Check out Friday’s results for SOL softball teams in action. To view photos of the CB East/William Tennent game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 10, WILLIAM TENNENT 2
On a windy, frigid day that saw temperatures barely reach 40, Patriot pitcher Jayme Ziegler was remarkably unfazed by the elements.
“It took more than usual to warm up, but once I got in there, I threw three strikes in a row, and the first batter went down looking,” Ziegler said. “From then on, it was just like we were out in 80-degree weather.”
Ziegler and freshman Kayla Ventura combined for the win on the mound, and the Patriots exploded for six runs in the fourth inning to earn the decisive win.
“Jayme and Kayla both pitched incredible,” senior catcher Julia Schoenewald said. “I was so proud of both of them.
“The conditions were awful. I can’t feel my feet. I don’t know how they were doing it, but I couldn’t be more proud of the job they did. Everything just went well. I think everyone was just really excited for the debut.”
And quite a debut it was, and on the heels of last year’s strong finish, the Patriots are hoping Friday’s performance is a preview of things to come.
“We have nine seniors this year, so the expectation for ourselves is that we need to bring it every single game and expect that other teams are expecting us,” Ziegler said. “We can’t settle in and be comfortable. We need to jump out early.”
“Most of the seniors on this team I have played with since I was young,” Schoenewald added. “We have really good team chemistry, and we’re really excited to play together. This is our last year of playing softball together, and we want to make it memorable.”
On the subject of memorable, Ventura had a debut to remember. Not only was the freshman effective on the mound, she also had a monster day at the plate after stepping in for senior Sierra Huckfeldt, who left the game with an injury. Ventura was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and five RBIs.
“That means everything to our team,” Schoenewald said. “I just said out in the (postgame) huddle - everyone pulled their weight today, and that’s what we need to do. That’s what makes a team – everyone working together and making the best of every situation we’re in.”
The Panthers actually got on the scoreboard first, thanks to a Nikki Alden RBI single in the first inning. East answered with six runs in the fourth. Allie Chase got things started with a one-out walk, and Caroline Schoenewald followed with a single. A walk to Julia Schoenewald loaded the bases. Jess Haug delivered an RBI single, and that set the stage for the inning’s big blow, a booming three-run triple to center by Ventura.
“It just shows that anyone at any age can play to the varsity high school level, and she really did step up,” Ziegler said of Ventura.
Ziegler helped her own cause with an RBI single, and that was followed by clutch two-out singles by Carla Ruscio and Kerry Schulz (RBI).
The Patriots sealed the Panthers’ fate with a four-run fifth. Ventura was once again in the middle of the action, delivering a two-run double.
“One of the things we’re most excited about this season is not only having so many returners but also having such a strong bench,” coach Erin Scott said. “People will get hurt. It’s an unfortunate truth of sports, and Kayla just completely stepped up, especially as a freshman. You don’t know how they’re going to respond to pressure situations, and she totally filled those shoes.
“It’s nice to see that every single person on our team of 14 contributed today. We started a little slow, which made me nervous. They’re a good team. The freshman (Ventura) and Jayme pitching and really all the girls – we had really few errors, and in this temperature when their hands are freezing, to have few errors is good.
“These kids have fun. The chemistry – you can’t force that. They’re having fun, so it’s just one game at a time.”
Alden finished the day a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Panthers while Elise Wood was 2-for-3 with two singles. She reached base on all three of her trips to the plate.
SOUDERTON 11, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10
Souderton staged a remarkable seventh-inning comeback, answering a four-run outburst by Rock North in the top of the inning with a four-run rally of its own.
“Last year we had trouble closing out games,” Souderton coach Courtney Hughes said. “It was nice to keep battling and battling and coming away with a win.”
Senior Nikki Canfield delivered the game-winning hit, a single that plated Sarah Derstine, who reached base on a walk, but it was Paige Shelly who gave the Indians life with a three-run home run to knot the score earlier in the inning.
“We thought we won the game after the three-run home run,” Hughes said. “There was something wrong in the scorebook – we missed one of their runs, but we got it back together.”
Rock North plated two runs in the first and three more in the second to go on top 5-0 only to watch the Big Red rally to knot the score with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the third.
Freshman Angie Carty got things started with a leadoff double, and it was Haley DeLany collecting a three-run home run for the inning’s big blow. The teams exchanged single runs in the fifth, but Souderton went on top 7-6 with a run in the sixth, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
Shelly finished the day 4-for-5 to lead the Indians while sophomore Morgan Yoder was 3-for-4. DeLany, Canfield and Carty each added two hits.
Hannah Mumbert had a big day at the plate for Rock North, contributing three hits which included a three-run home run. Teammate Tatum Kelly was 3-for-4
Senior Salina Allebach earned the win on the mound.
“Our senior pitcher, who didn’t pitch much last year at all, didn’t give up even though things weren’t perfect behind her,” Hughes said. “It never got out of hand.”
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 11, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 10
The Golden Hawks staged a seventh inning rally to earn the huge come-from-behind win over the Bucks on Friday. The Bucks broke a 9-9 tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Golden Hawks erased that in the top of the seventh when Kirsten Meihofer delivered a two-run single to put Rock South on top for good.
The Golden Hawks’ junior shortstop had herself quite a day. It was Meihofer’s grand slam in the second inning that turned a 4-1 deficit into 5-4 Rock South lead.
“She is one of our captains this year,” coach Matt McGovern said of Meihofer. “We don’t have any seniors, so we have two juniors – Kristen and Maddy Reis – that are captains.”
The Bucks regrouped to go back on top 9-6, but Amanda Sharp had an answer for that, delivering a three-run home run in the top of the sixth to knot the score, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
“This was a huge win for us,” McGovern said. “We have a lot of girls back from last year and the year before that. They’re unfortunately used to coming out on the losing end of a lot of these games.
“I said to them – even last year if we had gone down 4-1, that’s when we would have started to fall apart. When they had big inning, we stayed in it, and even when it happened again, they had the same mentality. We had a couple of big innings when we needed them. We were able to put one run on top of another, and we had a couple of two-out rallies, so it was good stuff.”
Kelsey Illiano earned the win on the mound for the Golden Hawks.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 11, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
The Hatters plated two runs in the first and seized control of a close game with a four-run fifth. They put the finishing touches on the win by scoring five runs in the seventh.
Senior Nicole Casagrande earned the win on the mound, allowing five hits while fanning five and walking none.
Maria Spinosa led the Hatters offensively with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. She also scored a pair of runs. Heather Lutz belted a two-run home run. Daria Edwards was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Jaynie Black was 2-for-3 with one run scored for the Hatters.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 12, UPPER MERION 1
The defending state champions plated a first inning run and then exploded for eight runs in the second inning on their way to Friday’s decisive non-league win.
Sophomore Maddie Decker got things started with a leadoff double and scored on an fielder’s choice. With two outs, the Titans put together a string of hits that started with a single by Megan Rowe and was highlighted by a two-run double by senior Hallie Bilker.
The Titans led 10-0 after four innings before the Vikings got on the scoreboard.
Decker had a double and triple while teammate Hailey Warner added a single and double to lead the Titans attack.
“I was surprised that we hit as well as we did,” coach Dan Hayes said. “It was cold.”
Kristyn Marinelli earned the win on the mound, allowing two hits while striking out eight.
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 11, HARRITON 0 (5 innings)
The Spartans exploded for four runs in the first inning and never looked back on their way to the decisive win.
While Kim Machalette was working her magic on the mound, her teammates were delivering at the plate. Senior Kelsea Schagrin was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Sophomore Alyssa Ard was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Bridget Bennis was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
“This is really exciting for me,” coach Ed Jones said. “We knew we would have good defense and good pitching this year, and in the preseason, we worked on hitting a lot.
“We scrimmaged Morrisville earlier in the week, and we had over 20 hits, and we had 11 hits today, so we’re hitting the ball.”
Machalette scattered four hits in the abbreviated game while walking one and fanning seven.
ABINGTON 12, WISSAHICKON 0 (5 innings)
Angie LaMaina brought Friday’s non-league opener to a dramatic end when she ripped a walk-off grand slam in the fifth inning. The Ghosts led 7-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Michela Monterosso drew a walk to lead off the fifth, and Christina Brill was safe on an error. A slap single by Jamie Gosselin loaded the bases, setting the stage for LaMaina’s slam.
Raechel Holden set the tone for the Ghosts’ big offensive performance when she delivered a two-run home run in the bottom of the first.
On the mound, Celine Farina tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out six and walking just one.
PENNRIDGE 15, UPPER PERKIOMEN 0 (3 innings)
Paige DeCew threw three perfect innings, fanning all nine batters she faced in Friday’s abbreviated three-inning contest.
The Rams’ offense, meanwhile, exploded for 15 runs in three innings. Emily Mayhew led the hit parade with a 2-for-3 effort that included a pair of home runs. Bridget Casey was 2-for-2 with a home run. DeCew was perfect at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 with two doubles. Haley Taylor was 2-for-3 with a double, and Allison Horn also was 2-for-3. Brooke Labs was 2-for-2, and freshman Briana Gery was 2-for-3 with a double. All told, the Rams pounded out 18 hits.
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