Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. Pennsbury/NP photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. PW/Cheltenham photos courtesy of Kim Supko Photography. Check back for galleries of both games.
Non-league
PENNSBURY 4, NORTH PENN 3
Ainsley McClure has some less than pleasant memories of the first time the then Pennsbury freshman faced North Penn ace Mady Volpe in the 2019 District One 6A semifinal game.
“I remember that game play for play,” McClure said of the Falcons 4-0 loss that saw Volpe toss a one-hit shutout.
In Tuesday’s rematch of the district heavyweights, the junior hurler and her Falcon teammates created some decidedly better memories, edging the Knights in a classic battle that could well be a preview of a postseason showdown to come.
Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Knights were ranked number one in the District One 6A power rankings, the Falcons were number two. With the win, the Falcons took over the top spot. Players on both sides knew this was a high stakes regular season game.
“I try to go into every game thinking this is going to be our best game of the season, that it’s always going to be the toughest, and I know our team does the same,” McClure said. “There was a lot of talk about it. (Volpe) is a fantastic pitcher – great speed, great spin, definitely intimidating on the mound, but we all face every pitcher the same and we go as hard as we can and it always pays off.”
Both teams had base runners in the first inning. Julia Shearer led off with a single that got by the outfielder, and the Knights had a runner on second to open the game. A sacrifice sent her to third with one out, but that’s where she was stranded as McClure came up with a big strikeout for the second out and a groundout for the third.
In the bottom of the inning, the Falcons put a pair on board. Ian McGonigle drew a one-out walk and Caitlyn Martell singled. Volpe struck out the next two batters she faced.
Momentum swung in the Falcons’ favor in the third. Jess Rowe ripped a triple to right to lead off the inning, and one out later, McGonigle drew her second walk of the game. A popup to second for the inning’s second out, and Volpe and the Knights looked as though they would see their way out of the inning. Rowan Mullholland had other ideas.
The Falcons’ cleanup batter packs a lot of punch in her 5-4 frame and smacked a home run over the right field fence, putting the Falcons on top 3-0.
“I just go into the batter’s box knowing I want to hit for my team,” Mulholland said. “I want to help my team in any way I can – if it’s a little single in the infield or a ball in the gap, anything I can do.”
“(Volpe) deserves all of the hype she’s receiving. She’s an excellent pitcher, and she shuts people down with her spin and her rise ball and everything, but we had a fire in our eyes, and as our coach says, ‘The target keeps getting bigger and bigger as we win.’ That just makes us work even harder than we already do, and I know we come out every game wanting to win.”
The Falcons added a run in the fourth, benefitting from three walks and a hit batter with McGonigle’s third walk in as many at-bats pushing the run across.
“We put up some quality at-bats, we really did,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “We laid off (the rise ball) – that was the key.”
Bri Wilmot’s solo home run to lead off the fifth made it a 4-1 game, and the Knights added a pair in the sixth when sophomore Sarah Sabocsik slammed a two-run shot that plated Shearer, who notched her second hit of the game.
After Sabocsik’s blast, Annabelle Smink and Volpe had back-to-back singles to put a pair on board with none out. McClure struck out the next two batters she faced and slammed the door on that potential comeback with a grounder to third.
“They have some hard, hard hitters,” McClure said. “Every girl that came up to the plate I knew could rip that ball, and we had to pitch her very carefully. Our defense did a great job. They fielded anything that came to them, even if it wasn’t close – just dove and got it.
“Props to North Penn. They were just slamming the ball and made for a real fun and challenging game.”
McClure retired the Knights’ eight, nine and one batters to close out the game, and the Falcons’ ace avoided having to face the heart of the Knights’ lineup.
“Their leadoff has unbelievable wheels,” McClure said of Shearer. “Along with their number two hitter who hit the home run – they have great bats and speed. They can bunt and slam the ball. (We were) very conscious of the top of the lineup, but we were ready to go.”
“As coach McSherry would say – we practice for the one-run games, so our defense went out there fully prepared and fully ready to just field any balls that came to them.”
In the complete game win, McClure allowed eight hits while striking out six and walking none.
“I have to say I did get a little anxious behind the plate, but I know our team with our defense and how much we work throughout practice – we had it under control,” said Mulholland, who is McClure’s batterymate. “I trusted my outfield, and I trusted Ainsley.
“She’s doing a great job. Her change-ups are working really, really well lately. I think that’s going to help us a lot. They were on point. Every change-up was solid.”
Mulholland’s 2-for-4 effort at the plate included a double and home run with three RBIs. She is 9-for-19 this season out of the four hole.
“She didn’t get much time (as a freshman), but when she came up, she had the eye of the tiger – you could see she wanted to hit,” McSherry said. “We thought she was going to be a nice player, but we didn’t realize she was going to hit the ball as well as she has so far.”
Also for the Falcons, Rowe was 2-for-3 with a triple and run scored.
For the Knights, Shearer was 2-for-4 with a run scored while Gianna Cimino was 2-for-3.
Volpe allowed six hits and four runs while striking out 12 and walking six.
Pennsbury (6-0, 4-0 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. contest. North Penn (6-1, 5-0) will host Neshaminy on Thursday.
North Penn 000 012 0 3-8-0
Pennsbury 003 300 x 4-6-1
QUAKERTOWN 17, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 (4 innings)
Syd Andrews was perfect. In fact, the Panthers’ junior pitcher couldn’t have been more perfect if she’d tried.
“She only gave up one foul ball – they only made contact with one of her pitches the entire game,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “It was pretty amazing to watch. She faced 12 batters and struck them all out. It’s a perfect, perfect game. It was unbelievable.
“She just was dominating the strike zone. She was pumping fast balls and rise balls and really had great success with those two pitches. It was impressive. If we had gone seven would she have done it? I wouldn’t have been surprised the way she was throwing today.”
If Andrews stole the spotlight on the field, her teammate and batterymate – LauraRose Morelock – did the same at the plate, turning in a career performance and finishing the abbreviated game 3-for-4 with three home runs and 10 – count them – RBIs. She got the ball rolling in a four-run first with a three-run home run to center. In the fourth inning, she homered twice – the first a two-run shot and the second a grand slam.
“I think I have one of – if not the best catcher in the Suburban One with her,” Scott said. “She was just on fire today. All year, she’s just been a rock for us. She leads the team in batting average, and she shuts down the running game of every team we face. They don’t even try and run on her anymore because of her arm.”
Andrews also was 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles, one RBI and one run scored. Cadence Lewis (2-for-2, 2 runs) and Maya Hellyer (2-for-3, RBI, 1 run) also had big days at the plate.
Quakertown (6-2, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Thursday, and New Hope-Solebury (2-5, 2-2) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
New Hope-Solebury 000 00 0-0-0
Quakertown 400 13x 17-14-10
HARRY S TRUMAN 11, PENNRIDGE 8
The Tigers continued their torrid offensive production. On the heels of their 10-9 win over Bensalem 24 hours earlier, the Tigers once again put double-digit runs on the board, opening up a 10-1 lead before the Rams scored seven runs over the final two innings.
“We hit the heck out of the ball again – we had 17 hits,” Truman coach Rick Palmer said. “We focused on hitting a lot this winter when we were inside practicing.”
Emily Kuvulic – who had a double and home run – and Jada Moran led the charge with three hits each.
“Emily Kuvulic has been struggling a little bit,” Palmer said. “She had a tough day at Pennsbury where they stole a couple of home runs from her. Today she had a big game with the bat.”
The Tigers led 8-0 after three innings and avoided the early game miscues that have plagued them in recent outings.
“We got through the first inning without any mistakes,” Palmer said.
Courtney Nau set the tone in the first inning when – after Mara McKeon drew a free pass – she ripped a two-run home run to center field. Moran hit a two-out single, and Jalecia Blackston brought her home with a double, and just like that, the visiting Tigers led 3-0.
They added five more runs in third. Emily Merrigan led off with a single, and Moran followed with a double. A walk to Blackston loaded the bases. A pair of runs scored on passed balls. Jessica Adams collected an RBI single, and Kuvulic’s two-run blast to center put an exclamation point on the big inning.
Catelyn Thrush put the Rams on the board when she led off the fourth with a solo home run to center. The Tigers scored twice in the sixth before the Rams staged a late rally.
Kuvulic was 3-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Moran also had three hits, including a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Teyana Towner, Nau, Merrigan and Hannah Smith each had two hits.
For the Rams, Thrush had a huge day and smacked her second home run of the game in the bottom of the seventh – this one a two-run shot. She finished the day 3-for-3 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored. Reagan Bauman was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Cassandra Schillo doubled and drove in a pair.
Blackston earned the complete game win for the Tigers.
Harry S Truman (5-2, 2-2 SOL) will host Souderton on Thursday in a crossover game, and Pennridge (3-5, 1-4) will host Pennsbury Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Harry S Truman 305 002 1 11
Pennridge 000 104 3 8
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 10, BENSALEM 3
The visiting Owls took a 2-0 lead into the third inning when the Titans erupted for four runs and added six more in the fifth on their way to the convincing win in Tuesday’s crossover game.
Braylee Webb and CJ Haney opened the third with back-to-back singles, and then it was Suzie Williams collecting an RBI double to make it a 2-1 game. An Owl miscue allowed another run to cross the plate, and the go-ahead run scored on a groundout by Nicole Pilla. Marlena Hacker’s RBI single made it a 4-2 game after three.
“That four-run inning was the key,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “I thought Braylee and CJ getting the leadoff singles – honestly, that set the tone because CJ’s was a bunt single, and that got us relaxed a little bit whereas our at-bats were not too good the first two innings.”
In fifth inning, the Titans blew the game wide open. With one out, Jasmine Chui singled and stole second. Pilla followed with a single that plated Chui when the ball was bobbled in the outfield. Hacker ripped a two-run home run, and the Titans led 7-2. Webb also had a two-run single in the inning.
Hacker, a transfer from Bensalem, had a big day against her former teammates, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
“She was a Bensalem kid her freshman year, and her family moved here in the school year, so she knew everyone on their team,” Rosini said. “I thought that was pretty neat that she had that.”
Webb was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Haney was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Williams was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
Maddy Borowsky earned another complete game win, striking out 10.
“She did really well,” Rosini said. “She’s young, she’s still learning the ins and outs, and I think she’s starting to come together.
“I think, to be honest, as a team, we’re starting to come together. We still have a lot of work to do, a lot of work to do, but I think we’re getting better. We’re starting to find ourselves a little bit. Today was fun. We needed a fun one, and that was fun.”
For the Owls, Jess Klein was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Emma Lostracco was also 2-for-4.
Maggie Formichilli absorbed the loss, striking out four in seven innings.
Central Bucks South (3-4, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Thursday, and Bensalem (3-5, 1-4) will host Central Bucks East on Thursday.
Bensalem 110 001 0 3-10-3
Central Bucks South 004 060 x 10-10-2
WISSAHICKON 13, WILLIAM TENNENT 2
Danielle Ciliberto turned in a strong outing in the circle for the Trojans, notching the complete game win while striking out eight and allowing six hits and two runs.
“She is having an MVP year for us,” said coach Mike Borkowski. “This year I said she ‘looked different.’ She has really matured. Danielle is having a real nice year” A player responsible for Ciliberto’s pitching success, according to the Trojans’ coach, has been Gracie Franczyk, who had a pair of hits and three RBIs.
“I really want to recognize her,” Borkowski said. “Gracie has done a terrific job calling games. I have yet to call a pitch.
“Rory Goodrich (last year’s catcher) and Gracie talk. Rory has been great to have as a volunteer coach. She’s going to be a top coach one day.”
First baseman Katelyn Fitzgerald is also having a big year for the Trojans. In Tuesday’s win, Fitzgerald was 4-for-5 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
“Fitz has been terrific this year,” Borkowski said. “Her clutch hitting has really been a huge factor in us winning four games this year.”
Franczyk (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) and Emma Clayborne (2-for-5, RBI) also had multi-hit days.
“I also would like to give a big shout-out to some of our JV players who contributed,” Borkowski said. “Meredith Walsh and Sienna Miller jumped in today and played well. Meredith was flawless in right field, and Sienna had a big-time bunt to get Emma Dutill into scoring position.
“We are missing our shortstop again today so some young players are out of position but they hung in there. We only have nine players on varsity so we have to use JV to help us. They played well today.”
Meg Curtis, Giselle McLaughlin and Gigi Demito each had two hits for the Panthers.
Wissahickon (4-4, 3-1 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday, and William Tennent (2-1, 1-0) will host Upper Dublin on Thursday.
Wissahickon 003 502 3 13-11 3
William Tennent 000 101 0 2-6-5
NESHAMINY 8, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4
The Redskins scored five runs in the sixth and took a 7-1 lead into the fifth inning on their way to the non-league win.
Mia Barone and Amanda Slabicki combined for the win in the circle.
The Skins’ offense was led by Carena Barr, Kylee Jones, Kylie Siwek, Amanda Slabicki and Darby Brant, who combined for eight hits. According to coach Tim Quense, Zoe Shimp, Peyton Tierney, Laura Chorba, Rachel Allen, Kennedie Ruth, Danielle Monaco and Michelle Baradziej all played stellar defense.
For the Bucks, Chloe Drydon had a pair of hits and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot while Allison Mackwish also had two hits.
Neshaminy (5-2, 4-1 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Thursday, and Central Bucks West (0-8, 0-5) will host Council Rock South on Thursday.
Central Bucks West 100 010 2 4
Neshaminy 105 102 x 8
SOUDERTON 10, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3
Nine Souderton players combined to pound out 16 hits in a win that represented a team effort. Abby Burns had a big day at the plate and also notched the win. Burns was 3-for-4 with a home run, RBI and run scored. In six innings in the circle, she allowed three runs while striking out 12 and walking one. McKenna Schroding threw a scoreless seventh to close it out.
“I was very impressed with Souderton’s bats up and down their lineup,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “They were consistently putting the ball in play and making us work. They also played solid on the defensive end.
“It was a rough day on the field for CR North. We came out very flat and just never really got anything going. Abby Burns was in complete control today with 12 K’s. She helped her own cause with a 3 for 4 effort at the plate that included a homerun.”
The Indians put a run on the board in the second and seized control of the game with a five-run third.
In addition to Burns, Taylor Nelson was 3-for-4 with two runs. Sierra Ripka (2-for-4, 2 runs), Megan Kummery (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 1 run) and Kayley York (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run) also had multiple hits. Gail Hartman singled and drove in a run. Riley York and Brooke Scotti both also had a hit and an RBI.
For Rock North, Kat Hastings hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Sofia Shields was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
“Our girls are much more capable than we have shown during this three-game skid,” Yee said. “We just have to get back to being ourselves.
“Playing in the SOL is both a blessing and a curse because of the depth and competitiveness of this league. Every team is solid and is going to take advantage of an opponent who comes out flat. You can’t have an off day and succeed against an SOL team, but at the same time, it’s this level of competitiveness that prepares everybody in our league to do so well in districts and states every year. Souderton is a good team that will make noise in districts, and every day that we get to play ball against that caliber of team is an opportunity for us to grow and prepare ourselves to succeed against high caliber teams in the future.”
Souderton (8-2, 3-2 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Thursday, and Council Rock North (4-3, 2-2) will host Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Council Rock North 000 201 0 3-4-4
Souderton 015 310 x 10-16-1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 14, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 (5 innings)
The Patriots brought an early end to Tuesday’s non-league game with four runs in the second and a seven-run outburst in the third. Alex Frenia earned the win in the abbreviated game, allowing two hits and one run (unearned) while striking out eight.
Frenia also had a big day at the plate with three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Catcher Amelia Funston led the Patriots with four hits, four RBIs and two runs scored. She also had another stellar game on defense with no passed balls.
Elise Waddington went 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. She also pitched a scoreless fifth and did not allow a hit in her varsity debut in the circle. Bailey Shellhorn and Mackenzie Wilson both contributed two hits and scored a run. Shellhorn had two RBIs and Wilson had one.
Kayla Mitchell and Ava Catron each had a hit and scored two runs. Chloe Urankar and Elizabeth Gray both had an RBI while Taylor Molesky and Sophia Lindia each scored a run.
Central Bucks East (7-2, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Thursday, and Council Rock South (3-5, 0-4) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 047 12 14-16-3
Council Rock South 001 00 1-2-2
UPPER DUBLIN 10, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (5 innings)
The Flying Cardinals celebrated the team’s seven seniors – Liz Baginski, Rachel Bilger, Lauren Carboni, Dani Lucidi, Ally McDaid, Courtney McKenna and Gretchen Wolpert – with a no-doubt-about-it win in an abbreviated contest.
“Today’s game was a complete team effort and a terrific way to honor our seven seniors,” UD coach Heather Boyer said.
UD used a pair of four-run outbursts in the fourth and fifth innings to blow open a close game and bring an early end to the contest. The Cardinals – who scored a pair in the first inning – took a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning.
For the Cardinals, Ally McDaid had an RBI triple, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Lucidi was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, two stolen bases and three RBIs. Lauren Carboni was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Liz Baginski earned the win, allowing two hits in five shutout innings while striking out one and walking one.
Springfield’s Chloe Morales and Amaylah Murray each had a hit. Lauren Hussie absorbed the loss.
Upper Dublin (3-4, 1-4) will travel to William Tennent on Thursday, and Springfield Township (1-4, 1-3 SOL) will host Quakertown on Thursday.
Springfield Twp 000 00 0
Hatboro-Horsham 200 44 10
HATBORO-HORSHAM 17, UPPER MORELAND 1 (6 innings)
The Hatters collected 23 hits in an explosive offensive performance. They brought an early end to the game with an eight-run sixth inning.
Kayla Tauber led the Hatters with a 4-for-5 effort that included a pair of doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored. Kristin Myers (3-for-5, 3 RBIs, 2 runs) had a productive day out of the leadoff spot. Tess Kearney (3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, 3 runs), Amya Lundy (3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 run) and Abby Waetz (3-for-5, 2 RBIs, 2 runs) also had three-hit days.
Alyssa Tooley was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored, and Megan Mills was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Lundy’s RBI double spotted the visiting Hatters a 1-0 lead in the first, and in a six-run third inning, Tauber had a two-run double while Waeltz, Rapino, Tooley (RBI) and Megan Mills (2 RBIs) contributed singles.
Tooley also earned the win in the circle, allowing one hit in four shutout innings while striking out four and walking three.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-0, 4-0 SOL) will host Souderton on Monday in a non-league game, and Upper Moreland (4-2, 3-0) will travel to Wissahickon on Thursday
Hatboro-Horsham 106 118 17-23-0
Upper Moreland 000 001 1-6-2
SOL Liberty Division
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 14, CHELTENHAM 0 (4 innings)
The Colonials recognized their three seniors – Emily Caffrey, Carly Rosenberger and Regan Gehman – with a shutout win in Tuesday’s abbreviated conference game.
Caffrey’s 3-for-3 effort at the plate with one run scored led the Colonials while Rosenberger was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Lauryn Kane was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and Marissa Perez was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Marissa Dudek was 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run.
The Colonials put a run on the board in the first when Rosenberger doubled and scored on an error. They added five more runs in the second, benefitting from some Lady Panther miscues. A seven-run fourth brought an early end to the game.
Kane earned a win in the abbreviated contest, allowing just one hit in three shutout innings while striking out 10 and walking two. Julie Price closed it out with a scoreless fourth inning.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-5, 2-3 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Friday for a crossover game, and Cheltenham (1-4, 0-2) will be on the road at Abington Thursday.
Cheltenham 000 0 0-2-7
Plymouth Whitemarsh 151 7 14-14-0
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