Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday.
Non-league
SOUDERTON 3, NESHAMINY 0
What a difference two years make.
Abby Burns was a solid pitcher for the Indians as a freshman. Two years later, the junior pitcher has been all but untouchable in her first two outings, tossing her second shutout in as many days on Tuesday. This one against a Neshaminy squad that is a perennial SOL power.
“It really helps to have people behind me I know I can trust,” Burns said. “So even if I mess up, I know I’ll be fine as long as it doesn’t go over the fence.
“If people hit a ball once in a while, it’s not that big a deal because I know they have my back, they’ll make the plays.”
Burns allowed just two hits, struck out 12 and walked only one. Tuesday’s outing came on the heels of a one-hit six-inning shutout over Abington one day earlier that saw Burns fan 11, throwing just 66 pitches – 57 for strikes.
“Lights out – let me tell you,” senior Ryan Zimmerman said of her teammate. “She always surprises. I always know she’s going to be great, but she somehow tops what I think. I don’t know how she does.”
Burns needed to be great against a Redskin squad that boasts some firepower, and it was clear from the outset, runs were not going to be easy to come by. The Indians struck first in the bottom of the second when Kayley York delivered a two-out double that plated Zimmerman, who had walked to lead off the inning.
In the third inning, junior Kennedie Ruth replaced starter Mia Barrone in the circle, and what was already a pitcher’s duel went up a notch.
Ruth struck out a pair in both the third and fourth innings, and Burns had four strikeouts in that span as well.
“She’s a great pitcher,” Zimmerman said of Ruth.
“She makes me nervous,” Burns said of her counterpart.
The Indians took that 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth when Megan Kummery, Burns and Riley York drew back-to-back-to-back one-out walks to load the bases for Zimmerman.
Ruth appeared to have the early advantage with a two-strike count on Zimmerman.
“Being down 0-2 – I just had to work up,” Zimmerman said. “I looked at the bases, and I just knew I had to hit them in.
“I take a deep breath. My first two strikes I was a little jumpy, and I just relaxed a little bit and changed my mindset.”
It apparently worked as Zimmerman lined a two-strike single to center that plated a pair and gave the Indians a 3-0 lead.
“That was amazing – it made me feel a lot better,” Burns said. “I appreciate everyone on the team for that.”
In the top of the sixth, Danielle Monaco led off the inning with a single to left. Burns retired the next batter she faced on a strikeout, but Neshaminy had a pair on board when Amanda Slabicki was safe on an error. Burns ended that threat with back-to-back strikeouts. A one-two-three seventh put the finishing touches on a glittering performance by Burns.
“It’s just great to be back playing this year,” Souderton coach Carol Atkinson said. “We have a solid, solid team. We have a lot of juniors and seniors this year.
“Abby is obviously our ace in the hole pitcher – she’s very confident, she’s very calm on mound. Hitting – we’re solid. The girls have big goals, and they’re hoping to fill them.”
Kayley York was the lone player to collect a pair of hits.
More important than any outcome is the fact that the players are back on the diamond.
“I think our team’s a lot closer than freshman year,” Burns said. “This year we’re all best friends. Everybody is cheering for everybody. No conflict whatsoever. It’s great.”
“It feels so good because we missed last season,” said Zimmerman, who will continue her softball career at Misericorida. “Just coming back and playing with this team – I think we have a great dynamic, and it’s just so fun.
“This (win) was so big. They’re one of the best teams in my opinion, and coming off this is really good.”
Souderton (2-0) will host Lansdale Catholic in a non-league game Monday at 3:45 p.m., and Neshaminy (0-1) will host Council Rock South on Wednesday, April 7, in its SOL opener.
Neshaminy 000 000 0 0-2-2
Souderton 010 020 x 3-5-1
NORTH PENN 1, QUAKERTOWN 0 (8 innings)
Mady Volpe was nothing short of brilliant in her 2021 debut Tuesday.
The all-state pitcher allowed just one hit while striking out 18 and walking one. For good measure, she delivered a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth to plate the game-winner.
“Mady was again outstanding,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “She gave up her only hit in the seventh inning. Mady was just Mady again.
“She hasn’t lost her touch, and she’s gotten a lot better. She’s the leader of the team, and then she came up in the bottom of the eighth and got the game-winning double.”
Julia Shearer – who had singled and was on first base – scored the game-winner in yet another classic battle between the two SOL rivals.
“Every time we play Quakertown – it’s always a great game,” Torresani said. “No matter who’s got more talent, less talent, it’s just a good competitive game all the time.”
Shearer had a monster day at the plate for the Knights, finishing 4-for-4 with a double and a triple.
Quakertown pitcher Syd Andrews also was outstanding in the circle, allowing seven hits and only one run in 7.2 innings while striking out seven and walking none.
North Penn (1-0) is off until next Wednesday when the Knights will host Central Bucks West in their SOL opener. Quakertown (1-1) will host Central Bucks East in a non-league game on Tuesday.
Quakertown 000 000 00 0-2-1
North Penn 000 000 01 1-6-0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 6, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 5
Things didn’t always go the Indians’ way in Tuesday’s season opener, but they never stopped battling and eked out a non-league win over the Vikings.
“We definitely had early season growing pains today, committing seven errors on the field,” North coach Susan Yee said. “However, the girls showed a lot of mental toughness and great team chemistry as they continuously rallied together to battle past the struggles.”
The Indians put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Emma Zoldi led off with a walk, and Sofia Shields, batting out of the three hole, delivered an RBI triple. Freshman Molly Sheey’s single through the infield plated Shields, and pitcher Kat Hastings helped her own cause when she followed with a single.
“Sheehy scored with a fantastic display of base running on a Bella Pellitta hit down the left field line,” said Yee, whose team led 3-0.
After falling behind 4-3 thanks to a rough defensive inning, the Indians rallied to plate three runs in the fifth. Freshman Taylor Gearhart led off the inning with a line drive single to left center, and Shields roped a double that put a pair of runners in scoring position.
With one out and a runner on third, Hastings gave herself some run support with her third single of the day, this one plating a run. Pellitta followed with a double that plated Sheehy. Senior Sophia Levy’s sacrifice fly plated courtesy runner Kandace Kiskurno with a run that turned out to be the game-winner.
“We didn’t really have any specific ‘knock-out blow’ kind of hit today,” Yee said. “The girls really played together and strung things together to score runs. Every run we scored today crossed the plate one at a time.
“I really couldn’t be more proud of the girls for the way they strung hits (and sacrifices) together to get the job done. It was really a total team effort. The girls faced a lot of adversity – which we placed on ourselves with some pretty terrible defense, but when push came to shove, they battled past it and found a way to get the job done together.
“We didn’t rely on one hero to strike a big blow, they did it as a group, and that has really been the hallmark of this team so far. They have great chemistry, they support each other, they pick each other up, and they have really bought into the team concept of every role being important.
“This may be the first tough game we’ve played where things don’t go right, but every team has a few of those per season, and the teams that can battle through it and find a way to win on their off days are the teams that ultimately find themselves having a successful season. In the end, the biggest thing I took from our girls’ performance today is their grit and willpower to each step up and do a little something to help the team succeed when they need to. If they keep that up, it’s going to be a very fun year at Council Rock North.”
Hastings threw a complete game four-hitter, striking out six. She also had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI. Shields was 2-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and an RBI, and Pellitta also had a big day, finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. All told, the Indians pounded out 12 hits while also swiping five bases.
Council Rock North (1-0) will travel to Harry S Truman next Wednesday (April 7) for its SOL opener.
Archbishop Wood 004 001 0 5-4-0
Council Rock North 300 030 x 6-12-7
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 11, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 10
The Golden Hawks took an 11-7 lead into the top of the seventh only to see the Jems come roaring back, but they held on for the win in Tuesday’s season opener.
“We’re a younger and inexperienced team,” South coach John Engelhardt said.
Several young players made huge contributions. Freshman Grace Stepp delivered the game’s biggest blow – a three-run home run in a five-run third.
“I hate to compare her to others, but she might be the most talented freshman I’ve ever coached,” Engelhardt said. “This kid’s composure at the plate – it’s just way more than any freshman.
“She crushed a pitch to right center, and it went out. This is a kid – I told her, ‘Your goal is 100 hits in high school,’ and I don’t normally talk to kids like that. That’s a lot of pressure, but this is a kid who sets the bar high.”
Sophomore leadoff batter Kaylie Walters reached base four times without an official at-bat, drawing four walks and doing some serious damage when she got on base. Walters not only stole four bases, she scored four runs.
Senior Lauren Paulk was 2-for-4 with four RBIs, delivering key hits in the third and fifth innings.
“It was awesome to see Lauren Paulk, who buys in, come up huge for us,” Engelhardt said.
Sophomore Jordan Bobrin was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Senior Ciara Constance earned the complete game win, fanning eight.
“The difference in the game was – they walked nine batters,” Engelhardt said. “We had some timely hits.
“My first three batters had eight of my runs scored, so we really got production out of the top three.”
Council Rock South (1-0) will host Wissahickon in a non-league game Tuesday.
Villa Joseph Marie 014 110 3 10-10-3
Council Rock South 105 032 x 11-7-5
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 9, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3
The visiting Colonials opened up a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and led wire to wire to notch their first win of the young season.
“I’m very proud of this team fighting back after a tough late-inning loss to Pennridge last week in the season opener,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “Being short handed due to Spring Break and an injury to senior captain Carly Rosenberger, we knew everyone would have to step up today and they did.”
The three-run first began with sophomore Molly Moore leading off with a single and scoring when Lauryn Kane roped a triple to center. Talia Carr’s RBI single plated a run, and Hannah Suh followed with PW’s fourth straight hit, eventually scoring the third run on a groundout.
South answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, thanks to an RBI double by sophomore Marlena Hacker. A two-run home run by Carr in the top of the second spotted the Colonials a 5-1 lead. They never looked back.
Moore earned the win in the circle, allowing five hits and one run while striking out 10 and walking one. At the plate she was 2-for-5 with a home run, RBI and two runs scored.
Kane was 4-for-5 with two home runs and a triple. She closed out the game in the circle. Suh was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and junior Talia Carr was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Emily Caffrey went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
“Molly Moore was exceptional on the mound, giving us five strong innings,” Perez said. “The top of the lineup had a huge day at the plate versus a strong CB South pitching staff, and the bottom of the lineup had a bunch of timely hits. I’m excited to see what this season has in store for these girls!”
For the Titans, veteran Nicole Pilla was 3-for-4 with a double. Grace Motley also had a double.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-1) will travel to Quakertown for next Wednesday’s SOL opener. Central Bucks South (0-1) will host Souderton in its SOL opener next Wedneday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 320 102 1 9
Central Bucks South 100 020 0 3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 15, WISSAHICKON 0 (5 innings)
The Patriots put two runs on the board in the first inning and then blew the game wide open with an 11-run third on their way to the mercy rule win.
Senior pitcher Alex Frenica tossed a complete game five-inning shutout, allowing just two hits while fanning five and walking one. She also had three hits and scored three runs.
Sophomore center fielder Elizabeth Gray had a pair of hits, two stolen bases and scored a run. Junior catcher Amelia Funston had three hits, including a double, one run scored and an RBI. Senior Soleil Donner, the winning pitcher in Monday’s opener, had a pair of doubles, two runs scored and one RBI. She also played a flawless first base with seven chances.
Sophomore shortstop Elise Washington had three hits, one run scored and one RBI, and senior second baseman Bailey Shellhorn had two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman Ava Catron – in her first varsity game at CB East – had a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Senior Sophia Lindia scored two runs.
Central Bucks East (2-0) will host Nazareth in a non-league game Thursday, and Wissahickon (0-1) will travel to Council Rock South Tuesday for a non-league game.
Central Bucks East 2011 02 15-21-0
Wissahickon 000 00 0-2-3
BENSALEM 15, LITTLE FLOWER 0 (3 innings)
The Owls celebrated the team’s four seniors – Maddie Buechner, Jess Klein, Emma Lostracco and McKayla Edwards – with a mercy rule win in Tuesday’s opener.
“It was a great day in the sun,” Bensalem coach Dan Schram said. “Mark Fusetti’s team was missing a few players. He has a young team and he is a great coach. We greatly appreciate that the team still honored the commitment knowing they would be shorthanded. They are going to be really good in years to come.
“It wasn’t an easy task for any team to come play us today. It was beautiful weather and a classic Bensalem crowd. The support of families, friends, faculty, and alumni was a fitting tribute to these four amazing young ladies that are the seniors of 2021.
“The last year has been so hard in so many ways. On this day, we were the community we once were, and the Owls got a chance to play a kids game and smile like kids. It’s so easy for the world to become so complex that we forget all of what is good about it. Today we were reminded of all that was good and still is. Togetherness, and we are Bensalem Strong!”
The Owls’ offense, according to Schram, is sparked and guided by the Klein sisters – freshman shortstop Megan Klein and senior second baseman Jess Klein.
Maggie Formichelli earned the win, and freshmen pitcher Kyla Clarkson threw a scoreless third.
Bensalem (1-0) will travel to Pennsbury next Wednesday (April 7) for its SOL opener.
Little Flower 000 0
Bensalem 771 15
MaST CHARTER 16, CHELTENHAM 0
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