Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action in Friday’s season openers.
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 13, NESHAMINY 12
The Patriots opened up an 10-4 lead after five innings and then withstood a Neshaminy rally to eke out the one-run win.
In the top of the sixth, Neshaminy’s Ellie Miller hit a one-out double, and Addie Pennisi drew a walk, setting the stage for a three-run home run to center field by Jill Rickards that made it a 10-7 game.
The Patriots answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Hailey Hickman ripped a three-run home run to left field to put the Patriots on top 13-7.
Neshaminy made things interesting with a five-run seventh and had runners on the corners with two outs, but the Patriots came up with a groundout to end the game.
A highlight of East’s five-run fourth was a Olivia Owtscharuk’s three-run triple
By the numbers: Central Bucks East: Olivia Owtscharuk had a productive day out of the leadoff spot, finishing 2-for-4 with a triple, four RBIs and a run score. Hailey Helmstetter was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Lilianna Penglase was 2-for-2 with one RBI and two runs scored, and Hailey Hickman was 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Sydney Hahn was 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Neshaminy: Jill Rickards led the Redskins with a pair of home runs, five RBIs and two runs scored. Zahmira Coppola-Miller had a pair of hits and two RBIs, and Riley McCafferty was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Addie Pennisi was 1-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Lily Mormello was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and run scored. Ellie Miller was 1-for-3 with a double and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Central Bucks East coach Steve Ryan: “Both teams deserve credit for a well-played game in difficult conditions. I am just so proud of all my girls, including my subs. They kept rooting for their teammates right to the very end even though they were so very cold.”
Up next: Central Bucks East will travel to Abington for a non-league game Wednesday, and Neshaminy will host Conwell-Egan on Monday.
Neshaminy 200 113 5 12-11-3
Central Bucks East 020 533 x 13-11-0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10, CONWELL-EGAN 0
Mia Kiskurno and Lucy Mills combined for the complete game no-hitter. Kiskurno tossed four shutout innings to open the game, earning the win.
The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Kayla Ripper and Zoey Hornstein led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Both later scored.
The six-run third was highlighted by Liv Schlindwein’s two-run double.
By the numbers: Council Rock North: Kayla Ripper was 2-for-4 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Katie Wilkoski was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Zoe Hardy was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and run scored. Liv Schlindwein was 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
Mia Kiskurno threw four shutout innings to earn the win, striking out five and walking one. Lucy Mills tossed three shutout innings, striking out one and walking one.
Council Rock North coach John Engelhardt:
–On the game: “I’m really proud of how our team played today in the 10–0 win. The girls brought incredible energy, and every player in the dugout played a role. I credit a lot of that to our eight seniors — they genuinely enjoy playing together and are embracing the high school softball experience. I think they were just as excited when two of our freshman JV players got into the game as anything else that happened today.
“It was a total team effort from start to finish. Kiskurno and Mills were outstanding on the mound, and we played clean defense behind them. When you do that and are selfless at the plate, willing to move runners and do the little things, good things usually happen. I couldn’t be more proud to coach this group today.”
Up next: Council Rock North will host Villa Joseph Marie in a non-league game Saturday (noon).
Council Rock North 206 010 1 10-9-1
Conwell-Egan 000 000 x 0-0-2
LOWER MORELAND 14, RENAISSANCE ACADEMY 4 (5 innings)
Maddie Menchhofer struck out 12 in a winning effort for the Lions in the abbreviated contest. She allowed just one hit and no earned runs.
Renaissance put four runs on the board in the top of the second. The Lions answered with three in the bottom of the inning. They had just one hit in the inning – a leadoff single by Jordyn MacPhee.
A four-run third featured just two hits, but it gave the Lions a 7-4 lead which was more than enough for Menchhofer.
By the numbers: Lower Moreland: Izzy O’Brien was 2-for-3 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Alexis MacPhee was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Sydney Santora was 1-for-3 with a triple, RBI and run scored, and Jordyn MacPhee was 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs score.
Maddie Menchhofer earned the win, allowing one hit and no earned runs. She struck out 12 and walked two.
Up next: Lower Moreland will host Norristown in a non-league game Monday.
Renaissance Academy 040 00 4-1-1
Lower Moreland 034 70 14-6-3
UPPER MORELAND 10, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 0 (6 innings)
Delaney Stout picked up where she left off last year, tossing a two-hit shutout in the abbreviated contest.
The Golden Bears erupted for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to bring an early end to Friday’s season opener. Highlights of the big inning included singles by Alaina Darsney, Layla Knecht (RBI), Claire Walton (2 RBIs) and Taylor Pagano (RBI).
Earlier, the Bears got on the board in the second when Jordyn Gibbs delivered an RBI single. A three-run third put the Bears on top 4-0, a score that stood until the bottom of the sixth. The inning featured RBI singles by Sofia Magagna and Walton and a sacrifice fly by by Stout.
The Golden Bears, who turned a double play, collected 11 hits in the game and drew six walks. They stole six bases.
By the numbers: Claire Walton was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Sofia Magagna was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Emma Kramer, courtesy runner for Stout, stole two bases.
Up next: Upper Moreland will return to action Monday when the Golden Bears host Phoenixville in a non-league game.
Lansdale Catholic 000 000 0-3-1
Upper Moreland 013 006 10-11-1
WISSAHICKON 12, NORRISTOWN 0 (5 innings)
The Trojans opened their season on a positive note as junior pitcher Sydney Darnell threw a five-inning no-hitter with 10 strikeouts.
“We really didn’t hit a lot of balls around the yard,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “Unfortunately, their pitcher was having a tough time finding her groove and walked a bunch of our batters, so we had a lot of unearned runs.
“It is a win. Last year we had a crazy game where several of our starters were injured (before the game) or got sick in the first inning, and we lost a close one. So, it was a good start.”
The Trojans scored all the runs Darnell would need in a seven-run first.
Up next: Wissahickon will host Springfield Twp on Tuesday.
Norristown 000 00 0
Wissahickon 741 0x 12
SOUDERTON 15, FRANKLIN REGIONAL 5 (5 innings)
The Indians needed just five innings to earn a win in Friday’s non-league opener, pounding out 13 hits and scoring 15 runs.
Ava Detwiler earned the win in the abbreviated contest, allowing one hit and no earned runs in the abbreviated contest while striking out four and walking two.
A five-run second was highlighted by RBI triples from both Kathryn Jones and Ava Detwiler as well as singles by Kiera Fadden, Kendal Nelson, Leilani Souder (RBI) and Emma Lewis.
Souderton put the game out of reach with seven runs in the third inning. Fadden led off the frame with an inside-the-park solo home run and later in the inning delivered an RBI single. After three straight walks loaded the bases, Souder lofted a sacrifice fly to right field. Two runs scored on a single by Lewis and Jones picked up her second triple of the game – this one driving in one run.
By the numbers: Kathryn Jones led the Indians with a 3-for-4 day that included two triples and a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored. Fadden was 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored, and Emma Lewis reached base three times and was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored out of the leadoff spot.
Ava Detwiler earned the win while Kathryn Jones threw the final two innings.
Up next: Souderton – on its spring break trip to Tennessee – will return to action Saturday.
Franklin Regional 001 31x 5-2-1
Souderton 057 3x 15-13-2
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