Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. Photos of the Truman Abington game are courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography (http://jdphotopa.zenfolio.com/). Check back for a gallery of game action photos.
National Conference
HARRY S TRUMAN 9, ABINGTON 8
The Tigers found themselves staring at an 8-4 deficit heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, and things didn’t look promising. But they scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to eke out the dramatic win.
“This team likes to hang in and battle at the end,” coach Kyle Hoffman said. “They were thrilled, I was excited.”
In the three-run sixth, Heather Leo led off with a triple, and Olivia Lavertu followed with an RBI double. Kelsey Hackbart and Vanessa Tancini collected back-to-back bunt singles, setting the stage for an RBI single by Carins.
The go-ahead run crossed the plate on an unorthodox play when – on a bases-loaded strikeout – the batter, who was out, began 
running to first and the runner on third raced home without a tag.
“It was very interesting at the end,” Hoffman said.
Steph Wolf (1-for-2, two runs), Mary Carins (3-for-4, 2B), Maria Dea (1-for-3, 2 RBIs) and Jewell Cook (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) led the Tigers’ offensively.
Dea earned the win in the circle for the Tigers.
Harry S Truman (2-8, 2-5 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Monday in a non-league game. Abington (3-5, 2-4) will host Council Rock South on Saturday.
Abington 420 200 0 8
Harry S Truman 301 023 x 9
NESHAMINY 6, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3
The Redskins scored a first-inning run for the eighth time in eight games, this time staging a two-out rally that included a double by Sophie Beretski and then back-to-back singles by Hunter Hart and Devan Masciulli. They added a single run in the second, thanks to four free passes.
Rock South got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fourth, but a single run in the fifth put the Redskins on top 3-1. The Golden Hawks plated two runs in the fifth inning to knot the score. The Redskins responded with a three-run sixth.
The go-ahead run crossed the plate with two outs on a dropped third strike. The Redskins added two more runs for the 6-3 final.
“It was exciting,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “We scored in the first inning again, which is huge on the road.
“It was another one of those miserable, wind-blown days. They have that huge field with no fence, and it kind of leveled the playing field out as far as being able to drive the balls. They were able to string together some hits and tied it up.
“It was a great test. When you’re able to double up a team and win 6-3 on a day when maybe you should have lost, you did pretty good.”
Masciulli accounted for two of Neshaminy’s five hits.
Amber Brugger earned the win, allowing five hits and three runs while fanning five.
Neshaminy (8-0, 6-0 SOL) will travel to Notre Dame Academy (N.J.) on Saturday, and Council Rock South (4-3, 3-2) will host Lansdale Catholic in a non-league game on Monday.
Neshaminy 110 013 0 6-5-3
Council Rock South 000 120 0 3-5-3
WILLIAM TENNENT 4, PENNSBURY 2
The Falcons plated single runs in the first and second innings to take an early lead, but the Panthers rallied for the come-from-behind win.
“I would call this one your typical SOL National Conference game,” Keeny said. “I don’t think either team was as good as they wanted to be. It was just a grind.”
The Panthers scored a single run in the third and went ahead for good with two runs in the fifth, plating a run when – with the bases loaded – Emily Curtis was hit by a pitch. They tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
Brianna Koonce and Jackie Heim were both 2-for-4 with one RBI to lead the Panthers.
For the Falcons, Bailee Zaccaro contributed a double, and Mia Pitt had an RBI single.
Kalisi Taufalele earned the win, allowing just four hits while fanning three.
“She wasn’t locating her pitches as well as she’s been, but she did enough to get by,” Keeny said. “That’s the way it is some days for pitchers.”
William Tennent (6-3, 5-2 SOL) will host Archbishop Wood in a non-league contest Friday, and Pennsbury (1-7, 1-6) will host Abington on Tuesday.
Pennsbury 110 000 0 2
William Tennent 001 021 x 4
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9, BENSALEM 1
Sabrina Crane had a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate to lead the Indians. Lauren Begg, called up from jayvee this week, added a spark to the lineup with a perfect 3-for-3 effort. Kalli Segan was 2-for-4.
Jenna Khantzian earned the win, allowing six hits and one run in six innings.
“The energy in the dugout was the best it’s been all year,” coach John Engelhardt said. “My girls came out and competed with a good team.”
Council Rock North (6-0, 5-0 SOL) will host North Penn on Saturday, and Bensalem (3-8, 1-6) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 9, SOUDERTON 0
Call it the perfect arrangement.
In Thursday’s win, Theresa Haug threw three scoreless innings, and Kayla Ventura closed it out with four shutout innings. Both say they are perfectly fine with a setup that varies only in that Haug will go four innings the next time out and Ventura will go three.
“It’s working too because once they adjust to me, she comes in,” Haug said. “They can’t adjust to her.”
“It takes usually two to three innings to finally adjust,” Ventura said. “Once they adjust – oops, sorry.’ We switch and they have to readjust.”
And what if you’re pitching a no-hitter?
“She deserves to come in because we’re splitting time away,” Haug said. “I don’t want to take her time. We just split everything – four and three.”
“Some people would be competitive and say, ‘Oh, I have to beat them out,’” Ventura said. “We understand what our roles are on the team, and we realize how compatible we are because we throw differently. It just throws everyone off when we switch it up in a game, and it’s really been working so far.”
Sharing pitching duties is nothing new for the East seniors, who have been teammates since they were 10 and have been sharing time since they were freshmen.
“We have gone into a couple of games where we haven’t hit, but our pitchers are what we’ve been riding all season,” coach Karl Knapp said. “And a great defense – our defense has made not even a handful of errors all season, but our pitching is what has kept us alive, no doubt about it.”
Haug helped her own cause with an RBI single in a two-run first that saw the Patriots take a lead they would not lose.
“It gives me confidence,” Haug said. “I know my defense is behind me and they’ll help, but having a lead takes pressure off of me, and I can feel comfortable when I’m pitching.”
The Patriots scored a single run in the third and tacked on two more runs in a fifth inning that included RBI singles by Tillotson and Alyssa Catron. A four-run seventh was highlighted by two-run singles from both Haug and Nicole Tracy.
Haug and Ventura each allowed two hits. Ventura struck out five and walked two.
With the win, the Patriots share the top spot in the conference standings with Quakertown, but just two games separate the top seven teams.
“Every single game is really important,” Tillotson said. “In this league, the competition you’re going to face today is better than what you saw yesterday.
“You have to go in with a mindset – no matter how they were last year or the game before, it’s a whole new game, and you have to go out and play 110 percent every time.”
“You could lose to a team below you in the standings, and you could beat the team above you,” Ventura said. “It literally changes every single day. On your heels and you’ll be in the bottom within two days.”
Tillotson, Haug and Ventura were part of East’s district title team when they were freshmen, and they are looking to finish strong after last year’s disappointing 9-11 season.
“It’s definitely a different atmosphere this year with the team,” Tillotson said. “It’s more of a sisterhood than it was in years past.
“I feel like we all have each other’s backs. Each and every person is really excited to come out and play. It changes the aspect of our play, and I think it’s shown this year.”
“Everyone is so comfortable, relaxed.” Ventura said. “We really have a lot of fun.”
Central Bucks East (7-3, 5-2 SOL) will travel to Abington Monday for a non-league contest, and Souderton (3-4 SOL) will host Lansdale Catholic on Friday.
Central Bucks East 201 020 4 9-15-0
Souderton 000 000 0 0-4-1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 7, NORTH PENN 0
By Kyle Morhardt for suburbanonesports.com
The Hatboro-Horsham Hatters hosted the North Penn Maidens in a league contest Thursday. The Hatters wished to continue to build of their previous performance against Pennridge, and they did just that with a commanding 7-0 victory.
“Whenever you beat North Penn – North Penn is a very well-coached team,” coach Joe DiFilippo said. “Coach (Rick) Torresani does a phenomenal job.
“I’m hoping this builds a little confidence for us.”
Hatboro-Horsham pitcher Kaeli Simmons superiorly controlled the game from the start to her exit after the fifth inning. Simmons finished with nine strikeouts in five innings before being replaced by Taylor Sciubba, who fanned two in two shutout innings in her return to the circle.
“Kaeli Simmons is about as close to Maggie Shaffer as I’ve ever seen,” DiFilippo said of a crafty pitcher that led the Hatters to a state crown. “It is unbelievable how she moves the ball around.
“Now I finally had Taylor come back and throw two innings. If I have both of them we’ll be tough.”
Hatboro-Horsham exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second to break open the game. Kylie Flagler drove a line drive into deep right field for a triple that brought three runs home. Taylor Sciubba managed to lob a sacrifice fly to the outfield that scored Flagler on the tag from third.
Hatboro-Horsham continued to bolster its score line with an RBI single by Deanna Moyer in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-0. To round out the game, the Hatters scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth off a single by Mikayla Fedele that resulted in an error by North Penn on a throw to second. Both Fedele and Sciubba crossed home plate on the play.
Hatboro-Horsham was led offensively by Kylie Flagler who went 1-3 with three RBI’s and defensively by Kaeli Simmons as well as Kyleigh Dinnien.
Bri Battavio and Liz Williams both had time in the circle today for the Maidens with Williams finishing out the game.
Hatboro-Horsham (8-3, 4-3 SOL) will host Souderton in its next league contest on Tuesday. North Penn (5-4, 4-3) will travel to Council Rock North for a non-league game Saturday.
North Penn 000 000 0 0-2-2
Hatboro Horsham 041 200 x 7-5-0
QUAKERTOWN 9, PENNRIDGE 3
The Panthers plated a single run in the first and then exploded for seven in the second to seize control of their game against the visiting Rams.
Highlights of the second included an RBI single by Meghan Klee, a two-run triple by Tara Baglivo, an RBI single by Emma McLaughlin and a two-run home run off the hot bat of Lauren Beal.
The Rams answered with three runs in the third. Julia Helbling stole home, Sam Harty delivered an RBI triple and Grace McGinley added an RBI single. That would be the extent of their scoring for the game.
For the day, Baglivo was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Klee was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored, and Megan Johnson was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Madison Moyer was 2-for-4.
For the Rams, McGinley was 2-for-3 with one RBI. Contributing doubles were Harty, Helbling, Skylar Hengeveld and Krista Yerk.
Alyssa Wilkinson earned the win, allowing seven hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out seven and walking three
Quakertown (8-3, 5-2 SOL) will host William Tennent in a non-league contest Monday, and Pennridge (4-6, 1-6) will host Southern Lehigh Monday in non-league action.
Pennridge 003 000 0 3-7-2
Quakertown 170 001 x 9-12-2
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 7, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
Alexis McConomy tossed a three-hit shutout, fanning two and walking none to lead the Titans to the important win. The Titans played flawless defense behind the junior hurler.
“Alexis probably had her best game of the year,” coach Dan Hayes said. “They had three hits, but none of them were really blasted. She jammed a couple people – one was in the infield and the other two were bloopers into the outfield.
“She really, really pitched a good game. Her location was better – she really concentrated on keeping the ball down, and she did a great job.
“We played good defense. There weren’t a lot of hard chances, but we made all the routine plays.”
The Titans, who had just six hits, got on the scoreboard with a single run in the first and added three in both the second and fifth innings. They benefitted from three West miscues and six free passes.
McConomy helped her own cause at the plate, driving in a run and finishing the game 2-for-3. Maddie Bieber had a pair of RBIs.
Central Bucks South (7-4, 3-4 SOL) will travel to Emmaus for a non-league game on Monday, and Central Bucks West (6-4, 3-4) will be on the road at Quakertown on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 130 030 0 7-6-0
Central Bucks West 000 000 0 0-3-3
American Conference
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 2, UPPER DUBLIN 0
The Spartans scored an unearned run in the second and added another run in the fifth – also unearned – to eke out a 2-0 win over the visiting Flying Cardinals.
That was more than enough for Jen Hammons, who was all but untouchable. The Spartans’ senior hurler accounted for 17 of her team’s outs – striking out 17 in an overpowering performance. She walked three and allowed just one hit.
Upper Dublin’s Rebecca Matricardi tossed a gem of her own, allowing just four hits and no earned runs while fanning seven.
Megan Muth accounted for UD’s lone hit. Hammons, Mary Kate Smith, Kaitlyn Cannon and Amanda Staroba each had a single for the Spartans.
Springfield (5-2, 5-1 SOL) will host William Penn Charter in a non-league game on Saturday, and Upper Dublin (3-3, 2-2) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
Upper Dublin 000 000 0 0
Springfield 010 010 x 2
CHELTENHAM 14, WISSAHICKON 8
The Lady Panthers opened up a 9-1 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning, and although the Trojans made it interesting – pulling to within one (9-8) after five, the Lady Panthers never relinquished their lead, scoring one in the sixth and four more in the seventh to earn the big win.
Madison Gianelle had a huge day out of the leadoff spot for the Lady Panthers, finishing 5-for-5 with a double, triple, three RBIs and three runs scored. Vita Blair-Kraybill was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Marissa Custer was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Morgan Gianelle and Izzy Picone both had a double.
For Wissahickon, Michela Coleman was 3-for-4 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Julianne Griffin was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Destini Paige was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three RBIs and a run scored, and Zoe Trumbore was 2-for-3 with a triple and one run scored. Hanna Genell and Andrea Mazurek both doubled.
Cheltenham (4-6, 2-4 SOL) will be on the road at Harry S Truman for a non-league contest, and Wissahickon (0-7, 0-5) will travel to Wilson for a non-league game Friday.
Cheltenham 153 001 4 14
Wissahickon 012 410 0 8
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, NORRISTOWN 2
Elena Iannuzzelli hit a three-run home run in the first inning, spotting the Colonials a 3-0 lead. The Eagles scored a single run in the third on Ashley Kinsey’s RBI groundout, and it was a 3-2 game after Nola Crook delivered an RBI triple in the fourth. Neither team scored the rest of the way as the Colonials held on for the win.
Senior Ashley Yeager earned the win, allowing just six hits and two runs while striking out four and walking three.
Stephanie Orman absorbed the loss despite allowing just four hits in six strong innings. She was victimized by a pair of miscues, including a costly error in the first that set the stage for PW’s three-run outburst. Orman fanned three and walked one.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-3 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Friday, and Norristown (3-7, 1-5) will be on the road at Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
Norristown 001 100 0 2-6-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 300 000 x 3-4-1
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