Souderton & New Hope-Solebury were winners in SOL softball action Friday. (Photos provided by Upper Dublin softball)
SOL Colonial Division
SOUDERTON 8, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
The Indians celebrated the debut of their new turf field with an impressive win over the visiting Patriots.
“It was a special day for our program, playing on our new turf field for the first time this year,” Souderton coach Tyler Bui said. “We have been mostly on the road, and it has been a grind.
“I was happy for them to finally have the opportunity to play a home game on their field. I wanted them to soak in the moment, but I encouraged them to keep our same business-as-usual approach to the game. It was great to see them come right out of the box and score three runs to get us started in the first inning.”
The Indians added two more runs in the second, thanks to a Bella Kreyenhagen two-run homer, and they never looked back on the way to their 12th win of the season.
Josi Tolentino and Skyler Byrnes both had perfect 3-for-3 days at the plate. Tolentino had a solo home run to lead off the third inning and finished with three RBIs. Byrnes – continuing her torrid offensive production – hit a two-run home run in the fifth and also had a double and three RBIs.
Three Souderton pitchers combined for the win. Kreyenhagen – who threw five innings – earned the win.
By the numbers: Souderton: Josi Tolentino (3-for-3, HR, 3RBI, 1R), Skyler Byrnes (3-for-3, 2B, HR, 3RBI, 1R), Bella Kreyenhagen (1-for-3, HR, 2RBI, 1R), Ava Detwiler (2B), Kendal Nelson (2B).
Skyler Byrnes (1.0 IP, 2H, 0R), Bella Kreyenhagen (W) (5.0 IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 4K), Ava Detwiler (1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K)
Key inning: Bottom of first: Kiera Fadden led off with a single and stole second. With one out, Tolentino delivered an RBI single, and Byrnes doubled to center to plate courtesy runner Megan Borro. An RBI single by Kathryn Jones gave the Indians a 3-0 lead.
Bottom of second: With one out, Nelson doubled to left field, and Kreyenhagen followed with a two-run home run to center field to put the Indians on top 5-0.
Souderton coach Tyler Bui:
Power surge: “Josi Tolentino and Skyler Byrnes lead our team in home runs and have very high batting averages this year. They got the job done today at the three and four spot going 6-for-6 with 5 RBI, 2 runs, and 2 home runs.”
Props: “Emma Lewis has done a lot of catching for us this year but was flawless at third base today. Emma has proven she can play multiple positions, and I was extremely pleased with her effort at third today.”
Up next: Souderton (12-2, 5-1 SOL) will host Pennridge on Tuesday (6pm), and Central Bucks East (6-7, 1-5) will travel to Gwynedd Mercy Academy Monday for a non-league game.
Central Bucks East 000 100 0 1-8-0
Souderton 3231 020 x 8-11-0
Non-league
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3, UPPER DUBLIN 0
It’s been quite a week for the Lions.
New Hope-Solebury – the smallest school in the SOL – played three games this week against much larger schools. If the season ended today, their three opponents – Central Bucks South, Neshaminy and Upper Dublin- would all be competing in districts, and the Lions came out of the week with a 2-1 record. Only a dazzling diving catch by Maura Fleming separated the Lions from potentially going 3-0.
“We’ve looked at this week as a tremendous way to prepare for the second half of the season,” NH-S coach Chris Marchok said. “And we knew we were going to face three really good teams, which we did.
“For us to have weathered this storm the way we did, I’m so proud of our young women.”
Sophomore Mabel Klossner tossed a complete shutout, scattering five hits, striking out six and walking three.
The Flying Cardinals had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the second, but Klossner came up with a huge strikeout and then a popout to end that threat. The Cards stranded two more runners in the third inning.
In the top of the fourth, Bianca Elizondo delivered the game’s biggest hit – a clutch two-out, two-run single that gave the Lions a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals had only two base runners over the final four innings.
UD junior Kayla Garrison pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing five hits and three runs – all unearned. She walked two and struck out eight.
Garrison and Lizzie Tambourino led the Cards with 2-for-2 efforts at the plate.
By the numbers: New Hope-Solebury: Bianca Elizondo (1-for-3, 2RBI), Mabel Klossner (2B)
Mabel Klossner (7.0 IP, 5H, 0R, 3BB, 6K)
Upper Dublin: Kayla Garrison (2-for-2), Lizzie Tambourino (2-for-2)
Key inning: Bottom of fourth: Emily Wilson reached base on an error to open the inning, and back-to-back walks to Dagny Mobley and Rachel Sim loaded the bases. Wilson scored on a passed ball, and with two outs, Bianca Elizondo delivered a clutch two-run single to put the Lions on top 3-0.
A greater cause: Upper Dublin hosted its third annual Strike Out the Stigma event to promote awareness for mental health in student athletes as part of today’s game. Currently, the event has raised over $1,500 with the proceeds supporting Abbey’s Bakery, a local non-profit organization that also promotes this cause.
New Hope-Solebury coach Chris Marchok: “I have a ton of respect for the program that Heather (Boyer) runs over there, and the kids that are in it – they’re first class the whole way. Their defense was phenomenal. The first couple of innings they put pressure on us, and they did it with solid, solid swinging. They forced Mabel to work very hard, and she did.”
–Rising to the occasion: “The thing about Mabel is – this kid is just a competitor’s competitor. When you take a look at her numbers – the game was a lot of pressure on her the first couple of innings because Upper Dublin had multiple runners on, and Mabel just did what she does – she rises to meet the moment all the time.
“So, when they had runners on base – second, second and third, less than two outs. This is a kid who becomes better in that situation as opposed to wilting in that situation. She raises her game in the most difficult of times.
“Once we put those three runs across, and I will say – once we scratched and clawed for three runs – you take a look at the last four innings Mabel pitched, and there were two singles, that was it. All of the pressure on her was in the first couple of innings when it was a 0-0 game. They had multiple runners on base. She just raised her game, and then she just took care of business the rest of the way.”
–Elizondo delivers in clutch: “Bianca Elizondo drove in runs two and three in our fourth inning. This is a kid who lost her spot in the lineup…NEVER changed her attitude or work ethic. She did this while moving to a new position – her old position was second base, and now she’s in left field. She never played left field before but will do whatever the team needs. She has now had multiple hits the last two days to accompany today’s big two-RBI single.”
–Credit to Garrison: “Their kid – Kyla (Garrison) – is hitting spots left and right. She did a wonderful job of pitching. The two of them together (Garrison and Klossner) – they put on a clinic in quality pitching today. Absolutely. If I’m that kid on the other side, I’m really proud of how I did.”
–Joining forces with UD for a cause: “I have all the respect in the world for them and I think their kids are first class – I just think they’re quality, quality kids, the job they did with this event. I was so appreciative that they allowed us to be a part of it because the job the kids did with the fundraising for it – you could tell it was sincere, it was heartfelt what they were doing.
“Forget the softball – it was a special day to be there. Kids need to remember the things that they recognized today and the things we’re going to recognize next Thursday. Nothing but respect for how they handled that.”
Up next: New Hope-Solebury (9-4, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Twp on Tuesday, and Upper Dublin (8-3, 4-1) will be on the road at Council Rock North on Monday for a non-league game.
New Hope-Solebury 000 000 0 0-5-0
Upper Dublin 000 300 0 3-5-5
VILLA MARIA ACADEMY 20, WISSAHICKON 8 (6 innings)
The Trojans trailed by just one – 9-8 – after a five-run uprising in the bottom of the fourth. Villa answered with five runs in the top of the fifth and six more in the sixth to bring an early end to the game.
Juliet O’Farrell led the Trojans with a 2-for-3 day at the plate that included a triple and four RBIs. Giuliana Schumann was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Up next: Wissahickon (6-9, 1-4 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
Villa Maria Academy 330 356 20-18-5
Wissahickon 201 500 8-6-6
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