North Penn & Pennsbury both saw their seasons end in Monday’s PIAA 6A semifinal action. (Photos provided courtesy of Marlee Doherty/NP Softball)
North Penn and Pennsbury appeared to be on a collision course with a date in the PIAA 6A state title game all but inevitable for the SOL rivals. Apparently, nobody told Spring-Ford and Seneca Valley because both SOL teams were sent home for the season in Monday’s state semifinals.
#1-4 SPRING-FORD 2, #1-1 NORTH PENN 0
This one hurt. A whole lot.
Sophia Collins fought back tears as she fielded questions after Monday’s contest that saw the Knights’ dream season come to an end one game too soon.
“It’s really tough – I love this team so much,” the senior co-captain said, her voice breaking as the tears flowed. “It really sucks that we couldn’t go to State College again. One game away from it – it
really sucks, but we did really good this season, and I’m really proud of this team.
“We have such a great chemistry with everyone. It’s going to be hard not coming back next year.”
It’s safe to say the ending was unexpected for the state’s top-ranked team that looked all but unbeatable during the postseason, but on Monday night at Boyertown High School against a Rams team that played flawlessly, the Knights made one mistake – it led to two unearned runs. At the plate, they had eight hits and nine base runners, but their usually dangerous lineup could not deliver the clutch hit.
“Actually, we hit the ball,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “We just didn’t get the timely hit.”
Julia Shearer turned in another stellar outing, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out eight and walking one.
“She pitched outstanding,” Torresani said. “What else can she do? I don’t know that anybody could expect more from her.
“It was a great game. One mistake hurt us, and they capitalized on it. When you get two good pitchers going at it, it’s going to be that one mistake. We just couldn’t get over that one mistake.”
The Knights battled gamely until the final out, and a line drive single to center by Bella Nunn out of the eight hole flipped the lineup and brought Shearer to the plate with two outs. The junior standout – who already had two hits to her credit – appeared to pick up her third as she hit a sinking line drive to left that was snared by a diving Allie Wescott for the game’s final out.
“Any other left fielder, any other team, that would have dropped, and something crazy would happen,” Shearer said. “It’s just unfortunate – she made a great grab.”
The highlight reel catch by Wescott brought a 25-win season to an end for the Knights, who defeated the Rams 5-2 in the district semifinals in a contest that saw Spring-Ford commit four errors that resulted in four unearned runs. Also, Rams’ ace Jules Scogna suffered an injury.
“Jules got hurt, and then she was banged up for the last few games,” Rams’ coach Tim Hughes said. “I’d pitch her three innings, then I’d bring in the freshman. It was a good today. Maybe the heat or humidity helped. She’s just trying to hit spots. Strikeout the kids we can, and we got to get the ball on the ground and let us field the ball. It worked out.”
Wescott’s catch at the end was not the only defensive gem for the Rams, who twice turned second-to-short-to first double plays after the Knights put their leadoff batter on in the second and sixth innings.
“Oh my god, (Wescott) made a wonderful play, but again, we’re where we’re at and they’re where they’re at because of plays like that,” Hughes said. “Spinning a couple of double plays, big catches. They made some too, and that’s what you get when you’re in the state semifinals.”
There were early signs that this might not be North Penn’s night. In the top of the first, Sarah Sabocsik ripped a one-out double to the fence in left field and Annabelle Smink followed with an infield single. The Knights had runners on second and third with one out after Smink moved up the second
(defensive indifference). A promising start was wasted when Scogna struck out the Knights’ four and five hitters.
“(That) kind of gave them the momentum that we needed – not being able to produce with runners in scoring position with less than two outs, that definitely hurt us,” Shearer said.
With one out in the top of the third, Shearer and Sabocsik collected back-to-back one-out singles, but that’s where that potential rally ended.
Spring-Ford got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Ellie Jarrel reached first on an error to lead off the inning, and Caitlin Ashley lined a single to left. Jarrel raced all the way home when the Knights – after the throw to the plate – threw to second base in an attempt to nail Ashley. Ashley scored on a groundout, and the Rams led 2-0.
The Knights went down in order just once, but Scogna and the Rams’ defense always came up big when it mattered most.
Scogna allowed eight hits in the complete game shutout, striking out four and walking one.
“We knew Jules (Scogna) is an amazing pitcher,” Shearer said. “We knew we would have to swing at our pitches and have good at-bats, and I feel like we did that. We just couldn’t seem to find a hole or catch a break.
“Their defense showed up today. They were amazing. We were hitting the balls – they were just making the plays like the double plays, the last out. I think they wanted it just as bad as we did. Their strong defense really gave them momentum and kind of set the tone for the way our bats were going.”
The Knights bid farewell to seniors Collins, Maddy Gronback and Micki Secoda.
“They lost two games and won a district title and a conference title,” Torresani said. “They lost 2-0 on two unearned runs. What can I say? It’s very disappointing for the seniors.
“The seniors played so hard this year, gave everything they had. They were real excited about going to the finals, but we just didn’t do it. For them, giving the four years they gave – I’m just so proud of them.”
Meanwhile, if Shearer – the 2021-22 Gatorade PA Softball Player of the Year – needed any added motivation heading into her senior high school season, she undoubtedly got it. The junior standout will not soon forget what it felt like to see Wescott’s diving catch in left field and the reality began to sink in that a stellar season was over.
“We’re on a mission next year,” Shearer said. “I know everyone coming back is going to be fired up, and this is not going to happen next year – I can tell you that now. We’re making a run next year, and it starts in the fall when we start our preseason, throughout the winter into next year.”
Extra innings: The Knights one, two and three hitters – Shearer (2-for-4), Sabocsik (2-for-3, 2B) and Smink (2-for-3) – accounted for six of the Knights’ eight hits. The rest of North Penn’s lineup was a combined 2-for-17…Smink delivered the Knights’ defensive play of the game at third base, making a backhanded grab of a sharply hit ground ball down the line and throwing a strike to first while on her knees to easily retire the baserunner. “That’s a kid right there that I feel so bad for,” Torresani said, nodding in the direction of Smink. “She gives everything she has all the time and doesn’t get the recognition. She’s such a huge player.”…North Penn (25-2, 15-1 SOL) closed out its successful season with the SOL Continental Conference and the District One 6A titles.
North Penn 000 000 0 0-8-1
Spring-Ford 000 200 x 2-3-0
#7-1 SENECA VALLEY 9, #1-2 PENNSBURY 0
Frank McSherry called it Murphy’s Law.
By any name, Pennsbury’s performance in Monday’s PIAA 6A semifinal was hardly your typical performance. The Falcons’ usually reliable defense was charged with four errors, and their dangerous lineup managed just one hit off freshman hurler Lexie Hames.
“(Hames) did a great job,” McSherry said. “It was one of those Murphy Law days where anything that could go wrong went wrong for us, but they certainly came to play. She pitched a great game – she looked like a better pitcher than she did the other day (in a 1-0 win over Quakertown). They came out swinging the bats. They were a good team.”
The Screaming Eagles broke the game wide open with a five-run third inning that began with a double by Lina Chardella and was followed by an error. The big blow of the inning was a two-out, three-run home run by Bella Gross.
“Ainsley (McClure) gave up five runs, and they were all unearned,” McSherry said.
The Screaming Eagles – who added four more runs in the fourth inning – brought a less-than-dazzling 17-6 record into Monday’s semifinal contest, but they were winners of 11 straight after a 6-6 start. While Hames – who allowed one hit while striking out 11 and walking two – shared time in the circle with a senior pitcher during the regular season, she has carried the load in the postseason, and she’s been a difference maker for the team in the circle. She’s also hitting over .400 at the plate.
The Falcons only hit came in the top of the third when Laney Freiband hit a one-out double to right field. Hames struck out the next batter she faced and closed out the inning with a groundout.
McSherry bids farewell to a strong senior class that includes players who have been varsity contributors since they stepped onto the diamond as freshman.
“We told them – they don’t have anything to be ashamed of, for sure,” the Falcons’ coach said. “The seniors had a great career, and the team had a great season. Someone has to win that last game, and someone has to lose. It wasn’t the last game, but it just wasn’t our day.”
Pennsbury closed out its season with a 24-3 record overall, 16-0 SOL. Seneca Valley will face Spring-Ford in Friday’s title game at Penn state.
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Pennsbury 000 000 0 0-1-4
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