Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday. Pennsbury/PW photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f63743818
Non-league
PENNSBURY 4, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 (8 innings)
In a classic non-league battle between a pair of SOL powers, it was the Falcons scoring four runs in the top of the eighth, breaking a scoreless tie and going on to earn their seventh win without a loss.
“They have a tough pitcher – she’s good, and we knew it,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said of senior Molly Moore. “We knew that from facing her two years ago. She wants you to chase up, and we had a plan about that.
“We did a pretty good job, but we mishit some balls. We only had five hits and a couple of them were bunts, but we put something together in the eighth, and Laney (Freiband) pitched a great game.”
The Falcons had just two hits off Moore through seven innings. Ava Storlazzi had both of those. The top of the eighth began with Moore retiring the first two batters she faced, but Storlazzi – who haunted PW all day on the base paths – legged out a bunt single.
“It was a close play – it was bang-bang,” McSherry said. “We were lucky to get the call.”
Storlazzi stole second, and with a base open and two outs, the Colonials opted to give Sammy Raub – who already had a pair of 10-pitch at-bats in the contest – an intentional walk. A double steal set the stage for yet another intentional walk – this one to Freiband that loaded the bases.
“Taylor Askey came up with two outs, two strikes and the bases loaded, and she hits a line drive base hit between left and center, and two runs scored,” McSherry said. “Anna Evanchik comes up next, and she had two strikes, and she hits it over the center fielder for a triple.”
Two more runs crossed the plate on Evanchik’s bomb, and the Falcons led 4-0.
Caelin Kosvitch singled to lead off the seventh for the Colonials, but Freiband retired the next three batters she faced to earn the complete game win.
“Everyone knows Pennsbury is a perennial softball powerhouse in the entire state, so I’m super proud of our girls for giving it everything they had,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “A few bounces and calls one way or another and this could have been a totally different game, but we’re walking away with our heads held high and focusing on Monday’s league game versus Wiss. 
“They’re so fundamentally sound. You have to play the perfect game to beat them, and we didn’t quite do it.”
Freiband scattered six hits in the eight-inning shutout, striking out five and walking none. She received an assist from her teammates, who played flawless defense behind her. The Falcons turned a pair of double plays – the first with runners on second and third and one out in the bottom of the first when Raub snagged a line drive at third and doubled the runner off third base. The second – in the bottom of the second – came with one out and Anna Powel, who singled, on first. This one began with a ground ball to Storlazzi at second base.
“Turning those double plays was really big,” McSherry said. “We played really good defense. I would have liked to see us get better swings because we mishit a bunch of balls. We had seven cans of corn, easy popups.”
Moore allowed five hits and four runs in 7.2 innings, striking out seven and walking three. Rian Reed collected the game’s final out.
Reed’s 2-for-3 effort at the plate with a double led the Colonials’ six-hit attack.
For the Falcons, Storlazzi was 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and a run scored.
Pennsbury (7-0, 4-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North Monday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-3, 3-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon Monday.
Pennsbury 000 000 04 4-5-0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 000 00 0-6-2
Riley Erb (winning pitcher): 4 IP, 1 hit, 7 strikeouts
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 12, ST. HUBERT 1 (6 innings)
Hollie Schaub could play softball for many years to come, and the South sophomore would have a hard time topping her first varsity at-bat in the top of the first of Friday’s non-league game at St. Hubert.
“We brought her up for varsity today – this was her first game, and her first ever varsity at-bat she hits a grand slam,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “It was way over the outfielder’s head. It was awesome.”
Schaub’s blast spotted the visiting Titans a 4-0 lead. They added to that before bringing an early end to the game with three runs in the top of the sixth.
Later in the game, Schaub doubled and drove in a pair, finishing the day 2-for-4 with a double, home run, six RBIs and two runs scored. Camryn Lee was 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Riley Theis was 2-for-4 with one RBI, three stolen bases and a run scored. Allie Franck was 1-for-2 with a triple, RBI and run scored. Jackie Lieberman was 1-for-1 with a double and run scored.
“I thought our offense played really well because yesterday was tough,” Rosinni said of his team’s 8-1 loss to North Penn 24 hours earlier. “We came out with a lot of energy early on and scored four runs right away in the first inning. That set the tone for the day.
“Allie Franck had a triple. We got a lot of kids in the game.”
Sophomore Riley Erb notched the win, allowing just one hit in four shutout innings to start the game. She struck out seven and walked one.
“She did a really nice job,” Rosini said. “Riley Theis came in to finish, pitched the last two innings. I thought she looked great.
Theis allowed one hit and one run (unearned) while striking out three and walking none.
“We played really well,” Rosini said. “This was a good win. St. Hubert is a quality team in the Catholic League. They’re no joke. For us to come out put 12 up and end the game in the sixth inning, I thought that was a really good showing for us to finish off the week.
“With a four-game week next week, I thought it was really important for us to come out and erase yesterday out of our heads, and I think we did that.
“I’m really happy with where we’re at. We’re 3-2, we’re 2-1 in the league. We have four league games next week. We’ll take them one at a time, but I thought winning today was just really important. The kids really stepped up. Everybody on the roster stepped up and did a really good job today, so I’m really happy with everybody.”
Central Bucks South (3-2, 2-1 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Monday for a 6:15 contest.
Central Bucks South 414 003 12-13-3
St. Hubert 000 001 1-2-3
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 31, COLLEGIUM CHARTER 0 (3 innings)
It took no time at all to realize this might not be the most competitive of games for the Spartans.
In the top of the first, Springfield’s first four batters all reached base on walks – the first to leadoff batter M McKeever, who scored the game’s first run with a steal of home. Joce Davis doubled to right to plate a run, and Emily West, Delaney Lake and McKeever collected back-to-back-to-back RBI singles. Ashley Schulz’s triple plated a pair, and Ashley scored the 12th and final run of the inning when her sister Taylor doubled to center field.
It was more of the same in a 14-run second inning, and the Spartans added five more runs in the third to go on top 31-0, bringing an early end to the contest.
The Spartans’ offense was led by Joce Davis, who was 4-for-5 with four RBIs. Ashley Schulz was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, and Kayla Parsons was 2-for-2 with a double, two stolen bases, one RBI and five runs scored.
On the heels of her 3-1 win over Lower Moreland Thursday, Ashley Schulz was in the circle to start the game and struck out the side in one inning of work. Julia Matthews did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings, striking out four and walking none.
“Julia Matthews pitched a strong two innings,” Spartans’ coach Heather Gehlhaus said.
Springfield Township (3-2, 2-2 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Monday.
Springfield Twp 12 14 5 31-14-0
Collegium Charter 000 0-0-3
ARCHBISHOP WOOD 8, UPPER DUBLIN 1
The Flying Cardinals put a run on the board in the top of the first. It marked the beginning and end of their run production for the game. They certainly had their opportunities and left runners on base in every inning but the fifth – stranding 11 total.
Meredith McKenna absorbed the loss for UD, which received base hits from McKenna, Bella Fiore, Paige Foley, Kaitlyn Small and Kaitlyn Zacharia.
Upper Dublin (6-3, 3-2 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday.
Upper Dublin 100 000 0 1
Archbishop Wood 100 043 x 8
GWYNEDD MERCY 14, WISSAHICKON 2
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