Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday.
Non-league
ABINGTON 6, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 5
The Ghosts received big performances from several players – none loomed larger than the perfect 4-for-4, 5-RBI day of junior Aneesa Rorher, whose three-run home run highlighted the three-run third. Sophomore Leanna Schenk was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, and senior Jess Sokolski allowed four earned runs in the complete game win in the circle.
“Taking over the program just three-and-a-half weeks ago, I’m proud of the effort and good habits of this group,” Abington coach Bob Baginski said. “To get the first win this year after a short time of practice shows the talent, dedication and commitment to Abington softball. All the girls stood out in a great team win to start the season.”
The Ghosts put a pair on the scoreboard in the first. Annie Sokolski led off with a bunt single and stole second. Schenk followed with a single, and Sokolski raced home with the game’s first run on a double steal. Rorher’s RBI single put the Ghosts on top 2-0.
West answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Ghosts went on top 4-1 with a three-run third. The stage for Rorher’s three-run blast to right was set when Schenk drew a walk, and Lauren Everitt singled.
Again, the Bucks responded, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a 4-3 game. The Ghosts tacked on an insurance run in the fifth, thanks to a Rorher RBI single. The Bucks pulled to within one with a run in the sixth and put a pair of runners on board in the bottom of the seventh, but Jess Sokolski retired the next two batters she faced to preserve the lead.
In addition to earning the win, Jess Sokolski tripled.
Abington (1-0) will host Souderton on Monday, and Central Bucks West (0-1) will travel to Quakertown on Monday.
Abington 203 010 0 6-9-1
Central Bucks West 103 001 0 5-8-1
PENNRIDGE 9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5
The Rams staged a heroic sixth inning rally, turning a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 lead on their way to the dramatic win. Anna Hensler reached first on a one-out error, moved up to second on Catelyn Thrush’s bunt single and scored the tying run with two outs on the second of back-to-back wild pitches.
Madison Silber’s two-run double to center put the Rams on top, and they led 7-4 when Reagan Bauman followed with an RBI double to right. Mackenzie Owens delivered an RBI single to right, and another run scored on a wild pitch, giving the Rams’ a five-run cushion.
“It was great to see them show so much resilience with two outs in the seventh inning,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said.
The Colonials plated a single run in the bottom of the seventh when Hannah Suh, who singled, scored on a groundout. That’s as close as they would get.
Earlier, the Rams took a 1-0 lead in the first when Cassandra Schillo, who singled, scored on a passed ball. They added an unearned run in the third to go on top 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, Suh knotted the score when she raced home on a wild pitch after singling. The Colonials took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth. Molly Lynch got things started with a two-out triple, and she scored when Laryn Kane followed with a triple to left. An error allowed Kane to score the go-ahead run.
Thrush knotted the score when she led off the fifth inning with an inside-the-park home run to center. Molly Moore’s RBI double in the bottom of the inning put the Colonials on top 4-3, setting the stage for the Rams’ late-game comeback.
The Rams were led by the two-hit efforts of Thrush (home run, RBI, 3 runs scored), Schillo (one run), Silber (double, 2 RBIs) and Owens (RBI, one run).
For the Colonials, Suh (two runs) and Talia Carr (one run) both had a pair of hits. Regan Geyman doubled.
Grace Helbling earned the starting nod for the Rams and threw five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out five and walking six. Anja Puketza notched the win, throwing two innings in relief and allowing two hits and one run while striking out a pair.
Kane absorbed the loss for the Colonials, allowing nine hits while striking out eight and walking two.
Pennridge (1-0) will host Wissahickon on Monday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-1) will travel to Central Bucks South on Monday.
Pennridge 101 010 6 9
Plymouth Whitemarsh 001 210 1 5
WILLIAM TENNENT 11, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 1 (5 innings)
Take away the fact that the Panthers’ new outfield fence installed just yesterday was pulled out of the ground by a gust of wind in the top of the fifth inning, and things pretty much went the Panthers’ way in Friday’s non-league opener.
“I ran to the outfield along with several other adults to help the outfielders who were trying to hold the fence back while trying not to fly away with it – it was surreal,” Tennent coach Rich Clark said. “Left and center pulled out, and right was still in the ground, but when I say it looked like the girls trying to hold it down might get carried way, it’s not hyperbole, but the fans joined in to help and then joined together to coil it up so we could get back to the game.”
In the bottom of the fifth with the fence safely on the sidelines, the Panthers scored four runs to bring an early end to the game. Contributing singles in the uprising were Meg Curtis (2 RBIs), Gigi Demito (2 RBIs) and Lainey Scotese.
Lost in the excitement of the fence calamity and the Panthers’ offensive outburst – which included 12 hits – was the glittering pitching performance of Mackenzie Clee, who allowed just one run and one hit while striking out 12 and walking two in five overpowering innings. She struck out six of the first seven batters she faced.
The Panthers took early control of the game, erupting for six runs in the bottom of the second. The inning was highlighted by RBI doubles from Demito and Clee as well as singles by Scotese, Curtis (2 RBIs), Anna Coulter (bunt) and Giselle McLaughlin (RBI). Sarah Cummins had a sacrifice fly to plate a run.
The teams exchanged single runs in the fourth when Maura Yoos collected the Vikings’ lone hit and scored on Riley Nolan’s sacrifice.
Demito finished the day 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs while Curtis was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored.
William Tennent (1-0) is off until April 7 when the Panthers will travel to Cheltenham for their SOL opener.
Archbishop Wood 000 10 1-1-1
William Tennent 060 14 11-12-0
UPPER MORELAND 11, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 1 (5 innings)
An RBI single by Gabrielle Wiley in the bottom of the fifth brought an early end to Friday’s non-league opener.
“Myself and my coaching staff were very happy with this young team today and are looking forward to seeing them grow,” UM first-year coach Melanie Martino said. “It was a great way to start off our season today.”
According to Martino, seniors Rylee McDane, Chloe Kramer and Wiley led the way with key hits at the right time to spark the offense. Devyn Kniese delivered a three-run home run in the four-run third.
The Golden Bears scored early and often, opening up a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first and added four more runs in the third. They scored two more in the fourth before the Crusaders got on the board with a single run in the top of the fifth. UM brought an end to the game with a three-run fifth.
“We did a lot of little things right today that helped us be successful,” Martino said.
Freshman Eowyn Stainback was impressive in her debut on the mound, allowing only one run. Closing it out for the Bears was Lea Rizzo.
Upper Moreland (1-0) will travel to Bensalem for a non-league game Monday.
Lansdale Catholic 000 01 1
Upper Moreland 204 23 11
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