Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday. (Photo courtesy of Diane Waletz/HH softball)
SOL Liberty Division
QUAKERTOWN 13, ABINGTON 0 (5 innings)
Abbey Wagner was in complete command in Friday’s season opener, allowing just two hits in the abbreviated contest while striking out 12 and walking a pair in an impressive debut.
“Abbey did great today,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “She her her change-up working well and kept them off balance with it.”
The fun started early for the Panthers, who erupted for four runs in the top of the first. Ava Beal collected a one out single, and Katie Muller made it a 2-0 game with one swing of the bat, smacking a home run to center field. Maya Hellyer drew a walk, and Mary Wilkinson followed with a single to right field. Cadence Lewis lined a double to left to plate a run, and Wilkinson scored on a bases-loaded walk to Skyler Williams to put the Panthers on top 4-0.
That 4-0 score stood until the top of the fifth when the Panthers erupted for nine runs. Lewis got the ball rolling with a single to left, and Grace Baker legged out a bunt single. Lewis scored on a passed ball, and Baker scored from third on a bunt by Williams.
A walk, error and Muller single loaded the bases for Hellyer, who picked up an RBI when she drew a walk. Leah Schwalm delivered the inning’s big blow, a bases-clearing trip to left that gave the Panthers a 10-0 lead.
Wilkinson drew a walk, setting the stage for Baker’s three-run blast to right field that gave the Panthers their final margin of victory.
All told, the Panthers collected 10 hits off a trio of Abington pitchers and also benefitted from 11 free passes.
Muller (2-for-3, HR, 2RBIs, 2 runs), Lewis (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, run) and Baker (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs) led the Panthers’ potent attack.
Quakertown will travel to Upper Perkiomen for a non-league game on Tuesday.
Quakertown 400 09 13-10-1
Abington 000 00 0-2-3
Non-league
UPPER DUBLIN 6, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 2
Freshman Kyla Garrison turned in a strong outing in Friday’s season opener, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out 12 and walking three in the complete game win.
“She did an outstanding job in her varsity debut,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “She mixed pitches well, maintained great composure and poise, and even had an RBI single as well as an RBI groundout to help her cause.”
Senior Kaelin Penna led the Cardinals’ offensive charge, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI double. Sophomore catcher Madden Reilly was 2-for-4 with two doubles and also threw out a pair of runners attempting to steal.
Anna Levin was a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI singles, and Garrison singled and drove in a pair of runs.
The Cards took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first only to watch Dock even the score in the top of the second. UD got that run back in the bottom of the inning and added a single run in the third and two more in the fifth. To go on top 5-1. The two teams exchanged single runs in the sixth.
“Co-captains Kaelin Penna and Anna Levin both had great days at the plate with clutch two-out hitting,” Boyer said. “It was a great team effort and confidence boost for our young team.”
For Dock, Addison Landis was 2-for-3.
Upper Dublin (1-0) will host Radnor in a non-league game on Wednesday.
Dock Mennonite 010 001 0 2-3-3
Upper Dublin 111 021 x 6-11-1
NORTH PENN 10, TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOL 0 (5 innings)
Julia Shearer picked up right where she left off last year.
The 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year tossed an abbreviated five-inning no-hitter in Friday’s season opener in Myrtle Beach, striking out nine and walking one.
If that wasn’t enough, the senior standout was 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored. Sarah Sabocsik was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored, Bri Wilmot was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, Sophia Orth was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored, and Caitlyn Halfpenny was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
In 2022, Tennessee High School was the division, district and regional champion in their state.
North Penn 102 07 10
Tennessee HS 000 00 0
WISSAHICKON 13, NORRISTOWN 12 (8 innings)
The Trojans won a wild one in Friday’s season opener.
“In all my years of coaching, I haven’t had everything happen all at once all throughout the game,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “We had everything, you name it. Any way runs could score except a home run.”
It took eight innings to determine a winner, and the Trojans went to their small ball game to win it with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth.
“We literally bunted three times in a row,” Borkowski said.
Norristown answered with a run in the bottom of the eight, and it might have been more.
“Maren Carter made two awesome catches in left field to end the game, going back over her shoulder, reaching up at the fence for catches,” Borkowski said. “She was on her horse and grabbed two balls that were line shots. One might have been a home run.”
Trojans’ leadoff hitter Morgan Risnychok had a big day at the plate, finishing 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Emmi Fox was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Maren Carter was 2-for-4 with two sacrifice bunts and two runs scored.
Emma Dutill started the game in the circle and was relieved in the fifth inning.
“Emma got tired, and Gianna Trerotola came in the middle of the fifth inning,” Borkowski said. “We were down 11-10 at one point, and Gianna held the fort steady for three innings. She’s a sophomore, and that’s her first varsity pitching experience, and she saved the day basically. For walking in to that situation, she did terrific.”
Wissahickon (1-0) will host Council Rock North in a non-league game Tuesday.
Wissahickon 251 200 12 13
Norristown 130 043 01 12
LOWER MORELAND 7, ACADEMY OF THE NEW CHURCH 3
The Lions managed just three hits but benefitted from seven walks in its non-league opener against neighboring ANC.
Liz Neeld led the team offensively, going 2-for-4 with a single and a double. She stole seven bases and scored two runs.
“Delaney Arthur had a hard hit single up the middle in her first at bat after being cleared to play just the day before due to knee surgery in the fall of 2022,” LM coach Karen Reese said. “Juliet Yavas, Sophia Azzarano, Isabella Ricciardi, and Clare O’Donnell each took advantage of a free pass with aggressive baserunning to score one run each. Natalie Shiloni also scored one run after reaching base on an error, and Nikki Sahl had an RBI on a sacrifice bunt. Clare O’Donnell had a strong performance on the mound in her season debut, striking out eight with no walks.”
Jamie Madara (2-3, 1R, 2RBI’s, 1B, HR) and Morgan Henderson (2-3, 1R, 2 1B) led the ANC Lions offensively. Madara was also on the mound for ANC (3H, 7R, 4K, 7BB, 2HP).
Lower Moreland (1-0) will host Dock Mennonite Academy in a non-league game Monday.
BOYERTOWN 1, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
Friday’s season opener turned out to be a classic pitcher’s duel.
PW’s Molly Moore, who certainly pitched well enough to win on most days, allowed just two hits while striking out four and walking two.
“A pitcher’s duel for sure,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “For us, Molly Moore pitched a great game and defense made the plays, we just couldn’t string together timely hits.”
The Bears broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth when Alexis Laboy smashed a one-strike pitch to center field for a solo home run.
Rian Reed line a double to center to lead off the seventh and was replaced by courtesy runner Jenna Yablon, who advanced to third on a groundout to right. She was stranded there as Ella Hurter came up with a clutch strikeout for the inning’s second out and then retired the next batter she faced on a popup to second base for the game’s final out.
“Rian Reed had two hits, including a double to lead off the seventh, but we just couldn’t get her home,” Perez said.
The Colonials, who managed just four hits off Hurter, also received singles from Moore and freshman second baseman Joslyn Perez, who collected her first varsity hit.
Hurter fanned 10 and did not walk a batter in the complete game shutout.
“Ella Hurter pitched a great game for Boyertown and had us chasing all game long,” Perez said. “Laboy stepped up at the right time and popped one out to right center field.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh will host Perkiomen Valley on Wednesday for a non-league game.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 000 0 0-4-0
Boyertown 000 001 x 1-2-0
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 3, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
In a game dominated by the respective pitchers, it was the Vikings benefitting from some miscues to plate a pair of unearned runs in the fifth
inning. Those runs proved to be the difference in a game that saw the teams combine for just seven hits.
PV’s Maci Strechay led off the fourth with a triple to right and scored on Bella Reedy’s sacrifice fly. The Vikings added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth.
Madison Karpowich’s one-out solo home run to left in the seventh made it a 3-1 game, but the Hatters would get no closer.
Alyssa Tooley absorbed the loss despite allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out 12. She walked a pair.
Reedy notched the win for the Vikings, scattering three hits, striking out 10 and walking two.
Hatboro-Horsham (0-1) will host Downingtown West in a non-league game on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 000 1 1-3-3
Perkiomen Valley 000 120 x 3-4-0
About the Author
