Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. CB South/Pennridge photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko, and Pennsbury/PW photos courtesy of Greg Lindsay. Check back for a gallery of photos. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports’ SOFTBALL GALLERIES.
SOL Liberty Division
UPPER DUBLIN 7, QUAKERTOWN 3
Bella Fiore drove in a pair of runs with a double in the top of the fifth, breaking a 2-2 tie and giving the visiting Cardinals a lead they would not lose.
Fiore and teammate Sophia Vitella led UD with three-hit efforts. Vitella had a pair of doubles, and both had two RBIs.
Kyla Garrison notched the complete game win.
The Panthers were led by the two-hit efforts of Kira Jefferson, Ava Eatherton and Gianna Santangelo.
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Bella Fiore (3-for-3, 2RBI, 1R), Sophia Vitella (3-for-4, 2 2B, 2RBI, 2R), Kaitlyn Zacharia (2-for-3, 3RBI, 1R), Paige McKenna (2-for-4, 1R)
Kyla Garrison (W) (7 IP, 9H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 8K)
Quakertown: Kira Jefferson (2-for-3, 2SB, 2R), Ava Eatherton (2-for-4), Gianna Santangelo (2-for-3, 1R)
Key innings: Top of fifth: With the score deadlocked at 2 apiece, UD’s Bella Fiore drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lizzie Tambourino. Kate Brannigan was safe on an error, and both runners scored on a two-run double to center by Vitella.
Top of seventh: Leading 5-3, the Cardinals added a pair of insurance runs. Vitella doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Zacharia. Maddie Small, who reached base on a walk, scored on an RBI single by Fiore.
Upper Dublin coach Heather Boyer: “Today’s game was a bit wild ~ I’ve never seen a game delayed for weather as a result of extreme winds, but it had a huge impact on any ball in the air, and it also impacted each pitcher’s ability to throw consistently. As the day progressed, the temperatures dropped significantly, which also impacted the pitchers.”
–Getting defensive: “From an execution perspective, we did a good job defensively of getting out of several jams throughout the game. Bella Fiore had a great heads-up play at third base to tag a runner out, changing the dynamic and momentum of the inning from a bases-loaded, no-out situation (and already one run scored), into something we could see our way out of.
“Maddie Small also contributed a huge defensive play in that same inning, when a (what would usually be) a routine fly ball to right drifted drastically in towards the infield, and she picked it up and fired it to second to get a force out for the second out of the inning. That was the first of two outfield assists she would have on the day.
“Amelia Jesuit came up with two huge catches in centerfield to end potential threats in the fifth and seventh innings, and Sophia Vitella also had a big play in left field to end an additional threat in the sixth.”
–On the offensive: “Offensively, we still need to fine tune situational things with bunting and baserunning, but today we did get some timely hits when we needed them, and it’s great to see other players stepping up to the plate in big situations – such as Kaitlyn Zacharia, Bella Fiore and Sophia Vitella.”
Up next: Upper Dublin (8-1, 4-1 SOL) will at long last host their home opener on Thursday, April 24, against Souderton. Quakertown (5-5, 3-2) will travel to Methacton for a non-league game Thursday.
Upper Dublin 020 021 2 7-9-2
Quakertown 101 001 0 3-9-3
Non-league
WISSAHICKON 3, UPPER MORELAND 2 (10 innings)
There are walk-off wins, and then there’s Wissahickon’s walk-off win over Upper Moreland in a classic non-league battle Tuesday.
With the international tiebreaker in effect and Wissahickon’s Alexis Doll-Young on second base to start the bottom of the 10th inning, Ava Frederick – with her Trojan squad trailing 2-1 – stepped into the batter’s box.
“Ava fake-bunted, and Alexis stole third,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “With Alexis on third, Ava put the ball in play, we sent Alexis home – tie score. On the throw home to get Alexis, Ava moved up to second.”
That brought Dani Marra to the plate and set the stage for a marathon at-bat against UM sophomore ace Delaney Stout, who struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth and racked up 22 strikeouts in a remarkable performance.
“The thing we keep telling the girls is – ‘Keep swinging, give yourself a chance,’” Borkowski said. “Well, we swung and missed a lot, but the big at-bat – Dani had a 10-pitch at-bat.
“We tell the girls – ‘Foul the pitches off if you don’t like them,’ and Dani kept doing that. She got a pitch she wanted and drove it into center field. We just needed a line drive somewhere good. I was sending Ava no matter what, and Ava scored from second, and that was the win.”
Earlier, in the top of the 10th, UM scored a run when Sofia Magagna lined a two-out single to center field that plated the go-ahead run from second, setting the stage for the dramatic walk-off win for the Trojans.
“It was one heck of a game,” Borkowski said. “Their pitcher was really good. Their fielders didn’t get much work out there.
“We knew she was good. We were trying to practice, and I was throwing the girls a lot of rise balls. That’s one of her pitches. I’ve been doing that for two days now, and my arm’s killing me.”
Stout’s remarkable line for the game not only included 22 strikeouts, but she allowed only four hits and two runs.
Not to be overshadowed were the standout performances of Gianna Trerotola and Sydney Darnell, who shared time in the circle for the Trojans. Trerotola threw 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and three runs (one earned) with six walks and three strikeouts. Darnell closed it out with six shutout innings. She allowed just two hits and struck out eight.
By the numbers: Wissahickon: Julia Lentz (2-for-3, 1R)
Gianna Trerotola (3.2 IP, 4H, 3R, 1ER, 6BB, 3K), Sydney Darnell (W) (6.0 IP, 2H 0R, 7BB, 8K)
Upper Moreland: Sofia Magagna (2-for-5, 1RBI)
Delaney Stout (9.0 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 22K)
Key innings: The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a bases-loaded walk to Lianna Adames. In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans evened the score 1-1 when Juliet O’Farrell singled home Julia Lentz, who singled to open the inning.
Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski: “That’s a good team, and for us to beat them is big because we’ve been knocking on the door with these good teams. We took Hatboro-Horsham to eight innings. We lost in the bottom of the seventh – and it was our fault – to Quakertown. We’re right there with these teams, but we just couldn’t get over the hump. Today – to beat them is really big for us because we start seven sophomores and freshmen.
“We have one senior – Gianna (Trerotola), our pitcher, who started and did a great job. She gave up one run, and she walked in a run – they didn’t even hit the ball to get that one.
“We had it in our plan in the fourth or fifth inning – whenever Gianna said so – that we were going to switch to Syd (Darnell) just because we don’t have any more games this week. We’re not playing until next Tuesday, so I said, ‘Let’s get both of them pitching today. It will be a nice change of pace for both of us,’ and it worked. It worked good against Hatboro.
“Syd came in and pitched great. Gianna pitched great. It’s been working for us – the one-two punch of those two. We’re very happy.”
“Upper Moreland was four (in the District 1 5A rankings) going in. They are a good team, and our pitchers – Gianna and Syd – really held them down because they’ve wrecked a couple of teams.
“Our defense was tremendous. We had one error, and Juliet (O’Farrell) wiped that out with an unassisted double play. Juliet, our freshman third baseman, knocked in the first run. Everybody contributed one way or the other, which was really big. Tara (Plover) was a monster behind the plate. Defensively, she must have stopped about six runs from scoring because of her being able to stop passed balls and everything. All around, everywhere it was really good.”
Up next: Wissahickon (5-7, 1-4 SOL) will host Harry S Truman in a non-league game on Tuesday, and Upper Moreland (6-4, 3-1) will travel to Council Rock South for a non-league game Wednesday.
Upper Moreland 001 000 000 1 2-6-0
Wissahickon 000 100 000 2 3-5-1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, PENNRIDGE 2
The Titans broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the sixth inning and added three more in the seventh to earn the non-league win.
Kate Muntz and Maddie Motley led the Titans with two hits each. Averi Dockery and Jadyn Gulbinski both had a pair of hits for the Rams.
Alexis Griffin earned the complete game win for the Titans.
By the numbers: Central Bucks South: Maddie Motley (2-for-4,, 1 RBI, 2R), Kate Muntz (2-for-2, 2RBI)
Alexis Griffin (W) (7.0 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 4BB, 13K)
Pennridge: Averi Dockery (2-for-2, 2B, 1R), Jadyn Gulbinski (2-for-3, 2B, 1RBI, 1R).
Key inning: Top of sixth: With the score deadlocked 1-1, Maddie Motley lined a one-out single to right field, and Erin Ruddell followed and legged out a bunt single. The bases were loaded when Cam Lee was safe on an error on her bunt. The go-ahead run scored when Kate Muntz was hit by a pitch. A second run scored on a passed ball, and the Titans led 3-1.
Central Bucks South coach Matt McLaughlin:
–Tip of the hat to Dockery: “It was a really awesome game today. Our girls at South got to face one of the top pitchers in the State of Pennsylvania, who I have a massive amount of respect for. I know her family – incredible family. She’s a very, very humble young lady on the mound who is committed to Florida State University Division 1 for so many reasons – her power, her pitching ability, her ability to hit the ball out of the park. She can play pretty much anywhere you put her, she’s just overall beast athlete, so it was very fun to compete against her today.
“I told the girls going into the game – ‘This is the type of pitcher we need to figure out and solve if we’re going to make a deep playoff run.’ The game did not start out very well. It took us a few innings to get our bearings about us because she struck us out for the first few innings.
“Kudos to Pennridge. They have a rock star on that team, and it’s going to be fun to see what she does at Florida State. She is a very humble, incredible athlete and just overall an awesome family. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does.”
–The game: “It was really difficult to get started, so we switched things up and started to play some small ball, put some pressure on their defense. It turned out to be the right move because a couple bunts led to a couple missed plays which led to us hitting the ball and scoring some runs.
“At the end of the day, just an overall really well-done win. Maddie Motley, our sophomore first baseman and also pitcher, continues to crush the ball. She hit the ball hard twice today off of Averi. Kate Muntz – our starting senior right fielder – again had a game-tying single for us. She’s really coming into her own.
–Props: “I’d be remiss if I didn’t speak about our sophomore pitcher, Alexis Griffin, who had a difficult inning in yesterday’s game against Interboro, which makes today so special, because she is so good at just not worrying about the day before or something that went wrong. She refocused and went seven strong today. She struck out 13, spread five hits over seven innings and just was absolutely – in my eyes – dominant.
“I let her throw three times at – I would say – one of the best hitters or probably the best hitter in the state. Averi got a hit off her, for sure – a laser between short and third and actually did put a hole in our shortstop’s glove, knocked the glove off her hand. That’s how hard she hit it, but the other two times – she walked her, and Averi hit maybe a misplayed ball in right field.
“Overall, it was just a fun day. The girls are really coming into their own. They don’t let adversity affect them. I’m just so proud of these girls, super, super proud of them.
Up next: Central Bucks South (6-5, 3-2 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury next Tuesday for a non-league game, and Pennridge (2-8, 1-4) will host Faith Christian Academy in a non-league game Wednesday.
Central Bucks South 000 102 3 6-7-0
Pennridge 100 001 0 2-5-2
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, PENNSBURY 5
The Colonials opened up a 6-0 lead after three innings and withstood the Falcons’ comeback attempt, which included a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull to within one.
The win was the eighth in a row for the Colonials after dropping their first three games of the season.
“I’m really proud of our whole group,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “After an 0-3 start to the season, they’ve come together and are really playing for each other. They’ve all put personal accomplishments aside and are focused on our team goals and you can really see a difference.”
PW scored three runs in the top of the first and added three unearned runs in the third. The Colonials took a 6-3 lead into the seventh when the Falcons plated a pair, thanks to singles from Bella Morales, Jenna Thompson, and Maddie McClung (RBI). They also benefitted from a walk and PW miscue.
Zoey Robinson was 3-for-3 effort out of the leadoff spot and Anna Powel was 3-for-4 with a double, combining for six of the Colonials’ 12 hits. Madison Moran and Maddie Swift both added two hits.
For the Falcons, Bella Morales was 3-for-4 with a double while Aubrey Bedell and Maddie McClung each added a pair of hits.
Madison Moran earned the win for the Colonials.
By the numbers: Plymouth Whitemarsh: Zoey Robinson (3-for-3), Anna Powel (3-for-4, 2B, 1RBI, 1R), Madison Moran (2-for-5, 1RBI, 1R), Maddie Swift (2-for-2)
Pennsbury: Bella Morales (3-for-4, 2B, 1RBI, 1R), Aubrey Bedell (2-or-4, 1RBI, 1R), Maddie McClung (2-for-4, 1RBI)
Key inning: Top of the first: Robinson led off with a single but was forced out at second. Rian Reed drew a walk, and Anna Powel followed with an RBI single to left. Madison Moran followed with a run-scoring single, and a third run crossed the plate on an error.
Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Mike Perez on the game: “It was a tale of two halves of softball. We came out of the gate with a really solid plan at the plate and executed quite well. We were able to get 14 runners on (7 hits, 4 walks) in the first three innings, plating six runs.
“I feel like we got complacent after the early lead but give Pennsbury credit – they made adjustments as well on both sides of the ball. They are one of the best coached teams around, and I knew they would eventually make their push. They have hitters up and down that lineup and gave us all we could handle. But we were fortunate enough to get out of there with a solid character-building win on the road vs a really good team.”
–Props: “Freshman SS Zoey Robison lead the offense out of the leadoff spot, reaching base all five at-bats (3-3, 2BB). Junior 3B Anna Powel hit the ball hard all day and reached base four times (3-4, 1BB). Sophomore OF Maddie Swift went 2-2 off the bench.
“Senior pitcher Madison Moran earned the W in the circle and senior pitcher Rian Reed came in for the save.”
Up next: Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-3, 5-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Thursday, April 24, and Pennsbury (5-6, 2-3) Conwell-Egan in a non-league game Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 303 000 0 6-12-1
Pennsbury 000 120 2 5-11-3
HARRY S TRUMAN 3, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 2
Talk about dramatic endings – this was it.
With two outs and nobody on base in a tie game in the bottom of the seventh, extra innings seemed inevitable. Jillyan Saperstein had other ideas, and with one sweet swing of her bat, the junior first baseman smashed a solo home run to center field.
“It was a bomb – it was a no-doubter off the bat, for sure,” Truman coach Jim McKeon said. “She hit well against CB East as well, so she’s been finding her swing a bit. The girls just fought hard.”
It took some fight to earn the win, and the Tigers needed two runs in the bottom of the third to even the score.
Freshman Kendra Schmidt earned the complete game win, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out 10.
“She pitched well again,” McKeon said.
Saperstein, Katie Poremba and Charlize DeShield led the Tigers’ attack with two hits each. Both of DeShield’s hits were doubles, and she had two RBIs.
“She struggled early on,” McKeon said. “We threw her a game ball today. She stood in there and drove in some runs and just had a real nice game.
By the numbers: Jillyan Saperstein (2-for-4, HR, 1RBI, 1R), Katie Poremba (2-for-3, 1R), Charlize DeShield (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2RBI)
Kendra Schmidt (W) (7.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 10)
Key inning: Bottom of third: With the Tigers trailing 2-0, Poremba led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a ground single to left, and Marley Montgomery followed with a single to left. A bunt single by Skyler Mahler loaded the bases. Two runs crossed the plate when DiShield doubled to left field, evening the score 2-2.
Harry S Truman coach Jim McKeon: “That Villa team was tough. Their starting pitcher was really good, and they battled. They got up 2-0 and then we tied it. It was like that for a few innings, and then Jill stepped up with two outs – it was a bomb.
“We feel like we’re finding the right combination, and the girls are believing a little bit. We were dying to play yesterday, and then we got the call at one o’clock that Gwynedd didn’t have the field ready. Coming off the CB East win, we were like, ‘Let’s go, let’s keep going.’
“They seem to be playing for each other, which is huge.”
Up next: Harry S Truman (2-7, 0-4 SOL) will host Bensalem in a non-league game Wednesday.
Villa Joseph Marie 020 000 0 2-4-1
Harry S Truman 000 200 1 3-11-1
BENSALEM 20, WILLIAM TENNENT 5 (3 innings)
Three innings was all it took for the Owls to pound out 14 hits and score 20 runs in a decisive win over a Panther squad that brought a 9-1 record into Tuesday’s non-league game.
The visiting Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Owls were unfazed, answering with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Tennent evened the score with a run in the top of the second, but again, the Owls had an answer, scoring four runs to take a lead they would not lose. A 12-run third inning brought an early end to the game.
Ashlyn Merz’s 3-for-3 day at the plate led the Owls’ hit parade and included a double and five RBIs.
By the numbers: Bensalem: Ashlyn Merz (3-for-3, 2B, 5RBI, 1R), Gina Oliverio (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2RBI, 4R), Adrianna Vargas (2-for-3, 2B, 3R), Sydney Daut (2-for-3, 2RBI, 1R), Abbie Krevolin (2-for-3, 3RBI, 1R)
William Tennent: Casey Yacovelli (2-for-2, 2 2B, 1RBI, 1R), Morgan Kocher (1-for-2, 2B, 1RBI), Sydney Teufel (1-for-2, 3B, 1RBI, 1R), Madison Pirolli (1-for-2, 2B, 1RBI), Victoria Colagreco (1-for-2, 2B, 1R)
Key inning: Bottom of third: The Owls took an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the third when they erupted for 12 runs. Highlights of the inning included a two-run double by Merz, singles by Veronica Pachucki (RBI), Daut (RBI) Krevolin (RBI), Morgan Edwards (RBI), Vargas, Merz and Abby Cornet (RBI). A highlight of the inning was a two-run home run by Gina Oliverio. The Owls also benefitted from three hit batters, a walk and a Tennent miscue.
Bensalem coach Erin Smith: “We have had a rough start to the season. We have been playing some real good games but can’t seem to close them out. Today everything went right.
“We’ve been trying to simplify the game for them. They are young and getting a lot thrown at them. Recently we decided we were going to start setting some simple in-game goals and celebrate them like some teams do wins. This week we focused at practice on not doing too much during our at-bats just trying to have a productive at-bat and move runners.
“It worked, and you could feel their energy. Our girls celebrated moving runners just as much as they did a hit. That confidence then spilled into the next at bat.”
–Props: “Ashlyn Merz had a huge day at the plate with three hits, including a double and a sac fly accounting for five RBIs. Gina Oliverio led off the game with a fly ball but was moving because knowing the wind today made balls hard to catch and she landed on second. I think she set the tone for the game. She ended the day blasting a laser no-doubt-about-it home-run. Abbie Krevolin also had a great day. She had two hits and three RBIs. She has been doing a really good job of putting balls in play this year.”
Up next: Bensalem (3-9, 0-4 SOL) will host Harry S Truman Wednesday, and William Tennent (9-2, 4-1) will host North Penn in a non-league game on Tuesday.
William Tennent 3-1-1 5-8-5
Bensalem 44(12) 20-14-0
SOUDERTON 15, UPPER PERKIOMEN 5 (5 innings)
Josi Tolentino had herself a day.
The Indians’ senior catcher was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs. Tolentino – who had a two-run home run in the first and a three-run shot in the second – led the Indians’ 12-hit attack.
Bella Kreyenhagen earned the win.
By the numbers: Josi Tolentino (4-for-4, 2HR, 7RBI, 2R), Kiera Fadden (1-for-2, 1RBI, 3R), Emma Messmer (2B, 1RBI)
Bella Kreyenhagen (W) (5 IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 1BB, 9K)
Key inning: Bottom of first: Trailing 2-0, the host Indians scored three runs. Kiera Fadden led off the inning with a line single to center, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a groundout by Kathryn Jones. Ava Detwiler drew a two-out walk, and Tolentino ripped a two-run home run to left field, giving the Indians a lead they would not lose.
Souderton coach Tyler Bui: “This was a great team effort. We had 15 girls contribute in some way offensively. Josi Tolentino gave us a lift with another one of her big home runs. She had a day with seven RBIs and two runs.
–Props: “Cayla Southard got her first varsity hit today. Cayla is a super person, and I am extremely happy for her. We forget how much pressure these girls put on themselves sometimes. I just told her to relax and have fun before she went up to bat. I wanted her to go up confidently and swing at the first pitch she could drive. This may seem like a little thing, but as a coach, it is such an honor to be a part of all these memories with the players.
“Bella Kreyenhagen pitched another complete game for us. She got the win with eight strikeouts and only one walk.
“Josi Tolentino is seeing the ball very well right now. She seems to come up with a big hit whenever we need it. I have high expectations for her on and off the field, and I am proud of how she has responded.”
Up next: Souderton (9-2, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Twp for a non-league game next Tuesday.
Upper Perkiomen 201 11 5-8-3
Souderton 355 02 15-12 1
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 8, MaST CHARTER 1
The Lions – sparked by a three-run blast from Rachel Sim – took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and they never looked back.
Mabel Klossner was an impossible out, finishing the game 4-for-4 with three doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Danielle Wilson added a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot.
Dagny Mobley was impressive in the circle, earning the win with four shutout innings. She allowed just one hit while striking out eight and walking none.
By the numbers: Mabel Klossner (2-for-4, 3 2B, 2RBI, 2R), Danielle Wilson (2-for-4, 1R), Rachel Sim (1-for-3, HR, 3RBI, 1R).
Dagny Mobley (W) (4.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 8K)
Key inning: Bottom of first: Danielle Wilson legged out a bunt single, and with one out, Mabel Klossner singled to center. With two outs, Rachel Sim stepped to the plate and ripped a three-run home run to right field. The Lions had a lead they would not lose.
Up next: New Hope-Solebury (7-3, 4-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks South in a non-league game on Tuesday.
MaST Charter 000 010 0 1-4-4
New Hope-Solebury 330 200 x 8-101
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