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American ConferencePlymouth Whitemarsh 9, Wissahickon 6
The Colonials knocked the Trojans from the ranks of the undefeated, earning the big win just 24 hours after they fell in extra innings to this same Wissahickon squad.
In Monday’s loss, the Colonials managed just one hit off Trojan mound ace Katie Ziegler. On Tuesday, they pounded out 12 hits, led by the 2-for-2 effort of Corinne Watson and freshman lead-off batter Rachel Konowal’s 2-for-3 performance.
“This is huge,” coach Dana Moyer said. “Everybody knows that Ziegler is arguably the best pitcher in our league.
“The girls actually started hitting her late in the game yesterday. Seeing her today in back-to-back games, they knew what to expect, and they were on fire. I’m really proud of them.”
The Colonials wasted little time before getting on the scoreboard, responding to the fact that the Trojans scored a single run in the top of the first with three of their own in the bottom of the inning. It all began innocently when – with one out – Kerri-Anne Ciesielka reached first after a dropped third strike. A Trojan error set the stage for a two-run double by Watson. Jordan Katz’s RBI single made it a 3-1 game.
In the second, Jennifer Lurty tripled and scored when Konowal singled, and PW led 4-1. That lead grew to 5-1 in the third after Watson tripled and scored on an error.
“She had a day-and-a-half today,” Moyer said of Watson.
In the fifth, Crissy Terraces – pinch running for Tori Barattucci, who had singled – scored from second on a fly ball to deep left by Watson. One inning later, the Colonials scored three more runs, sparked by singles from Erica Miller, Lurty, pinch hitter Amanda Whalen and Alexa Borkowski. Konowal contributed a sacrifice fly.
Miller earned the win on the mound, allowing six hits while striking out nine.
“Erica pitched her heart out today,” Moyer said. “She did a nice job.
“Up and down the lineup – almost every single person had a hit. Everyone swung the bats, and even when some of the girls made outs, they were hard outs. Our defense is coming together, so we’re looking for some good things.”
The Trojans were led by the three-hit effort of Rebecca Marinucci while Hope Daniel had a pair of hits.
Upper Merion 5, Norristown 3
The Vikings rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn the big win, making things very interesting in the battle for supremacy in the American Conference standings.
The Eagles, who stranded nine runners, manufactured a run in the first and added a single run in the third.
“We had a lot of trouble with an infield popup, and they got their second run,” Upper Merion coach John Whitney said.
Trailing 2-0, the Vikings exploded for four runs in the fifth inning. Nicole Battaglia got things started with a single, and Nicole Priest roped a double off the fence in left center to put runners on second and third. A bunt loaded the bases, setting the stage for Caitlin Milke, who delivered an RBI single.
By the time the inning was over, the Vikings led 4-2. In the sixth, the Vikings added an insurance run when Krista Wellington delivered a two-out single RBI single to make it a 5-2 game.
The Eagles answered with a run in the seventh.
Nikki Ross notched the win on the mound, allowing five hits while striking out three.
“I give her a lot of credit,” Whitney said. “She’s just a tough kid and works hard. She’s pitching great for us. For a ninth grader, she’s unbelievable.
“I told them at the beginning of the year – it’s how we play defense and how quick we can get these young pitchers to varsity speed. Both of our pitchers have been doing a great job, we’re fielding the ball, and we’re scoring runs in bunches.”
Priest led the Vikings with a pair of doubles. Milke also had a pair of hits. No one on Norristown’s side had more than one hit.
Gwyn Botley absorbed the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits while fanning five and walking one. Coach Jon Kandrick credited the defense of Taylor Copestick and Stephanie DiNolfi.
While the Vikings improved to 5-2 in league play, the Eagles fell to 4-2.
Upper Dublin 5, Cheltenham 4
The Flying Cardinals broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the fourth inning. The Lady Panthers got one of those back in the fifth but never could push the equalizer across.
Upper Dublin managed just four hits off pitcher Lesenia Santiago, who fanned nine, but the Flying Cardinals benefitted from six walks and three Cheltenham errors. Kristin Ganderton earned the win for the Flying Cardinals, striking out 10 while walking four and allowing nine hits.
Upper Dublin's Gianna Tino contributed a two-run single in the third inning. Ashleigh Sharp was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Cheltenham's Dana Eisensmidts was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, and Holly Powell had an RBI triple in the first inning.
Continental Conference
Central Bucks East 5, North Penn 4 (10 innings)
It took eight innings to determine a winner when the two teams met earlier this season, and on Tuesday, it took 10.
While the Maidens had the better of play in the early season meeting, eking out an 8-7 win, they weren’t as fortunate this time around.
“This is huge,” said East coach Erin Scott. “I’m really excited for the girls.
“This definitely feels good. The last time we played them we lost in the eighth inning, and not taking anything away from them at all, but there were some calls in that game that ended up being critical.
“Every team has its ups and downs, but I think this year we have good communication amongst the girls. When they’ve had different issues, instead of not discussing it – we’ve made a point to talk about it. Just the dynamics seem to be in good place right now. I’m just happy for them. They deserve this.”
The win came on the heels of the Patriots’ 9-7 win over Conestoga on Monday when they plated a pair of seventh inning runs to earn the win.
The game didn’t exactly start out on a promising note when the Patriots – who had runners on second and third with none out in the first– squandered a golden opportunity to get on the scoreboard.
The Maidens took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Steph Kulp, who singled and moved up to third on a two-base error, scored on Taylor Marchozzi’s single. Jayme Ziegler, who replaced Sierra Huckfeldt on the mound, was greeted by a Kellianna Bradstreet single but managed to escape unscathed.
In the bottom of the inning, East knotted the score 1-1. Laura Murray got things started with a leadoff single, and Julia Schoenewald drew a one-out walk. A single by Kaylynn Johnson allowed Murray to score the tying run.
One inning later, Sam Glanick, Caroline Schoenewald and Ali Vavala (RBI) picked up singles as East took a 2-1 lead. North Penn rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh with Kulp delivering an RBI single to knot the score. Michelle Holweger – who reached base on a walk – scored the go-ahead run on an errant throw.
The Patriots didn’t go down quietly, rallying to the knot the score in the bottom of the inning. Caroline Schoenewald hit a two-out triple, and she scored the tying run on Vavala’s slap single.
Neither team scored until the 10th when the international tiebreaker went into effect.
Jenn Halcovage delivered an RBI single to put the Maidens on top 4-3 in the top of the inning. In the bottom, Caroline Schoenwald singled, and one out later, Jess Haug collected an RBI single to knot the score. Murray delivered a two-out single to keep the rally alive, and with runners on first and second, Allie Chase hit a shot into the outfield gap, allowing Haug to score the game winner.
“In the eighth or ninth inning, one of the umpires said to me, ‘It’s a shame one of these teams has to lose this game,’” Scott said. “It was such a good game and so much fun to be a part of.
“I remember when we played them the last time feeling so disappointed, and I imagine that’s how they’re feeling. It’s just nice to be on the other end. They’re a good team.”
While the Maidens fell to 6-2 in league play, the Patriots improved to 3-4.
Central Bucks South 5, Pennridge 4
For the second time this season, the Rams came out on the short end of a 5-4 score against the Titans. The Titans took a 2-0 lead, but in the sixth, Emily Hofmann led off with a double down the left field line. Courtesy runner Morgan Leatherman scored on a slow roller to second. Walks to Paige Decew and Bridget Casey loaded the bases. Alexis Detweiler worked a five-pitch walk to plate a second run. With two outs and the bases loaded, Karlie McCreary delivered a two-run single to put the Rams on top 4-2.
But not for long.
In the top of the seventh, Lauren Klepchick doubled to lead off the inning, and Morgan Decker and Haleigh Stocks followed with singles to plate two runs and knot the score. The go-ahead run scored on a ball that got by the catcher, and the Rams could not get that run back in the bottom of the inning.
“I am proud of the way this team battled today,” coach Paul Koehler said. “We talked about the fact that we were better today than yesterday.
“The girls did not like losing but took consolation knowing we played better today. We will try to build on this when we play North Penn on Thursday.”
The Rams managed just two hits – led by Haley Taylor’s two hit effort.
Fran Carrullo worked four scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. Haleigh Stocks closed it out for the Titans.
Souderton 8, Central Bucks West 5
The Indians – who pounded out 11 hits – were led by the 3-for-4 effort of Mollie Burrell. Sarah Derstine and Meghan Weisel each added a pair of hits with both players connecting for doubles. Derstine scored three runs and drove in a pair. Weisel and Burrell – who also had a double - each contributed an RBI.
Emily Groves made her start in left field, collecting a pair of hits – both doubles – and an RBI.
Brittany Beebe earned the win on the mound, working her way out of jams in the third, fourth and fifth innings. She allowed seven hits over six innings.
Cassie Zanolini led the Bucks with three hits, including a double, and three RBIs.
National Conference
Council Rock North 9, William Tennent 7
The Indians opened up a 9-2 lead on their way to the big win, and once again Rock North’s bats were the story of the game.
“We hit well again,” said coach Hollie Woodard said, whose team had 10 hits and no strikeouts.
Tennent, meanwhile, managed just three hits, but one of those was a home run by Ashley Alden and another was a three-run home run by her sister, Nikki Alden.
“It’s ridiculous how good they are,” Woodard said of the Alden siblings. “They have amazing bat speed and amazing eye-hand coordination.”
Caytlin Friis and Michelle Hand both turned in 3-for-4 efforts at the plate to lead Rock North. Dominique Pinto collected a hit to extend her hitting streak to nine straight games.
Morgan Lewis started on the mound but worked just two innings before taking a seat on the sidelines with a sore back. Her back-up – senior Alex Tremitiere – came in and closed it out to earn the win.
Tennent had just one hit going into the seventh inning when the Panthers scored five of their runs.
“They had a couple of walks,” Woodard said of the Panthers’ seventh-inning uprising. “It wasn’t an error-fest. They earned their runs.
“They definitely fought back, as usual. William Tennent is one very, very scary team. They never quit.”
With the win, the Indians upped their league mark to 6-1.
Neshaminy 10, Abington 2
The Redskins exploded for 18 hits, led by the 4-for-5 effort of Laura Altenburger, who also contributed three RBIs. Courtney Clee was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Lauren Quense and Sarah McGowan both had a pair of hits. Quense had two RBIs while McGowan had three.
Included in the Redskins’ hit parade were four extra-base hits – a triple by McGowan and doubles by Clee, Quense and Altenburger.
McGowan earned the win on the mound, allowing just two hits while fanning 10 and walking one.
The win sets up Thursday’s big showdown between the SOL’s lone undefeated squads when Pennsbury travels to Neshaminy.
Pennsbury 12, Bensalem 1 (5 innings)
The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Falcons – sparked by Mackenzie Obert’s RBI double - answered with four in the bottom of the inning to seize control of the game. They added four more in the second, one in the third and three more in the fourth to bring an early end to the contest.
D’Anna Devine, Christina Bascara and Aley Schafer each contributed three hits to lead the Falcons’ hit parade. Suzanne Swanicke contributed an RBI double while Liz Decembrino delivered a single and sacrifice fly that plated a run.
For the Owls, Tuesday’s showing was decidedly better than in an early season contest that was halted after three innings with the Falcons on top 20-0. Still, they weren’t happy.
“We have to play on a whole different level to play with teams like this,” coach Dan Schram said.
The Falcons improved to 6-0 with a date against Neshaminy looming on the horizon.
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