Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Monday. Pennsbury/CR North photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f63743818
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 11, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10 (12 innings)
There are long games, and then there was Monday’s marathon that passed the four-hour mark and saw Pennsbury outlast a gutsy Rock North squad that simply refused to go away.
The defending Patriot champion Falcons were equally resilient and refused to let this one slip away.
“They are a good young team,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said of Rock North. “I have to hand it to them. We’re young too, but they’re very young, and they came to play – there’s no doubt about it. They were ready to play.
“We’re young, but our kids don’t want to lose because of what happened before them, which is pretty cool.”
With the international tiebreaker in effect and the bases loaded with one out, the game-winner – scored by Sydney Kandravi, who opened the inning on second base – was ruled safe at home plate on a fielder’s choice on Sammy Raub’s grounder to the infield.
There were plenty of crazy numbers in a game that saw the two teams combine for 97 at-bats, which does not take into account the nine walks and one hit batter. Laney Freiband – who threw all 12 innings for the Falcons – struck out 24 batters and threw 206 pitches. Rock North’s duo of Olivia Schlindwein and Lucy Mills combined for 175 pitches – that’s a total of 381 pitches if you’re counting.
Yes, it was one of those games, and it was nothing if not entertaining.
“This was without a doubt one of the most exciting games (if not THE most exciting game) I have ever been a part of as a player or a coach,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Both teams played their hearts out and battled with everything they had for over three hours. It was a tough one to lose, but I couldn’t be more proud of my girls for the grit and fight they showed.
“Pennsbury is a great team. There is a reason they are undefeated. They are strong from top to bottom, and they play good fundamental softball. We came into the game down a starter due to injury and had eight freshmen on the field at some points during the game. This was a fantastic experience for all of our girls, especially considering the youth of our team. We want to make playoffs this year, and we want to do well there. None of our girls have ever experienced the playoffs before, and tonight was 100 percent a playoff type atmosphere. Win or lose, being a part of this game will undoubtedly help prepare both teams for the battles that come in the post season.”
Twice in extra innings, the Indians plated a run in the top of the inning only to see the Falcons answer with one in the bottom of the frame. In the top of the 11th and a runner on second, Molly Sheehy legged out a bunt single that moved Zoe Hornstein to third. Hornstein scored on a passed ball.
In the bottom of the 11th, Naya Schubel, who was on second to open the inning, moved to third on Taylor Askey’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Anna Evanchick’s single to right field. It was a similar scenario in the 10th inning as each team posted a run.
Earlier in the game, the Indians went on top 2-0 in the top of the first, benefitting from rare back-to-back Freiband walks to open the game (she walked just four in the next 11 innings). Sierra Klein delivered an RBI single, and the second run scored on a Zoe Hardy groundout.
In the bottom of the second, the Falcons put four runs on the board. Evanchik led of the frame with a single, and two outs later, Presley Foote lined an RBI single to center, Kandravi contributed an RBI single, and Ava Storlazzi collected an infield single, setting the stage for a two-run double by Raub that put the Falcons on top 4-2. Evanchik’s solo in the bottom of the third upped that lead to 5-2.
The Indians were unfazed and scored three runs in the top of the fourth to even the score. Highlights included back-to-back one-out singles by Kayla Ripper and Schlindwein. A walk loaded the bases for Sheehy, who grounded a single to center that plated two runs. A third run scored on a passed ball.
A solo home run to right field by Taylor Gearhart in the top of the fifth put the Indians on top 6-5, but the Falcons regained the lead in the bottom of the inning that included a leadoff walk to Evanchik as well as singles by Freiband and Foote (2 RBIs). The Indians evened the score in the top of the sixth, and neither team scored again until the 10th inning with the international tiebreaker in effect.
Freiband earned Monday’s win, going the distance and allowing 11 hits and eight runs while striking out 24 and walking six.
“Pennsbury’s pitcher, Laney Freiband was extremely impressive today,” Yee said. “She threw 206 pitches in today’s game and just got stronger as the game went on. It was a gutsy performance. She deserves a lot of credit for what she did for her team today.”
Storlazzi (RBI), Raub (3 RBIs) and Evanchik (2 RBIs) each had three hits to lead the Falcons. Adding two hits each were Kandravi (RBI), Hannah DeFinis and Foot (3 RBIs).
For the Indians, Schlindwein, Sheehy (2 RBIs), Klein (2 RBIs) and Gearhart (2 RBIs) each had a pair of hits.
Pennsbury (8-0, 5-0 SOL) will host North Penn on Wednesday for a battle of unbeaten SOL squads in crossover play, and Council Rock North (5-3, 2-3) will travel to Central Bucks West.
Council Rock North 200 312 000 110 10-11-2
Pennsbury 041 021 000 111 11-18-2
NESHAMINY 13, BENSALEM 2 (6 innings)
Both teams had a quiet start in Monday’s contest with neither team scoring until the third inning.
Neshaminy put the first run on the board in the top of the third when junior Grace Eppinger, who walked, scored on a triple to center field from junior Morgan Volgraf. Bensalem tied the score in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the fourth, senior Rachel Allen hit a hard, one-out ground ball that was misplayed. Allen advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved up to third when junior Alleigh Waskie hit a long fly ball double to center field. Allen then scored on a pop fly to the second baseman from senior Hannah Cieszkowski. Junior Olivia Hughes followed with a single to right, scoring courtesy runner junior Keria Loftus.
Volgraf led off the top of the fifth inning with a double to right and immediately scored on a ball to left field from senior Lindsey Gorka, giving the Skins a 4-1 lead. Senior RyLeigh Bilbrey followed with a single to center, moving Gorka over to third. Gorka then scored on a hard ground ball to short from Allen.
Bensalem scored again in the bottom of the fifth, cutting Neshaminy’s lead to 5-2. Neshaminy blew the game open in the top of the sixth. Cieszkowski led things off with a double to center. Hughes then singled to left, moving Cieszkowski to third. Eppinger followed with a hard line drive to third, scoring Cieszkowski and advancing Hughes. Volgraf then tallied another hit with a single to right, loading the bases for Gorka. With one swing, Gorka gave the Skins a 10-2 lead with no outs, hitting a grand slam over the left field fence. Two outs later, Allen doubled to left and scored on a Waskie double to center. Junior Molly Hitchen then earned a pinch-hit walk. The last run of the game came from an error on a hard hit ball from Hughes, scoring Loftus (Waskie). Those eight runs were left unanswered by Bensalem.
At the plate, the Skins were led by Volgarf with three hits, and Gorka, Waskie, and Hughes with two each. Sophomore Morgan Leonhauser, Bilbrey, Allen, and Cieszkowski had one each as well. Gorka finished with five RBIs while Volgraf, Allen, Waskie, Cieszkowski, and Hughes each had one.
In the circle, Bilbrey was a force to be reckoned with, allowing only eight hits, two runs, no walks and seven strikeouts.
Neshaminy (6-4, 5-2 SOL) will host Central Bucks South in a crossover game Wednesday, and Bensalem (3-5, 1-5) will be on the road at Souderton.
Neshaminy 001 228 13
Bensalem 001 010 2
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 17, HARRY S TRUMAN 0 (4 innings)
Lexi Waring recorded all 12 outs on strikeouts in Monday’s abbreviated contest. She allowed just one hit in the shutout, walking one.
The Golden Hawks scored all the runs Waring would need in a three-run first. Kaylie Walters led off the game with an infield second, and she scored when Grace Stepp roped a double to left field. Angelina Comerford’s single plated Stepp, and when Kelly Delise collected a two-out RBI single to right field, the Golden Hawks led 3-0.
A four-run second was highlighted by back-to-back doubles by Avery Tumolo (2 RBIs) and Stepp (2 RBIs). They added four more runs in the third and brought an early end to the game with a six-run fourth inning.
The Golden Hawks – who were on the receiving end of 13 walks – were led by the glittering 3-for-4 effort of Tumolo that included a double, five RBIs and two runs scored. Stepp was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Walter was 2-for-4 with one RBI and four runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Council Rock South (7-1, 4-1 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks East for a crossover game Wednesday, and Harry S Truman (0-5) will be on the road at Pennridge Wednesday.
Council Rock South 344 6 17-10-1
Harry S Truman 000 0 0-1-2
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1, SOUDERTON 0
Sienna Lawson was the winner in Monday’s classic pitcher’s duel with Souderton’s McKenna Schrodinger. The junior hurler scattered four hits in the impressive complete game win, striking out nine and walking none.
“The biggest thing was she was hitting all of her spots,” West coach Ali Coleman said of Lawson. “She mixed up her pitches and just dominated on the mound. She came to win, and we played solid defense behind her.”
The Bucks scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the fourth. Avery Rubenstein drew a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a Souderton miscue. She was still on second when Ana Glemser stepped to the plate with two outs and lined a 1-2 pitch into left field for a single that plated the go-ahead run that stood as the game-winner.
“This was a tough game for us,” Coleman said. “We were getting runners on almost every inning. Getting that run and having solid defense and solid pitching is what let us seal that win.”
Glemser (2-for-3, 2B RBI) and Julia Thomas (2-for-3) led the Bucks, who collected six hits.
“This was a huge win,” Coleman said. “Coming off a tough week last week, this definitely was a well-deserved win. The girls played really, really well.
“We have a pretty big week, so taking this win and using that as momentum the rest of the week is going to be very big for us.”
Central Bucks West (4-4, 2-3 SOL) will host Council Rock North in Wednesday’s crossover game, and Souderton (4-5, 2-3) will host Bensalem Wednesday.
Souderton 000 000 0 0-4-1
Central Bucks West 000 100 x 1-6-0
PENNRIDGE 9, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
Averi Dockery stole the spotlight in the circle and at the plate. The sophomore standout tossed a two-hitter, fanning 16 and walking three. She has made hitting home runs look all but routine and added another one in the sixth inning – this one a grand slam to blow the game wide open.
“Averi was walked in her previous at-bat, but in the sixth she came up with the bases loaded and two outs, so there was nowhere to put her,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “Right off the bat you could tell it was clearly over the fence.”
Although Dockery stole the spotlight, she was not a one-woman show.
“Today was a great team win,” Iadonisi said. “The girls played very consistently and had some great at-bats against a strong pitcher. Our only error occurred when we had our signals crossed on a pitch I called that resulted in a dropped third strike where the runner reached first.”
The visiting Rams put three runs on the board in the top of the first. Ryleigh Lilly lined a double to left to lead off the inning and scored on Olivia Croganale’s single to left. Grace Helbling was hit by a pitch, and one out later, Dockery drew a walk to load the bases. Crognale scored on a passed ball, and Ashleigh Kenworthy delivered an RBI single to put the Rams on top 3-0.
Pennridge added an unearned run in the third and put the game all but out of reach in the five-run sixth that was highlighted by Dockery’s grand slam.
“We can see the confidence in our players growing,” Iadonisi said. “Coming out of the first round of league play with three wins is a great momentum builder for our upcoming (crossover) games.”
For the Rams, Lily was 2-for-5 with a double and run scored out of the leadoff spot. Dockery was 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBIs and one run scored. Grace Helbling was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.
Maddy Borowski despite allowing just two earned runs absorbed the loss for the Titans.
Pennridge (5-3, 3-2 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Wednesday in a crossover game, and Central Bucks South (3-3, 2-2) will travel to Neshaminy Wednesday.
Pennridge 301 005 0 9-6-1
Central Bucks South 000 000 1 1-2-2
NORTH PENN 10, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 (6 innings)
Sarah Sabocsik had herself a productive day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a triple, home run, five RBIs and a run scored. In the circle, Julia Shearer tossed another gem for the Knights, allowing just one hit while striking out 10 and walking none in the shutout win,
The Knights gave Shearer all the run support she would need in the bottom of the first. Shearer drew a leadoff walk and stole second, and Sabocsik belted a two-run home run to center field for an early 2-0 lead.
Shearer led off the third inning with a solo shot to right field to put the Knights on top 3-0. A four-run fourth included an RBI double to left by Bella Nunn after Sophia Orth led off the inning with a single. The bases were loaded for Sabocsik, who emptied them with one swing of the bat – lacing a triple to right field that put the Knights on top 7-0.
A three-run sixth included a leadoff single by Jackie Diaz, an RBI double by Shearer and with two outs, a two-run double by Gianna Cimino to bring an early end to the game.
Shearer’s 2-fo-4 effort at the plate included a double, home run, walk, two RBIs and four runs scored. Annabelle Smink was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Nunn was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
East’s lone hit was a two-out single by Elise Waddington in the first inning.
North Penn (9-0, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury for a key crossover game Wednesday, and Central Bucks East (1-8, 0-5) will host Council Rock South on Wednesday.
Central Bucks East 000 000 0-1-3
North Penn 201 403 10-12-0
SOL Liberty Division
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, UPPER DUBLIN 0
The Hatters scored two runs in the bottom of the first, taking an early lead they would not lose. The win was especially welcome after suffering back-to-back division losses last week.
“We’ve been snake-bitten,” said HH coach Jen Tooley.
Alyssa Tooley certainly did her part to bring an end to that two-game skid, allowing just two hits in the complete game shutout win while striking out 14 and walking two.
“Alyssa did very well,” Tooley said. “Especially coming off last week – she had a sore shoulder, and I had to pull her from the PW game (a 6-2 loss). We were happy with her showing today.
“Amaya (Lundy) and Tess (Kearney) coming up with some key hits was huge for the team.”
In the top of the first, Tooley led off with an infield single and stole second. She scored when Lundy ripped a triple to right field. Lundy scored on a passed ball, and the Hatters led 2-0.
In the third inning, the Hatters tacked on an insurance run when Kearney led off the inning with a home run to left field. That 3-0 score stood the rest of the way.
“We had runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings but couldn’t convert,” UD coach Heather Boyer said.
Cara Neeld’s 3-for-4 day at the plate led the Hatters.
“She’s a freshman, and she was 3-for-4 today, and that was great,” coach Tooley said. “She’s in the number two spot in the lineup to move runners around, and she did a great job.”
Lundy was 2-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI and run scored, and Kearney was 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and run scored. Isabella Karpovich was 1-for-3 with a triple.
Kyla Garrison absorbed the loss, allowing 11 hits and three runs while striking out 10.
“Garrison did a really nice job keeping us off-balance with that high pitch – I don’t know if it was a rise or not, but she kept our players off-balance with 10 strikeouts,” Tooley said.
Hatboro-Horsham (3-5, 3-2 SOL) will be on the road at New Hope-Solebury for a crossover game Wednesday, and Upper Dublin (7-3, 4-2) will host Springfield Township on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 201 000 0 3-11-2
Upper Dublin 000 000 0 0-2-0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 22, WISSAHICKON 0 (5 innings)
The Colonials showed no ill effects from Friday’s disappointing eight-inning loss to Pennsbury, taking out any frustration they may have been feeling on the Trojans.
“The girls were really excited to get back on the field after Fridays heartbreaker versus Pennsbury,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “I’m really happy with how the girls played today in all facets of the game.”
The Colonials put a run on the board in the top of the first, thanks to a Sam Skivo RBI single and added five runs in the second to take control of the game.
Caelin Kosvitch lined a triple to right field to open the inning and scored when Kalina Childers singled. Childers scored on a wild pitch, but the inning was far from over. Marissa Perez lined a double to center and scored when Molly Moore doubled. Madison Moran’s single plated Moore, and Skivo and Anna Powel (RBI) followed with back-to-back singles.
The Colonials scored in every inning on their way to the mercy rule win.
Joslyn Perez’s 4-for-5 showing with a double, RBI and three runs scored led PW’s hit parade. Also coming up big were Jenna Yablon with a 3-for-3 showing with two RBIS and two runs scored and Childers’ 3-for-5 effort with a double, RBI and four runs scored. Marissa Perez (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, 1R), Moore (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, 1R), A McEvoy (2-for-2, 2RBIs 1R) and Skivo (2-for-2, RBI) also had multi-hit games.
Moore (2IP, 2H, 3Ks) and Rian Reed (2IP, 2H, 1K, 1BB) combined for the shutout.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-3, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham for Wednesday’s crossover game, and Wissahickon (1-8, 0-5) will host William Tennent Wednesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 151 78 22-23-1
Wissahickon 000 00 0-6-1
SOL Freedom Division
WILLIAM TENNENT 6, LOWER MORELAND 0
The visiting Panthers broke a scoreless tie with a five-run uprising in the fifth inning on their way to their fifth win without a loss in the first go-round in division play.
Carlie Nydick tossed the complete game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out seven and walking one in seven innings.
Lower Moreland’s Liz Neeld had a strong outing of her own and allowed just one hit through four innings.
In the fifth, Casey Yacovelli drew a leadoff walk, and Rylie O’Toole was safe on a fielder’s choice. A double steal set the stage for Morgan Kocher’s two-run single to center. Anna Coulter followed with a double to center, and then Colagreco lofted a sacrifice fly to center field that plated the third run of the inning.
A Lower Moreland miscue and an RBI single to center by Lainey Scotese gave the Panthers the 5-0 lead. They added a single run in the top of the seventh.
No player for either side had a multi-hit game.
William Tennent (5-1, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon for Wednesday’s crossover game, and Lower Moreland (4-4, 2-3) will be on the road at Quakertown.
William Tennent 000 050 1 6-6-1
Lower Moreland 000 000 0 0-2-3
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 16, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
The Spartans erupted for 12 runs in the third inning on their way to the mercy rule win.
“We had another total team effort win today,” coach Heather Gehlhaus said. “Our bats really came alive in the third inning.”
The third inning was highlighted by three-run doubles by Kaylie Parsons and Ashley Schulz. Charlotte Drapkin’s two-run double to left field brought an early end to the game.
McKayla McKeever and Joce Davis each had a pair of hits with runs scored and RBIs.
Schulz did not allow a hit in three shutout innings. She struck out six and walked two.
“She has been very strong on the mound for us,” Gehlhaus said.
Springfield (4-2, 3-2 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Wednesday, and Cheltenham (2-5, 0-5) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Cheltenham 000 0-0-0
Springfield Twp 3 1 12 16-10-0
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