Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Monday.
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
PENNRIDGE 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 5
The Rams – minus two of the top four batters in their lineup – scored early, fought off a Truman rally and notched the tightly contested win in Monday’s crossover game.
“It’s always interesting to play teams outside of your division because you never know what to expect,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “However, we do know that Truman plays some strong competition, so we knew they were going to battle all seven innings. They took advantage of our defensive miscues to score a couple of runs. Fortunately, we were able to answer back by putting the ball in play and put pressure on their defense.”
The fun started early for the Lady Rams, who plated a pair of runs in the first inning. With one out, Ashleigh Kenworthy ripped a solo home run to center field. One out later, Averi Dockery followed her teammate’s lead, smashing a home run to center field to spot the Rams a 2-0 lead.
“We had to shuffle our lineup because we were missing our normal leadoff and four batter, and the girls really stood up to the challenge,” Iadonisi said. “Ashleigh Kenworthy and Averi Dockery each answered with home runs in the first inning. You couldn’t ask for anything better than that.”
In the bottom of the second, the Tigers cut that lead in half. Jess Adams – who singled, stole second and moved up to third on a passed ball – scored on a single by Emily Davis.
Pennridge upped its lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning. Ryleigh Lilly doubled to center to lead off the inning, and Olivia Crognale followed with a double to right. Both players scored on wild pitches. In the bottom of the inning, Hannah Smith, who tripled, scored on an error to make it a 4-2 game.
The Rams upped their lead to 6-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth. Katie Buccafuri, who walked to lead off the inning, scored on an error on Grace Helbling’s single to left. Kenworthy, who singled, scored on Lilly’s single to center.
Back-to-back doubles by Truman’s Teyana Towner and Kaitlyn Erhard (RBI) plated a run, and Erhard scored on a Rams’ miscue. Kylee Thomas followed with an RBI single, making it a 6-5 game.
That score stood until the top of the seventh. Helbling led off with a single, and one out later Lilly doubled. Helbling scored on a wild pitch and Lilly raced home on a passed ball for the 8-5 final.
Lilly (3-for-4, 2B, 2 runs, RBI), Kenworthy (2-for-4, HR, run RBI) and Helbling (2-for-4, run) led the Rams’ 10-hit attack.
“Ryleigh Lilly had a breakout game contributing three hits, which included two doubles,” Iadonisi said.
Dockery notched the win for the Rams, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking two in four innings. Helbling threw the final three innings.
“I don’t think the score reflects how well they pitched today,” Iadonisi said. “We are going to chalk up the defensive breakdowns to a combination of the cold weather and having a few days off for spring break.”
For the Tigers, Smith was 2-for-4 with a double and triple and two runs scored.
Pennridge (4-3, 3-3 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury on Wednesday, and Harry S Truman (2-4) will be on the road at Souderton on Wednesday.
Pennridge 200 220 2 8-10-3
Harry S Truman 010 130 0 5-7-3
SOUDERTON 16, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 4
Riley York didn’t let the inclement weather stand in the way of turning in a monster performance at the plate. The St. Joseph University-bound senior was 4-for-5 with a double, home run, three runs scored and six RBIs.
Abby Burns – who has not pitched since her perfect six-inning effort in a win over Central Bucks South – returned to the circle and threw four innings to notch the win.
“Souderton has a nice balanced team with strong bats and strong pitching,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Abby Burns is the real deal, and she did an excellent job of battling the elements to keep enough control to hold our bats at bay in the cold and rain.”
The Indians scored a pair of runs in the first. Megan Kummery led off with a single and stole second. She moved up to third on a sacrifice and scored on York’s RBI single. Kendell Clemmer picked up an RBI on a groundout, and the Indians led 2-0.
Back-to-back singles by Emma Zoldi and Sierra Klein to open the bottom of the first set the stage for a two-run inning for Rock North. The first run scored on a groundout, the second on an error.
A four-run second for the Indians began with a Lily Ponce double to left to open the inning. Josalyn Nelligan singled her home, and after Kayley York roped a two-out double to left, Riley York stepped to the plate and ripped a three-run home run to center field that put the visiting Indians on top 6-2.
A three-run fourth was highlighted by Riley York’s two-run double to center and a sacrifice fly by Clemmer that made it a 10-2 game. Sheehy answered with a solo home run to left in the bottom of the inning, but Souderton added seven runs in the sixth before Rock North tacked on a run in the bottom of the inning when Sheehy delivered an RBI double.
Sheehy’s 2-for-3 effort at the plate included a double, home run, one run scored and two RBIs.
“Molly Sheehy had a great day at the plate today,” Yee said. “She hit the ball hard during every at bat and was instrumental in bringing runs across the plate for us today. She was really in the zone and putting great swings on the ball.”
In addition to Riley York, Ponce was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and RBI. Burns was 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.
In four innings in the circle, Burns allowed two hits and two runs (one earned) with four strikeouts and one walk.
Yee credited the play of one of her varsity newcomers in Monday’s crossover contest.
“I also think freshman Frankie DeStefano deserves a huge shoutout for her performance today,” Yee said. “Frankie is a catcher who has been learning how to pitch since tryouts last month due to the fact that our squad has such a severe shortage of pitchers this year. Today she entered the game – her first ever varsity appearance – in the rain, with the bases loaded, and having to face one of the most prolific hitters in the area, Riley York.”
The Souderton senior – at that point – was 4-for-4 with a double and home run.
“It isn’t exactly the ideal situation for a freshman – let alone a freshman who’s only been learning to pitch for a month – to enter into, Yee said. “She initially couldn’t get control and went to a 3-0 count.
“With all the jitters of her first varsity appearance, trying to perform in 42-degree weather with steady rain, bases loaded and nowhere to put the batter without walking in a run, and facing a batter who at any time is a threat to drive the ball out of the yard – this brave freshman buckled down and threw two strikes in a row, with the second inducing a ground ball back to her in the circle for the final out of the inning. It was such a great display of mental toughness on the part of a freshman, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Souderton (7-1, 4-1 SOL) will host North Penn on Tuesday, and Council Rock North (0-6) will travel to Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Souderton 240 307 x 16-11-1
Council Rock North 200 101 x 4-4-3
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
UPPER DUBLIN 15, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (4 innings)
Chloe Foster tossed a one-hit shutout in the abbreviated mercy rule win, striking out six and walking one.
The Flying Cardinals put seven runs on the board in the first, four in the second and brought an early end to the game with four more in the fifth.
UD’s Kaitlyn Zacharia was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs, Bella Fiore was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs, and Rayla Kratchman was 1-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Upper Dublin (2-6, 2-4 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday, and Springfield Township (0-4, 0-3) will travel to Quakertown on Wednesday.
Springfield Township 000 xx 0
Upper Dublin 740 4x 15
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 24, CHELTENHAM 3 (3 innings)
Lauryn Kane’s inside the park home run with one out in the top of the first set the tone for an offensive explosion by the Colonials. The three-run first also included a double by Julie Price and a single by Sam Skivo as well as a costly Lady Panther miscue.
The Lady Panthers plated an unearned run in the bottom of the first, and the Colonials put the game out of reach with an 11-run second inning.
Kane’s 2-for-2 effort that included a home run, four runs scored and four RBIs led the Colonials’ 10-hit attack. Eight players contributed one hit each. Jenna Yablon was 1-for-2 with a run scored and three RBIs. Caelin Kosvitch was 1-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs, Grace Carney was 1-for-4 with two runs and three RBIS, and Lindsay Baradziej had a pair of RBIs. Adding one RBI each were Madison Moran, Haylie Lindley, Kalina Childers and Marissa Perez.
In the circle, Molly Moore threw one inning and allowed one run (unearned) while striking out two. Carney did not allow a hit in a scoreless second, striking out two and walking one. Moran threw the final inning, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out one and walking one.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-3, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (0-3) will host Abington on Wednesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-11-10 xx 24-10-1
Cheltenham 1-0-2 xx 3-2-4
QUAKERTOWN 17, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 (3 innings)
The visiting Panthers pounded out 16 hits and brought an early end to the contest with an 11-run third inning. Syd Andrews – who threw just 36 pitches, 30 for strikes – retired all nine batters she faced, striking out eight of nine.
A three-run first was highlighted by RBI singles by Syd Andrews, Trinity Lucas and Skyler Williams. The Panthers added three more runs in a second inning that included singles by Katie Muller (RBI), Maya Hellyer and Andrews (RBI). A run also scored on a passed ball.
Andrews (3-for-3, run scored, 2 RBIs) and Williams (3-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) led the 16-hit attack. Also collecting multiple hits were Muller (2-for-2, 3 runs, RBI), Hellyer (2-for-3, 2 RBIs), Lucas (2-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) and Mary Wilkinson (2-for-2, 2B, 2 runs).
Quakertown (5-0, 4-0 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Wednesday, and New Hope-Solebury (2-5, 2-4) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Quakertown 3-3-11 xx 17-16-0
New Hope-Solebury 0-0-0 xx 0-0 3
Non-league
ST. HUBERT’S 14, UPPER MORELAND 4
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