Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. CB East/CB West photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. PW/Abington photos courtesy of Kim Supko Photography, and Pennsbury/Truman photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for galleries of all three games.
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 3, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Falcons plated three runs in the first inning, and it looked as though runs would be easy to come by. That was not the case. Those three runs turned out to be the beginning and the end of the scoring for both teams.
“Give Truman credit – they came out swinging the bats,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “I know they were shutdown 10 or 11 days, they had one practice, they played Neshaminy yesterday, and then they played us. They had more hits than we did
“It was one of those games – we hit a bunch of balls hard but right at people, but so did they.”
In the first, the Falcons benefitted from a leadoff walk and a single by Caitlyn Martell that set the stage for Quinn McGonigle’s RBI fielder’s choice and an RBI double by Emma Hause. A third run crossed the plate on an error.
Ainsley McClure notched the complete game shutout win, allowing seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The defense delivered some gems behind her.
“Riley Mahoney had an unbelievable game in center field – she robbed a kid of a home run with a catch over the fence,” McSherry said. “Another one was up against the fence, and the grass was wet, so she slipped and fell down and caught the ball in her stomach. She was on her back, but she stayed with it. It was a cool play. I said to her, ‘When the ball’s hit to you, we’re going to have to throw a tent over your circus.’”
Martell finished the day 2-for-2 with a stolen base and run scored. Hause was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI, and Allie Charlier was 1-for-3 with a double.
Jalecia Blackston pitched well for the Tigers in defeat. She also had a pair of hits, and Mara McKeon was 2-for-3.
Pennsbury (3-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Friday, and Harry S Truman (2-3, 0-3) will host Council Rock South on Friday.
Harry S Truman 000 000 0 0-7-1
Pennsbury 300 000 x 3-4-0
BENSALEM 13, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 7
The Owls took care of business in a hurry, seizing control of the game with a seven-run first. They added three more runs in the third to go on top 10-0 before the Golden Hawks rallied, but they would get no closer than four.
“It was a real competitive game,” Bensalem coach Dan Schram said. “South had to battle from a slow start and really responded. I’m proud of our kids.
“But I must say, I was so happy to see John Engelhardt on the other side of the field. He is a great coach and friend. It’s so hard to sustain coaching when you have a family. He’s a student of the game, highly dedicated and it wouldn’t be the same without him. South will benefit having him.”
Maddie Buechner had a big day at the plate for the Owls. She was 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two walks, three RBIs and three runs scored. Emma Lostracco was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and one run.
Maggie Formichelli earned the win in the circle, but she had some help.
“Our centerfielder, Ayva Knowles, was a defensive wall,” Schram said. “She was unbelievable in center field.”
For the Golden Hawks, Kaylie Walters was 1-for-2 with three walks and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Bensalem (3-2, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Friday, and Council Rock South (2-3, 0-3) will host Pennridge in a non-league game Friday.
Bensalem 703 010 2 13-13-1
Council Rock South 004 201 0 7-6-3
NESHAMINY 6, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2
Senior Mia Barone notched her first varsity win, and the Redskins received timely hitting to knock the Indians from the ranks of the undefeated.
“Mia’s been great,” Neshaminy coach Tim Quense said. “All of our seniors have been tasked to lead this team because we have seven new starters on our team, including Mia.
“Our seniors have really gravitated to it and are showing great mentorship. This was her first career high school win, and she was dominating today. She was on point. She was in control of the game the whole time. Her mound presence was great all day.”
Barone allowed two hits and walked one.
“Mia Barone pitched a phenomenal game and really had our hitters off balance,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “We struggled to ‘sweet spot’ the ball, and when we did, their defense did a fantastic job taking things away.
“Their middles were tremendous and displayed a ton of range, robbing hits that typically get through against other teams. Their second baseman was extremely impressive. She made two amazing diving stops that kept us from gaining momentum and really impacted our ability to get any kind of rally going.”
The Redskins scored all the runs that Barone would need in a four-run first. Amanda Slabicki, Danielle Monaco and Peyton Tierney each contributed a hit in the inning, and all three scored.
The Redskins added single runs in the third and fourth to go on top 6-0 before Noelle Wood drove in a run that put the Indians on the board in the fifth. Kat Hastings hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 6-2 game.
“All year our girls have been playing with an ‘everything to gain and nothing to lose’ attitude, but today, (for the first time this year) I saw our girls going up to the plate looking tense instead of confident, and that’s a credit to Neshaminy and their program,” Yee said. “Everybody knows their depth and history, and I think our youth showed a bit on the mental side. Our mental approach through the first four innings just wasn’t what it needed to be in order to succeed against such a well-run program.
“However, I was happy to see our girls starting to look more like themselves in the final few frames which should give them confidence that they can play with these caliber teams moving forward.”
Carena Barr was 2-for-4 with two RBIs out of the leadoff spot for Neshaminy.
“We put her in the leadoff spot the last two games, and she’s been unbelievable,” Quense said. “She’s fast, she gets on base and causes chaos on the base paths.”
Kylee Jones was 1-for-4 with one RBI, Monaco was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Tierney was 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Slabicki was 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
“Amanda Slabicki is just taking off this year,” Quense said. “She’s playing great – she plays a great center field for us.”
Kennedie Ruth had the Redskins’ lone extra-base hit, a double.
“We got off to a little bit of a slow start this season, but our hitting is really coming around,” Quense said. “We’re putting the ball in play, and we’re really concentrating on teaching these kids a two-strike approach – to change their swing, to get the ball in play and move runners. They’re really picking it up.”
Hastings threw the first five innings, and senior Gabby Cohen tossed two scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out one.
“Overall, playing a team as talented and well coached as Neshaminy was a great learning experience for our girls to be able to build on, and I look forward to seeing our girls immerge from this game stronger than we were before,” Yee said.
Neshaminy (3-2, 3-1 SOL) will host Bensalem on Friday, and Council Rock North (4-1, 2-1) will be on the road at Pennsbury Friday.
Neshaminy 041 100 0 6
Council Rock North 000 010 1 2
SOL Colonial Division
NORTH PENN 9, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Mady Volpe continued her dominance in the circle, tossing a complete game one-hit shutout while striking out 15 and walking three. If that wasn’t enough, the senior ace was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.
“Another 15-strikeout, one-hitter,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “She’s being a senior, she’s a D1 player, and she’s playing like it.”
A five-run second was more than enough run support for Volpe. Carley DiGiuseppe and Sophia Collins opened the innings with back-to-back singles, and the bases were loaded when Gianna Cimino was hit by a pitch. Rachel Lowry’s groundout pushed a run across, and Collins scored on a wild pitch. Julia Shearer’s sacrifice fly gave the Knights a 3-0 lead, and Volpe followed with a two-run single to make it a 5-0 game. They added runs in each of the next three innings to close out the scoring.
“The good thing about this team is they’re a lot of fun,” Torresani said. “It all comes down to chemistry. I’ve had teams that maybe weren’t as good as this team, but the chemistry wasn’t there and it didn’t work. This team’s chemistry is just so good. It’s just fun to be around them.”
DiGiuseppe finished the day 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Sophomore Sarah Sabocsik was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Bri Wilmot had a triple.
“Carley wasn’t hitting in our first couple games, and we sat down and had a talk,” Torresani said. “I told her, ‘It’s going to come, you’re a senior, and you’ve worked very hard for this year.’ I told her to relax. The other day she hit well, and today she hit well. It’s going to come for her. She’s too good a player for it not too.
“The same thing with Sarah. Sarah’s such an outstanding player, and she’s concentrating so much on behind the plate and not wanting to make a mistake, and it affected her hitting a little bit. I told her – it’s going to come, and she’s starting to hit the ball hard, and she’s really fast. If she puts a bunt down, she has a good chance of beating it out.”
Nicole Pilla’s two-out single in the top of the first was the Titans’ lone hit.
North Penn (5-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Friday for a battle of the division’s unbeaten squads, and Central Bucks South (1-4, 1-3) will host Pennridge on Friday.
Central Bucks South 000 000 0 0-1-2
North Penn 051 120 x 9-13-1
SOUDERTON 14, PENNRIDGE 4 (5 innings)
For four innings, it looked like a typical Souderton-Pennridge battle that would come down to the wire, but then came a fifth inning that saw the Indians explode for 10 runs, bringing an early end to the game.
“It was a great game the first couple of innings,” Souderton coach Carol Atkinson said. “In the bottom of the fifth inning, we just opened up the gate. They had a couple of walks, but other than that, we just had a lot of really good hits. It was 4-4 and the next thing you knew it was over.”
The win came on the heels of an 8-0 loss to North Penn that saw the Indians manage just two hits.
“We didn’t hit against North Penn, and the girls came right back and showed they can hit,” Atkinson said. “Abby (Burns) threw a great game today. It was just nice to see them turn it around.”
Souderton’s 10-run fourth included four walks and a hit batter but also included some timely hitting. After the first two batters received free passes, Riley York doubled to center to plate a pair. Then came RBI singles by Kayley York and Taylor Nelson. Sierra Ripka and Abby Burns both collected two-run doubles, and it was Riley York – in her second at-bat of the inning – singling in a pair to bring an early end to the game.
Earlier, the Indians took a 4-0 lead in the third. Brooke Scotti led off the inning with a single, and both Burns and Ryan Zimmerman hit two-run doubles. Both big hits came with two outs.
The Rams knotted the score in the top of the third. Catelyn Thrush led off with a single to right and stole second. Grace Helbling’s RBI single plated Thrush. Madison Silber followed with a single, and with two outs, Mackenzie Owens evened the score 4-4 with one swing of the bat, hitting a three-run blast to center field.
Burns had a productive day at the plate and in the circle. She notched the win, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out eight and walking none, and she also was 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs.
Riley York was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Nelson was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
For the Rams, Thrush was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Souderton (5-2, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Friday, and Pennridge (2-3, 1-3) will be on the road at Central Bucks South Friday.
Pennridge 000 40 4
Souderton 004 010 14
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
One day after losing her bid for a complete game win when a teammate was injured, Alex Frenia – who moved from the circle to
shortstop in Tuesday’s win – went the full seven on Wednesday, tossing a two-hitter to lead the Patriots to a win over their archrival. The junior pitcher struck out 13 and did not walk a batter in a stellar outing.
The Patriots got on the scoreboard in the first when Amelia Funston delivered a two-run home run. If Frenia needed insurance, she got it in the fifth when the Patriots added three runs. Chloe Urankar accounted for two of those runs with a two-run home run, and Funston also had an RBI in the inning. Jess Kepner doubled and scored a run.
East collected seven hits with Funston and Elizabeth Gray each collecting multiple hits. Gray also had two stolen bases and scored two runs while Funston led the Patriots with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate.
Central Bucks East (6-1, 4-0 SOL) will host North Penn on Friday, and Central Bucks West (0-6, 0-4) will host Souderton on Friday.
Central Bucks West 000 001 0 1-2-0
Central Bucks East 200 300 x 5-7-1
SOL Liberty Division
HATBORO-HORSHAM 4, QUAKERTOWN 1
In a marquee game pitting the Liberty’s top two squads that lived up to its billing, it was the Hatters scoring three runs in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie and earn the hard fought win.
“It was a great game,” HH coach Kelly Krier said. “Both pitchers did a great job throughout the game. Both teams had runners in scoring position, and they were able to pitch their way out of it.”
Kendall Leitner turned in a glittering performance in the circle, scattering six hits while striking out 15 and walking one. She also had a one-out solo home run in the second to spot the Hatters a 1-0 lead.
“Kendal started off really well, and she stepped up and hit a bomb, a solo shot to right center,” Krier said.
The Panthers got that run back in the top of the third when LauraRose Morelock lined a two-out double to left that plated Mary Wilkinson, who singled to open the inning.
“Their number two batter who was their catcher (Morelock) had a great game,” Krier said. “She played great – she’s a really, really nice catcher. You have to respect her for sure.”
That 1-1 score stood until the sixth inning when the Hatters put three runs on the board. Tess Kearney got the ball rolling with a one-out single to center and then stole second. Kayla Tauber’s single to center plated Kearney.
“Kayla had a great day at the plate and was reading pitches pretty well,” Krier said.
Amya Lundy’s double to center plated Tauber, and Lundy, who moved up to third on Leitner’s groundout, scored on a single by Abby Waeltz, putting the Hatters on top 4-1.
“Quakertown’s pitcher kept us on our toes,” Krier said of junior Syd Andrews. “We made solid contact throughout the game, but defensively, their third baseman (Maya Hellyer) had big plays. She made several really good plays. Tess hit a shot, first pitch of the fourth inning. It was a really hard hit ground ball, and she made the play on that. She definitely did a great job.
“We kept telling our girls, ‘Keep at it. When you see your pitch, go for it.’ We were able to do that in the bottom of the sixth. We were able to string some hits together, and that’s what I really was proud of – the girls not quitting, not letting up. The hits that weren’t falling could have easily deflated our sails, but that didn’t happen.”
The Hatters were led at the plate by Tuber’s 2-for-3 effort.
For the Panthers, Morelock was 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI. Wilkinson was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Andrews allowed seven hits, only three until the three-run sixth. She struck out six and did not walk a batter.
“We played really well as a team today,” Krier said. “Kendal (Leitner) had just an excellent day on the mound, but total respect to Quakertown and their team. It was an exciting game.
“It’s fun to coach and see the girls have fun. The girls were smiling, they were into it. We play again on Friday. We’re in the thick of it, and we’re loving it. It was a great game. I was super proud of the team effort we had.”
Hatboro-Horsham (3-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Friday, and Quakertown (5-2, 3-1) will host Abington on Friday.
Quakertown 001 000 0 1-6-0
Hatboro-Horsham 010 003 x 4-7-1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 10, ABINGTON 9 (8 innings)
Freshman Marissa Perez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth. The Ghosts had just
coaxed a popup to the infield for the inning’s second out, and it looked as though they might escape unscathed, but Perez had other ideas, singling up the middle to plate the game-winner and putting an exclamation point on the gutsy come-from-behind win.
“I’m really proud of how this team didn’t give up, battled back every inning and picked each other up time and again to earn the hard fought victory versus a tough Abington team,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “Our girls are really coming together as a team right now.”
Perez’s game-winner capped a productive afternoon for the freshman shortstop, who was 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
“After a very productive offensive day yesterday, it was really nice to see our girls continue to hit the ball,” Perez said. “Everyone was producing.”
Lost in the shuffle of Perez’s late-inning heroics was the fact that the Colonials trailed a 6-0 after just an inning and a half.
The Ghosts put four runs on the board in a first inning that was highlighted by an Aneesa Rohrer single, an RBI double by Leanna Schenk and an RBI single by Bella Oquendo. A run also scored on a passed ball.
In the second inning, Lauren Everitt delivered a two-out, two-run single to give the Ghosts a 6-0 lead.
The Colonials scored two in the bottom of the first and added a single run in the third, thanks to an RBI double by Emily Caffrey. Abington led 7-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth when the Colonials scored a pair in the fourth and used a three-run fifth to go on top 8-7.
PW took a 9-8 lead into the seventh when the Ghosts loaded the bases with one out and scored the tying run when Schenk lofted a sacrifice fly to center field, setting the stage for extra innings.
Both teams started the eighth with a runner on second. The Ghosts’ base runner was still on second when the inning ended. The Colonials base runner – Marissa Dudek – advanced to third on a fly ball to right field for the inning’s first out. With one out and first and second empty, the next two batters were walked, setting up a force at home, but Perez took care of that little matter with her clutch two-out single.
While Perez led the Colonials’ 17-hit attack, senior Regan Gehman was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Lauryn Kane was 3-for-5. Sophomore Molly Moore was 2-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored, and Caffrey was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
Kane also threw the first five innings, and freshman Haylie Lindley notched her first varsity win, allowing two hits and two runs in three innings of relief.
“Lauryn Kane really settled down after the early deficit to keep us in the game while we chipped away at the lead,” Perez said.
For the Ghosts, Schenk continued her red-hot start, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Rohrer was 2-for-4 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot, and Jess Sokolski was 2-for-4.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-3, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon on Friday, and Abington (1-5, 0-4) will be on the road at Quakertown Friday.
Abington 420 101 10 9-8-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 021 231 01 10-17-2
WISSAHICKON 6, UPPER DUBLIN 4
Emma Clayborne– despite some discomfort – notched the complete game win in Tuesday’s battle with neighboring rival Upper Dublin. The senior pitcher allowed four hits while striking out five and walking four.
“She had a sore shoulder and a blister on her pitching hand, and she really gutted it out,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “Every time we play Upper Dublin there’s always something going on.
“It always comes down to the last inning. They had runners on first and second to tie the game, and she had to get the last better out on a popup to short. It was a typical Upper Dublin-Wissahickon game. Our defense really played well for us. I was really happy with them.”
The win came on the heels of a 4-0 loss to Quakertown 24 hours earlier.
“After holding our ground against Quakertown yesterday – we were doing a lot of good things, but we left eight runners standing on the bases,” Borkowski said. “Today the kids were locked in on scoring runners, moving runners, and that’s what we did today. We did a lot of good fundamental things hitting today for the first time all season. We were moving runners up, and that really, really made a big difference in our scoring today.”
While Clayborne was in control on the mound, the Trojans’ three, four and five hitters – Katelyn Fitzgerald, Grace Franczyk and Clayborne – were a collective 7-for-12 with five RBIs. Fitgerald was 3-for-4 with a double, stolen base and two runs scored. Franczyk was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs while Clayborne was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
“They came through big for us today,” Borkowski said.
Also for the Trojans, Luca Penna was 2-for-4 with a double, stolen base and run scored.
The Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run double by Franczyk. The Flying Cardinals evened the score in the second, thanks to a two-run single by Avery Lennon.
In the fifth inning, the Trojans pushed three runs across with Clayborne delivering a double that plated Penna and Danielle Ciliberto. Clayborne scored on a two-out error to give the Trojans a 5-2 advantage.
The Trojans added a single run in the top of the seventh when Franczyk collected her second double, this one plating Katelyn Fitzgerald to put the Trojans on top 6-2. The Cardinals didn’t go down quietly, plating a pair in the bottom of the seventh. Rachel Bilger delivered a pinch hit double in the inning.
Wissahickon (2-3, 2-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday, and Upper Dublin (1-3) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Friday.
Wissahickon 200 030 1 6
Upper Dublin 020 000 2 4
SOL Freedom Division
LOWER MORELAND 16, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (4 innings)
Sophomore Liz Neeld pitched the first no-hitter of her young career, shutting out the Spartans for four innings in the abbreviated contest.
Sophomore Isabella Ricciardi was 2-for-2 with three RBIs, and sophomore Natalie Shiloni was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
The Lions took a 6-0 lead into the fourth inning when they exploded for 10 runs to bring an early end to the game.
Lower Moreland (2-2, 2-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Friday, and Springfield Township (0-3) will travel to Cheltenham on Friday.
Lower Moreland 510 10 16
Springfield Twp 000 0 0
NEW HOPE-SOLBURY 11, CHELTENHAM 1 (5 innings)
RiRi D’Agostino picked up her second victory of the season with a complete game three-hit effort in the circle.
Erin Firth led the way offensively with three hits and four RBIs while Gracie Lovrinic scored three runs.
“Talia Flavin nailed the game down in the fifth at second base with two assists and a putout,” said Marchok, going on to credit the Lady Panthers. “Their pitcher has such a huge heart, and she kept battling and kept battling.
“We’re winning 11-1 in the fifth inning, and one of our kids hits a ball that was obviously foul. Their third baseman busts her butt, 100 percent hustle sprinting down the baseline. She showed great hustle, great heart. I really, really liked what they did.”
New Hope-Solebury (2-2, 2-1 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Friday, and Cheltenham (0-2, 0-1) will host Springfield Township on Friday.
New Hope-Solebury 230 15 11-6-0
Cheltenham 100 00 1-3-3
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