North Penn and Upper Dublin were winners in Monday’s opening round of the PIAA Tournament. Check out the recaps of all of Monday’s games. NP/Governor Mifflin photos provided courtesy of Kadi Schenk of KM Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f63743818
PIAA Class 6A Opening Round
#1-1 NORTH PENN 3, #3-4 GOVERNOR MIFFLIN 1
Aggressive baserunning has been a trademark of the Knights under coach Rick Torresani.
It was that aggression on the base paths that netted the Knights a pair of first inning runs that proved to be the difference in the game. Sarah
Sabocsik drew a one-out walk and stole second. She moved up to third when Annabelle Smink followed with a ground single to left field and took second on the play.
With a pair of runners in scoring position, Brie Wilmot hit a slow roller off the handle to third. Sabocsik took off for home on the throw to first for the out, and Smink slid home in a cloud of dust when the throw to the plate got by the catcher. Just like that, the Knights led 2-0.
“That’s what we’ve been doing all season,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “Yes, we’ve had games where obviously we’ve won by 10 runs or whatever it is, but during those 10 runs, we were aggressive all the time, and that hasn’t stopped. We’ll continue to be aggressive, we’ll continue to run.”
Those runs loomed large in the top of the fifth when Governor Mifflin leadoff hitter Kayla Williams smashed the first pitch she saw over the left field fence, breaking a string of 15 straight batters retired by pitcher Julia Shearer.
“I think I took a pitch off for that at-bat,” Shearer said. “I wasn’t expecting her
to come out first pitch swinging, but it was her third at-bat. She knew what was coming, she made good contact, and it went really far.
“It hurts a little bit, but I knew my team would pick me up, so I really locked back down. I wasn’t going to give up another hit. My team had my back, they had support behind me. I shook it off, pretended it never happened and I just kept going about the game.”
The Knights’ ace fanned the next six batters to close out the game. All told, she had 18 strikeouts in another brilliant outing. The Williams’ home run was the Mustangs lone hit. Their only other baserunner came when Williams was hit by a pitch to lead off the first inning, breaking Shearer’s string of 41 batters retired in a row that included a perfect game in the District 1 6A final, a 5-0 win over Haverford.
“That got the perfect game mentality out of the way,” Shearer said. “I didn’t really want too many expectations, too much pressure on me.”
The Knights added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and nobody on base, pinch hitter Jaclyn Diaz drew a walk, setting the stage for a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Casey Sokol, who lined the first pitch she saw in the right center field gap. Diaz never stopped running and scored the Knights’ third run.
“When I think of first pitch strike, I think – go for it,” Sokol said. “When it’s a hit-and-run, as long as I hit it hard – I was going for a gapper and that’s what I accomplished.”
Torresani was not surprised to see Sokol deliver.
“I figured – let’s try and do something, and that’s what we did,” the Knights’ coach said. “The hit-and-run worked perfect with Casey, and it proved to be an extra run that we obviously needed.
“When it comes down to it – when your eighth hitter can come through and your ninth hitter, that’s huge. Casey’s been doing it all year. That’s why she’s first team all-league, and she’s hitting over .400.”
Listening to Sokol tell it, the Knights are enjoying the challenges the postseason has presented.
“We won 1-0 in one of our first games of the season against Boyertown, and, of course, it was a walk-off by Reyna (Doherty) because she’s amazing like that,” Sokol said. “It definitely adds more fun to the game because you’re not run-ruling – it’s playoffs. I have full confidence in Julia that she’s going to come through like she always does.”
The Knights managed just five hits off Governor Mifflin’s Carly Angstadt – two of those came in the first inning.
“This pitcher generally had a more upward spin than we usually have seen,” Sokol said. “We haven’t seen that type of spin in a long time, especially throwing that upwards motion.
“So my approach was – if it’s close, I’m going to swing because I know 0-2 she’s going to throw that rise and I’m going to fall for it. When it’s 0-2, we put pressure on ourselves to swing because we don’t want to strike out.”
Torresani said he was not concerned about his team’s limited offensive production in Monday’s win.
“We’ll be all right, we’ll start hitting again,” the Knights’ coach said. “We’ve got to start focusing on the pitches we’re swinging at. We’re swinging at pitches that we normally don’t swing at. We’ll refocus. The first game at states is always a little jittery. Julia (Shearer) came out and pitched another great game. We’ll refocus and get ready for Thursday.”
“We’re definitely going to be hitting at practice the next few days, working on at-bats,” Shearer said. “Really, I think our team chemistry is what gets us so far, working together every game and every practice.”
North Penn (24-0, 16-0 SOL) will face #2-1 Hazleton in a PIAA 6A quarterfinal game on Thursday at a site and time to be determined. Hazleton edged PW 5-4 in a state opener.
Governor Mifflin 000 001 0 1-1-1
North Penn 200 001 x 3-5-0
#2-1 HAZLETON 5, #1-4 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 4
Endings are never easy, and this one was a heartbreaker.
The Colonials took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning when the Cougars – benefitting from a PW miscue – plated a pair of runs to go on top 5-4.
In the top of the seventh, Caelin Kosvitch grounded a one-out single to left, but she was erased on a game-ending double play.
“We fought hard today. Hazleton played great defense and really hit the ball well,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “They’re a solid team and very well coached. We just needed a key hit here or there that we weren’t able to manage today. But this season will be remembered for the amazing moments rather than the heartbreaking loss.
“I’m so proud of all of the girls in our program. I told them at the beginning of the season, that we needed to focus on team goals over individual stats. This led to a very successful season – possibly the program’s first state appearance – and nine girls making all-league.”
The Cougars used three consecutive singles to score a run in the bottom of the first, but Sam Skivo got that run back with one swing of the bat, lining a solo home run to left with one out in the top of the second.
The Cougars took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, and that lead stood until the top of the fifth when the Colonials capitalized on a pair of walks. A bunt by Kosvitch plated a run, and Molly Moore lined an RBI single to center to put the Colonials on top 3-2.
Hazleton knotted the score in the bottom of the inning, but the Colonials went on top 4-3 in the top of the sixth. Kalina Childers lined a double to center to open the inning, and she scored on Skivo’s line single to right field, but that one-run lead wasn’t quite enough on this day.
“It was truly an amazing season,” Perez said. “Not only to get over the hump with our first district win but to rattle off three district wins and qualify for states – it was a wonderful experience for all the girls.”
Perez bids farewell to a pair of special seniors.
“Molly Moore has been our ace the last three seasons and we’ll miss her greatly next season,” the PW coach said. “She’s shown our young pitchers what it takes to be effective at this level. She’s been a tremendous leader and wonderful teammate.
“Grace Carney is the consummate team player. She has been a captain the past two years and was a major contributor on the field, in the dugout, and all team functions. Her amazing spirit will be so missed.”
Skivo (2-for-3, HR, 2RBIs, 1R) and Marissa Perez (2-for-3, 1R) led the Colonials’ seven-hit attack.
Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its season with a 17-9 record, 12-4 in the SOL.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 010 021 0 4-7-1
Hazleton 110 012 x 5-11-0
#11-1 NAZARETH 12, #1-5 PENNRIDGE 3
The Rams trailed by just one run heading into the bottom of the sixth (4-3), and it looked like it was anyone’s ball game. Until, that is, the Blue Eagles erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the inning to effectively put the game out of reach.
“We couldn’t be prouder of the girls for the way they played this season,” coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “They did exactly what a team is supposed to do. They learned and progressed as the season moved along.
“Today definitely wasn’t one of our usual games, but it still doesn’t change what the girls accomplished to get to this point. At some point when the initial sting of the loss wears off, I know they will look back on this season and also be proud of themselves.”
Pennridge got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the fourth when Grace Helbling, who doubled to center to lead off the inning, scored on a groundout by Ashleigh Kenworthy.
Nazareth evened the score in the bottom of the inning, and the Blue Eagles scored three runs in the fifth. The Rams got two of those back when Reagan Bauman lined a two-run home run to center field in the top of the sixth, trimming Nazareth’s lead to 4-3. Then came the bottom of the sixth inning and a six-run explosion by Nazareth.
The Rams managed just three hits. Bauman was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
Pennridge closed out its season with a 17-9 record, 10-6 SOL.
Pennridge 000 102 0 3-3-1
Nazareth 000 138 x 12-9-0
District 1 5A Opening Round
#1-2 UPPER DUBLIN 13, #12-1 CARDINAL O’HARA 1
A season of firsts continued for the Cardinals, who won their first ever state playoff game while playing in their program’s first state game.
“Honestly, it’s just really cool to see everything that we worked for come together,” UD senior captain Kaelin Penna said. “It’s also really great because we have such a young team, so there’s a lot of promise for the future as well.
“I think we’re all really grateful for this opportunity because we didn’t expect this at all, and we’re just doing everything we can to keep playing because we love it so much.”
UD coach Heather Boyer put the season – which isn’t over yet – into perspective.
“It dawned on my yesterday as I was driving home from practice and I’m coming on a birthday – I realized I’ve been playing this game since I was five,” Boyer said. “So, every year I have either been an athlete or a coach in the sport for the past 44 years.
“I’m grateful to have played on two teams at Spring-Ford that were conference champions and also at Ursinus, which did the same, but never ever have I gotten this far in the postseason in 44 years. Not as a high school athlete, not as a college athlete and not as a coach.
“When you look at the numbers and do the math – I knew this was exciting and a big deal, but it didn’t really strike me until I was driving home from practice on Sunday morning. I was like, ‘Wow, it took me 44 years to get here,’ and when you look at the bigger picture and you see how many teams are in the state and who has the opportunity to move on – you’re part of the Sweet 16 to begin, and the field gets smaller as you progress. That’s pretty special, and I didn’t want that to be lost on them today.
“At the end of the day, it’s just softball, so go out there, trust your training, trust your talent, trust your experience and play your best. However the chips fall, they fall, but don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Enjoy the moment, enjoy the opportunity, enjoy the experience and really savor it because it’s not a given. Today is the only guaranteed game you have. Maybe you can go on and play Thursday, but maybe you don’t, so take advantage of the opportunity you’re given and made the most of it.”
The Cardinals will play again Thursday after rolling to a win in a contest that was halted after six innings when the mercy rule went into effect.
Kaitlyn Small led off the second inning with a triple to left field. She scored on Maddie Small’s RBI single to center field. Kaitlyn Zacharia reached base safely on an infield miscue, and Lizzie Tambourino added an RBI single later in the inning, followed by a hit by Rayla Kratchman to load the bases. Penna – who graduates on June 14 – hit a bases-clearing double to left field and reached third on a misplayed cutoff throw. She scored on an RBI groundout by Bella Fiore to put UD up 6-0.
Kyla Garrison retired the first nine batters she faced (7 Ks), but Avery Groh reached base in the bottom of the fourth inning on an infield error and would later score on Hayden Sissons RBI single to center field. Kaitlyn Zacharia then turned an infield double play to end the inning.
UD answered with two more runs in the top of the fifth. Maddie Small led off the inning with a walk, and both she and Zacharia were safe on a fielder’s choice. Rayla Kratchman came up with two outs and hit a double to left field to plate both Zacharia and Tamborino to make the score 8-1.
O’Hara had a one-out baserunner (walk) in the bottom of the inning, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat. Upper Dublin opened the top of the sixth inning with a hit by Garrison. Courtesy runner Meredith McKenna reached third on a throwing error. Madden Reilly walked (courtesy runner Emeline Bell), and Bella Fiore followed with a two-run single to plate McKenna and Bell (Fiore advanced to second on the throw). Kaitlyn Small followed with an RBI single to plate Fiore. Maddie Small followed with her second hit of the day, and that was followed by an RBI groundout by Eleanor Blough (pinch hitter) and an RBI single by Katelyn Gamburg (pinch hitter) to round out the scoring.
Garrison closed out the bottom half of the frame with a strikeout, groundout, and strikeout to O’Hara’s last three hitters. The freshman pitcher allowed one hit and one run (unearned) while striking out 11 and walking one.
“It’s been fun watching these kids grow and experience this situation and come together as a team,” Boyer said. “Every single player on our roster in some way contributed today.
“Whether it was a pinch-hit RBI, defensive plays, offensive plays, pitching or catching – everybody did something today that positively impacted the outcome, and that’s what’s important, that’s how you get to this point. I think the fact that they’re embracing roles and trying to fill those roles to the best of their ability is very telling.”
The Cardinals received contributions up and down the lineup. Penna had a three -run double in the second inning and scored a run. Garrison was 2-for-3 while Fiore was 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Maddie Small was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lizzie Tambourino was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Rayla Kratchman was 2-for-3 with a two-run double and a run scored. Hayden Sissons was 1-for-2 with an RBI single.
“This is a sport we play because we enjoy it, we love it,” Boyer said. “If it’s a stressful experience, you’re not going to want to keep coming back to it, and you’re going to be tight when you’re in there, and you’re not going to be able to perform your best.
“As coaches, its starts with us to try and set the tone. Let them feel relaxed, let them feel comfortable, let them have fun and be a kid. Are they going to make mistakes? Yes. Am I asking for the perfect game? No. As long as you can find a way to recover and be resilient.
“At the end of the day, if you can look yourself in the mirror, and say, ‘I did the best I could,’ and somebody else beats you, that’s all I can ask, but you want to play the game with no regrets, but also enjoy it because that’s why you’re here in the first place.”
For the seniors, it has not only extended their season but also their good-byes.
“Softball has helped a lot,” Penna said. “Because I think it’s hard for us seniors, especially to say good-bye to everything. Having softball and being with the team more, it’s just been great.”
Upper Dublin (17-7, 12-4 SOL) will face Northern York in Thursday’s quarterfinal round at a time and location to be determined. Northern York defeated Hatboro-Horsham 13-0. This is not a spot any of the players could have imagined finding themselves.
“Off of last year, maybe hope for a winning record,” Penna said. “This just wasn’t in our minds.”
Upper Dublin 060 025 13-11-1
Cardinal O’Hara 000 100 1-1-5
#3-1 NORTHERN YORK 13, #1-3 HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 (5 innings)
The Hatters managed just one hit against the District 3 champions, and that was a single by Tess Kerney. Their lone hit came to lead off the second inning. Kearney never advanced beyond first base.
Sammy Magee retired the next 12 batters she faced to close it out. She fanned 10 and did not walk a batter in the abbreviated contest.
Hatboro-Horsham closed out its season with a 15-10 record, 11-5 in the SOL.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 00 0-1-5
Northern York 814 0x 13-8-0
About the Author
