunt down the third base line that she legged out for a single while Goodman raced home with the tying run. That tie stood until the eighth.
Although the outcome was not what the Owls had hoped for, they walked away with few – if any – regrets.
“I’m so proud,” Micalizzi said. “Every single one of these kids, whether you were on jayvee, whether you were on varsity – every single one of these girls brought it. They made it amazing. They’re all truly special in every single way. I wouldn’t want it any other way – just with these girls.”
“They played a heck of a game,” Parkins said of the Owls. “They executed certain plays, especially that suicide squeeze. I’ll be honest – we weren’t ready for it, but the fact that we came back in the top of the eighth, and with two outs, we managed to push that run across, which was so huge and so clutch. That’s one thing about this team all season – they always fight. No matter what the scenario, no matter what the case is, they never give up. I couldn’t be more proud of them. It’s amazing to coach them.”
Bensalem’s players and coaches will not soon forget the support they received from their school community.
“This was incredible,” Micalizzi said. “We’ve never had a crowd like that before. That was just incredible – having the fans supporting us through it all – our first ever playoff game since 2005. It was great seeing everybody here. This was a total team effort. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
According to Lepore, the Indians could not be distracted by the partisan Bensalem crowd.
“They definitely outweighed us on their home turf, but I think it was just mind over matter,” the junior shortstop said. “We put that out (of our minds), and we were just on the field. This was our diamond, this is where we lived today, and we didn’t really care about anything else that was happening out there.”
Lepore finished the game 1-for-3 with a triple, walk, sacrifice bunt and the game-winning RBI. Riley York (2-for-4) had the lone multi-hit game for the Indians.
For the Owls, Formichelli was a perfect 3-for-3 while Goodman was 2-for-4.
Schram, meanwhile, is looking for his team to build on this year’s successful season.
“I pointed to the fact that in 2017 our baseball team was just as we are – they were in the 20 or 21 spot to get into the playoffs, and they wound up losing in the first round, and the next year they won the District 1 title and go to the big game,” Schram said. “Nothing is better than human experience, and we needed this human experience.
“Certainly, we wanted to win them all, but wow, what a crowd, what a feeling. We’re going to follow that up, and we’re going to be right back at it next year, and I can’t wait.”
Schram loses just three seniors – Micalizzi, Dani Sharpe and Goodman, but they were key pieces to the team’s success.
“I’ve been coaching for 18 years – nine years as an assistant and nine years as a head coach, and they’re the three most unselfish, giving and wonderful people, and they’re going to be so successful in the game of life,” Schram said. “When they started in ninth grade, there were 13 freshmen who came up. Most of them were jayvee players, but when the going got tough, a lot of them decided they weren’t going to do it anymore, and these three stuck it out. I’m sure they had their doubts, but they never quit.”
Bensalem (5-7 SOL) closed its successful season with an 11-8 record.
“We started something up,” Micalizzi said. “The future for Bensalem softball is very bright, and I can’t wait to see how it goes, where it goes because I know it’s going to go further than we went this year.
“I know that they’re going to keep going up and up and up. These girls are special. We created a bond that’s everlasting. It’s very hard because I’m the only senior that won’t play (collegiate softball). This is my last game. This was a great game, but that makes it very hard.”
Souderton (12-8, 5-7 SOL) will travel to Downingtown West for a second round game against the fourth-seeded Whippets.
Souderton 011 000 01 3-9-1
Bensalem 000 011 00 2-10-0
#1-14 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 8, #1-19 PENNRIDGE 2
Kylie Kenney tossed a complete game three-hitter, fanning 11 and walking two. Both Pennridge runs were unearned as the Rams won the rubber match between to SOL Continental rivals.
“Kylie pitched really well,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “We played really well.”
The visiting Rams put a run on the board in the top of the first, thanks to a Makenna Patterson RBI single. The Titans answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Alexa Ortman led off with a single, and an error on Rebecca Brennan’s sacrifice bunt put runners on the corners. A walk to Tara Tumasz loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Katie Hines knotted the score 1-1, and an errant throw on the play allowed a second run to cross the plate.
In the second, the Titans once again capitalized on Ram miscues, putting their leadoff runner – Sophia Defebo – on second base after a pair of errors. A two-out double off the fence by Ortman gave the Titans a two-run advantage, and Brennan’s RBI single made it a 4-1 game after two innings.
Kate Hammond led off the fourth inning with a single, and after a bunt single by Defebo, Olivia Robinson’s sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position. An intentional walk to Ortman loaded the bases, and with two outs, Tumasz delivered a two-run single. The Titans led 7-1 after Hines doubled home a run.
In the fifth, Hammond, who singled, scored on a groundout by Ortman. The Rams scored a run in the top of the seventh on a passed ball for the 8-2 final.
Ortman’s 2-for-3 effort with a double, RBI and two runs scored led the Titans. Hammond was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Hines, who doubled, drove in a pair of runs as did Tumasz.
Central Bucks South (13-8, 9-3 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury for a second-round matchup with the third-seeded Falcons. The two teams met last week in a non-league contest that saw the Falcons eke out a 2-1 win.
“They’re a really good team, and we’re going on the road, so we’ll have to play really well to win,” Rosini said.
Pennridge (6-6 SOL) closed its season with a 9-9 record.
Pennridge 100 000 1 2-3-7
Central Bucks South 220 310 x 8-8-1
#1-17 QUAKERTOWN 10, #1-16 RIDLEY 3
The visiting Panthers scored three runs in the first and added four more in the second on their way to the convincing opening round win.
“We jumped on them pretty early and took the drama out of the game, which was great,” coach David Scott said. “Honestly, I didn’t know a whole lot about them, but playing in (the Continental Conference) helps us tremendously.
“I think it makes the games against some of these non-conference opponents seem a little easier. I think the quality of play that we see in our conference helps us against a team like Ridley that plays in a little different setup than we do. I’m very pleased with the way they played today.”
Freshman Laura Morelock ignited the Panthers offensively with a perfect 4-for-4 day out of the leadoff spot. She drove in four runs and scored twice and is hitting at a .480 after Monday’s outing.
“She’s unbelievable,” Scott said. “I moved her to leadoff four or five games ago, which coincides with the fact that we haven’t lost any of those games.
“She’s been a real catalyst for us at the top of the lineup. The thing she did for us today that was really, really important was she had three two-out RBIs, which were just huge for us.”
The Panthers’ diminutive leadoff batter also handles the hot corner at third base.
“The sky’s the limit for her,” Scott said. “She’s a phenomenal athlete – she has a college ready arm right now.”
While Morelock was an impossible out at the top of the lineup, Brianna Lefkoski was was 3-for-4 with three runs scored out of the nine hole.
“When I moved Laura to leadoff and moved Brianna Lefkoski to number nine, we categorize her as our second leadoff because she’s been doing a great job in the nine hole and has turned over the lineup,” Scott said. “So every time LauraRose (Morelock) comes up to bat, it seems like there’s somebody on base, and it’s because of Bri and some of the kids toward the bottom of our lineup doing a great job.”
In the top of the first, the Panthers opened the game with back-to-back-to-back singles by Morelock, Lauryn Cope and Abby Schwartz (RBI). Sarah Stofik delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Cope, and a third crossed the plate on an error.
The Panthers staged a two-out rally in the second. Lefkoski singled and stole second, setting the stage for Morelock’s RBI single, Cope and Schwartz followed with back-to-back singles, and three more runs crossed the plate on a Green Raider miscue.
In the fifth, Halle Frederick singled, and with two out Lefkoski singled. Morelock’s two-run single put the Panthers on top 9-2. Another Morelock RBI single in the seventh gave the Panthers their final margin of victory.
Cope (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Schwartz (2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs) also had multi-hit days for the Panthers. Stofik had the team’s only extra base hit – a double.
Tori Caputo turned in another workmanlike effort to earn the complete game win, allowing nine hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out three and walking one.
“Tori did exactly what she had to do today,” Scott said. “We’re up 7-0, and she basically was able to throw strikes, pitch to contact and did a pretty good job with that and basically kept a clean game as far as walks. She only had one walk, which – when you’re playing with the lead – is so critical.”
Quakertown (13-8, 8-4 SOL) will travel to top-seeded Spring-Ford for a second round game on Wednesday.
“The pressure is definitely on them – that’s the way we’ll go at it,” Scott said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Quakertown 340 020 1 10-13-3
Ridley 001 100 1 3-9-4
#1-23 PERKIOMEN VALLEY 3, #1-10 HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The visiting Vikings scored three runs in the top of the seventh to earn the opening round upset. One inning earlier, the Hatters broke a scoreless tie with a run and appeared poised to walk away with the win. That didn’t happen.
In the bottom of the sixth, Kayla Tauber led off with a single, and Mikayla Fedele, who laid down a sacrifice bunt, was safe at first on an error. Alicia Tauber singled to load the bases, and one out later, Tauber scored the go-ahead run on Marissa Rapino’s bunt.
That lead turned out to be short-lived. Bella Bruno and Jordan Sell both had RBI doubles in the top of the seventh inning, and a third run crossed the plate on a Hatter miscue.
It looked like the Hatters might be in business in the bottom of the seventh after back-to-back singles by Joyce Bloome and Kendall Leitner to lead off the inning, but that’s where the threat ended.
Leitner absorbed the loss, allowing five hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out five and walking three.
Hatboro-Horsham (12-2 SOL) closed out its season with a 15-6 record.
Perkiomen Valley 000 000 3 3-5-2
Hatboro-Horsham 000 001 0 1-5-2
#1-9 METHACTON 7, #1-24 HARRY S TRUMAN 3
The Tigers – who earned a spot in districts with a late-season surge – battled but came up short in Monday’s district opener. It was their first postseason appearance since 2012.
The two teams exchanged early runs with Methacton plating a run in the first and the Tigers answering with one in the second when Grace Pool, who reached first on an error, scored on a passed ball. The Warriors scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to go on top 5-1.
Truman put two on the board in the sixth to make it a 5-3 game. Pool drew a walk, and Elle Olivero singled. Both runners scored on Emily Merrigan’s double. The Warriors sealed the Tigers’ fate with two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 7-3 final.
Olivero’s 4-for-4 effort with a run scored led the Tigers. Alexia Devlin was 2-for-4.
Hayley Carter absorbed the loss.
“I’m very proud of these girls for all their hard work and dedication,” coach Lisamarie Belmonte said. “I also want to thank my coaching staff for always having my back and working to continue to build this program.
“Best of luck to my four seniors – they’ve meant a lot to our program.”
Harry S Truman (4-8 SOL) closed out its season with a 9-12 record.
Harry S Truman 010 002 0 3-10-2
Methacton 100 222 x 7-10-1
#1-11 COATESVILLE 8, #1-22 WILLIAM TENNENT 4
The Red Raiders pounded out 14 hits off a pair of Tennent hurlers, and for good measure, they played flawless defense. It was a winning combination as they brought an end to the visiting Panthers’ season.
A solo home run by Caitlyn Mitros in the top of the third – her third round tripper in the last two games – gave the Panthers a short-lived 1-0 lead. The Raiders answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning – thanks to a solo home run by Phoebe Clemens and a two-run shot by Payton Landis.
Brianna Koonce led off the top of the fourth with a solo blast to make it a 3-2 game, but the Raiders got that run back in the bottom of the inning. The Panthers evened the score 4-4 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Jenna Cragin led off with a single, and Mitros drew a walk. Megan Curtis delivered a two-run double.
That tie stood until the bottom of the sixth when the Raiders erupted for four runs.
The Patriots managed just five hits off of Natalie Florschutz, who struck out 15 and walked four in the complete game win.
Mitros led the Panthers with a 1-for-1 effort that included a home run, RBI and two runs scored.
William Tennent (5-7 SOL) closed out its season with an 11-10 record.
William Tennent 001 120 0 4-5-3
Coatesville 003 104 x 8-14-0
#1-15 UPPER DARBY 5, #1-18 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
Upper Darby erupted for five runs in the bottom of the sixth, breaking a scoreless tie and propelling the Royals to the shutout win.
Rebecca Sorrentino proved to be a tough customer in the circle, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 and walking two.
PW’s Josee Tassoni led off the seventh with a double, and one out later, Emma Carney singled to put runners on the corners. That’s where the threat ended.
The Colonials had three runners thrown out attempting to steal.
Allison Beausoleil absorbed the loss, allowing seven hits and five runs – all unearned. She struck out six and walked four.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-3 SOL) closed out its season with a 13-5 record.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 000 0 0-3-2
Upper Darby 000 005 x 5-7-1
CLASS 5A
#1-5 UPPER DUBLIN 12, #1-12 CHICHESTER 0 (5 innings)
The Flying Cardinals served early notice that they meant business, scoring five runs in the first and adding to that lead en route to a win in their first postseason contest since 2004.
“Those girls were there to play today,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “They were not afraid, they hit the ball hard up and down the lineup, and they played outstanding defense.”
Chloe Foster earned the shutout win in the abbreviated contest, allowing only two hits while striking out three and walking none.
“To Chloe’s credit, as a freshman stepping on the mound for the first time for a district playoff game knowing your team hasn’t been there in 15 years – she was very cool, calm and collected,” Boyer said. “She did a very good job.”
In the five-run first, Korynn Bischoff delivered the big blow – a two-run double. The Cardinals added two more runs in the third. Ellie Kelcy smashed a three-run home run to left field in a five-run fourth that put the Cardinals on top 12-0.
Kelcy led the Cardinals’ 12-hit attack, finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs scored. Bischoff was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Lauren Carboni was 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Her courtesy runner, Maya Segal, scored three runs.
Upper Dublin (14-6, 8-6 SOL) will face fourth-seeded Upper Perkiomen, a come-from-behind winner over Phoenixville in an opening round game.
Chichester 000 00 0-2-4
Upper Dublin 502 5x 12-12-0
#1-6 UPPER MERION 14, #1-11 WISSAHICKON 4
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