Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action. CB East/PW photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Non-league
NORTH PENN 11, SOUTH ALLEGHENY 0 (5 innings)
Julia Shearer picked up where ace Mady Volpe, the PA Gatorade Player of the Year, left off last June, fanning 11 and walking none in an abbreviated five-inning mercy rule win in the Knights opener at the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.
“Julia pitched like Julia can pitch,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “In fact, the South Allegheny coach said that Julia was the fastest pitcher they have seen in years, which was a great compliment to how hard Julia has worked at Relentless Athletics, with her pitching coach and our team.”
The University of Maryland bound junior also continued her torrid offensive production, leading the Knights dangerous attack with a 3-for-4 effort that included a triple and three RBIs.
Brie Wilmot also had a big day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Annabelle Smink was 2-for-4 with one RBI and Gianna Cimino was also 2-for-4.
The Knights scored all the runs Shearer would need and then some in a six-run second inning.
“The team has worked really hard this past fall and winter,” Torresani said. “They came out in their opener and played like it was midseason. We had timely hitting and great defense. Hopefully, this a great start to another championship season.”
North Penn (1-0) will face Avonworth High School on Saturday in a non-league game.
North Penn 060 32 11
South Allegheny 000 00 0
SOUDERTON 9, West GREENE (Pa.) 1
Lily Ponce had a huge day at the plate in the Indians’ opener in Myrtle Beach on Friday. The sophomore finished the day 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored. In the circle, Abby Burns allowed five hits and one run while striking out 10 and walking none in four strong innings. McKenna Schroding threw three shutout innings and allowed just one hit.
The Indians broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run second that was highlighted by a two-run single by Ponce and an RBI triple by Brooke Scotti.
The Indians upped their lead to 6-1 in the third inning, thanks to an RBI single from Scotti, and in the fourth inning, Ponce delivered an RBI single. The Indians closed out the scoring in the sixth inning when Josalyn Nelligan ripped a two-run double to right field for the 9-1 final.
In addition to Ponce, Scotti was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Riley York tripled and scored three runs in a contest that saw the Indians collect eight hits.
Souderton (1-0) will face Deer Lake in a non-league game on Saturday.
West Greene 010 000 0 1-6-1
Souderton 141 102 x 9-8-0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 6, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3
The visiting Patriots opened up a 5-0 lead after two innings, and the Colonials never could dig themselves out of that early hole.
In the top of the first, Elizabeth Gray was safe on an error. Maggie Funston followed with a single, advancing Gray to third. Gray raced home on a passed ball, and one out later, Funston scored on a steal of home to spot the Patriots a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Sara Camposano drew a leadoff walk, and Gray reached first on a dropped third strike. Camposano, who stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, scored on the play. With one out, Elise Waddington slammed a home run to center field, plating a pair and putting the Patriots on top 5-0.
The Colonials scored two runs in the bottom of the third. Caelin Kosvitch collected a one-out single, and with two outs, Lauryn Kane tripled to left that plated Kosvitch. Molly Moore’s RBI single to center made it a 5-2 game.
That score stood until the bottom of the fifth when Kane singled to center to plate Kosvitch, who walked. The Patriots plated an unearned run in the top of the seventh for the 6-3 final.
For the Patriots, Waddington was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored, and Kayla Mitchell was 2-for-4.
Mitchell also notched the complete game win, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out six and walking two.
For the Colonials, Kane was 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Kosvitch was 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Moore absorbed the loss, allowing seven hits and six runs (three earned) while striking out nine and walking six.
Central Bucks East (1-0) will host Boyertown in a non-league game Tuesday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-1) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday, April 6.
Central Bucks East 230 000 1 6-7-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 002 010 0 3-6-3
ABINGTON 12, NORRISTOWN 11
The Ghosts took a 12-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning and then withstood a Norristown rally to escape with the win.
“Norristown gave us a really tough game,” Abington coach Bob Baginski said. “We are pleased that our entire team contributed in different ways today to get the win to start the season.
“We have more work to do, and our team is dedicated to get better.”
The Ghosts took a 3-0 lead in the first, loading the bases with a pair of walks and a hit batter. Lauren Everitt delivered a two-run single and a third run crossed the plate on a sacrifice bunt by Shauna Rakus. The Eagles got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning, but the Ghosts took a 4-1 lead in the second when Anessa Rohrer delivered a clutch two-out RBI double.
A five-run outburst in the bottom of the second put the Eagles on top 6-4. An unearned run in the third pulled the Ghosts to within one. They took an 8-6 lead, thanks to a bases-clearing double by Ellie Pierce in the sixth.
Abington added four runs in the top of the seventh. The only hits of the inning were an RBI double by Natalie Broskey and singles by Rohrer and Pierce. The Ghosts needed every one of those runs as the Eagles staged a comeback in the bottom of the inning.
Everitt’s 3-for-5 effort that included a pair of RBIs and a run scored led the Ghosts’ eight-hit attack. Pierce (2-for-3, 2B, 1 run, 3 RBIs) and Rohrer (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) also had multiple hits. Broskey scored three runs out of the leadoff spot.
Abington (1-0) will host Upper Dublin on Thursday in an SOL contest.
Abington 311 003 4 12-8-3
Norristown 150 000 5 11-11-2
LOWER MORELAND 10, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 5
(Submitted by Lower Moreland baseball)
Lower Moreland started the season strong winning a battle with Christopher Dock, 10-5. The Lions got on the board first, scoring one in the top of the first when senior catcher Jess Dugo laid down a bunt, stole second base, and then junior pitcher Liz Neeld brought her in with a single.
Dock came right back, scoring two in the bottom of the first. Erin Miles walked, Melissa Moyer doubled to center, scoring Miles, and Moyer scored on a single by Maggie Dowell.
Lower Moreland tied the game in the third inning when Neeld collected a bunt single, stole second base, stole third base, and freshman first baseman Sofia Azzarano singled to right, scoring Neeld.
Dock came right back again to take the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning with a solo homerun by Moyer.
In the top of the fourth, junior shortstop Isabella Ricciardi singled, junior third baseman Clare O’Donnell walked, junior Hannah Klanderman singled, scoring Ricciardi, and O’Donnell scored on a wild pitch, and the Lions were up 4-3.
Once again, Dock answered with another run scored on a fielder’s choice to tie the game 4-4.
In the top of the fifth, Lower Moreland scored two to take the lead, 6-4. Neeld got on with an intentional walk, stole second, and Azzarano singled to right again, scoring Neeld. Azzarano stole second and advanced to third when Ricciardi reached first base on a dropped third strike. Azzarano then scored on a fielder’s choice.
In the top of the sixth, the Lions rallied for four runs and found themselves winning the battle with a very nice cushion at 10-4. Klanderman opened the inning with a walk, junior centerfielder Juliet Yavas reached base on a dropped third strike, Dugo bunted, and Neeld cleared the bases with a hard double over third base. Azzarano singled to right field again, scoring Neeld.
In the bottom of the sixth with two outs, Aubrey Gahman walked and then scored on another double by Moyer. But Lower Moreland was still in the lead 10-5.
Dock was not conceding though. Trinity Landis led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. With a runner on second and no outs, Adelyn Clemmer hit a hard line drive between shortstop and third, but LM’s Ricciardi snagged it out of the air, backhanded and then caught Landis off base and that was the end of Dock’s offensive threat.
For Lower Moreland, Neeld finished 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, three RBIs and five stolen bases. Azzarano was 3-for-4 with one run scored, three RBIs two stolen bases. Dugo finished 2-for-4 with two runs score and two stolen bases. In the circle, Neeld earned the win and had 12 strikeouts.
For Christopher Dock, Moyer was 3-for-3 (2 2B, 1HR), two runs scored and three RBIs. Dowell and Landis both were 2-for-4.
Lower Moreland (1-0) will travel to William Tennent for the SOL opener for both squads.
Lower Moreland 101 224 0 10-10-1
Dock Mennonite 201 101 0 5-7-1
MaST CHARTER 20, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 7
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