Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Monday. Pennsbury/PV photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. CR South/CR North photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for galleries of both games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f63743818 (Hatboro-Horsham photos courtesy of Jess Cassel/H-H softball)
District 1 6A opening round
#9 PENNSBURY 15, #24 PERKIOMEN VALLEY 5 (5 innings)
The Vikings threw a bit of a scare into the favored Falcons, opening up a 5-1 lead only to see the Falcons come storming back to earn the mercy rule win.
“There was no doubt about it – we were worried,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “After the game, we said to them, ‘Let’s celebrate the good,’ which we did. We talked to them about the good things.
“The further we get, the better the teams are. Let’s learn from our mistakes and keep hitting the way we’re hitting.”
Laney Freiband struggled out of the gate in the circle, but she had no problems at the plate where she was a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored. Hannah DeFinis also had a perfect 4-for-4 day that included a double and home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Sammy Raub was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Anna Evanchik was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored in the abbreviated contest that saw the Falcons pound out 13 hits.”
The Vikings opened up a 3-0 lead before the Falcons got on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the second, Freiband led off with a line single to left, and Raub followed with a double down the left field line, putting a pair of Falcons on board. An RBI single by DeFinis made it a 3-1 game, but the Vikings answered with two runs in the top of the third when Audrey Powers – who was 3-for-3 for the game – lined a two-run shot to left field, and the Vikings led 5-1.
In a three-run third, Freiband gave the Falcons a much-needed shot in the arm when – after a run came across on an Evanchik sac fly and Naya Schubel singled – Freidman ripped a two-run home run to center field to make it a 5-4 game.
“Laney’s home run with two outs ignited us,” McSherry said.
In the fifth inning, the Falcons blew the game wide open with an 11-run outburst that put the mercy rule into effect.
Highlights of the inning included a second two-run bomb by Freiband, who also had a bunt single in the inning. DeFinis had a two-run home run in the inning. Other contributions in the inning included singles by Raub (RBI) and Liv Czerniak (2 RBIs) with Raub delivering her second single of the frame. Evanchik had a bunt single that plated a run.
“We call it a ‘nobody’ when the bunts are so perfect and nobody can get you,” McSherry said. “It was a nobody.”
The Falcons also benefitted from a pair of PV errors.
Freiband notched the win in the circle, allowing just five hits while striking out five and walking five.
“She has pitched better games, but after the first couple innings, she settled down, and our bats came alive,” McSherry said of Freiband. “I think our bats were alive from the beginning. Anna Evanchik had a base hit in the first inning, Naya Schubel hit the ball hard, (Ava) Storlazzi hit the ball hard.
“In the second inning, we had a single, a double and a single, and we only scored one run. We hit the ball hard. The next inning, we exploded for three and it went from there.”
Pennsbury (17-4, 13-3 SOL) will travel to #8 Ridley for a second round game Wednesday.
Perkiomen Valley 032 00 5-5-2
Pennsbury 013 0 11 15-15-0
#11 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 6, #22 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Lexi Waring tossed a one-hit gem, and the Golden Hawks gave their sophomore pitcher plenty of support. The end result was a shutout win over their neighboring rivals and the program’s first postseason win since 2017.
“At the end of the day, when you get to the playoffs, you want to play your very best ball at the end of the season, and we played our best ball today,” Rock South coach Dan Schram said. “I’m very, very proud of the kids and the entire community for giving me the chance to coach and the freedom to really, really build a culture with these kids. It’s very special.”
Schram, in his second year at the helm, inherited a Rock South squad that won only five games the previous year, two in league play. Two years later, the Golden Hawks finished tied for second to Pennsbury in league play, won a district game, and they’re not finished yet.
“We have a great group of parents, and the school has believed in me hands down to come in and make a change,” Schram said. “I’m thankful for Scott Layer and Tim Daley as athletic directors for giving me the autonomy and freedom to do what was necessary for us to make a great program.
“There’s other great players in what we have going on. We have (Rock Gold’s) Rick Waye, who shares our field. From where I come from, Council Rock South is the perfect storm, and I’m just so blessed to be a part of it.”
Waring – who allowed only a one-out single in the seventh to Haley Edelman – struck out seven and walked two.
“Lexi was dominant and in total control,” Schram said. “We were so excited when we saw we were playing North. Obviously, three times playing a team is unnerving. But we had a detailed game plan, and the kids executed it perfectly. North is a good young team who will make noise in years to come.”
The Golden Hawks capitalized on a pair of Rock North miscues to plate an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning.
In the third inning, Maddie McLean led off with a single and eventually scored on an error. Kaylie Walters, who walked, scored on a successfully executed suicide squeeze by Grace Stepp, and the Indians led 3-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Gabby Bloom hit a one-out single and advanced all the way to third on an error. She scored when McLean followed with a single, and Walters brought McLean home and scored herself when the Indians committed an error on her RBI triple, giving the Golden Hawks their final margin of victory.
“Our catalyst today was Maddie McLean,” Schram said. She ran the bags and caused havoc all game. Total team player. Great efforts from Kaylie Walters and Gabby Bloom as well.”
“CR South played a good clean game today,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Their pitching was on point, the defense backed it up, they put the ball in play, and they took advantage of every miscue we had.
“They are a well-coached team that play well together. They play smart and have lots of dangerous speed on the bases that should really help them as they move through the playoffs. They were the better team today, and as our season comes to a close, we hope our sister school continues with a long run through the playoffs moving forward.”
Schram tipped his hat to the leaders who have paved the way for the program’s turnaround.
“Without a doubt, our two seniors – Kaylie Walters, Ameerah Wheet – Grace Stepp, our catcher, and Lexi Waring have helped to create a mindset that is focused on winning and putting the name on the front of the jersey first,” the Hawks’ coach said.
For the Indians, who had lost to Rock South twice during the regular season, the third time was not the charm, marking instead the end of a memorable turnaround season for the young squad.
“It was a rough day on the diamond for CR North Softball today, but in the end, after the sting of today’s loss wears off, the important thing is that the girls remember how much they achieved this year, and how they did it together as a team,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Nobody got down on anybody when things went wrong. They worked together, they supported each other, and they won or lost together. 
“This group of girls working as a team, playing their roles, and cheering for their teammates when it was somebody else’s turn to step in, is part of the reason they did so well this season. They believed in each other, and they worked to help make everybody better as a whole all spring. Sophomore captain Sierra Klein exemplified that today, when after starting all 20 games this regular season, she yielded her starting spot to a player who previously had better success offensively against Lexi Waring. Instead of pouting and sulking, she was the loudest person in the dugout door cheering on her team, helping to point things out, and supporting the player who was filling her spot, constantly doing whatever she could to help the team as a whole.”
Monday’s game represented the first time Rock North has played a postseason game since 2018.
“For this group to achieve that honor is something they need to be proud of and work to build on leading into next year,” Yee said. “We have the entire team returning next season, and if we work hard and keep working together, we should be able to continue building on the successes we started to have this year. As a coach, I hope the girls are as proud of everything they accomplished this year as I am of them for doing so.”
Council Rock South (15-6, 10-6 SOL) will travel to Downingtown East for Wednesday’s second round game. Council Rock North closed its season with an 11-10 record overall (8-8 SOL).
Council Rock North 000 000 0 0-1-5
Council Rock South 102 300 x 6-6-2
#12 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 7, #21 SOUDERTON 1
The third time was the charm.
After seeing their season end in back-to-back years at the hands of Souderton, the Colonials broke that trend with a big win in Monday’s opening round.
“After playing them in the playoffs the last two years, we knew Souderton had a solid lineup and is always a tough game,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “We had a really good scouting report on them, and our defense did a wonderful job, specifically Sam Skivo in left field and Caelin Kosvitch in center field tracking balls down.
“It was a total team effort. I’m so proud of these girls. They’ve worked really hard this season and I’m happy it paid off with a playoff win. We’ve learned that the hard way the last two seasons. But this game is a confidence builder and morale booster.”
The Colonials – who were sparked by a four-run fourth inning – rode the standout effort in the circle of senior Molly Moore, who tossed the complete game two-hitter. She struck out two and walked one.
“Another gem of a game by Molly Moore in the circle,” Perez said. “It was her traditional performances with only two strikeouts, but she was moving the ball really well and keeping Souderton off balance all game.”
The Colonials got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Joslyn Perez drew a one-out walk, and that was followed by back-to-back singles by Marissa Perez and Caelin Kosvitch to load the bases. Perez scored the game’s first run on a fielder’s choice by Moore, and a second run came home on Sam Skivo’s groundout, giving the Colonials the early 2-0 lead.
The four-run fourth began with a leadoff triple to left field by Kalina Childers, who scored when Jenna Yablon followed with a single to left field. One out later, Joslyn Perez singled home a run, and after a single by Marissa Perez, Kosvitch hit a sac fly to right field that plated Joslyn Perez. Marissa Perez scored on a passed ball for the 6-0 PW lead that held the rest of the way.
Marissa Perez was 2-for-4 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot, and Yablon was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Colonials collected seven hits off junior McKenna Schroding.
“Schroding is a really tough pitcher, but our girls did a nice job battling and being really unselfish in the box,” Perez said. “Ground balls to the right side, bunt attempts, and sac flies were key today. We put the ball in play and ran the bases really well.
“Marissa Perez and Jenna Yablon led the way offensively with two hits apiece, two runs each and three stolen bases combined. Joslyn Perez also scored two runs with great base running and made some nice plays at second base.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-6, 12-4 SOL) will travel to #5 Spring-Ford for a second round game on Wednesday. Souderton closed out its year with a 9-12 record (7-9 SOL).
Souderton 000 010 0 1-2-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 002 401 x 7-7-1
#13 PENNRIDGE 6, #20 NESHAMINY 0
Averi Dockery is one very cool customer in the circle.
No matter the circumstances in Monday night’s district opener, the Rams’ sophomore pitcher was unfazed. In the top of the fourth inning with the Rams clinging to a 2-0 lead, the Redskins – thanks to back-to-back singles by Lindsey Gorka and Olivia Hughes – had runners on first and third with none out. Dockery calmly struck out the next three batters she faced.
“It’s so funny – we’ll try to talk with her when she’s pitching, and she does not hear us at all,” senior Ashleigh Kenworthy said. “She tunes everything out. She’s amazing.”
That level of concentration was never more apparent than in the top of the seventh inning when the Redskins – benefitting from a pair of walks sandwiched around a Zoe Shubin single – loaded the bases with none out. Dockery once again struck out the next three batters, this time putting an exclamation point on the shutout win.
“I told her she has ice water in her veins, getting out of that,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “I said – I can’t take innings like that, so she needs to stop.
“She had a slow start – I think we warmed up a little bit too early with her. She just always seems to get stronger through the game. Sixth inning she threw five pitches and got them out on five pitches. It was nice to see her settle down in that last inning. I called the wrong pitch on the hit they got, so I’ll take blame for that one. She just really held her own and did her thing.”
“There’s no one like her,” Kenworthy said of Dockery. “We’re so lucky to have her. She excites everyone. She never stops going, she’s great.”
Dockery allowed four hits and struck out 13 while walking five in the complete game shutout win. Ask the sophomore – who at 6-1 is an imposing figure in the circle – the key to remaining calm in tough situations, and she has an immediate answer.
“I stick to my mechanics, I stick to what I know what to do, I don’t let the moment get too big, I don’t get too excited – I stick to what I know,” Dockery said. “It wasn’t an ideal situation, but we got out of it.”
The Rams staked Dockery to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Olivia Crognale, who had a one-out single, was replaced by courtesy runner Jadyn Gulbinski. She moved up to second on Reagan Bauman’s single. A walk to Dockery loaded the bases, and Gulbinski scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch.
“(That was) huge,” Iadonisi said of scoring first. “And not letting up. We don’t want to be happy with just one and continued scoring which is nice to see.”
Ryleigh Lilly led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field to put the Rams on top 2-0. The Redskins threatened in the top of the fourth with runners on the corners but came up empty. In the bottom of the inning, Dockery led off with a line drive double to left, and Kenworthy followed with a double that plated Dockery. Clara Barron singled, and a run crossed the plate on an errant throw. The inning’s third run scored on KyLee Hangey’s groundout to the right side, and the Rams led 5-0.
Back-to-back doubles by Dockery and Kenworthy (RBI) gave the Rams their final margin of victory.
“We work together as a team really well,” Kenworthy said. “Literally, everyone at the plate got their hits in, and we all just worked together. That’s what’s really important, and we came out calm which doesn’t always happen for us.”
Monday’s game was the second meeting between the two teams. The Rams won the first 5-4.
“We wanted to come into this making sure we weren’t thinking – we already won one,” Iadonisi said. “But we’ve been playing so consistently the last two weeks, so I wanted to make sure that we came out and played the same way – confident on defense, confident up to bat. Not overly excited, not worried about the opponent, just coming in and playing solid defense.”
Lilly had a big game out of the leadoff spot for the Rams, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, RBI and run scored. Dockery was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Kenworthy was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs.
The Redskins, who managed just four hits – all singles – stranded nine base runners.
“I thought she was very gettable today,” Quense said of Dockery. “We had a game plan going in – stay from our waist to our knees. We had runners in scoring position five out of the seven innings and just couldn’t come up with the big hit, but she’s a very good pitcher, no doubt about it.
“The top of their lineup is very tough. I think my pitcher, Ryleigh Bilbrey, battled the whole game. She fought.”
Monday’s win was the first in district play for the Rams in six years.
“It’s amazing,” Dockery said. “I love the girls, I love the team, and I’m so excited to see where this can take us.”
For the Redskins, the loss marked the end of a season that saw the team overcome their share of setbacks.
“We had (a player with) a broken thumb, my shortstop Peyton Tierney – we lost her to a torn PCL early in the year, our pitcher Ryleigh Bilbrey had a concussion in gym class, we had another concussion, and then my manager got hit in the head with a ball, and she got a concussion,” Quense said. “You name it – we did it.
“We had a lot of young kids out there playing – they’ll learn from this. It’s tough for my seniors now. It just dawned on them that the train came to a screeching halt, so it’s going to probably be an emotional bus ride home.”
Pennridge will travel to #4 Boyertown for a second round game on Wednesday while Neshaminy saw its season come to an end with an 11-10 record overall. The Redskins were 10-6 in SOL play.
Neshaminy 000 000 0 0-4-1
Pennridge 101 310 x 6-10-1
#18 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, #15 OWEN J ROBERTS 4
The Titans – in an impressive display of the young team’s resiliency – bounced back from an early 4-0 deficit to earn the come-from-behind win in Monday’s opening round of district play.
“We did what we needed to do, and I couldn’t be any happier,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “It’s a nice win – we were the lower seed on the road. I’m extremely pleased.”
The game certainly didn’t start out on a promising note when – in the bottom of the first inning – the Wildcats scored three runs on a blooper to the outfield, and they added another run in the third to go on top 4-0.
“We were in big trouble – down 4-0 after three,” Rosini said. “We didn’t have a lot of life in the dugout, there wasn’t a lot of life.
“We kept to the approach of – make the girl throw strikes. I think she only might have had 40 pitches through three innings. We just had to be patient, let her come to us. She wasn’t overpowering. We were just making quick outs. By making the at-bats a little longer, it started to expose her a little bit. We started putting the ball in play, and we got 13 hits. They went through three pitchers by the time it was all over.”
The Titans put a run on the board in the top of the fourth. Ella Wheeler led off the inning with a double to left field, moved up to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch, trimming the Wildcats lead to 4-1. They added an unearned run in the fifth when Maura Fleming, who drew a walk, scored on a wild pitch to make it a 4-2 game.
Then came the three-run sixth. Hannah Tracy led off with a single, and one out later, Nora Sidorski delivered yet again as a pinch hitter – this time ripping a ground rule double that bounced over the fence.
“I thought Nora’s pinch hit double was huge because it opened the gates a little bit – ‘hey, we can really do some damage here,’ and we did,” Rosini said.
Camryn Lee’s sacrifice fly to left was dropped, allowing Tracy to score from third while Lee was safe at first on the error. Sidorski scored from third on Fleming’s groundout to the right side, knotting the score 4-4. Riley Theis legged out an infield single that scored a run to give the Titans their first lead, 5-4.
The Titans added an insurance run in the seventh. Tracy hit a one-out single and stole second, and after Kate Muntz drew a walk, Tracy scored on Lee’s two-out single for the 6-4 final.
“Our at-bats got much better towards the second half of the game,” Rosini said. “I also have to give Maddy (Borowski) a lot of credit. She struggled the first few innings with walks. They had a bloop single that scored three runs on one play. We could have easily tanked it – 4-0 on the road, long trip. We could have said, ‘Okay, that’s enough.’
“Maddy was a bulldog out there today, and she just took over. She didn’t strike out a ton like she normally does, but she got quicker outs because she focused on strike one, and I think that helped her a lot. She’s our number one, and we ride with her. She kept them in check the rest of the way, gave our offense a chance, and that’s all you can really ask for – we got a chance, and we took advantage of it. We ran the bases really well – we were aggressive.”
Borowski allowed just two hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out five and walking seven.
Central Bucks South (12-9, 8-8 SOL) will travel to #2 Quakertown on Wednesday.
Central Bucks South 000 113 1 6-13-3
Owen J Roberts 301 000 0 4-2-3
#19 CONESTOGA 6, #14 WILLIAM TENNENT 5
The ending was a heartbreaking one for the Panthers.
Trailing 6-0, they scored three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, but that’s where the rally ended.
The seventh inning began with Giselle McLaughlin reaching first on an error, and Morgan Kocher followed with a double to center. Both runners scored when Gigi DeMito singled, and it was a 6-5 game with none out in the seventh. But the Pioneers turned a line drive to center field into a rally-killing double play with the tying run gunned down at home plate.
Earlier in the game, in the three-run sixth, DeMito led off with a single, and Victoria Colagreco drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and DeMito scored on Anna Coulter’s sac fly to left. Lainey Scotese followed and lined a two-run home run to center field, making it a 6-3 game.
Conestoga – which took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first – exploded for five runs in the fourth inning as the Pioneers bunched six of their 11 hits in the inning.
For the Panthers, Kocher was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. DeMito was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, and Casey Yacovelli was 2-for-3.
William Tennent closed out its season with a 13-7 record overall. They were 13-3 in league play and captured the SOL Freedom Division title.
Conestoga 100 500 0 6-11-2
William Tennent 000 003 2 5-9-3
Class 5A opening round
#7 HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, #10 UPPER MORELAND 2
It wasn’t easy, but the Hatters – behind the strong arm of pitcher Alyssa Tooley – held off a determined Golden Bear squad for the hard-fought win in Monday’s district opener.
“It was a great playoff game on both sides, it really was,” HH coach Jen Tooley said. “Nobody was giving up.”
“Today’s playoff game was the way a playoff game should be played,” UM coach Melanie Martino said. “It was a battle ending in a 3-2 loss unfortunately for us. Alyssa Tooley limited us to only two runs today.”
Tooley allowed just three hits while striking out 17 – a season high – and walking three in the complete game win.
“She faced 27 batters,” coach Tooley said. “She pounded the zone, kept them off balance, using all her pitches.”
Amya Lundy broke a scoreless tie when she smacked a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning.
“That definitely was a game changer,” Tooley said. “Giving us confidence with our bats and allowing our pitcher to throw with even more confidence.”
That 1-0 lead stood until the bottom of the sixth. Again, Lundy was in the middle of the action and led off the inning with a line drive double to left field. Tess Kearney followed with an infield single, and the Hatters had a pair on board.
“I have to give credit – Amya Lundy did a great job of base running,” Tooley said. “She made the shortstop second guess on making the throw to first, which allowed Tess to get in safe. It was heads up base running by Amya Lundy.”
Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, setting the stage for a huge single by Adriana DeLeon that plated a pair and gave the Hatters a 3-0 lead.
“That was absolutely clutch for our freshman first baseman to extend the lead for us,” Tooley said.
The Hatters needed every one of those runs as the Golden Bears battled back in the top of the seventh.
Natalie Walton drew a leadoff walk and scored when Joslyn McCellan lined a double to left. A bunt single turned into a huge out when the base runner was picked off turning into the base path. Ryan Ricchini followed with an RBI single, but Tooley came up with a huge strikeout for the game’s final out.
“We like to keep everyone in the game,” Tooley said of the late-game drama. “They battled to the end, and that’s what makes it a playoff game.”
For the Hatters, Abby Waeltz (2-for-3, 2B), Lundy (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 1 RBI,2R) and DeLeon (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs) led the team’s 10-hit attack.
Ricchini’s 2-for-3 effort led the Golden Bears. McCellan had a double and two RBIs.
“Our defense once again without question kept us in the game,” Martino said. “I could not be more proud of our team,”
“Joslyn McCellan came up big for us with a double with two RBIs. Jos will definitely be a player to watch for us next year along with other returning varsity starter Kaylee Brown and pitchers Eowyn Stainback and Kelly Bates. Our seniors are a special group and none of them will easily be replaced – Ryan Ricchini, Zoe Longstreth, Natalie Walton, Alyssa Wiley, Haleigh Woodman, Liz Santry, and Devyn Kniese.”
Hatboro-Horsham (13-8, 11-5 SOL) will travel to #2 Gwynedd Mercy for Wednesday’s second round game. Upper Moreland closed out its season with a 12-9 record. The Bears were 9-7 in the SOL.
Upper Moreland 000 000 2 2-3-1
Hatboro-Horsham 000 102 x 3-10-2
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