All four SOL teams competing in Monday’s PIAA 6A Tournament opener were winners.
#1-2 NESHAMINY 7, #3-2 CHAMBERSBURG 1
The dust had not settled on Neshaminy’s loss to Spring-Ford in last Thursday’s District One 6A title game when coach Tim Quense was talking about the need to ‘cowgirl up.’
While that’s hardly your typical softball lingo, it certainly seems to work for the Redskins, who bounced back from that loss to earn a no-doubt-about-it win over Chambersburg in Monday’s state opener.
“We went back to practice and analyzed that game,” senior Kiley Siwek said. “We just knew that we weren’t really ourselves that game, and we had to tell each other that if we play our game and keep doing what we know how to do and keep our energy up – because I feel like that’s what we lacked the last game – we can beat anyone.
“We just had to keep a positive mindset to not let that one loss affect our overall goal. We know that there’s going to be some losses, and (Spring-Ford) is a good team. We had to understand that they were just a good team, but so are we, and we can get back on the horse and cowgirl up.”
Quense had an idea it might be a good day before his team arrived at Spring-Ford High School for Monday’s game.
“They pride themselves on bringing energy,” the Redskins’ first-year coach said. “They had an intensity when they got on the bus, and they kept it through the game.
“Our defense was great today.”
After Kennedie Ruth retired the Trojans in order in the top of the first, the Redskins went to work. Kylee Jones legged out an infield single, and with two outs, Mia Barone drew a walk, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. That set the stage for Dani Monaco’s two-run single up the middle that spotted the Redskins a 2-0 lead.
“That was definitely our biggest goal – to get ahead,” Siwek said. “I feel like once we’re ahead, that relieves all the stress off the pitchers, and they know they have the offense behind them.
“Since we did lose, we wanted to show that was not us, what we truly were and that we score runs and we’re able to jump on teams like that.”
The Redskins struck again in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Amanda Slabicki led off the inning with a double off the center field fence. Sophomore RyLeigh Bilbrey followed with a sacrifice bunt, and an error allowed Slabicki to score. Sophomore Lindsey Gorka’s hard ground ball to the left side plated a second run and put the Redskins on top 4-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, junior Carena Barr led off the inning with a single to the left side, and Siwek followed with a single to left. Jones stepped to the plate and blasted a ball over the center field fence for a three-run home run and the 7-0 final.
“We were 4-1 in the sixth inning, and we said, ‘That’s not enough, we need more,’” Siwek said. “We got base runners on, and Kylee Jones came up and she hit a bomb over the fence and that got us through the last innings.”
In the top of the fifth inning, the Redskins – with a Trojan runner on first – delivered a highlight reel defensive play, turning a nifty second-to-short-to-first double play.
“We called a curve off the plate, and the girl hit a hard ground ball to Kylie Siwek, who then fielded it and turned to Kylee Jones, who dragged her foot across the bag and fired to first,” Quense said. “It was a little low and Michelle Baradiegj, our first baseman, made a great stretch and scooped the ball out of the dirt for a double play.
“That was a big turning point in the game because it was still only 2-0 at that point. They were trying to build some momentum there, and that double play knocked the wind out of their sails.”
Jones, Monaco and Slabicki each had multiple hits. Siwek, Gorka, Bilbrey, Barr and Ruth had one hit each. Jones and Monaco each had multiple RBIs while Gorka had one.
Ruth earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out 11.
Neshaminy (19-6, 12-4 SOL) will take on District 7 runner-up Cannon McMillan in Thursday’s PIAA 6A quarterfinal round at Big Spring High School at 3:30 p.m.
“We definitely need to know something about them and figure them out, but at the same time, we can’t worry too much about who we’re playing because no matter who we’re playing, our game shouldn’t change,” Siwek said. “We should stick to what we know – we have to bring our energy, bring our positive mindset and just play our game and get runs on the board.”
Chambersburg 000 010 0 1
Neshaminy 200 203 x 7
#1-4 QUAKERTOWN 12, ST. HUBERT’S 0 (5 innings)
The Panthers scored early and often on their way to the mercy run win in Monday’s abbreviated contest that was a historic win for the program.
“I’m 98 percent sure it’s the first state playoff win in school history in softball,” coach Dave Scott said. “In and of itself regardless who we played, it’s a great accomplishment for the girls and a great accomplishment for the program.”
Syd Andrews was in complete command in the circle, allowing just one hit in five shutout innings and recording 11 of 15 outs by strikeouts. She also had herself quite a day at the plate with a 4-or-4 effort that included a double, four RBIs and a run scored.
“She certainly ran the show for us today,” Scott said.
In a preview of things to come, the Panthers put four runs on the board in the top of the first. Ava Beal drew a leadoff walk, and Emma Hilton was hit by a pitch. Skyler Williams followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Andrews drove in a run with a single, and then LauraRose Morelock and Katie Muller each collected an RBI with bases-loaded walks. Grace Baker capped the four-run inning with an RBI single.
The six-run third included singles by Muller, Cadence Lewis (RBI) and Andrews (2 RBIs) as well as a sacrifice fly by Hilton and a two-run double by Beal.
Baker ripped a solo home run to center in the fourth, and in the fifth, Andrews hit a double that plated Hilton, who had singled.
In addition to Andrews’ four-hit effort, Baker was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
“We were very much in attack mode offensively,” Scott said. “Eleven hits in five innings is pretty impressive. I think the girls just took a very nice approach to this pitcher, got aggressive, and it showed. We were rewarded.”
Quakertown (20-5, 13-2 SOL) will face Pennsbury in Thursday’s quarterfinal round at Spring-Ford High School at noon. The two teams met in the District One 6A quarterfinals with the Panthers upsetting the top-seeded Falcons 5-2.
“Nothing against Pennsbury whatsoever, but it is kind of fun for the girls playing schools you’ve never seen or don’t see at all,” Scott said. “It’s weird that we’ll be playing Pennsbury again. We’re ready, and we’re excited to play them.
“I think they owe us a little something in their mind, and we want to keep playing. I think it should be a good battle.”
Quakertown 406 11 12-11-0
St. Hubert’s 000 00 0-1-0
#1-5 NORTH PENN 7, #11-1 NORTHAMPTON 0
There’s a sense of urgency for every team when the state tournament rolls around, but there’s a heightened sense of urgency for a North Penn squad that was upset by Haverford in the quarterfinals of the District One 6A Tournament and entered the state tournament as the fifth seed.
“We know not to take anything for granted – one of these days could be our last games, and we’re playing with the mentality that we’ve got to leave everything out on the field, and that’s been key for us,” sophomore Julia Shearer said.
Since North Penn’s district loss to Haverford, Mady Volpe has been brilliant, tossing three consecutive shutouts. In Monday’s state opener at Pates Park, the KonKrete Kids didn’t come close to breaking that streak, managing just two hits off the Knights’ senior ace, who fanned seven and walked two.
North Penn scored the only run Volpe would need in the second when senior Carley DiGiuseppe, who collected a two-out single, scored when Sophia Collins roped a double to center field.
Shearer led off the third inning with a double to center, and Sarah Sabocsik followed and drew a walk. Both runners advanced on Annabella Smink’s sacrifice bunt. Shearer scored on a wild pitch to put the Knights on top 2-0.
The Knights blew the game wide open in the fourth. DiGiuseppe singled to left to lead off the inning, and then Shearer singled. With two outs, Smink was hit by a pitch, pushing a run across and setting the stage for a two-run double to center by cleanup hitter Gianna Cimino.
“We moved her up in the lineup,” Torresani said. “She’s been making contact all year and batting almost .500, if not .500, and she’s been clutch. She very rarely hits a fly ball, she usually hits hard ground balls, and with girls on base, she’s been able to drive them in like she did tonight.”
The Knights’ coach compared Cimino to James Madison University’s Lynsey Meeks, a fiery spark plug for her squad that made history at the College World Seriees.
“Pretty much anyone gets on base, I want to get that hit for my team and so does everybody else,” Cimino said. “We went into that (Haverford) game a little flat, but we picked ourselves up, and we’re playing harder and harder every game and really showing it each game.”
Bri Wilmot followed and crushed a single to right that plated a pair of runs and gave the Knights their final margin of victory.
“Hitting is really contagious, especially when you get back-to-back hits,” Volpe said. “Hitting the ball hard – we’ve done that all game and all season, so when that happened, it was like, ‘We got this,’ that kind of turning point moment.”
More important than that, according to Volpe, was a play in the top of the first that undoubtedly was forgotten by most. Rilee Ehrlacher led off the inning with a single to left but was thrown out trying to steal by sophomore catcher Sarah Sabocsik.
“That was a great play,” Torresani said. “If they had gotten a run there and scored first, that was huge by Sarah. She’s been doing that all year. Sarah’s caught every pitch for Mady and done a great job.”
The KonKrete kids did not collect their next hit until there was one out in the seventh. By that time, the Knights led 7-0 and were on cruise control.
All told, the Knights pounded out 10 hits. Shearer, the Knights’ speedy leadoff batter, finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Cimino was 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs and one run scored. DiGiuseppe was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Collins was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and run scored.
North Penn (22-2, 15-1 SOL) will face Penn Manor, District 3’s third place team, in Thursday’s quarterfinal contest at Boyertown High School at 2 p.m. Penn Manor upset an undefeated Bethel Park squad 4-1. The District 7 champions entered Monday’s game with a perfect 18-0 record.
And what will be key for the Knights moving forward?
“Just staying within ourselves and playing our game – I know as a freshman and sophomore I’ve been in those pressure situations before, and I really thrive off of that, and I think as a team we do as well,” Volpe said.
North Penn 011 500 0 7-10-0
Northampton 000 000 0 0-2-0
#1-6 PENNSBURY 6, #3-1 WARWICK 1
The Falcons unveiled an impressive small ball game in Monday’s state opener, effectively using the bunt as a weapon. They also stole eight bases.
“Their pitcher was really good,” said coach Frank McSherry of Shippensburg bound Katelyn Minney. “She kept us off a little bit. She pitched us tough – she hit her spots. The kid is an athlete. She had her 100th hit today too, and that’s in three years.”
The Falcons took a lead they would not lose with a run in the first. Caitlyn Martell doubled and stole third, scoring on a bunt by Jess Rowe.
In the fifth inning, the Falcons exploded for five runs, once again effectively using the bunt as a weapon.
Riley Mahony drew a one-out walk. Taylor Askey singled, Martell delivered an RBI single, Sammy Raub had a fielder’s choice RBI, and then it was Rowan Mulholland collecting an RBI single. Jess Rowe also had a fielder’s choice RBI in the inning. Quinn McGonigle’s RBI single closed out the scoring in the inning.
“It was definitely a small ball inning,” McSherry said.
Ainsley McClure notched the complete game shutout win, allowing seven hits and one run (unearned) while striking out eight.
Askey’s perfect 3-for-3 effort at the plate led the Falcons. Martell was 2-for-4. Rowe had a pair of RBIs.
Pennsbury will have a rematch of its District One 6A quarterfinal game against Quakertown in Thursday’s quarterfinal round at Spring-Ford High school at 12 noon. The Panthers won the initial meeting 5-2.
“They played us tough the last time,” McSherry said. “Any time teams beat you – you want another shot at them. They’re formidable. They did a good job. They beat us. We’ll be ready. We’re looking forward to it.”
Pennsbury 100 050 0 6-8-1
Warwick 000 001 0 1-7-0
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