Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. New Hope-Solebury/Cheltenham photos courtesy of Karla Donohoe. https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f249086090
SOL Patriot Divsion
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 10, BENSALEM 4
Julia Scannapieco and Lexi Waring were effective in the circle, and the Golden Hawks pounded out 12 hits. The end result was a convincing win over the Owls in Tuesday’s league opener.
“Julia and Lexi got it done in the circle,” coach Dan Schram said. “It was a total team effort and great offensive days for Angelina Comerford and Grace Stepp.”
The Golden Hawks scored single runs in the first and second innings only to watch the Owls answer with one in the second and two more in the third to go ahead 3-2. A three-run fourth inning gave the Hawks a lead they would not lose.
Rock South took a 6-4 lead into the seventh when they plated four runs to put the game out of reach. Angelina Comerford’s two-run double highlighted the inning.
Grace Stepp was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored to lead the Golden Hawks. Comerford was 2-for-2 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Kaylie Walters was 2-for-3 with two walks, three stolen bases, two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Ameerah Wheet was 2-for-5 with two stolen bases, an RBI and run scored. Kelly Delise was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, and Waring was 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored.
Scannapieco earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits and one earned run in four innings while striking out five and walking one. Waring threw the final three innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
Council Rock South (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Thursday, and Bensalem (0-2) will be on the road at Council Rock North on Thursday.
Council Rock South 110 301 4 10-12-2
Bensalem 012 010 0 4-6-2
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 11, HARRY S TRUMAN 1 (5 innings)
Coach Susan Yee liked what she saw in Tuesday’s mercy rule win, and it had nothing to do with the final score.
“I was really proud of the improvements our girls made between our first game last week and our home opener today,” the Indians’ coach said. “The girls were much more disciplined at the plate, and it resulted in success from top to bottom of our lineup.
“However, the thing I was most pleased by were the improvements the girls made with their baserunning. Our runners stole 10 bases today, and only two of those were designed straight steal calls. The rest were all self-read opportunities to advance.
“We have spent a lot of time recently discussing all the variables to look for in order to be able to advance a base and the importance of never missing an opportunity to advance an extra base because that one extra base you take could be the difference between a one-run win and a one-run loss. The girls really took that to heart today, and I credit a lot of how the score turned out to the heads-up approach they took offensively.”
Olivia Schlindwein, who notched the win in the circle, led off the bottom of the first with a ground single, and Zoe Hornstein followed and drew a walk. Schlindwein, who stole second, scored on a wild pitch to give the Indians an early 1-0 lead.
A five-run second made it a 6-0 game. Three straight walks to open the inning loaded the bases for Kayla Ripper, who lined a two-run double to center. Three more runs crossed the plate without the benefit of a hit.
In the third inning, Truman got on the scoreboard when Emily Davis line a two-out RBI double to right field.
Rock North’s three-run third was highlighted by singles from Chelsea Seiler and Haley Edelman (RBI), Schlindwein (RBI) and an RBI double by Zoe Hornstein.
In the two-run fifth, Sierra Klein singled, Taylor Gearhart hit a sacrifice fly to center (RBI) and Seiler doubled to center to plate the game’s final run.
“Defensively, the girls were crisp and clean behind our two freshmen pitchers who did a great job holding the Truman offense at bay,” Yee said. “We still have things to work on, but so far the girls are doing what they need to do to be competitive this year, and we hope to continue making little improvements each day.”
The freshmen duo of Schlindwein (3.0 IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 7K) and Lucy Mills (2.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K) combined in a winning effort. Schlindwein notched the win.
Leading the Indians at the plate were Schlindwein (2-for-3, RBI, 2R) and Chelsea Seiler (2-for-2, RBI, R). Ripper was 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Contributing one RBI each were Hornstein, Katie Wilkowski, Taylor Gearhart, Seiler and Haley Edelman.
“Truman really battled today, and I have no doubt they will be a greatly improved team when we see them again later this season,” Yee said. “They are young, but you can see their potential, and they have phenomenal coaching leading them as they adjust to Suburban One play. I expect a tight game with them the second time around.”
Council Rock North (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Bensalem on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (1-1, 0-1) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Thursday.
Harry S Truman 001 00 1-2-0
Council Rock North 153 2x 11-9-0
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 11, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 10 (8 innings)
The Bucks opened up an 8-0 lead and appeared to be cruising, but the visiting Patriots had other ideas, rallying to knot the score and send the game to extra innings. The eighth inning was not without drama as the Patriots scored a single run in the top of the inning, but the Bucks answered with two in the bottom to win the extra-inning thriller.
“It was a great win for the girls,” West coach Ali Coleman said. “East is always a tough one for us – we always want to win, but it was a great win to start out the season like that.”
In the top of the eighth, Elizabeth Gray drew a one-out walk, and with two outs, Elise Waddington roped an RBI double to left field to put the Patriots on top 10-9.
“The girls were still very positive – they were upbeat,” Coleman said. “We told them, ‘You’ve been hitting so well throughout this game. We have such confidence in your at-bats and how you’re playing right now. We have no doubts you guys are going to win this.’ They did exactly what we said.”
Ana Glemser – down 0-2 in the count – roped a triple to center field to lead off the bottom of the eighth. She scored the tying run when Taylor Hooven singled to left, and one out later, Molly Gibson delivered an RBI single that won it.
“It was a great team win,” Coleman said. “It wasn’t one individual person. Especially when you have 11 runs like that, every person contributed in some way, which was the big thing.
“Every time we play East, it’s always a really good game – it’s always back and forth like this, but what really pushed us to that win was that we continued throughout the whole game. It wasn’t one or two innings. It was almost every inning that we were getting runners on, we were scoring runs, and we were having solid at-bats.”
Earlier in the game, West took a 1-0 lead in the second when Laila Murray, who singled, scored on Sienna Lawson’s two-out double. A seven-run third began with a leadoff triple to left by Glemser, who singled later in the inning. Contributing singles were Chloe Dryden, Emily Anton (RBI). Murray (RBI) and Avery Rubenstein (RBI). Julia Thomas hit a two-run double.
East put three runs on the board in the fifth inning. Kaylee Masterson’s two-run double was the big blow in the frame. The Bucks got one of those back in the bottom of the inning, thanks to back-to-back doubles by Thomas and Glemser (RBI).
A six-run sixth evened the score 9-9 and included singles by Peyton Schellhorn, Gray (RBI), and Sara Camposano. Masterson’s bases-clearing triple to center plated three runs, and the stage was set for extra innings.
For the Patriots, Gray was 4-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. Masterson was 2-for-5 with a triple, double and six RBIs. She also scored a run. Schellhorn was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Like Gray, Glemser had a productive day out of the leadoff spot, finishing 4-for-5 with a double, triple, RBI and two runs scored. Murray was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, and Thomas was 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored.
Glemser notched win in relief of Lawson, allowing one hit and one run while striking out three and walking one in 2.1 innings.
Central Bucks West (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Thursday, and Central Bucks East (1-2, 0-1) will be on the road at Boyertown for a non-league contest on Wednesday
Central Bucks East 000 036 01 10-12-1
Central Bucks West 017 010 02 11-15-3
NORTH PENN 11, PENNRIDGE 1 (5 innings)
The visiting Rams took a 1-0 lead over the Knights in the top of the first when Oliva Crognale lofted a solo home run to right field.
The lead turned out to be short lived as the Knights scored three in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the second. They brought an early end to the game with six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
In the bottom of the first, the Knights benefitted from two walks, a hit batsman and an error. Brie Wilmot’s RBI single was the lone hit in the three-run inning.
With one out in the second, Julia Shearer doubled to left and scored on Sarah Sabocsik’s bunt single. A second run crossed the plate on Annabelle Smink’s groundout, and the Knights led 5-1.
The Knights erupted for six runs in the fifth inning. Highlights included singles by Shearer, Wilmot (2 RBIs), Gianna Cimino (RBI) and Casey Sokol.
Shearer earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits and one run. She recorded 14 of 15 outs on strikeouts and walked just one.
Shearer (2-for-3, 3R) Wilmot (2-for-2, 2RBIs 1R) and Sokol (2-for-3, RBI) led the Knights’ nine-hit attack.
For the Rams, Crognale was 2-for-2 with a home run, RBI and run scored.
North Penn (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Thursday, and Pennridge (1-1, 0-1) will be on the road at Souderton on Thursday.
Pennridge 100 00 1-3-2
North Penn 320 06 11-9-0
SOL Liberty Division
QUAKERTOWN 6, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Abbey Wagner tossed her third straight two-hit shutout. Although one of the three was only five innings, thanks to the mercy rule, there’s no mistaking that the Panthers’ junior pitcher is off to quite a start.
“It’s pretty fun to watch Abbey right now,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “She’s a battler, she’s a real competitor. She’s fighting. This game could have gotten out of hand early tonight.”
In the top of the first inning, the Cardinals collected their only two hits – singles by Kyla Garrison and Bella Fiore around a Panther miscue – to load the bases with one out. Wagner coaxed an infield fly out of the next batter she faced and then a groundout to end the inning.
“Things could have gotten out of hand, but Abbey kept them in check and got out of that jam, and it really changed the momentum of the game,” Scott said. “She did well – she got out of it.
“I said to them after the game – if she had given up a key hit there, we might have been down 2- or 3-0, and then the whole momentum of the game swings to them. She’s obviously filling big shoes with Sydney (Andrews), and she’s doing great.”
The Panthers scored four runs in the bottom of the second. Mary Wilkinson singled to right, and Grace Baker needed just one swing to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead, slamming a two-run home run to center field. Skyler Williams and Emma Hilton singled, and an error loaded the bases. Katie Muller singled to plate a pair, spotting the Panthers a 4-0 lead.
Quakertown added two runs in the third inning. Baker singled to open the inning and scored when Skyler Williams doubled to left. Williams scored on a groundout, and the Panthers had their final margin of victory, 6-0.
Wagner retired 16 in a row to close out the game, allowing just two hits while striking out five and walking none.
“After the first inning, I don’t know if Upper Dublin hit a ball hard – they might have had one or two balls out of the infield the rest of the day on her,” Scott said. “She had her changeup working. After the second inning, it was really effective. They were not getting good contact on her at all.”
Leah Schwalm led an 11-hit Panther attack with a 3-for-3 effort.
“She is a phenomenal hitter, and she’s worked very hard to become a good hitter,” Scott said. “It’s nice to see her have some success.”
Baker was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
“Grace really played great defense,” Scott said. “She was at third for us, and she played really well. She had a couple of tough chances and handled them very well.
“Mary Wilkinson at first (base) also played really well defensively – she had a couple of really nice plays.”
Williams was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Quakertown (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh Thursday for an early-season showdown. Upper Dublin (2-1, 0-1) will host Wissahickon on Thursday.
Upper Dublin 000 000 0 0-2-1
Quakertown 042 000 x 6-11-3
SOL Freedom Division
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 13, CHELTENHAM 3 (5 innings)
New Hope-Solebury boasts an interesting dynamic this year.
The Lions have just one senior on their squad – Anne-Charlotte ‘Anncha’ Arnould, and she’s an exchange student from Belgium who has never played softball before.
“She was my left fielder today,” coach Chris Marchok said of Arnould. “We have one junior, and everyone else is a freshmen and sophomores.
“My starting center fielder – Elena Shire – is a kid who never played softball before. They both played basketball, and they both came out late. They never played softball until the end of March.
“I just love the fact that we’re so young and two of the starters never saw the game before the middle of March. It’s awesome. They haven’t been given anything. In an honest competition with everyone, they have performed better, and they have won the starting roles. It’s pretty cool. You look around and we’re literally all freshmen and sophomores. They are athletes, they’re young and they continue to want to learn.”
The Lions put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Three of their first four batters reached based on walks, and the Lions’ first run scored on an error. Helen Knapp lined a single to right to plate a pair of runs, and Ella Dudick followed with a single. Knapp scored on a two-out wild pitch for the 4-0 lead.
The Lions added a pair of runs in the second to go on top 6-0 before the Lady Panthers scored three in the top of the fourth. Sadie Leary’s RBI double highlighted the frame.
New Hope answered with seven runs in the bottom of an inning, collecting just one hit but benefitting from walks and several costly miscues.
Dudick’s 2-for-3 effort with one RBI and one run scored led the Lions. Knapp was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Kaylee Harris and Jackie Herbert each scored three runs.
Emily Wilson notched the win in the circle, allowing six hits and three runs, striking out five and walking four.
New Hope-Solebury (1-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Thursday, and Cheltenham (1-1, 0-1) will host Lower Moreland Thursday.
Cheltenham 000 30 3-6-4
New Hope-Solebury 420 7x 13-6-3
UPPER MORELAND 5, LOWER MORELAND 4
The visiting golden Bears put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning and led from wire to wire.
“With two runners on in the first, Natalie Walton started us off with a single and picked up two RBIs,” UM coach Melanie Martino said. “Alyssa Wiley came up big for us today, getting on base four out of four times and scoring twice.”
The Lions trimmed UM’s lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the first, but the Golden Bears got that run back in the top of the second. Lower Moreland scored two in the third inning to pull to within 4-3, but Wiley ripped a solo home run over the fence in the fourth inning to give the Golden Bears a 5-3 advantage.
Lower Moreland scored one in the top of the seventh, but the Golden Bears held on for the win.
Eowyn Stainback notched the win in the circle, striking out seven over six innings. Kelly Bates entered the game in the seventh to close out the game and earn the save.
Upper Moreland (2-1, 2-0 SOL) will host William Tennent on Thursday, and Lower Moreland (1-2 0-1) will be on the road at Cheltenham.
Lower Moreland 102 000 1 4
Upper Moreland 310 100 x 5
WILLIAM TENNENT 11, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 8
The Panthers opened up an 8-1 lead after four innings only to see the Spartans fight back, twice battling back to within three.
“It was a total team effort,” Tennent coach Rich Clark said. “All 14 girls contributed to the win. What I was most impressed with was how aggressive they were on the base paths. We talk about that a lot at practices – how good aggressive base running can get into the opponent’s head.”
The two teams exchanged single runs in the first with Gigi DeMito delivering a clutch two-out RBI double to left field. In the bottom of the inning, Taylor Schulz ripped a two-out RBI triple to center field.
In the top of the third, the Panthers erupted for four runs. The inning began with back-to-back doubles by Anna Coulter and Victoria Colagreco (RBI). DeMito singled, and a run scored on a fielder’s choice. Alyssa Lewicki delivered a sacrifice fly, and the Panthers also were on the receiving end of a walk and error.
The Panthers lead grew to 8-2 after a three-run third that included a pair of Spartan miscues. The Spartans pulled to within 9-5 after a three-run fifth. Included in the inning were singles by Nora Conlin and Emily West as well as a double by Charlotte Drapkin.
The Panthers put a pair on the board in the top of the fifth to go on top 11-5. A three-run seventh pulled the Spartans to within three. Ashley Schulz led off the inning with a solo home run to right field. Taylor Schulz and Ashley Jenkins followed with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for a two-run single by Conlin, but that’s where the rally ended.
Leading the Panthers at the plate were DeMito and Lewicki. DeMito was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Lewicki was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Colagreco also had a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored.
For the Spartans, Conlin was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Jenkins was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs, and Ashley Schulz was 2-for-4 with a triple, home run, two RBIs and a run scored. McKayla McKeever was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored out of the leadoff spot.
Carlie Nydick earned the win, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking two in four innings. Rylie O’Toole threw a scoreless seventh in relief.
“Carlie Nydick started and pitched a good game, and then our two freshman pitchers – Meg Pickford and Rylie O’Toole – came in and held down the fort,” Clark said. “Offensively, Gigi Demito, Alyssa Lewicki and Vicki Colagreco led the way with each collecting multiple hits and RBIs.”
William Tennent (1-1, 1-0 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Friday, and Springfield Twp (0-1) will host New Hope-Solebury on Thursday.
William Tennent 104 312 0 11-10-3
Springfield Twp 100 130 3 8-13-7
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