Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Wednesday.
SOL National Conference
WILLIAM TENNENT 12, HARRY S TRUMAN 2 (5 innings)
Coach Rich Clark saw the William Tennent team he has been waiting to see this season. The Panthers trailed 2-0 early but responded with 12 unanswered runs, which included an eight-run outburst in the fifth that brought an early end to the contest.
“It was a total team effort today from top to bottom,” Clark said. “In the fifth inning, it all came together.
“One through seven – everybody contributed with at least a hit, and even our eight and nine hitters – no strikeouts from them, and they moved the runners along. They executed – they got the bunts down, they hit the ball to the opposite field to move runners around, which allowed us to keep turning the lineup over.
“Even though there are a couple of zeroes down there in hits, they did their job today. They scored some runs. A lot of credit goes to them. We talked a lot about it – we needed contributions from the bottom of our lineup, and good things would happen, and that’s what happened today.”
The Tigers plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first. The Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the second. Megan Curtis collected a one-out double, and Rhiannon Budnick walked. Sarah Cummins was safe on an error that allowed a run to cross the plate, and Caitlyn Mitros delivered a two-run single to put the Panthers on top 3-2.
Tennent added a single run in the fourth when Mitros, who doubled, scored on Mackenzie Clee’s RBI single. The Panthers blew the game wide open in the fifth.
Hannah Reimel, Devon Fithian, Curtis (RBI) and Mitros each collected a single while Clee had a two-run triple. Brianna Koonce had a pair of singles in the inning – her first drove in the inning’s first run and her second drove in a pair that brought an early end to the game.
Curtis, a sophomore, earned the win in the circle, allowing just two hits – both singles. She walked just one and did not have any strikeouts.
“She’s a workhorse out there,” Clark said. “She was hitting her spots.”
Mitros was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
“At the top of the order, there’s nobody better,” Clark said. “With her speed, she can do anything. She’s a triple threat – to bunt, to slap or to hit one over the fence, and when she gets on base, all bets are off.”
Things don’t get any easier for opposing pitchers when Mackenzie Clee – who was 3-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored – steps into the batter’s box after Mitros.
“She’s another lefty, and for most teams, Mackenzie Clee is a leadoff hitter,” Clark said. “We’ve got two leadoff hitters at the top of our order.”
Koonce was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run while Fithian was 2-for-3 with a run. Curtis also was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs.
“It was just a total team effort – everybody did their job,” Clark said. “We talked a lot at practice yesterday about not taking an inning off, about not taking a batter off and about not taking a single pitch off – playing the whole game.
“The girls went out and did that today. Hopefully, this will keep up, and this will give them a little confidence.”
The win snapped a three-game losing streak that included back-to-back one-run losses and a two-run loss.
“I have to admit the last two losses we had leads late in the game, especially the one against (Council Rock) South, the girls were starting to doubt themselves,” Clark said. “Everybody’s asking questions – why can’t we finish a game, why can’t we win, what’s going to go wrong next.
“It was getting in their heads, no doubt. Today’s game was huge to gain that confidence and learn how to win and how not to let up on the gas when you’ve got the other team down. This could be – I’m hoping – a real momentum shifter for this team.”
William Tennent (3-6, 2-5 SOL) is off until next Wednesday when the Panthers will host Archbishop Ryan in a non-league game. Harry S Truman (2-6, 2-4) will host Upper Moreland in a non-league game Thursday.
Harry S Truman 200 00 2-2-4
William Tennent 030 18 12-14-4
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 7, QUAKERTOWN 6
In a game that saw the two teams combine for five home runs, it was a one-out single by Riley York that won it in the bottom of the seventh, plating Sam Nuneviller with the game-winner as the Indians earned the walk-off win. The Indians trailed 6-5 head into the seventh when they staged a rally.
“One thing we’ve struggled with this season – we’d get a lead, and we’d give it right back or the other team takes it back,” coach Liz Parkins said. “But this team has time and time again shown their resiliency and the never-say-die attitude. They always manufacture runs.
“I said to the girls, ‘String some hits together. That’s the way you have to chip away. Yes, the long ball is great, but it’s the singles that are going to win the game.’ We had a couple back-to-back in the bottom of the seventh, and that’s what pushed a run across. Today was an evenly matched game. Quakertown played really well.”
Julia Kistler opened the seventh inning with a single, and she went from first to third on Jess Lepore’s sacrifice.
“I told Jess going into that at-bat – ‘If Julia gets on, your job is to sacrifice her at least into scoring position at second base,’” Parkins said. “It turned out third base was open, and we took advantage of that.”
Sam Nuneviller’s single plated Kistler with the tying run, and the Indians weren’t finished yet. A Panther miscue and a walk set the stage for York’s game-winner.
In the top of the second, the Panthers got on the board first when Sarah Stofik, who singled, scored on Abby Schwartz’s sacrifice fly. Back-to-back home runs by Jess Lepore – a two-run shot – and a solo round tripper by Nuneviller put the Indians on top 3-1.
In the top of the fourth Stolik singled, and Maddie Moyer’s two-run home run evened the score 3-3. Katie Hubler’s two-run home run in the bottom of the inning gave the Indians a 5-3 lead. Once again, the Panthers answered. Halle Frederick doubled and scored on Stofik’s third hit of the game.
Schwartz led off the sixth with a solo home run, and LauraRose Morelock, who singled, scored the go-ahead run when Andrews doubled. That 6-5 lead held until the bottom of the seventh.
Nuneviller’s 3-for-4 effort included a home run and two RBIs. York was 2-for-4 with a double and the game-winning RBI, and Kistler was 2-for-3. Alina Skrzat added a double. Five of Souderton’s nine hits were for extra bases.
For the Panthers, Stofik was a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Moyer was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Morelock was 2-for-3 with a run scored. The Panthers had four extra base hits.
Abby Burns earned the win while Tori Caputo absorbed the loss.
Souderton (6-3, 3-3 SOL) will host North Penn on Tuesday, and Quakertown (5-5, 3-4) will host Neshaminy in a non-league game Thursday.
Quakertown 010 212 0 6-13-3
Souderton 003 200 2 7-10-1
NORTH PENN 7, PENNRIDGE 1
The Knights improved to 6-0 after once around in conference play, opening up an early lead and controlling play from wire to wire against a Ram squad that had just one conference loss heading into Wednesday’s game.
In the bottom of the first, the Knights benefitted from a walk, a Ram miscue and sacrifice flies from Amanda Greaney and Jamie Beer. Two more Ram errors led to two more North Penn runs in the second.
A solo home run by Mackenzie Owens in the top of the third made it a 4-1 game, but the Knights answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach.
For the Knights, Elia Namey was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Victoria Juckniewitz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Mady Volpe and Gianna Costello each had a hit and RBI.
Morgan Henry’s 2-for-3 effort led the Rams.
Volpe notched the win, allowing eight hits and one run while striking out 12 and walking one. Mackenna Patterson absorbed the loss.
“I think the kids need a break, and they’re going to get one now,” Toressani said. “We’ve played a lot of games in a short period of time. They’re a little beat up, and some of the kids have to still catch up from Florida. It’s a good time for a break.”
North Penn (11-0 6-0 SOL) will travel to Souderton Tuesday for the first game of the second go-round in conference play. Pennridge (6-3, 4-2) will host Harry S Truman in a non-league game Wednesday.
Pennridge 001 000 0 1-8-4
North Penn 223 000 x 7-8-3
SOL American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 6, WISSAHICKON 4
The Golden Bears erupted for four runs in the first inning and had a 5-0 lead after two innings. The Trojans made things interesting but never could dig their way out of that early hole.
“It was important for us to jump out early on them,” UM coach Scott Ludlow said. “We did some good things on the base paths. We got a little help, but we manufactured some things and jumped out ahead. That kept them playing from behind all game.”
Bean Hughes had a big day at the plate for the Bears, finishing 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Jackie Martino was 2-for-3 with one RBI in a contest that saw the Bears collect eight hits.
Jenna Sadowski earned the complete game win, allowing five hits while striking out four and walking none.
“Jenna had her really good stuff today,” Ludlow said. “The top of the order did most of their hitting, but once she got past four and five, she really shut them down. She really pitched well today. It was not the kind of strikeout game she’s had in the past, but she induced some easy fly balls and ground balls – she pitched a nice game today.”
The Golden Bears committed three errors in a contest that saw the teams combine for eight miscues.
“It was not the cleanest of games,” Ludlow said.
For the Trojans, Macey Segal and Siani Paige-Miller were both 2-for-4 with an RBI.
“They’ve been putting some runs up, playing well defensively and getting decent pitching,” Ludlow said of Wissahickon. “It was a hard fought battle. It was a good win.”Upper Moreland (6-2, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman for a non-league game Thursday, and Wissahickon (4-5, 4-3) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 001 020 1 4
Upper Moreland 410 100 x 6
UPPER DUBLIN 16, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 6
The game started out on a promising note for the Spartans, who scored three runs in the top of the first and still led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth. That’s when the Flying Cardinals exploded for 10 runs to seize control of the game.
Taylor Avery was 3-for-4 with three runs scored to lead the Cardinals. Gretchen Wolpert was 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs. Julia Wolf was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Meghan Muth was 2-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI, and Lauren Carboni was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Ellie Kelcy was 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
For the Spartans, Gabby Gaskin was 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Sam Wynne was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Chloe Morales was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Liz Baginski earned the win for the Flying Cardinals.
Upper Dublin (7-4, 3-4 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday, and Springfield Township (0-6) will host Abington on Tuesday.
Springfield Township 300 111 0 6
Upper Dublin 100 0105 x 16
ABINGTON 15, CHELTENHAM 0
Sophia Dupoldt was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, triple and three runs scored to lead the Ghosts’ 12-hit attack in Wednesday’s win. Julie Burkhardt was 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs, and Sydney Steiner was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and three runs. Annie Sokolski was 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Kiersten Gant was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
Samantha Marasheski was 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, Alayna Metz was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Alayna Gottemoller scored a pair of runs and drove in one.
Jess Sokolski earned the shutout win in the abbreviated contact, allowing one hit while striking out five and walking one. She also was 1-for-1 with an RBI and run.
Abington (3-7, 3-4 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Abington 294 15-12-3
Cheltenham 000 0-1-3
Non-league
BENSALEM 9, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
Maddie Buechner smacked a three-run home run to break a scoreless tie and give the visiting Owls a lead they would not lose. A five-run sixth was highlighted by Jessica Klein’s three-run triple as the Owls blew the game wide open.
Klein had a big day at the plate for the Owls, finishing 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Haley Keenan was 2-for-3 with an RBI double – also in the sixth. Angelia Micalizza was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Buechner was 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
Dani Sharpe earned the win in the circle. The senior pitcher allowed just three hits and three base runners through the first six innings. The Patriots had a pair of hits in the seventh to plate their only run, but Sharpe was still going strong, striking out the side to put an exclamation point on the win.
Bensalem (7-2, 3-2 SOL) will travel to Friends Select for a non-league game Thursday. Central Bucks East (1-9, 0-6 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Bensalem 003 005 1 9
Central Bucks East 000 000 1 1
About the Author
