Central Bucks South 12, Easton 2*
To view a clip from WFMZ 69 news about the game, click on the following link: http://www.wfmz.com/sports/27364150/detail.html
Haileigh Stocks had herself a day.The Titans’ junior standout had four RBIs and was 2-for-2 at the plate, which included a tremendous three-run blast into the wind over the left field fence. For good measure, Stocks threw two scoreless innings, fanning five and walking none.
“The game ended in the sixth, and by that time, he was getting some subs at-bats, but Haileigh threw smoke today,” coach Jennifer Robinson said. “She was phenomenal. It was her day.”
Senior Francesca Carrullo also was impressive on the mound, striking out seven, walking a pair and allowing two hits and one earned run in four strong innings as the Titans looked every bit the part of the contenders they are when they took the field for their season opener at Easton.
“We were supposed to play two scrimmages, but we didn’t get to play anything,” Robinson said. “This was the very first time we played anybody.”
As beginnings go, this one certainly was impressive. The Titans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and increased that lead to 4-0 in the fourth. Easton cut that lead in half with a pair of runs, but the Titans took command when Stocks smashed her monster blast in the fifth, putting the Titans on top 7-2.
A key to the win was the ability of the top of the Titans’ order to get on base with their effective use of slap and drag bunts. Leadoff batter Jae Epstein was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Cait Bechta worked two full counts before going down in her first two at-bats, but in her third at-bat, she laid down a slap bunt for a base hit.
Ally Horvath, who replaced Epstein late in the game, also delivered a slap single.
“I was really pleased with what we were doing at the top of our order with putting runners on,” Robinson said. “My slappers scored a total of four of our runs today. They made things happen, and these are girls I put at the top of the lineup that weren’t necessarily there last year that are doing this.
“There were definitely some question marks for me, and I was really pleased to see the options I have. I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but I was anxious to see how these girls would perform at the top of the lineup. Would they be able to execute the slap? They look okay off the machine, and they look good in the gym, but sometimes off live pitching it’s a whole different story. I was just so pleased with what they offered our lineup, which gives our lineup more depth than we had last year.”
Norristown 3, William Tennent 2
The Eagles scored three unearned runs in the top of the first and then held on for the win over the Panthers.
“We scored those three runs in the first and unfortunately coasted the rest of the way,” coach Jon Kandrick said. “We were able to hold them to two runs, which were unearned also.
“It was basically an ugly softball game, but it’s a win.”
Junior Gwyn Botley tossed a complete game to earn the win, allowing five hits while striking out a pair.
“Gwyn transferred from Kennedy-Kenrick, and she has been a big addition for our team,” Kandrick said. “She doesn’t have much experience pitching in high school, but she pitches in travel ball, and she’s doing really well.
“The girls have adapted to her real quick, she’s hitting her spots, and she’s having fun, which is the most important part.”
Leading the offense for the Eagles were Gabbie Berry (triple), Julia Santoro and Sammi Kidd. According to Kandrick, Berry, Taylor Copestick and Stephanie ‘Sweat’ Dinolfi led the Eagles defensively with multiple clutch plays throughout the game.
“Tennent’s a good team, very well-coached, and they play in a tough division,” Kandrick said. “I had a chance to talk to Ashley Alden, and I told her straight up I wasn’t pitching to her.
“I said, ‘Don’t take that as an insult. Take that as respect.’ We walked her twice, and my pitcher gave her an outside fastball. Ashley got a hold of it, and hit it about 250 feet, but luckily, my centerfielder was playing her back, and she caught it. She’s an excellent hitter, a real good fielder and just a nice kid. She’s a pleasant kid to watch.”
North Penn 11, Council Rock South 2*
Jess Mower and Taylor Marchozzi had monster days at the plate for the Maidens. While Mower had a team-high four RBIs and was a near-perfect 4-for-5 with a home run and double, Marchozzi was 3-for-4 with a double and home run.
Michelle Holweger had a pair of hits and scored two runs while freshman Vicky Tumasz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Jenn Holcovage was 2-for-4. All told, the Maidens pounded out 18 hits.“It was a cold day, and I wasn’t sure whether we would hit or not,” Maiden coach Rick Torresani said. “We just came out and pounded the ball, and South’s pitcher was not bad. She had good ball movement and hit her spots, but we just happened to be hitting today.”
The Maidens plated a pair of runs in the first, sparked by an RBI double from Mower. Marchozzi and Mower both homered in a four-run sixth that put the Maidens on top 11-1. The Golden Hawks battled gamely, scoring a single run in the sixth to extend the game for the full seven innings.
On the mound, Maiden senior Kellianna Bradstreet scattered three hits while fanning nine and walking one. Junior Megan Shaefer went the distance on the mound for the Golden Hawks.
*To view photos of the North Penn/Council Rock South contest, visit the Photo Gallery.
Souderton 17, Upper Dublin 2 (4 innings)
With loss of many of last year’s big hitters as well as her entire infield to graduation, Souderton coach Courtney Hughes wasn’t too sure what to expect from her relatively untested lineup. The second-year coach had to love what she saw in Tuesday’s 18-hit offensive explosion.
“We have freshmen all the way to juniors that are just stepping up,” Hughes said. “They fought for the positions that they’re in.”
Junior Corrine Stiles and sophomore Sarah Derstine were both outfielders last year. This season, they are anchoring the middle of the Indians’ infield with Derstine playing shortstop and Stiles settling in at second base.
“They’ve worked their tails off, along with the other girls,” Hughes said. “Our defense is going to be much improved from last year.
“They’re just working really hard, and that’s one of the biggest improvements we’ve seen.”
Hughes is starting freshman Amanda Brush in left field and freshman Haley Delaney is playing first base. Both had impressive debuts on Tuesday. Brush – along with senior Brittany Beebe – homered as part of the Indians’ 11-run third inning.
“She is a small, skinny little kid, and out of nowhere, this girl will pop home runs over the fence,” Hughes said. “She has the biggest small-girl swing you’ve ever seen.”
Delaney, meanwhile, was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs. She finished just a home run shy of the cycle as she contributed a single, double and triple. Moira Golden – who also was 3-for-3 - was a sparkplug on offense, starting both the first and second innings with hits.
Mollie Burrell was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Beebe was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Liz Parkins was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Lauren Urbanski contributed a two-run double and Emily Groves also had a double and two RBIs on a day that saw every Souderton starter contribute one hit.
The Indians scored five runs in the first and blew the game wide open with an 11-run outburst in the third.
“The one thing we have been able to work on most the last three weeks has been our hitting,” Hughes said. “We’ve been on the field three times. We put in the time in the weight room, and we put in the time in the cages.
“They’ve been working hard, and they came out ready to hit today, which was exciting. I still don’t really know what they’ll bring to the table when the games get hard. I just don’t know what we’re capable of yet, and that’s exciting because we have so many new players and unknowns. It will be interesting – when the heat is on and when they’re in pressure situations, will they be able to handle that?”
Beebe also earned the win on the mound, striking out nine over four innings and allowing just two hits.
Bensalem 18, Upper Moreland 5 (6 innings)
Sparked by huge offensive performances from Amy Jarosz, Isabel Hansbury and Jenny Campbell, the Owls brought an early end to their non-league game against the Golden Bears.
Jarosz was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Hansbury was 3-for-5 with four runs scored, two RBIs, two triples and two stolen bases. Campbell was 4-for-5 with a home run, one run scored and six RBIs.
Other players contributing in the Owls’ 14-hit onslaught were Victoria Hall (1 hit, two runs scored, 3 RBIs), Meg Wajda (one hit, one run scored), Morgan Buechner (one hit, three runs scored) and Tatayana Keshanech (two hits and four runs scored).
Shannon McVicar picked up the win on the mound for the Owls, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out eight and walking just one.
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