Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action. CR North photo provided courtesy of John Marasheski. Pennsbury/Neshaminy photo courtesy of Jesse Garber (https://JSGarber.zenfolio.com/p964160376)
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 7, NESHAMINY 1
Pennsbury vs. Neshaminy is one of the area’s fiercest rivalries, and in recent years, Neshaminy has had the upper hand, winning 11 of the last 14 regular season meetings between the two teams. It’s been almost three years since the Falcons last won, edging the Redskins 6-5 on May 10, 2016.
“It seems to go on runs,” said Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry. “It’s like basketball games – you’re watching the NCAA, and every team has a run. There was a time we had beaten them 14 straight. They had a nice run, and hopefully, maybe this is the start of one for us, but who knows.
“They were down one of their best players today (Penn State commit Liana Jones), and she’s a big cog in their wheel. I don’t want to take anything away from our kids, but I know it may not have been 7-1.”
Leading the charge for the Falcons was Ainsley McClure. The Falcons’ freshman hurler limited the Redskins to four hits while fanning seven and walking one. She hit one batter.
“Our kids played so well defensively, and our pitcher was so poised,” McSherry said.
“We knew that she was a pretty good pitcher, but she’s coming from a middle school team. What we’re pleasantly surprised about is her poise. She doesn’t get rattled. She has the same demeanor whatever’s happening, and she’s around the plate.”
Senior Carly Parsons put the Falcons on the board in the third when she hit a one-out solo home run to left center. The Falcons added a pair of runs in the fifth, benefitting from a leadoff walk to Alex Rishel as well as an RBI single by Sierra Daley and a two-out RBI double by freshman Caitlyn Martell.
The Redskins got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but the Falcons added two in the sixth. Karli Haines opened the inning with a double and scored on an error. Quinn McGonigle’s two-out RBI single gave the Falcons a 5-1 lead. For good measure, they added a pair in the seventh, bunching singles by Parsons, Martell and Glynn and Liz Pingor (two RBIs).
Parsons led the Falcons with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.
“Parsons beat out two ground balls to shortstop, and she hit a home run,” McSherry said. “She hit both balls to shortstop on the nose.”
Martell was 2-for-4 and is now 5-for-11 with five RBIs in three games.
For the Redskins, sophomore Kylee Jones was 2-for-3. Gianna Pickens had the team’s lone extra base hit – a double.
Kennedie Ruth absorbed the loss in the circle.
The loss was the first of the season for the Redskins, who opened the season with four straight wins. Three of those wins were by double digits.
“Pennsbury played a great game today,” said Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti, who had just one senior on the field. “They executed all of the routine plays and even made some really nice ones.
“This will teach my girls what it takes to be good. Winning doesn’t come as easy as it did last week, and they learned a lesson today as well.”
Pennsbury (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host defending PCL champion Archbishop Ryan Tuesday in a non-league game. Leading the Ragdolls is sophomore pitching sensation Dana Bell. Neshaminy (4-1, 2-1) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday.
Pennsbury 001 022 2 7-11-0
Neshaminy 000 010 0 1-4-2
Non-league
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 12, ABINGTON 1 (5 innings)
Juliana Shields is on a bona fide tear. After a 3-for-4 day against Archbishop Wood that included two doubles and three RBIs, the UMass-bound senior was a perfect 3-for-3 on Monday with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs. Her three-run home run in the first highlighted a five-run outburst, and she added a two-run double in both the third and fourth innings.
Shields was hardly a one-woman show. Rachel Lorence was 2-for-2 out of the leadoff spot with three stolen bases and three runs scored. Lauren Begg was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and three runs. Abby Seiple was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Katheryn Hastings was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
Abington scored its lone run in the second when Kiersten Gant and Sydney Steiner (RBI) collected back-to-back doubles.
Jenna Khantzian earned the win, allowing only three hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking one.
Council Rock North (3-2, 1-2 SOL) is off until next week because of a senior trip, and Abington (1-3, 0-1) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Tuesday.
Abington 010 00 1
Council Rock North 520 5 12
BENSALEM 14, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 4 (6 innings)
The Owls took care of business in a hurry in Monday’s non-league game, scoring early and often en route to a 12-1 lead after three innings. They brought an early end to the game in the sixth.
“We had them beat 12-1, and Villa made a run in the fifth,” coach Dan Schram said. “Overall, it was a nice job by the team.”
Allison Goodman had a productive day at the plate, finishing the game 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored. Her three-run blast highlighted a six-run third inning.
Maddie Buechner was 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and three runs, and Jessica Klein was 2-for-3 with a double, triple, three RBIs and three runs scored.
“Goodman hit a shot,” Schram said. “She’s a leader on and off the field.
“Jess Klein and Maddie Buechner really stepped up on offense.”
Maggie Formichelli earned the win, allowing six hits while striking out six and walking one.
“Maggie Formichelli pitched a great game – Villa has a good hitting lineup,” Schram said. “Our right fielder, Izzy Naegle, recorded eight outs – one was throwing a girl out at home.”
Bensalem (2-1, 0-1 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday.
Villa Joseph Marie 010 030 4
Bensalem 246 002 14
QUAKERTOWN 6, BOYERTOWN 3
With two outs in the top of the first, senior Kylie Hertzler delivered a three-run home run to left field, and with one swing of the bat, the visiting Bears led 3-0. The Panthers were unfazed, taking a lead in the bottom of the second and holding it the rest of the way. Tori Caputo also settled into a grove, and after allowing three hits in the three-run first, she gave up just three hits the rest of the way.
The Panthers got a run back in the bottom of the first, benefitting from a pair of walks and an RBI single by Jenna Blair. In the second inning, Lauryn Cope and Syd Andrews led off with back-to-back singles. Two outs later, Abby Schwartz doubled to center, plating a pair. A Boyertown error allowed the go-ahead run to cross the plate.
The Panthers led 5-3 after Maddie Moyer drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, and in the sixth, Halle Frederick hit a solo home run to center, giving the Panthers their final margin of victory.
Cope (2-for-3) was the lone Panthers with more than one hit.
Caputo allowed six hits in the complete game win, striking out four and walking none.
Quakertown (1-2, 0-1 SOL) will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
Boyertown 300 000 0 3-6-1
Quakertown 130 101 x 6-7-1
UPPER MERION 9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5
The Colonials fell behind early, staged a late rally but never could make up the ground they lost after allowing eight runs in the first three innings.
The Vikings opened the game with four straight hits, which included two doubles and a triple. They also benefitted from a pair of PW miscues and put four runs on the board in the top of the first.
PW responded by plating four runs in the third inning. Sydney Melillo opened the inning with a single, and leadoff batter Kamryn Kropinski was safe on an error. Jennifer Byrne’s single loaded the bases for Gianna Fazio, who hit a two-run double. One out later, Byrne scored on Josee Tassoni’s groundout, and a fourth run raced home when Emma Carney was safe on an error.
The two teams exchanged runs in the fifth inning, but the Colonials would get no closer than four.
Fazzio led the Colonials with a 2-for-4 effort that included a pair of doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. Byrne also was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Melillo was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Emma Carney and Lauryn Kane both contributed a double.
Kane absorbed the loss in the circle, but only three of Upper Merion’s nine runs were earned.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Upper Merion413 010 0 9-9-3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 004 010 0 5-9-7
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 10, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 (5 innings)
The Titans have faced a steady diet of Pioneer Athletic Conference teams, and so far the PAC squads have not been particularly kind to the defending District 1 6A champions.
On Monday, the Titans lost their third game to a PAC school, and the Vikings took control of this one early, plating four runs in the first on their way to the mercy rule win. The Titans managed just three hits.
Central Bucks South (1-3, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 000 00 0-3-3
Perkiomen Valley 401 14 10-10-0
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