Wissahickon, PW & North Penn were winners in SOL softball action Thursday.
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
WISSAHICKON 12, SPRINGFIELD TWP 0 (5 innings)
It had been an especially rough stretch for the Trojans.
“We were the gang the last two games that couldn’t shoot straight,” coach Mike Borkowski said of his team’s 4-1 and 8-1 crossover losses to Lower Moreland and New Hope-Solebury, respectively. “They scored four runs on us yesterday, and not a ball left the infield. We couldn’t catch, we couldn’t throw. I don’t know what it was. Nothing went right. It was terrible.”
The Trojans’ coach had a heart-to-heart with one of his players after Wednesday’s loss to Lower Moreland.
“She said that she’s starting to feel like she was trying too hard because we weren’t hitting,” Borkowski said. “We were all squeezing the bat too tight. I told them – they were trying to hit a five-run home run with no one on base. There was a lot of anxiety.
“I sent them a nice thing about learning from your mistakes, it’s only softball and all that stuff. Today I talked to them about appreciating what they have and relaxing and enjoying playing on the new field. I did a whole different warm-up with them to relax them, and they came out firing. They were very relaxed, and they felt good. I’m hoping this got us off the schneid.”
While the Trojans were pounding out 11 hits, Gianna Trerotola was doing the job in the circle, allowing just two hits in the five-inning shutout while striking out two and walking two.
“Gianna did really well, hitting all her spots and everything,” Borkowski said. “I have to hand it to her for keeping everything tight. She did a great job.
The tone for Thursday’s win was set early. After Trerotola retired the Spartans in order in the top of the first, the Trojans went to work.
Julia Lentz and Siena Miller opened the inning with back-to-back singles with an error allowing Lentz to score. A walk to Deanna Schank was followed by an RBI single from Ariel Lucas-Turner. A walk to Sydney Darnell was followed by an RBI single from Trerotola. The Trojans led 4-0 after Giuliana Schumand drew a bases-loaded walk.
A seven-run second put the game out of reach and was highlighted by a two-run double from Lentz.
Miller’s 4-for-4 day at the plate led the Trojans’ 11-hit attack. Lentz finished the day 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Kaitlyn Scalley was 2-for-3.
Wissahickon (5-10, 3-8 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday day, and Springfield Twp (3-9, 2-9) will travel to Archbishop Wood for a non-league game Monday.
Springfield Twp 000 00 0
Wissahickon 471 0x 12
Non-league
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5, HAVERFORD 1
Riding another standout pitching performance and timely hitting, the Colonials pulled off a huge non-league road win Thursday night, defeating a Fords’ squad that is ranked fourth in the District 1 6A rankings under the lights..
“Heading into the season, I really wanted to stack our schedule with top teams to challenge our girls,” coach Mike Perez said. “We fell a little short in our early season game vs CR South (#1 in the district), but we were able to hold our own versus Haverford (#2 in the district heading into the game).
“We know there is still a lot of season left to play, and we try not to look too much into the rankings at this point, but top 10 was definitely a goal of ours heading into the season. It’s all about constant improvement for our program…game by game and year after year.”
The Colonials, ninth in the latest rankings, once again received standout efforts in the circle from Rian Reed and Madison Moran.
“I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but once again, Rian Reed pitched tremendously in the circle for us tonight, scattering three hits over five strong innings, giving up just one unearned run, while striking out seven – including the 100th of her career,” Perez said. “She started getting into a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the fifth, walking the first two batters. I went out to check on her, and she confidently told me ‘I got it’ and struck out the next three. I’m just so proud of her, she’s been an absolute rock for us this season.
“And I can’t say enough about Madison Moran either. She came in to close out the game by pitching the last two innings, striking out four without giving up a hit. We knew Haverford would have a scrappy lineup full of girls that play the game the right way and execute, but our pitchers and our defense took on that challenge and came out on time.”
The Colonials got all sorts of momentum in the second inning when- after Anna Powel was hit by a pitch – Kalina Childers smashed a two-run home run to right field. The Fords scored an unearned run in the second, and that 2-1 score stood until the top of the fifth.
“Offensively, Kalina Childers came up huge with a two-run blast to center field to get us on the board in the second inning,” Perez said. “Then, with a slim 2-1 lead, Rian Reed led off the fourth with a monster home run that started a three-run inning. Caelin Kosvitch, Sam Skivo and Anna Powel all had big hits that inning to tack on two more runs.
“We didn’t have a ton of hits, but we got them when we needed to. We’ve been scoring in bunches recently, so it was exciting to see the girls able to pull out a grind-it-out game like this. I’m just so proud of all of the girls, the hard work they put in, and the positive mindset they all possess.”
Powel was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and run scored. Reed was 1-for-3 with a solo home run. Caelin Kosvitch and Powel both had RBI singles in the inning five-run fifth.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-2, 9-1 SOL) will host Upper Moreland Friday in a crossover game.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 020 030 0 5-6-1
Haverford 010 000 0 1-3-0
NORTH PENN 7, OWEN J ROBERTS 3
A two-run home run by Liv Stevens and another strong pitching performance by Bella Nunn propelled the Knights to the non-league road victory under the lights.
“The good thing about this game – I got a chance to play everybody, which caused a few errors,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “Bella Nunn was on top of her game.”
Nunn allowed just four hits and no earned runs – the results of five uncharacteristic errors, striking out 13 and walking one.
The Knights scored a pair of runs in the third inning. Izzy Tubertini was hit by a pitch, and Gabby Battavio walked. After back-to-back groundouts, Sophia Orth delivered a clutch two-run single to center field.
In the top of the fourth, Nunn singled to lead off the inning, and Olivia Stevens hit her first home run of the season – a two-run shot to right field to give the Knights a 4-0 lead. Tallie Smink followed with a single and scored when Brandi Groarke doubled to center. Tubertini followed with a single, and Groarke scored on a groundout.
“Liv Stevens had a good game,” Torresani said. “She hit a two-run homer that set them back.
“We got a couple clutch hits to get the other runs in, but by the time we got to the sixth inning, the kids were cold, they were tired. I said, ‘Bella, can you do it?’ She threw 137 pitches. This was our third game in a row. The kids are pushing through. We have one more tomorrow.”
Orth and Casey Sokol both had a pair of hits to lead the Knights.
North Penn (12-2, 8-2 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman Friday for a crossover game.
North Penn 002 500 0 7-10-5
Owen J Roberts 000 003 0 3-4-1
UPPER MORELAND 8, UPPER DARBY 1
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