Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. (NP/CR North photos courtesy of Marlee Doherty/NP Softball. HH/Springfield photos courtesy of Diane Waeltz/HH softball)
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
PENNRIDGE 5, NESHAMINY 4
The Rams opened up a 4-0 lead and then fought off a Neshaminy comeback attempt. Grace Helbling notched the win in the circle, and her teammates provided the run support, collecting 11 hits.
“It was a nice team win for us and great that one of our one-run games finally went in our favor,” Pennrdige coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “We lost two one-run games early in the season and are thrilled our girls came up in key situations today for the win.”
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. Reagan Bauman led off the inning with a line single to left, and then Averi Dockery continued her offensive onslaught, smashing a two-run home run. That 2-0 lead stood until the bottom of the fourth. Olivia Hughes drew a leadoff walk, and one out later, Morgan Volgraf was safe on an error. Both runners scored on Rachel Allen’s double to center field.
Pennridge regained the lead with two runs in the fifth. With two outs, Ryleigh Lilly singled and Oliva Crognale followed with a double. Both runners scored when Helbling doubled to left field, and the Rams led 4-2. They upped that lead to 5-2 when Dockery, who singled to lead off the inning, stole home.
Neshaminy battled back. Volgraf and Allen led off the sixth inning with back-to-back singles, and with one out, Volgraf scored on a wild pitch. Allen also scored on a wild pitch, but the Rams escaped further damage when Helbling came up with back-to-back strikeouts.
Dockery retired the Redskins in order in the seventh to earn the save. She struck out a pair. Helbling notched the win, allowing three hits and four runs (two earned) in six innings while striking out seven and walking two.
“Grace Helbling had a great game in the circle today, and the final score doesn’t reflect how well she pitched,” Iadonisi said. “Our defense gave up a couple unearned runs, and fortunately, we were able to answer back with the bats. Grace Helbling, Reagan Bauman, Averi Dockery and Olivia Crognale all had multiple hits and seemed to create rallies when we needed it.
“Averi (Dockery) came in for the save in the seventh to shut down the top of the lineup, which had put pressure on our defense in the fifth inning. We needed to change things up and we are fortunate to have the flexibility of two starters that can be put in at any moment in a game.”
Contributing multiple hits for the Rams were Lilly (2-for-4, 1R), Crognale (2-for-4, 2B), Helbling (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs), Bauman (2-for-4, 2B, 1R), Dockery (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2R). The top five hitters in Pennridge’s lineup were a combined 10-for-19.
For the Redskins, Allen was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
Pennridge (7-4, 5-3) will travel to Council Rock North on Thursday, and Neshaminy (6-7, 4-4 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks East on Monday.
Pennridge 020 021 0 5-11-3
Neshaminy 000 202 0 4-3-1
PENNSBURY 10, SOUDERTON 9
Lil Baughman’s first varsity start was a memorable one.
With the score deadlocked, the junior first baseman – filling in for Anna Evanchik who is sidelined with a concussion – led off the bottom of the seventh with a ground single to left field. One out later, Baughman, who was on third base after a pair of wild pitches, scored the walk-off game-winner on a Souderton miscue on Presley Foote’s slow roller.
“It was cool to see in her first varsity start,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “She was 2-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI and started that seventh inning with a base hit. She made contact all four times.”
No lead was safe in this one.
The visiting Indians opened up an early 4-0 lead, scoring three in the first inning and one in the second. Cameron Nadolski led off the first with a line drive double to right, and with one out, Kayley York and Madison Byrwa drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Nadolski scored on a wild pitch, and Sierra Miller’s single to center brought home a pair, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead.
A walk and Nadolski single set the stage for an RBI single by York to up the Indians’ lead to 4-0. The Falcons answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 4-3 game. A two-run single by Hannah DeFinis highlighted the inning that also included singles by Taylor Askey and Foote.
The Indians increased their lead to 7-3 with three more runs in a fourth inning that included a Pennsbury miscue as well as singles by Nadolski, York, Miller (RBI) and Olivia Plinke (RBI).
The game, however, was far from over.
A six-run fifth inning put the Falcons on top 9-7. Highlights included singles by Sammy Raub, Laney Freiband (RBI), DeFinis (RBI), Askey, Foote and Liv Czerniak (2 RBIs). Also collecting RBIs in the inning were pinch hitter Syd Kandravi and Baughman.
Souderton refused to go away, rallying to knot the score in the top of the seventh. With one out, Nadolski lined a single to right, and Lily Ponce followed with a single. A single by York plated Nadolski, and Miller’s single brought the tying run across, setting the stage for the wild ending.
Askey’s 3-for-4 day with a run scored led the Falcons’ 14-hit attack. Definis was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored while Foote was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ava Storlazzi and Sammy Raub were both 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
For the Indians, Nadolski, who bats leadoff, was a near impossible out finishing the game 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored.
“Souderton really hit the ball,” McSherry said. “That (Nadolski) kid is really tough. She’s one of the toughest hitters we have faced all year. It didn’t matter what we threw – she hit it.”
Miller was 3-for-5 with four RBIs while York was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Plinke was 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Freiband notched the complete game win in the circle for the Falcons.
Pennsbury (10-1, 7-1 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks East on Thursday, and Souderton (6-7, 4-5) will host Council Rock North on Monday.
Souderton 310 300 2 9-13-2
Pennsbury 003 060 1 10-14-1
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 12, BENSALEM 1 (5 innings)
Sienna Lawson allowed just one hit in another stellar outing in the circle, and West’s offense collected 11 hits, propelling the Bucks to the convincing win in the abbreviated contest.
The Bucks wasted no time before seizing control of the game, scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. Taylor Hooven was safe on an error to lead off the inning, and she scored when Molly Gibson lined a double to center field. Chloe Dryden’s single to right field plated Gibson, and a pair of errors opened the door for three more runs. Avery Rubenstein’s booming triple to right field plated a pair of runs for the 5-0 West lead.
Bensalem got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Bucks added a pair of runs in the second. With one out, Gibson singled, and Dryden followed with an RBI triple to right field. A sacrifice fly by Julia Thomas plated Dryden, and the Bucks led 7-1.
West added three runs in the third and put the finishing touches on the win with two more runs in the fifth.
In a winning effort in the circle, Lawson allowed one hit and one run (unearned) while striking out nine and walking one.
Dryden’s 3-for-3 effort led the Bucks and included a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored. Gibson was 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and four runs scored. Adding one RBI each were Trisha Furia and Emily Anton (1-for-1).
Central Bucks West (6-5, 4-4 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday, and Bensalem (3-8, 1-7) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Central Bucks West 523 02 12-11-0
Bensalem 100 00 1-1-4
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
The Patriots put a pair of runs on the board in the top of the first, and that would have been enough for Peyton Schellhorn, who scattered six hits and allowed one run in the complete game win in the circle. Schellhorn struck out nine and walked one to lead the Patriots to their second win in as many games.
In the top of the first, Elizabeth Gray led off with a single and immediately stole second. Kaylee Masterson drew a walk, and one out later. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice by Corinn Eads. An error on Sara Camposano’s grounder allowed both runners to score.
In the third inning, Elise Waddington hit a one-out double to center field, and she scored on a Tiger miscue with two outs.
That 2-0 lead stood until the top of the sixth when the Patriots scored five runs. With one out, Camposano singled to center, and Kaylee Mitchell was safe on an error. Mae Mahony’s double to center brought the first run home, and Mitchell scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, Schellhorn delivered an RBI bunt single, and Gray followed with a bunt single. A pair of runs scored on Masterson’s ground single to center, and the Patriots led 8-0.
The Tigers broke up Schellhorn’s shutout bid with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Kaitlyn ‘Smiles’ Erhard, who hit a one-out double to center, scored when Veronica Slaton lined a single to left field.
Erhard’s 3-for-3 day at the plate led the Tigers.
The Patriots were led by the multi-hit days of Gray (2-for-4, SB, 2R), Waddington (2-for-4, 2B, 1R), and Mahony (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 1R).
Central Bucks East (3-8, 2-5 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (2-8, 0-8) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 201 005 0 8-10-0
Harry S Truman 000 001 0 1-6-3
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2
The Golden Hawks notched an important road win in crossover play, riding the strong pitching of Lexi Waring and some timely hitting.
“I was really proud of a couple of things with the team today,” Golden Hawks coach Dan Schram said. “One, we scored our runs with two outs, and we played clean defense.
“CB South is a very good team, Maddy Borowski is a really good pitcher. It was a big win for us today.”
In the top of the first, Avery Tumolo drew a one-out walk, and Grace Stepp lined a single to left. With two outs, sophomore Kelly Delise lined a two-run single to center.
“Kelly Delise has come up big for us all year,” Schram said. “She’s playing multiple positions in the infield and just has swung a great bat for us. She’s a great kid – does whatever we ask for anytime we ask.
“Having that run support just helps your pitcher just dish. Lex (Waring) brought it every inning and once again was completely unfazed when she gave up a couple of runs. Being able to start out with those runs gave her the momentum she needed, and she pitched great.”
In the top of the fourth, Ameerah Wheet was safe on an error scored on Shannon Williams’ two-out single to right, giving the Golden Hawks a 3-0.
The Titans made things interesting with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Camryn Lee led off with a double and scored when Maura Fleming singled to right field. Ella Wheeler lined a double to left to plate the second run.
The Golden Hawks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Kaylie Walters, who singled, scored on a wild pitch.
Stepp led the Golden Hawks with a 2-for-3 effort that included a double and run scored. Delise was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
Waring allowed three hits and two runs while striking out 12 and walking none.
Council Rock South (9-2, 6-2 SOL) will host North Penn on Thursday, and Central Bucks South (5-5, 4-4) will host Bensalem on Thursday.
Council Rock South 200 100 1 4-7-0
Central Bucks South 000 200 0 2-3-0
NORTH PENN 4, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
The Knights – 19th in the latest MaxPreps national high school rankings – notched their 12th win without a loss as Julia Shearer tossed her 10th shutout of the season.
The win was the 450th of Rick Torresani’s stellar coaching career.
“He puts his heart and soul into this program, and to be able to be there with him when he got number 450 meant the world to me,” NP assistant coach Ellie White said. “He’s a great coach, but he’s an even better man. I told him we gotta go get 500 now.”
Rock North coach Susan Yee offered her congratulations as well.
“Rick is an awesome coach who runs a fantastic program,” the Indians’ coach said. “I couldn’t be happier for him hitting such an outstanding milestone.”
Also, North Penn moved up to 19thin the latest MaxPrep’s national high school rankings. Not a bad start to the week for North Penn softball, although a young Rock North squad more than held its own and forced the Knights to play a rare seven-inning game.
“This was a fun, well-played game to watch,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “North Penn is absolutely the real deal. They are the team to beat for the PA 6A state title for a reason. They are deep, they are very well coached, they have the pitching, they have the defense, they have the hitting, and they have the senior leadership. They are crisp, they are clean, and they are smart. Knowing the level that North Penn plays at, I think this game was huge for our young team to not only see what it takes to be a top-level team, but to also realize their own potential. I was really proud of the fact that the girls put aside their nerves and just battled.”
Neither team scored until the fourth inning. Brie Wilmot led off the inning and was safe on an error, and after Gianna Cimino doubled, the go-ahead run crossed the plate on Sophia Orth’s single.
In the fifth, the Knights added three runs. Shearer led off with a single, and Sarah Sabocsik drew a walk. Annabelle Smink’s bunt single plated a run, and two more runs scored on a fly ball double play. That 4-0 lead stood the rest of the way.
Shearer, who was 2-for-3 with a run scored, once again was in command in the circle, allowing just two hits while striking out 14 and walking none.
“Julia once again was Julia – 14 strikeouts and in total control,” White said.
Lucy Mills absorbed the loss but limited the Knights to just five hits and four runs, striking out three and walking three.
“Rock North played well,” White said. “We had a tough time adjusting to their pitcher, who isn’t very quick but is very spinny.
“They’re a young team, and they have such a good coach that they’re going to have people talking about them.”
Yee had no complaints about her team’s performance.
“Even though it goes in as a loss for our record, I think today was a win for our team in terms of our growth,” the Indians’ coach said. “For a bunch of freshmen, a sophomore and a junior to give North Penn their closest game in Suburban One this year shows the growth these girls have had (making the jump from middle school to high school), and the type of potential they have to build toward if they keep working hard and working together.
“You could see the shock in our girls faces as they were getting their bat on the ball at the plate, or inducing mishit balls for outs, that they were amazed they could hang. I told them, ‘Now that you are done shocking yourselves, how about we go out and shock everybody else.’ That’s the goal moving forward.”
North Penn (12-0, 8-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Thursday, and Council Rock North (6-6, 3-5) will host Pennridge on Thursday.
Council Rock North 000 000 0 0-2-2
North Penn 000 130 x 4-5-1
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
ABINGTON 12, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 (5 innings)
The Ghosts exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the third, breaking a scoreless tie and setting the stage for the abbreviated contest.
“Another good win for us today, we are starting to play solid defense along with good pitching to help us out,” Abington coach Bob Baginski said. “We have a long way to go but we’re making progress as a team”
Liz Hippel singled to left to lead off the third inning, and one out later Mackenzie Feeney singled to left, setting the stage for a two-run double to center by Sammi Clewell. A walk and hit batsman loaded the bases, and Ella O’Rourke’s single pushed two more runs across. Leanna Schenk’s two-run single and a Lions’ error on the play emptied the bases, giving the Ghosts a 7-0 lead.
In the five-run seventh, an error set the stage for a Shauna Rakus RBI single one out later. Mallory Beal circled the bases on an error, and O’Rourke followed with a double to left. Natalie Broskley lined a two-run home run to center that gave the Ghosts their final margin of victory.
O’Rourke’s perfect 3-for-3 game led the Ghosts and included a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Broskley had a productive day out of the leadoff spot, finishing the game 2-for-2 with a double, home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Schenk was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Clewell was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Abington (4-7, 4-4 SOL) will be on the road at Lower Moreland on Thursday, and New Hope-Solebury (1-7) will host Wissahickon on Thursday.
New Hope-Solebury 000 00 0-6-6
Abington 007 5x 12-12-0
QUAKERTOWN 7, WILLIAM TENNENT 4
Tuesday’s win belonged to a Panthers’ offense that pounded out 16 hits. Ava Beal, Katie Muller and Mary Wilkinson led the Panthers’ hit parade with three hits each, but plenty of others were involved.
“We really hit the ball well,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “Today was all about the offense. We’ve had games this year where it’s been Abbey (Wagner) and pitching dominating. Today was definitely an offense game, so I was really thrilled because we haven’t had enough of those lately.”
Beal and Emma Hilton opened the first inning with back-to-back singles, and after a double steal, the Panthers had runners on second and third with one out. It looked as though Tennent might escape unscathed, but Maya Hellyer’s two-out single plated Beal for an early 1-0 lead.
Tennent got that run back when Anna Coulter, who led off the second with a single, scored on a groundout. The visiting Panthers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third. Casey Yacovelli led off the inning with a single, and one out later, Morgan Kocher brought her home with a double to left field. Kocher, who stole third, scored on a groundout that put the visitors up by two runs.
Quakertown battled back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score. Skyler Williams and Leah Schwalm opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and both runners scored on a single by Mary Wilkinson.
That 3-3 score stood until the bottom of the fifth. Hellyer led off the inning with a double to center, and Wilkinson followed with a single. A run crossed the plate on a groundout, and the bases were loaded after back-to-back singles by Muller and Cadence Lewis. Another RBI groundout gave Quakertown a 5-3 lead.
Tennent trimmed that lead to one in the sixth. Gigi DeMito doubled to lead off the inning, and Victoria Colagreco followed with a single. Lainey Scotese’s single plated a run, but that’s as close as the visitors would get.
Quakertown added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to well-executed squeeze bunts by Wilkinson and Grace Baker.
“Tennent was tough today, so we were happy to get the win,” Scott said.
Beal (3-for-4, RBI, 1R), Wilkinson (3-for-4, 3 RBIs) and Muller (3-for-4) led the Panthers. Also collecting multiple hits were Schwalm (2-for-4, 2R) and Hellyer (2-for-4, 2B, RBI).
Wagner notched the complete game win, allowing seven hits and four runs in seven innings, striking out eight and walking one.
For the Panthers, Kocher was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored out of the leadoff spot.
Quakertown (11-0, 7-0 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday, and William Tennent (6-3, 6-2) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday.
William Tennent 012 001 0 4-7-0
Quakertown 102 022 x 7-16-2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 11, SPRINGFIELD TWP 4
The visiting Hatters jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings on their way to the win in Tuesday’s crossover game.
The Hatters scored three runs in the top of the first, this despite managing just a leadoff single by Alyssa Tooley. They benefitted from a pair of hit batters as well as two walks and a costly miscue. They added three runs in a second inning that followed a similar pattern with Abby Waeltz collecting the lone hit in the inning and again benefitting from several free passes as well as two errors.
Waeltz was the only Hatter with multiple hits, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a run scored. Tess Kearney, who hit a solo home run in the third, was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and four runs scored.
For the Spartans, Taylor Schulz was 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI. Her RBI double highlighted the Spartans’ two-run fifth inning, and her two-out double in the fourth set the stage for the Spartans’ first run of the game which came on Norah Conlin’s RBI single.
Bella Kirpovich earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing seven hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking none.
Hatboro-Horsham (6-5, 6-2 SOL) will host William Tennent on Thursday, and Springfield Township (4-4, 3-4) will host Mount St. Joseph Academy in a non-league game on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 331 022 0 11-9-2
Springfield Township 000 120 1 4-8-6
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 14, LOWER MORELAND 3
Junior Sam Skivo and freshman Anna Powel both had huge days at the plate, combining to drive in seven runs to lead a potent PW offense.
Skivo finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored while Powel was 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBIs.
“Sam is one of the hardest working ball players I know,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “She’s constantly working on her craft, and it shows. She’s having a really great season thus far and comes up big time and again.
“Anna is one of the most coachable kids I’ve ever had. She will do whatever is needed for the team and is one of our biggest cheerleaders. She been coming up with timely big hits for us all season and she did it again today.”
Powel’s two-run triple highlighted a three-run first inning for the Colonials, and Skivo’s two-run single was the big hit in a four-run fourth inning. Joslyn Perez also had an RBI single in the inning as the Colonials opened up a 7-0 lead.
in the top of the fourth inning, Skivo and Powel were once again in the middle of the action. After Madison Moran drew a one-out walk, Skivo lined an RBI double to center field and scored when Powel singled to center for a 9-0 PW advantage.
Lower Moreland scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, benefitting from three walks, a hit batter, a PW miscue and an RBI single by Sophia Azzarano.
The five-run seventh was highlighted by singles from Emily Dobrowolski, Ava McEvoy (RBI) Grace Carney and Caelin Kosvitch and gave the Colonials their final margin of victory. For Dobrowolski, it was her first varsity hit.
“Emily and Ava McEvoy have been doing such a great job with JV this year, so I wanted to reward them by bringing them with us today. We were able to get both into the game, and they each collected a hit.”
Kosvitch also finished with a pair of hits in a contest that saw the Colonials pound out 14 hits.
“Caelin swung the bat really well today and one that won’t show up on the stat sheet is the home run that was robbed on a great play by their center fielder,” Perez said. “I know we all wanted that one.”
“The entire team has been working really hard since last season and we’re having a lot of fun out there. We’re looking forward to the stretch run.”
The trio of Molly Moore, Rian Reed and Moran combined for the two-hitter. Moore, who notched the win, did not allow a hit in three shutout innings, striking out six and walking none. She retired all nine batters she faced. Reed threw three innings, allowing one hit and three runs (two earned) while striking out five and walking four. Moran allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-3, 7-1 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Thursday, and Lower Moreland (4-8, 2-6) will host Abington on Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 304 200 5 14-14-2
Lower Moreland 000 003 0 3-2-4
WISSAHICKON 15, CHELTENHAM 1 (5 innings)
Freshman Ava Frederick picked up her first varsity win in the circle, allowing five hits and striking out four.
“Ava doesn’t throw hard, but she moves the ball around,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “She’s kind of like batting against Mike Maddux or Phil Niekro – she doesn’t throw hard, but she moves the ball around. I think as she gets older, she’s going to throw harder.
“I put her in a couple games this year just to get some varsity tosses. Our other pitcher, Emma Dutill, is having trouble with her shoulder, so I figured, ‘Let’s put the freshman in and see what she can do.’ She did a very good job. I’m very happy for her. She’s a good kid. We didn’t have a jayvee this year, so the young ones aren’t playing a lot. She earned her start. She’s been working hard at practice. I said, ‘It’s her turn.’ She did a good job.”
The win brought a welcome end to a 10-game skid for the Trojans.
“We were on a rough path,” Borkowski said. “We just could not get out of our own way in a number of games we were playing. I just never saw anything like it.
“We started putting things together against Upper Moreland, but things went sideways again, but now we’re coming around again. Hopefully, maybe this will get us going again.”
The Trojans, who led 4-1 after one inning, blew the game wide open with a 10-run second inning.
Dutill was 3-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored. Kaitlyn Scalley scored two runs, and Morgan Risnychok had two hits and two runs scored. Deanna Schank scored a pair of runs while Emily Fox, Siena Miller, Reagan Ensminger and Meredith Walsh each scored once. Ariel Lucas Turner tripled and scored a run.
“It was a team effort,” Borkowski said. “Everybody did something to help us win. It was great.”
Wissahickon (2-10, 1-7 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Thursday, and Cheltenham (2-8, 0-8) will host Upper Dublin on Thursday.
Cheltenham 1-0-0 0-0 1
Wissahickon 4-10-1 0x 15
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