Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday.
SOL Liberty/Freedom Crossover
UPPER DUBLIN 13, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3 (5 innings)
The Cardinals pounded out 12 hits in Tuesday’s game that was halted after five innings when the mercy rule went into effect. Chloe Foster turned in a solid outing in the circle to earn the win, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out eight and walking three.
Offensively, Madden Reilly was 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Brianna Kesslick was 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Lizzie Tambourino was 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and two RBIs, and Rachel Kratchman was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
Bella Fiore, Anna Levin, Kaitlyn Zacharia and Avery Lennon each also added a hit for the Cardinals.
For the Lions, Isabella Elizondo and Ciara Carter both had a single. Emily Primavera, Jackie Herbert and Carter each scored a run.
Upper Dublin (1-0) will host Archbishop Wood on Wednesday, and New Hope-Solebury (0-2) will travel to Springfield Township for its league opener on Friday.
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 6, WISSAHICKON 2
The visiting Rams trailed 1-0 heading into the top of the fifth when they erupted for five runs on their way to the non-league win.
The Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Danielle Ciliberto smashed a solo home run to right field. That score stood until the fifth inning.
Sophia Vargo led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Ashleigh Kenworthy followed with a single to right. It was the first of three straight singles for the Rams, who also received a bunt single from Katie Buccafuri as well as a single by Camryn Berry (RBI). One out later, Reagan Bauman – with the bases loaded – ripped a grand slam home run to center field, and just like that, the Rams led 5-1.
The Rams added a single run without the benefit of a hit in the sixth, and the Trojans pushed a run across when Emi Fox delivered a sacrifice fly to right field. That closed out the scoring.
Grace Helbling notched the complete game win, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out eight and walking five.
“Grace Helbling threw the whole game in tough weather and Sophia Vargo behind the plate had a great game, catching a popup behind the plate against the fence and (later) throwing out a runner attempting to steal second,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “Both were key defensive plays, stopping Wissahickon runners in scoring position.”
Bauman had a big day at the plate for the Rams, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored.
“Reagan Bauman had a great day at the plate,” Iadonisi said.
Kenworthy was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
For the Trojans, Ciliberto was 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs and an RBI. She also drew a walk. Luca Penna was 2-for-3 with a walk. Katelyn Fitzgerald reached base twice on walks.
Ciliberto absorbed the loss, allowing five hits and six runs (four earned) while striking out 13 and walking three.
Pennridge (1-0) will host Central Bucks East for its SOL opener on Friday, and Wissahickon (0-1) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday for its league opener.
Pennridge 000 051 0 6-6-0
Wissahickon 100 001 0 2-4-0
PENNSBURY 19, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 (6 innings)
It had been six months since Ainsley McClure had stepped in the circle to face live action. The Pennsbury senior made it looked as though she’d never been sidelined, allowing just two hits in six shutout innings. Even more impressive was the fact that the Falcons’ ace, who threw just 80 pitches, fanned 12 and did not walk a batter in a stellar outing.
“She really pitched well,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “She had an issue with her shoulder in the fall, so this is the first time she’s pitched since September, so we were really proud of the way she pitched. She did a great job.
“We didn’t know what to expect, but she cruised pretty well. To be honest, we thought it was going to be like a 1-0 game.”
And for three innings, it looked like one run might win it in another classic battle between the perennial SOL powers as the two teams were locked in a scoreless tie. Hatters’ ace Kendal Leitner had six strikeouts in the first three innings, and the visiting Falcons managed just one hit in that span.
In the top of the fourth, Leitner fanned three more, but the Falcons plated three run. An error sandwiched between two walks loaded the bases with none out. A run crossed the plate on a passed ball, and two more runners came home when sophomore Sam Raul tripled to right field to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead.
Pennsbury put the game out of reach with four runs in the top of the fourth that included a one-out double by Caitlyn Martell, a costly Hatter miscue, a pair of walks and a two-run single by Raul.
The Falcons brought an early end to the game with nine runs in the sixth. They benefitted from numerous free passes as well as a costly error. Highlights of the frame included a two-run single by Raub, and back-to-back two-run singles by pinch hitters Penelope Fong-Picariello and Maya Schuble as well as a single by Riley Mahoney.
“It almost looked like she was losing her grip on the ball because it was so cold, and when the weather heats up, she’ll be much better,” McSherry said of Leitner.
Raub finished a productive day 3-for-4 with a triple, six RBIs and a run scored. Martell was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. She scored three runs and drove in one run. The senior shortstop led off the game with a double, but Leitner, who came up with a pair of strikeouts, escaped unscathed.
Three players came off the bench to collect RBI singles for the Falcons – Fong-Picariello, Schuble and Liz Jordan (1-for-2, 1 run, RBI).
“All three of them – in their first at-bats, they had base hits and RBIs after sitting for five-and-a-half innings in the cold,” McSherry said.
For the Hatters, Tess Kearney hit a one-out double to left in the fourth inning after McClure retired the first 10 batters she faced. Alyssa Tooley hit a one-out single in the bottom of the fifth.
Pennsbury (1-0) will travel to Bensalem for Friday’s SOL opener. Hatboro-Horsham (0-1) will host Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Pennsbury 000 3412 x 19-10-0
Hatboro-Horsham 000 000 x 0-2-2
QUAKERTOWN 11, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 (5 innings)
The Panthers pounded out 13 hits while senior Syd Andrews tossed a three-hit shutout in the abbreviated contest, striking out nine and walking only one. Maya Hellyer led the Panthers at the plate with a perfect 3-for-3 effort that included two RBIs and three runs scored.
The Panthers scored all the runs Andrews would need in the top of the first. With one out, Ava Beal drew a walk, and Hellyer singled to center. One out later, Skyler Williams was hit by a pitch, and then it was Cadence Lewis roping a two-run double to center. Williams scored on a wild pitch, and the Panthers led 3-0.
With one out in the second, Emma Hilton and Beal collected back-to-back singles, and when Hellyer drew a walk, the bases were loaded. Andrews followed with an RBI single to right, and another run crossed the plate on a groundout. Mary Wilkinson’s two-run single put the Panthers on top 7-0.
The third inning was highlighted by a leadoff single by Julia Reich, two-out singles by Hellyer (RBI), Andrews and Williams (RBI) as well as a bases-loaded walk to Wilkinson (RBI). Singles by Hilton and Hellyer (RBI) closed out the scoring.
Also contributing multiple hits for the Panthers were Hilton (2-for-4, 2 runs), Andrews (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI and Lewis (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs).
Abby Lineman’s double was the offensive highlight for the Bucks.
Quakertown (1-0) will host Upper Perkiomen in a non-league game on Friday, and Central Bucks West (0-1) will travel to North Penn for its SOL opener on Friday.
Quakertown 343 10 11-13-0
Central Bucks West 000 00 0-3-0
BENSALEM 10, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 4
The Owls won their home opener against Springfield.
“It looked like the wind was going to wreak some havoc on the game in the first inning,” Bensalem coach Erin Smith said. “Springfield got a runner on board in the first inning when their leadoff hitter hit a flyball to the outfield that the wind moved like crazy, then the throw in looked like it hit a brick wall and just dropped, and she landed on third base, but the damage was limited to only one run.”
Bensalem came back to take the lead in the bottom of the first. Kayla Clarkson and Maggie Formichelli both walked and scored on singles from Lina Sponheimer and Adrianna Vargas. The Owls never looked back and added two more runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings.
“We did a really good job of getting runners on base, moving them over and scoring them,” Smith said.
Offensively, Lina Sponheimer led the Owls with three hits, including a homerun and two singles. Megan Klein had a 2-hit game with a triple and a single, and freshman Adrianna Vargas also had a 2-hit day.
In the circle for the Owls, Senior Maggie Formichelli tossed four innings and only allowed three hits.
“It’s not easy to pitch in cold weather because the spin on the ball isn’t as tight, but she looked great,” Smith said.
Sophomore Kayla Clarkson tossed three solid innings in relief.
“I must hand it to Springfield’s leadoff hitter Ashley Schultz – she is a great ballplayer and hit the ball hard all game,” Smith said. “She hit a bomb over the right field fence that landed in the trees and was responsible for scoring three of the team’s four runs.”
Bensalem (1-0) will host Pennsbury on Friday, and Springfield Township (0-1) will host New Hope-Solebury on Friday.
NESHAMINY 8, NAZARETH ACADEMY 3
The Neshaminy Redskins welcomed Nazareth Academy for their first official game of the season on Tuesday.
After a quick first inning from both sides, Neshaminy got on the board early in the second. Senior Kennedy Ruth led off the inning with a single, followed immediately by the same from junior Rileigh Bilbrey. Seniors Zoe Shimp and Carena Barr earned one RBI each with singles of their own that followed, and the Redskins led 2-0.
In the third, junior Lindsey Gorka led off with a single, and senior Jill Thomas followed and was hit by a pitch. Bilbrey drove in both Gorka and Thomas with a double to left and later scored on a double from Barr. The Redskins were scoreless in the fourth. With one out in the fifth inning, senior Olivia Turchi got her first hit of the game. A pair of errors allowed a run to cross the plate, and Neshaminy led 6-0.
In the sixth inning, Gorka hit a solo homerun to center field. That was followed by junior Maddie Nelson fighting for a walk in the next at bat. Nelson advanced on a single from senior Christina Walker and scored on Turchi’s second hit of the game.
At the plate, the Redskins were led by Gorka, Bilbrey, Turchi and Barr who tallied two hits apiece. Walker and Shimp also contributed with one hit each. Bilbrey, Turchi, and Barr had two RBIs each while Gorka and Shimp each had one.
In the circle, Kennedy Ruth faced 25 hitters in seven innings in a glittering outing, allowing only three runs and striking out 15.
Nesaminy (1-0) will travel to Council Rock South for its SOL opener on Friday.
Neshaminy (1-0)
Nazareth Academy 000 000 3 3
Neshaminy 023 012 x 8
LOWER MORELAND 12, ACADEMY OF THE NEW CHURCH 0 (5 innings)
Lower Moreland junior Clare O’Donnell tossed a one-hitter, striking out nine and walking four in an abbreviated win over their next-door neighbor.
The Lions scored one run in each of the first, second, and third innings for a 3-0 lead and then exploded in the fourth inning with nine more runs to take a commanding 12-0 lead. Senior Hannah Klanderman and junior Liz Neeld led the way offensively, both having perfect at-bats for the day.
Neeld wasted no time getting her team on the board with a solo homerun in the top of the first inning. In the second inning, Clare O’Donnell singled, stole second base, and then scored on a single by Klanderman.
In the third inning, Neeld walked, stole second and third bases, and scored on a wild pitch. In the fourth inning, junior Isabella Ricciardi, Klanderman, and Neeld all contributed RBI singles, and Klanderman added a two-run homerun with her second at-bat of the inning.
Leading the Owls was Klanderman, who went 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, four RBI’s, one HR, and three stolen bases. Neeld was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, two RBI’s, one HR, and two stolen bases.
ANC’s only hit came in the bottom of the second inning with a single to right field.
Lower Moreland (2-0) will host MaST Community Charter School in a non-league contest on Thursday.
Lower Moreland 111 90 12-7-0
Academy of the New Church 000 00 0-1-5
UPPER MORELAND 8, POTTSGROVE 4
The Golden Bears opened their season with a non-league win over the visiting Falcons.
“It was a great competitive game to start the season with,” UM coach Melanie Martino said.
Both teams scored an early run in the first.
UM did it in dramatic fashion when Alyssa Wiley led off with a solo homerun to centerfield.
Liz Santry gave the team strong defensive play while going 4-for-4 at the plate. Adding in a triple was Haleigh Woodman.
“Eowyn Stainback had a great game today with seven strikeouts,” Martino said. “She has worked hard on the off season, and it shows.
“Overall, we were pleased as a staff with what we saw today and are looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Upper Moreland (1-0) will travel to Bristol for a non-league game on Thursday.
About the Author
