Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Saturday.
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock South 6, Council Rock North 5
For seven straight games, the Golden Hawks have pretty much played with the lead. In Saturday’s rivalry game, they proved they displayed their resiliency. Staring at the short end of a 4-0 score heading into the bottom of the fourth, they began a comeback and rallied for the hard-fought win.
“Today’s softball game against our biggest rival was truly incredible,” Rock South coach Scott Molle said. “We started off slow, but our girls never gave up and kept pushing.”
On the other side of the diamond, Rock North coach Susan Yee offered a similar sentiment.
“Today’s game was a classic North / South rivalry game,” the Indians’ coach said. “Lots of energy, lots of passion, and lots of great softball.
“Although we came out on the losing end, I’m extremely proud of our girls for the way they played with class and also played for a cause bigger than themselves – our Strike-Out Cancer initiative. There are some things in life that are more important than the totals in the win-loss column, and these girls demonstrated that and took it to heart today.”
The Indians served early notice that this would not be easy when Taylor Gearhart and Molly Sheehy hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning. They added two more runs in the fourth. Zoe Hardy hit a one-out double to right field and moved up to third on Zoe Hornstein’s sacrifice bunt. Olivia Schlindwein drew a walk and moved up to second on defensive indifference. Two runs scored on a single to center by Kayla Ripper.
“North is a very good team, and they have some incredible talent – Taylor Gearhart had a nice game for them hitting a home run and making some nice plays in the field at shortstop,” Molle said.
In the bottom of the fourth, Julia Scannapieco hit a solo home run to center field to make it a 4-1 game.
One inning later, Shannon Williams led off the inning with a bunt single and moved up to second on a wild pitch. She scored when Kelly Delise followed with a ground single to center. A walk to Maddie McLean and a bunt single by Helen Woloshyn loaded the bases for Gabby Bloom, who cleared the bases with a double to center field, giving the Golden Hawks a 5-4 lead.
Chelsea Seiler’s RBI single evened the score in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, a pair of Rock North miscues set the stage for Avery Tumolo’s one-out single that plated Bloom with the game-winner and gave the Hawks the walk-off win.
“Gabby has been an offensive powerhouse all year and is leading the team in RBIs and has been our most consistent hitter so far this year,” Molle said. “It was an amazing finish as Avery Tumolo walked it off in the bottom of the seventh with a single to center field, scoring the winning run. Shannon Williams and Kelly Delise also had great games at the plate with two hits each.
“As a coaching staff, we are so proud of what the girls have been able to do so far. It has been a remarkable start to the season, and we are playing as a team and a never-give-up attitude. Having a four-game week, I don’t think we could have scripted it any better than what the girls accomplished today to finish off a tough week of play. I want to give a special shout out to our catcher Grace Stepp who fought through the game today not feeling well. She is a gamer and never gives up, and to catch a full seven innings in a huge game was something special to see.”
Lexi Waring earned the complete game win, allowing nine hits and five runs while striking out nine and walking three.
“Our pitcher, Lexi Waring, had a tough start but finished strong with nine strikeouts,” Molle said. “Many of our players have a special connection to this field, as they started playing here at Welch Fields years ago. In fact, our catcher Grace Stepp and pitcher Lexi Waring were batterymates in a game they won here eight years ago, and they got another win again today.”
Leading the Golden Hawks at the plate were Williams (2-for-3, R) and Delise (2-for-3, RBI).
Molly Sheehy’s 2-for-4 day with a home run, RBI and run scored led the Indians.
“It’s no secret we were in a bit of a funk this past week, and going up against the undefeated, number one ranked team in the district, given the way we played this past week would seem like a daunting task, but the girls came out unfazed and on fire,” Yee said. “Our senior leadership was evident today, and it started right from the get-go with Taylor and Molly’s back-to-back homeruns in the top of the first inning.
“They set a tone real quick for everybody in our dugout that we weren’t going to be intimidated and we weren’t going to go down quietly. South is a really strong team, there is a reason they are in the power ranking position they are in, but I think our girls proved today that win or lose in the end, they can go toe to toe with anybody when they work together and believe in themselves.”
Council Rock South upped its overall record to 8-0 (6-0 SOL) while Council Rock North is 4-6 overall (2-6).
Council Rock North 200 200 1. 5-9-3
Council Rock South 000 140 1. 6-9-0
SOL Colonial Division
Souderton 12, Central Bucks East 2 (6 innings)
The Indians came out on fire, opening up a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looking back on their way to the abbreviated win. Ava Detwiler threw five shutout innings to earn the win.
Camryn Nadolski led off the first with a single, and Kendall Clemmer drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Kathryn Jones drove in the game’s first run with a single. Freshman Kiera Fadden followed and hit her second home run in as many games – this one a three-run shot to center field that put the Indians on top 4-0 after one inning.
In the third, Jones opened the inning with her second single of the day, and Detwiler helped her own cause with a two-run home run to left field. A solo home run by Makayla Mihelcic in the fourth put the Indians on top 7-0 on their way to the decisive win.
Jones was a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, RBI and four runs scored to lead the Indians’ 11-hit attack. Detwiler was 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored, and Nadolski was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Detwiler allowed two hits in five shutout innings while striking out six and walking one. McKenna Schroding threw the final inning, allowing one hit and two runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking one.
Souderton is 7-4 and 4-4 in conference play while Central Bucks East fell to 2-7 (0-7 SOL).
Central Bucks East 000 002 2-3-1
Souderton 402 114 12-11-1
Non-league
Central Bucks South 15, Archbishop Wood 0 (4 innings)
The Titans led 13-0 after two innings and brought an early end to the game in the fourth, pounding out 13 hits and 15 runs.
“It was a great game all together,” South coach Matt McLaughlin said. “I always love having Wood in the picture. They’re a great team with great coaches. Looking forward to going there next year.”
After Riley Theis retired the Vikings in order in the top of the first, the Vikings went to work in their half of the inning. Maura Fleming drew a leadoff walk, and Hannah Tracy followed with a single. The bases were loaded after Ella Wheeler singled.
The game’s first two runs cross the plate on a fielder’s choice by Hollie Schaub. Wheeler scored on a passed ball, and then Steph Bendziowicz ripped a run-scoring triple to right field. Bendziowicz scored on a passed ball, and Theis followed with a single. By the time the inning was over, the Titans led 6-0 on their way to the rout.
Theis tossed a three-hit shutout in the abbreviated four-inning game, striking out three and walking none.
Wheeler led the Titans’ 13-hit attack with a 3-for-4 day that included two RBIs and two runs scored. Fleming was 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs out of the leadoff spot. Bendziowicz was 2-for-2 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs.
“We just had a good day,” McLaughlin said. “They are a competitive team, but things went our way. Another awesome showing on the mound from Riley.
“The best part about today was the fact that every player got an at-bat and contributed. Watching how selfless our normal starters were to give up their at-bats for some pinchhitters is why I do this. We have the right group. Culture is everything. Every girl that came in off the bench got a hit and that was awesome to see. Overall great day.”
Central Bucks South improved to 6-5 overall (4-3 SOL).
Archbishop Wood 000 0 0-3-2
Central Bucks South 671 1 15-13-0
Archbishop Ryan 11, Bensalem 3
About the Author
