Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. Neshaminy/CR North photos provided courtesy of Jesse Garber (http://JSGarber.zenfolio.com/p657789002)
SOL National Conference
NESHAMINY 12, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 (5 innings)
In a showdown of squads without a loss in conference play, it was the Redskins dominating play in the abbreviated contest. Amber Brugger tossed four shutout innings to earn the win, allowing three hits while striking out four and walking one. Sarah Dowalo threw a scoreless fifth, striking out the side.
“It was a chilly day, and Amber went out and braved the conditions,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “She did fantastic.
“It was two very talented teams with such great players on the field for both teams. Our pitching and our hitting carried us.”
At the plate, Natalie Rios was an impossible out, leading the Redskins with a 4-for-4 effort that included a triple, home run, four RBIs and three runs scored.
“She’s having a very solid year,” Chichilitti said. “When you go in these games against a league rival, you look to your senior leadership.
“When one of your cornerstones like Natalie is able to have a day like that where she’s 4-for-4, the team is likely to have a very good day.”
In the bottom of the first, a Rios single plated Amber Brugger – who had singled – with the first run of the game and the eventual game winner. A bases-loaded walk to Alexis Watkins spotted the Redskins a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Liana Jones delivered a two-run home run in the second, and it was a 5-0 game.
In a three-run fourth inning, Rios hit a two-run blast. The Redskins brought an early end to the game with a four-run fifth that included a double by Rios – who was only a triple shy of the cycle – as well as a Paige Metz single.
Also for the Redskins, Brugger was 2-for-4. Amanda Kurtz contributed a double.
Neshaminy (9-1, 4-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Wednesday, and Council Rock North (6-2, 3-1) will be on the road at Pennsbury Wednesday.
Neshaminy 230 34 12-10-2
Council Rock North 000 00 0-3-3
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 3, NORTH PENN 1
Alex Scheeler did it all in Tuesday’s big win. The senior pitcher was in command in the circle in the complete game win, allowing just four hits while striking out three and walking three.
“Alex threw really well today,” coach Liz Parkins said. “She didn’t really let the cold faze her at all.
“She got strikeouts when we needed it, got the ground balls. I was really proud of how she threw today.”
For good measure, Scheeler delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the seventh – a two-run double to left center to break a 1-1 tie and propel the Indians to the win over their neighboring rival. Bri Neely collected a one-out single, and with two outs, Jen Klepfer drew a walk, setting the stage for Scheeler’s game winner.
“Alex put the team on her back today, and I am just so proud of her because she played really good softball,” Parkins said. “
Earlier, the Indians went on top 1-0 in the third. Julia Kistler got the inning started when she reached base on a slap single, and Neely followed and drew a walk.
“We had runners on first and second with one out, and they did a snap throw down to first, and Julia advanced to third on that throw,” Parkins said.
With two outs, Jen Klepfer singled down the third base line to plate Kistler. The Knights knotted the score in the bottom of the sixth, but the Indians responded in the top of the seventh.
The Indians found a way to win when they were battling the elements and committed seven errors, many because of the conditions.
“I’m a little tougher on the errors, but a lot of it was the cold hands, not being able to grip the ball,” Parkins said. “Our team is so resilient. The fact that we committed seven miscues and still managed to pull out a 3-1 win – I am just so incredibly proud of the team for this win today.
“This rivalry has been in existence forever. Everyone knows this is a big game.”
The win was the fifth in six outings for an Indian squad that won just three games all of last season.
“We knew that we struggled last year, and going into this year, the mentality is – what do we have to lose,” Parkins said. “We’re playing fun softball, and it’s showing.
“Even today, I kept telling the girls – just think you’re on a beach somewhere, just think you’re on a beach. Again, just that relaxed mentality is what has been successful for us so far.”
Souderton (5-1, 2-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday, and North Penn (5-2, 3-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Wednesday.
Souderton 001 000 2 3-4-7
North Penn 000 001 0 1-4-0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 7, WILLIAM TENNENT 3
The Patriots’ bats continued their resurgence and Giuliana Ruscio was in command in the circle, resulting in East’s second win in as many games. The Patriots’ veteran hurler allowed five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out seven and walking three.
“I’ll tell you – I don’t even know how she gripped the ball,” coach Karl Knapp said of Ruscio. “All year so far she’s been like this. The weather was tough on both pitchers.
“It was sleeting at one point – it was just indescribable how cold and miserable it was for the middle of the month. Even the umpires were saying it was one of the worst days they remember playing in.”
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the second without the benefit of a hit, capitalizing on a pair of walks and an error, and they led 2-0 after Brianna Koonce led off the third with a solo home run to center field.
The Patriots got on the board with a run in the bottom of the third, but in the top of the fourth, the Panthers used a Cassidy Hubmaster double and RBI single by Devon Fithian to go on top 3-1. That lead was short lived.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Ruscio was hit by a pitch and Sydney Eckert doubled, setting the stage for Hailey Aspinwall, who ripped a three-run home run to left field.
That 4-3 East lead stood until the sixth when Ruscio helped her own cause with a solo home run to lead off the frame. Singles by Aspinwall and Tara Harper (a bunt single) as well as a walk to Audrey LaBouliere loaded the bases. Alyssa Catron’s single to left plated a pair for the 7-3 final.
“We started hitting well against West and we carried it into this game,” Knapp said. “We did the same thing, hitting with people on, which is big.
“One of the problems we were having earlier in the year, we were getting hits, but nobody was on, and we weren’t pushing any runs in. I just hope we can keep it going the rest of the week.”
The Patriots were led by the two-hit efforts of Aspinwall (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Harper (2-for-3, 2 runs) and LaBouliere (2-for-3).
For the Panthers, Koonce was 2-for-4 with her first home run of the season. Hubmaster also was 2-for-4.
Central Bucks East (2-5, 2-3 SOL) will host Dock Mennonite Academy in a non-league game Wednesday, and William Tennent (4-4, 1-3) will be on the road at Pennridge for a 6:30 p.m. contest on Wednesday.
William Tennent 011 100 0 3
Central Bucks East 001 303 x 7
SOL American Conference
HATBORO-HORSHAM 10, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 2
The Hatters trailed 1-0 after one inning but scored runs in each of the next five innings on their way to the convincing win.
Kristen Meyers and Kayla Tauber led the Hatters’ 12-hit attack with three hits each. Myers was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored while Tauber was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Antoinette Spinosa was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Mikayla Fedele was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Logan Cummings and Kyleigh Dinnien each added a double.
Fedele earned the win in the circle, allowing four hits and one run while striking out six and walking two.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-1, 5-0 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Wednesday, and Springfield Township (2-2, SOL) will host Quakertown Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 013 213 0 10-12-3
Springfield Township 100 100 0 2-5-3
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, PALISADES 3 (8 Innings)
The Bucks needed eight innings to defeat a pesky Pirate squad, and they scored the game winner in an unorthodox manner when – with two outs and the bases loaded – Ella Castronouvo was hit by a pitch.
“We were up 3-0 and then it started snowing,” coach Geoff Thompson said. “Ang (Sherba) couldn’t get a grip on the ball, and we went to Kayla Gallagher.
“She was having a hard time gripping the ball. She basically was throwing fastballs because she couldn’t do anything else with the ball. It was a tough day – wind blowing and snowing, and it was frigid. Their pitcher too, by the end of the game, was having a hard time finding the strike zone.”
Gallagher notched the win, scattering five hits while fanning three and walking two.
The Bucks – who plated a single run in the first – opened up a 3-0 lead when Angelina Sherba hit a two-run home run in the top of the second. The Pirates knotted the score in the fourth, and neither team could push a run across until the eighth inning.
Sherba led the Bucks with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate. Faith Neary added a pair of hits.
Central Bucks West (2-3, 1-3 SOL) will be on the road at Souderton Wednesday.
Central Bucks West 120 000 01 4
Palisades 002 100 00 3
BENSALEM 8, WISSAHICKON 2
The Owls erupted for five runs in the fourth inning, turning a tenuous 2-1 lead into a 7-1 advantage on their way to the non-league win.
“We played like a team,” said coach Dan Schram of a contest that saw it snow and sleet on and off for the entire game.
Carrying big bats for the Owls were Haley Keenan and Deja Seilhammer. Keenan was 2-for-5 with a double and triple, a stolen base and two runs scored while Seilhammer was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored. Allison Goodman hit a home run for the Owls, who had 13 hits and no strikeouts.
Haley Sauer earned the complete game win, scattering seven hits while striking out four and walking only one. Schram also had high praise for her batterymate.
“Our catcher, Angelia Micalizzi, has been a leader and an asset behind the plate and in the batter’s box,” the Owls’ coach said.
Schram also had good things to say about Wissahickon pitcher Emma Clayborne.
“She’s a freshman pitcher with a lot of potential,” the Owls’ coach said. “I think Wissahickon will be very competitive in coming games and coming years. Their future is bright with Clayborne.”
Bensalem (3-4, 1-3 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Wednesday, and Wissahickon (0-5, 0-4) will travel to Upper Moreland on Wednesday.
Bensalem 002 501 0 8
Wissahickon 001 100 0 2
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 5
Amanda Regan made her first varsity start a memorable one, picking up a win in Tuesday’s non-league game. The junior hurler allowed eight hits and five runs in six innings, striking out seven and walking none.
“She did a nice job today,” coach Kevin Rosini said. “She had no walks, and for her, the big key is throwing strikes and letting her defense play behind her. She picked up a few strikeouts here and there and kept us in the game, which I was hoping she would do. She did a great job today.”
The Titans trailed 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth when they plated two runs. Olivia Zoolalian led off the inning with a single, and when Alexa Ortman’s fly ball to deep left center was misplayed, the Titans had runners on second and third with one out. The tying run crossed the plate when Tara Tumasz hit a sacrifice fly to right, and the go-ahead run – which turned out to be the game winner – came home when Maddie Rowley delivered a double to deep left.
Rowley finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Alex DeLeon was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Zoolalian and Katie Hines were both 2-for-3.
Kylie Kenney came in to pitch a scoreless seventh. Without the benefit of a base hit, the Vikings had a runner on third with two outs after a walk, wild pitch and passed ball, but Kenney induced a groundout out of the next batter she faced for the game’s final out.
“It was a nice win,” Rosini said. “With North Penn tomorrow, it’s a big one.”
Central Bucks South (6-1, 2-1) will host North Penn on Wednesday in a key conference battle.
Perkiomen Valley 102 011 0 5-8-1
Central Bucks South 102 012 x 6-12-1
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