Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action on Tuesday. PW/Upper Dublin photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of action photos…CLICK HERE to go directly to the SOS Softball gallery.
In what has to be a first, five of 10 SOL softball games were mercy rule wins. Seven of the 10 games were shutout wins with the home team the victor in all seven games. One shutout – Pennridge’s 2-0 win over Souderton – was a classic pitcher’s dual. The others weren’t close.
Below are the wraps for a most unusual day.
National Conference
NESAMINY 10, PENNSBURY 0 (5 innings)
Amber Brugger’s eyes widened and her face lit up at the mention of Rebecca Dixon’s solo blast to open the second inning.
“That was big,” Brugger said. “That started it off. We were already really excited and intense, but that set it up.”
Dixon’s home run – which turned out to be the game winner – calmed any nerves the Redskins may have had and also set the stage for 10 unanswered runs.
“I think that completely set the tone,” Dixon said. “Everyone was kind of down in the beginning, and that home run just really hyped it up and got everyone excited, got everyone in the spirit.”
The Redskins added a second run when Devan Masciulli – who singled and moved up to second on an error – scored on an RBI single by Alexis Watkins. The Redskins made it a 4-0 game with two more runs in the third, thanks to back-to-back-to-back singles by Olivia Fee, Natalie Rios and Hunter Hart (RBI) and a Falcon miscue.
Armed with the lead, Brugger rolled through the abbreviated contest, allowing just four hits while fanning six and walking two in a strong outing.
“I was really nervous,” the Redskins’ junior pitcher said. “Coming in, I was like, ‘Everything is a little shaky,’ but I went in there and just was like, ‘This is the game, it’s going to be great.’
“Everything fell into place, and everything was good. I also had my defense behind me. They were all on.”
The Redskins played flawless defense behind Brugger.
“We struggled at the beginning of the season, but we came out here, and we knew we had to make the plays today,” Dixon said. “If you give them any energy, they’ll take it.”
The Redskins – sparked by Brugger’s leadoff double and a sacrifice fly by Fee – upped their lead to 5-0 in the fourth, and they added five more runs in the fifth to bring an early end to the game.
“(Brugger) threw a great game,” Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti said. “She hit every spot, she was a bulldog today. She was awesome.
“We played very clean defense, and that was what we emphasized, that’s what we wanted to do in this game, and that was the difference.”
With pitcher Sarah Dowalo, a Villanova commit, sidelined with an injury, Brugger has been a workhorse in the circle.
“Obviously, I would love to have her here, both of us pitching, dominating,” Brugger said. “But I have my defense behind me so that takes a lot of the pressure off.”
Hart and Watkins both finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and combined for five RBIs. Rios and Masciulli both added a pair of hits.
“We’re always nervous to play Pennsbury,” Dixon said. “We know we always have fun playing Pennsbury, but it’s our biggest game.
“Beating them gives us confidence to take on the season.”
Neshaminy (6-2, 3-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Thursday in a battle of the conference’s lone unbeaten squads, and Pennsbury (6-2, 2-1) will host Council Rock South on Thursday.
Pennsbury 000 00 0-4-4
Neshaminy 022 15 10-13-0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10, ABINGTON 0 (5 innings)
Jenna Khantzian is having herself quite a week.
Twenty-four hours after tossing a shutout in the Indians 1-0 non-league win over Central Bucks West, the Virginia Tech hurler was back at it again, this time allowing just two hits in the abbreviated contest while fanning 11 and walking none.
“When the count is 2-2 or 3-2, that’s when Jenna is at her best, there’s no doubt,” coach John Engelhardt said. “I can’t tell you how many times the count has gotten to 2-2 or 3-2, and when she bares down – one of the things I say to her is, ‘You’re the best in this spot,’ and she has incredible focus in difficult spots.
“For a young girl to have that focus is very, very impressive. I would almost like to find a way for her to get angry because when she gets angry is when she throws harder. The angrier she gets, the better she focuses.”
The Indians’ coach went on to credit Khantzian’s batterymate.
“Jenna and my catcher, Taylor Amazeen, have played together for a while, and their relationship is huge,” Engelhardt said. “I even said to Taylor today, ‘You don’t get enough credit. You do an incredible job back there.’
“Find me a better defensive catcher anywhere. She and Jenna have a fantastic relationship, and that absolutely helps Jenna because (Amazeen) is a leader, and their close relationship off the field as well helps them on the field. It’s nice to have.”
The Indians – who blew the game open with a six-run fourth inning – also got the job done at the plate, pounding out 12 hits. Taylor Briggs was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Riley Sheehy was 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs, and Sabrina Crane was 2-for-3 with a triple.
Council Rock North (7-1, 5-0 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Thursday in a key conference battle. Abington (2-4, 0-4) will be on the road at Harry S Truman on Thursday.
Abington 000 00 0
Council Rock North 110 62 10
Continental Conference
PENNRIDGE 2, SOUDERTON 0
Kailyn Bell earned her second win in as many days.
On the heels of allowing just one hit while fanning eight in an abbreviated 10-0 win over Lansdale Catholic in five innings, the junior pitcher went the distance on Tuesday night at Druckenmiller Park, tossing a one-hitter while fanning a season-high 13 and walking none in a seven-inning masterpiece.
“She’s been starting our games, and she’s been throwing unbelievably,” coach Carol Atkinson said. “She’s hitting the corners with her curveball, she’s not throwing down the middle. She’s been throwing great.
“It was a pitching dual tonight. Alex Scheeler from Souderton pitched a great game also.”
The Indians threatened in the top of the sixth. Alyssa McCormick, who reached based on a one-out infield single, stole second and tried to score when Ali Gould’s short pop fell out of the glove of a diving Ram infielder. She was thrown out at the plate.
In the bottom of the inning, Kylie Watson led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a passed ball. She moved up to third when Sara Sztenderowicz was safe on a dropped third strike. Sam Harty’s sacrifice fly to center plated Watson, and Sztenderowicz scored on Logan Scott’s single to center to give the Rams a 2-0 lead that was their final margin of victory.
It’s been quite a turnaround for the Rams, who were 0-4 after their first four games and outscored 40-9 in those contests. Since then, they are 3-0 and have outscored their opponents 17-3.
“The last three games we’ve had momentum,” Atkinson said. “Our hitting is coming around, our girls are playing together. It’s just been phenomenal to see them play the way they are.’
Scheeler pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing just four hits while fanning 10 and walking none.
Pennridge (3-4, 1-2 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Thursday, and Souderton (2-3, 0-2) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Wednesday.
Souderton 000 000 0 0-2-0
Pennridge 000 002 x 2-4-0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 7, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
The Bucks led 2-1 after one inning, but the Patriots scored two in the second to take a lead they would not lose. A four-run fourth inning gave the Patriots control of Tuesday’s game against their neighboring rival.
Tara Harper led the Patriots with three RBIs in a 2-for-4 effort at the plate. Leadoff batter Hailey Aspinwall was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and Maddie Michvech was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Steph Kuhns was 2-for-4 with one run scored. Giuliana Ruscio was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
For the Bucks, Cara Hatzinger was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Sierra Mosiniak was 2-for-2. Angelina Sherba doubled, drove in a run and scored a run.
Ruscio notched the complete game win in the circle, allowing seven hits and two runs while walking one and striking out one. Sherba absorbed the loss for the Bucks. Kayla Gallagher allowed just one hit while striking out four and walking one in four scoreless innings of relief.
Central Bucks East (4-2, 3-0 SOL) will host North Penn on Wednesday, and Central Bucks West (1-6, 0-4) will travel to Pennridge on Thursday.
Central Bucks West 200 000 0 2-7-2
Central Bucks East 124 000 0 7-9-0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 8, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Alexis McConomy tossed an impressive complete game four-hit shutout. The senior pitcher struck out five and did not walk a batter.
McConomy received plenty of support from her teammates. Maddi Bieber (3-for-4, 2B, 2 runs scored) and Meghan Bradley (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) led the Titans’ high-powered attack. Alex Deleon was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Taylor Marinelli was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Alexa Ortman was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Central Bucks South (3-3, 3-0 SOL) will host Souderton on Wednesday, and William Tennent ( 2-5, 1-2) will host Central Bucks East on Thursday.
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 6, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5
One day after falling to Quakertown 21-10, the Cardinals gutted out a road win against their neighboring rival.
“When you score 10 runs, you expect to win most games,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “I was proud of their resiliency and their composure and doing a really good job all around.
“We got some clutch hits when we needed them, we played tough defense when we really needed to, and our pitching was solid today. We didn’t give many free passes, and that really makes all the difference. That’s where we struggled (on Monday), and the fact that they had a short-term memory, left that go, came back, regrouped and went out and focused today was really important. Especially for a young team, so that was really, really good.”
Erin Gallagher earned the win, allowing six hits and five runs (three earned) while walking four and striking out one in five-plus innings.
“We are young in the circle this year,” Boyer said. “Erin Gallagher is getting most of the starts and doing her best, but she’s still learning the position, being very persistent and gutting it out there and really doing her best.
“She’s a very good first and third baseman, and I would love to have her there, but the needs of our team – we need her on the mound, so I really give her credit for doing it with no complaints. She doesn’t get upset, doesn’t get an attitude when things aren’t going her way. She just goes out there and gives her best, so I really have to commend her for that.”
Sophomore Marley Wardle – in her first appearance in the circle since the preseason – entered the game with a pair on base and none out in the sixth and allowed just three hits and no runs in the save.
“I put Marley in there in a really tough spot, and it was a two-run game,” Boyer said. “She bared down and found a way to get three outs.
“One of their runs scored, but she closed the inning down. For a sophomore to come in in a tight spot like that was huge.”
Boyer went on to commend her defense for supporting Wardle in the seventh.
“There was a hard hit ball to deep left field and Korynn Bischoff tracked it down and made a great catch – so much that (PW coach) Dana Moyer commended her on it too,” Boyer said. “That was definitely a momentum swing.
“If that ball drops, you’re looking at a PW runner in a scoring position at that point, so that was a huge first out.”
The Colonials put a pair of runners on board with one out in the seventh, but the Cardinals turned a ground ball into a force out at third for the inning’s second out. The final out of the game was a bit more unorthodox.
“There was a bleeder behind second base,” Boyer said. “Sarah Sharp made a great effort for it. It popped in and out of her glove, and my shortstop, Jackie McMenamin, happened to be there to catch it before it hit the ground.
“It was an awesome hustle play by both of them to just really work to get that ball in the air and back each other up. I’ve been in this sport a long time, and I’ve only seen that one other time.”
The score was knotted 3-3 heading into the fourth inning when Sarah Sharp’s two-run triple gave the Cardinals a 5-3 advantage. The Colonials got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame. In the top of the fifth, Korynn Bischoff’s RBI single put the Cardinals on top 6-4, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
For the Colonials, Emma Carney was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Kammy Kropinski was 2-for-3. Jennifer Byrnes, Regan Ebersole, Julie Sassi and Sydney Melillo each had one RBI for the Cardinals.
Upper Dublin (4-4, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Thursday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-3, 3-2) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Monday.
Upper Dublin 030 210 0 6
Plymouth Whitemarsh 021 101 0 5
QUAKERTOWN 10, CHELTENHAM 0 (5 innings)
The Panthers continued their offensive onslaught of their conference opponents, upping their run total in four league games to 61 after Tuesday’s abbreviated contest.
Twenty-four hours after hitting four round trippers in their win over Upper Dublin, the Panthers had a pair of home runs. Lauren Beal and Halle Frederick both homered. Frederick had her second 3-for-3 effort in as many days, this time finishing with a double, home run and one RBI. Bealer was 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.
Nikki Vanelli was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Tara Baglivo was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Maddie Moyer was 2-for-3, and Abbey Hill was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Abbey Schwartz was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Quakertown (5-2, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Thursday, and Cheltenham (0-4) will be on the road at Springfield Township.
Cheltenham 000 00 0-2-1
Quakertown 602 02 10-13-2
UPPER MORELAND 15, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (3 innings)
The Golden Bears seized early control of Tuesday’s conference game, scoring five runs in the first inning, eight more in the second and two in the third.
Winning pitcher Jenna Sadowski did not allow a hit in the abbreviated three-inning contest, striking out four.
Leading the Golden Bears’ 10-hit attack were Chloe Tice (2-for-2) and Kim Benge (2-for-3).
Upper Moreland (3-1, 2-0 SOL) will host Quakertown on Thursday, and Springfield (0-3, 0-2) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday.
Springfield 000 0
Upper Moreland 582 15
HATBORO-HORSHAM 15, WISSAHICKON 0 (4 innings)
The Hatters scored three runs in the first inning and added nine in the next two combined, closing out the game with three more in the fourth.
Kylie Flagler led the Hatters’ hit parade with a 3-for4 effort that included a pair of doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored. Mikayla Fedele was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Brynn Griffith and Maddie Yeager each had a pair of RBIs.
Grace Daniels earned the win in the abbreviated contest, allowing one hit while fanning four and walking one in four innings in the circle.
Hatboro-Horsham (4-1, 2-1 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Wednesday, and Wissahickon (0-6, 0-4) will host Cheltenham on Thursday.
Wissahickon 000 0 0
Hatboro-Horsham 354 3 15
Non-league
CONWELL-EGAN 12, HARRY S TRUMAN 8
The Tigers, who collected 12 hits, trailed 5-1 after four innings, but a five-run fifth put them on top 6-5. The Eagles knotted the score in the bottom of the inning, but Truman scored two runs in the top of the sixth to go on top 8-6. The Eagles scored six in the bottom of the frame to seal the Tigers’ fate.
Kaileah Heston led the Tigers with a 3-for-4 effort out of the cleanup spot. She had a team-high four RBIs and one run scored. Elle Olivero was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Chrissie Hugh was 2-for-5 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Steph Wolf was 1-for-2 with three runs scored. Grace Pool and Hailey Carter each had an RBI.
Harry S Truman (1-6, 1-3 SOL) will host Abington on Wednesday.
Harry S Truman 000 152 0 8-12-3
Conwell-Egan 202 116 x 12-16-1
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