Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. North Penn/Bensalem photos provided courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography. All SOS photo galleries for SOFTBALL can be viewed by clicking HERE.
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
NESHAMINY 5, SOUDERTON 4 (10 innings)
If it’s wild endings you like, this game was for you.
With the international tiebreaker in effect, the Redskins – who started the inning with Morgan Volgraf on second base – had a pair on board after Zoe Shimp was safe on a push bunt to short. Both runners advanced on Kennedie Ruth’s sacrifice bunt, and that brought Laura Chorba to the plate. Neshaminy coach Tim Quense explains what happened next.
“It got really crazy in the bottom of the 10th inning,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Chorba came up. She hit a hard ball back to the pitcher – it was a one-hopper, but when it came off the dirt, it came up high. The pitcher went up, and it tipped off the top of her glove and deflected to the shortstop. Shimp took off for third base, and Volgraf walked down four or five feet. They saw Shimp near the third base bag and got her in a rundown, and Volgraf ran home and scored (the game-winner).
“When you look at the power rankings at the start of the day, Souderton was ahead of us. It was a huge win for our program, huge. I didn’t tell them that before, but when Volgraf scored the winning run, you could see the dugout erupt, and they were all over the field. It was a very intense, hard-fought game.”
Things got wild in this one well before the 10th inning. The York sisters teamed up for a run in the top of the ninth inning. Kayley York led off the inning with a line drive double to center, and she scored when Riley singled up the middle. That’s where the Indians’ rally ended, and the Redskins knotted the score in the bottom of the inning when Thomas tripled to right field to plate Lindsey Gorka, who had singled. Earlier in the inning, the Redskins had a runner thrown out a home plate, or this one would have ended sooner.
The Redskins took an early 3-0 lead, plating a pair of runs in the first inning, thanks to a two-run triple to right field by Thomas. Meryn Bellacima’s RBI single in the second gave the Redskins a three-run edge.
The Indians evened the score with three runs in a fifth inning that included singles by Kendell Clemmer, McKenna Schroding and Lily Ponce (RBI) as well as a Redskin miscue. That score stood until the ninth inning.
Bellacima’s 3-for-4 day at the plate included a run scored and RBI led the Redskins. Thomas was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, Shimp was 2-for-3 with a run scored and Gorka was 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Amanda Slabicki threw the first five innings – she was perfect through four before the Indians put three runs on the board in the fifth. Ruth closed it out, allowing two hits and one run while striking out seven and walking none to earn the win. The duo combined for 11 strikeouts and zero walks.
“We haven’t been walking people, which is good,” Quense said. “I’m very happy with both of them. They’ve been great.”
Schroding absorbed the loss despite allowing just five hits and one run in six innings. She struck out two and walked four. Abby Burns threw the first three innings, allowing three hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking one.
Quense had 18 girls on his lineup card – 17 saw action in Tuesday’s wild win.
“Good thing it didn’t go more than 10 innings because three starters were down because we were using pinch runners and courtesy runners and so forth, trying to do anything to score a run,” the Redskins’ coach said. “It was a very intense, very well-played game. It got a little crazy at the end, but we’ll take the win.”
Neshaminy (8-3, 6-3 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Thursday, and Souderton (8-4, 5-4) will host Bensalem on Monday.
Souderton 000 030 001 0 4-5-3
Neshaminy 210 000 001 1 5-10-1
HARRY S TRUMAN 13, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 12
With Teyana Towner on third base and one out in the seventh, Hannah Smith lined a single down the right field line. Towner, who reached base on a walk and stole second, scored easily, and the Tigers escaped with the dramatic walk-off win.
“We needed this win – it makes up for some of the ones we should have won that we didn’t,” Truman coach Rick Palmer said. “It’s not quite the Neshaminy win, but it’s up there.
“That team can really hit. We hit today too, we really hit the ball again. Even the outs were hard hit balls.”
It looked like the Tigers might be on their way to an easy win after they plated seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. Towner got the ball rolling in that inning as well, singling to center to lead off the game. Emily Davis drew a walk, and with one out, Courtney Nau doubled to left, plating the game’s first run. Davis scored on a fielder’s choice, and two more runs crossed the plate when Kylee Thomas singled to right. Amariah McKnight lined a two-run double to center, and when Towner singled for the second time in the inning, the Tigers led 7-0, but not for long.
The Patriots answered with five runs in the top of the second. Highlights included a solo home run to center by Mackenzie Wilson, singles by Kayla Mitchell, Chloe Urankar, and a three-run home run by Sara Camposano.
The scoring didn’t stop there in a game that featured 25 runs and 23 hits.
Truman took a 12-9 lead into the seventh that turned out to be anything but secure. One-out singles by Maggie Funston and Camposano set the stage for a three-run home run to left field by Elise Waddington that knotted the score. The Tigers, however, had an answer in the bottom of the inning.
For the Tigers, Nau (3-for-4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) and McKnight (3-for-4, 2B, run, 3 RBIs) led the way. Towner, Ava Kilner and Jordyn Loy each had two hits. Towner also had three stolen bases.
Amelia Funston led the Patriots’ hit parade, finishing 4-for-5 with a home run, one run and two RBIs. Camposano (3-for-5, HR, 3 runs, 3 RBIs) and Waddington (3-for-5, HR, run, 3 RBIs) also had productive days at the plate. Collecting two hits each were Mitchell and Urankar.
Harry S Truman (4-6, 3-6) will travel to Central Bucks West on Wednesday, and Central Bucks East (6-4, 3-4) will host Pennsbury on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 050 301 3 12-16-3
Harry S Truman 741 000 1 13-17-3
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 9, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3
The Bucks scored four runs in the fourth inning to go on top 8-2 on their way to the conference win. Sienna Lawson was in command in the circle in the complete game win, and Chloe Dryden continued her torrid offensive production.
“Today’s game was an incredible game for our team,” West coach Ali Coleman said. “Every player contributed to the win in some way.
“Sienna Lawson pitched a great game with 11 strikeouts and only gave up two walks and two earned runs. As for offense, our players were aggressive but selective at the plate. Chloe Dryden continued to be a dominant hitter with three singles and two runs scored. Senior Bailey Demusz had a double and RBI single. Avery Rubenstein had two walks, a single and two RBIs. Molly Gibson had three RBIs on two hits, and Ava Glemser had a two-RBI double.”
The Indians benefitted from an error to plate Sierra Klein, who had singled, with a first inning run that gave Rock North a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Bucks had runners on second and third with no outs after Rubenstein singled to lead off the inning and Gibson doubled to right. With two outs, both runners were still stranded on second and third when Glemser stepped to the plate and doubled to center field, plating a pair of runs to give the Bucks a 2-1 lead.
That lead grew to 4-1 in the third inning when the Bucks scored a pair with the benefit of just one hit – a double by Bailey Demusz.
The Indians scored one in the top of the fourth to make it a 4-2 game when Molly Sheehy smashed a solo home run to left to open the inning , but the four-run fourth – which included just two hits – gave the Bucks a commanding lead. The Indians never threatened.
Dryden (3-for-4, 2 runs), Gibson (2-for-4, 2B, run, 3 RBIs) and Demusz (2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs, RBI) all had multiple hits for the Bucks.
Lawson scattered seven hits in the complete game win, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out 11 and walking two.
“CB West did a great job of stringing together hits today to push runners across,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Their pitcher also did an impressive job of buckling down and getting out of innings each time they showed any sign of getting rocky.
“When we threatened with multiple runners on, she answered with strikeouts to get herself out of every potential jam. She also made a great play getting her glove on a screamer back up the middle off the bat of Emma Zoldi to deflect the ball to her shortstop and get the final out in the sixth inning to strand the bases loaded. She deserves a lot of credit for her performance today.”
Molly Sheehy’s two hits led the Indians.
“I think our bats were a bit rusty today after taking a week off from seeing any live pitching due to our seven seniors being away on their senior trip to Disney World,” Yee said. “And ultimately, we just couldn’t get in a groove to string the hits together when we needed to.
“Molly Sheehy (2 for 4 with a homerun) and Jayme Bordner (1 for 2 and a walk) both looked unfazed by the layoff at the plate, and Emma Zoldi made continuous improvement as the game went on with two strong at-bats in her final appearances, but the bottom line remains that we left eight runners stranded, including twice getting the first two batters of the inning on base and then failing to push them across. Collectively, we have to do a better job of capitalizing on those opportunities if we want to win games.
“Defensively, I was happy with the performance our girls put forth. Their rotations were crisp, and they played well together. We had multiple double plays initiated from the outfield, an inning ending diving grab by centerfielder Sofia Shields, and our infield played good surehanded ball together. If we can continue to make these types of improvements, maintain them, and just keep striving to improve a little more each day, good things will start to happen for this team.”
Central Bucks West (3-7, 2-6 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Wednesday, and Council Rock North (0-7) will host North Penn on Thursday.
Council Rock North 100 110 0 3-7-3
Central Bucks West 022 410 x 9-9-3
PENNSBURY 6, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4
The Falcons opened up a 6-0 lead, but the Titans didn’t go down quietly, scoring four runs in the sixth inning. That’s as close as they would get.
In the bottom of the first, Caitlyn Martell and Quinn McGonigle both singled and stole a base, setting the stage for a two-run single by Rowan Mulholland. In a two-run second inning, Martell contributed an RBI single, and she did the same in a two-run fourth inning.
The Titans’ four-run sixth was highlighted by sophomore CJ Haney’s two-run double. Abby Magliaro contributed an RBI single, and Allie Franck also had an RBI.
“Ainsley was pitching a great game,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “She was perfect through four-and-two-thirds innings and then gave up a single and got out of it.
“In the sixth, she walked a kid, then we made an error, they had a bloop single between the outfield and the infield, and a kid hit a double.”
Martell and Mulholland both finished the day with two hits and two RBIs, accounting for four of the Falcons’ eight hits – all singles.
McClure notched the complete game win, allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) while striking out 13 and walking one.
Maddy Borowski turned in a complete game effort for the Titans, striking out three and allowing three earned runs.
“I was proud of my kids today and the heart they showed,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “The wins are coming – I have no doubt about that.”
Pennsbury (10-1, 8-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Thursday, and Central Bucks South (3-6, 2-5) will host Neshaminy on Thursday.
Central Bucks South 000 004 0 4-4-2
Pennsbury 220 200 x 6-8-1
NORTH PENN 11, BENSALEM 0 (5 innings)
Julia Shearer was on top of her game, scattering three singles, striking out 15 and walking none in yet another dazzling performance in the circle.
“She was really on today,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “She was probably 66-67 (mph). She was throwing it hard, and the ball was moving. She was pretty much lights out.”
The Knights collected just seven hits but benefitted from nine walks. Shearer was on the receiving end of three of those walks, and she also had three stolen bases. Sarah Sabocsik also drew three free passes and scored three runs. She also had a stolen base.
“Before the game, I talked about working the pitcher because we have Pennsbury coming up, and I wanted them swinging at their pitch and that’s what they did today,” Torresani said.
A three-run first included three walks and a hit batter and was highlighted by RBI singles from Brie Wilmot and Maddy Gronback. In the second, Gronback picked up her second RBI single and Hannah Cohen lined an RBI double to right – the only two hits in a four-run uprising that gave the Knights a 7-0 led.
Shearer retired the first eight batters she faced, but the Owls collected a pair of two-out hits in the third, including a double.
North Penn closed it out with four more runs in the third inning that included singles by Gianna Cimino (RBI), Sophia Collins (RBI) and Gronback (2 RBIs).
Gronback finished a productive day 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a stolen base.
North Penn (11-0, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Thursday, and Bensalem (6-4, 5-3) will host Pennridge on Thursday.
Bensalem 000 00 0-3-1
North Penn 344 0x 11-7-0
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 9, WILLIAM TENNENT 4
The Colonials led 5-3 after three innings but put some distance between themselves and the Panthers with a three-run fourth inning on their way to the crossover win.
“Happy to get a hard-fought win versus a tough Tennant team,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “Coming off a major high beating Quakertown yesterday, I was pleased to see the girls come out battling today. The bats stayed hot, and we were able to capitalize on a few misplays.”
A two-run first for the Colonials included singles by Molly Moore and Lauryn Kane. The Panthers got one of those runs back in the bottom of the inning without collecting a hit.
The Colonials’ second inning was highlighted by a three-run double to center field by Haylie Lindley. In the bottom of the inning, Anna Coulter hit a two-run double to left, pulling the Panthers to within two, 5-3.
PW added three more runs in a fourth inning that included a leadoff single by Kane, a single by Marissa Perez that plated a pair of runs, and a Kalina Childers RBI double to center. The two teams exchanged single runs over the final three innings for the 9-4 final.
For the Panthers, Casey Yacovelli was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Kane had another big day for the Colonials, going 3-for-5 with a triple, three runs score and one RBI. Lindley (2-for-4, 2B, run, 2 RBIs) and Molly Moore (2-for-5, 2 runs) also had multiple hits.
Moore notched the complete game win, allowing five hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out 12 and walking three.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-3, 6-2 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday, and William Tennent (5-3, 5-2) will be on the road at Abington on Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 230 300 1 9-10-3
William Tennent 120 010 0 4-5-7
ABINGTON 12, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0
Sam Wenhold stole the spotlight in Tuesday’s crossover win
The Ghosts’ freshman ace allowed just three hits while striking out nine and walking three in the complete game shutout win.
“Sam Wenhold was terrific today,” Abington coach Bob Baginski said. “It was a total team effort after a tough loss yesterday. We have three more games this week and have to keep improving.”
The win came on the heels of an 8-4 loss to Wissahickon on Monday and was in the second of five games in five days with Hatboro-Horsham, William Tennent and Pennridge waiting in the wings for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The Ghosts scored a run in the top of the first, thanks to a two-out RBI single by Sydney Steiner. In the third inning, Abington added three runs.
Aneesa Rohrer led off the inning with a single and scored when Leanna Schenk tripled to right field. Schenk scored on Lauren Everitt’s single, and courtesy runner Natalie Broskley scored on a wild pitch, giving the Ghosts a 4-0 lead after three innings.
In the top of the sixth, Maddie Slavin led off the frame with a double to center, and she scored when Ellie Pierce doubled to right. With two outs and the bases loaded, Steiner ripped a double to center, plating three more runs to give the Ghosts a commanding 8-0 lead.
In the seventh, Rorhrer and Everitt both had RBI singles and Hailey Hernandez had a two-run single to close out the scoring with the Ghosts on top 12-0.
Rohrer (3-for-4, 3 runs, RBI, 2 SB) and Everitt (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) led the Ghosts’ 12-hit attack. Steiner was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and a stolen base.
Abington (5-4, 4-4 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday, and Springfield Township (1-7, 1-6) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday.
Abington 103 004 4 12-12-0
Springfield Township 000 000 0 0-3-1
QUAKERTOWN 7, UPPER MORELAND 0 (5 innings)
In a rain-shortened game that was halted after five innings, Sydney Andrews was in complete command in the circle, allowing two hits, striking out 13 and walking one.
“She really worked inside on the hitters and had her change-up going,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “Overall, it was very tough conditions to play in. It basically was a light rain the entire game.
“For Syd to be able to grip the ball and have control the way she did today was impressive. We kept our composure as the field got sloppy and made the plays to win the game.”
The Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Ava Beal drew a leadoff walk and stole second. With two outs, Emma Hilton delivered an RBI single, and then it was Trinity Lucas ripping a two-run home run.
“The thing was a no-doubt-about-it shot to dead center field,” Scott said.
In the third inning, Hilton drew a leadoff walk, and Lucas followed with the single. A walk to Andrews loaded the bases for Maya Hellyer, who doubled to left to plate a pair of runs.
“She’s been struggling but made a nice adjustment to the pitcher and hammered a double to deep left field,” Scott said.
The fourth inning was highlighted by RBI singles from Andrews and Leah Schwalm. For Schwalm, it was her first varsity hit and RBI.
Lucas (2-for-3, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, SB) and Andrews (2-for-2, RBI) led the Panthers’ eight-hit attack.
“We have a lot of work to do on our hitting right now,” Scott said. “While I’m happy with the win today, we still have a bunch of things to clean up.”
Quakertown (8-1, 7-1 SOL) will travel to Lower Moreland on Thursday, and Upper Moreland (2-7, 1-5) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday.
Upper Moreland 000 00 0-2-0
Quakertown 302 2x 7-8-1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 16, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 1 (5 innings)
The Hatters took a 2-0 lead into the third inning when they erupted for seven runs and went on to earn the mercy rule win.
“New Hope’s defense did a good job in the first few innings holding our offense to a few runs,” HH coach Kelly Krier said. “Alyssa Tooley, Amya Lundy, Abby Waeltz and Tess Kearney had strong performances at bat.
“Olivia Baltzer hit her first ever home run for HH. Alyssa Tooley pitched well, backed by solid defensivee plays in the field.”
Tooley, who doubled to lead off the top of the first, scored on Kendal Leitner’s sacrifice fly to give the Hatters a 1-0 lead in the first. In the second inning, Abby Waeltz and Tess Kearney (RBI) hit back-to-back doubles to make it a 2-0 game.
The seven-run third inning featured singles by Tooley, Marissa Rapino, Amya Lundy (RBI) and M Karpovich. Kiersten Rimer roped an RBI double to center, and Tooley followed with an RBI triple to right field, but the undeniable highlight of the inning was Kearney’s two-run inside the park home run.
The two-run fourth featured RBI doubles by Waeltz and Megan Mills. Olivia Baltzer’s leadoff solo home run to right field and Lundy’s two-run home run to center highlighted the five-run fifth inning.
Tooley (4-for-4, 2B, 3B, 3 runs, RBI), Waeltz (3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 runs, RBI), Rapino (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Lundy (2-for-4, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Kearney (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 1run, 3 RBIs) and Mills (2-for-4 2 2B, 2 RBIs) led the Hatters 18-hit attack.
Tooley notched the win in the circle, allowing three hits and one run (unearned) while striking out five and walking none.
Hatboro-Horsham (7-3, 7-1 SOL) will host Abington on Wednesday, and New Hope-Solebury (2-7, 1-5) will host Wissahickon on Thursday.
Hatboro-Horsham 117 25 16-18-2
New Hope-Solebury 000 01 1-3-2
WISSAHICKON 18, CHELTENHAM 3 (3 innings)
The Trojans received contributions up and down their lineup in Tuesday’s crossover win.
Danielle Cilberto (2-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBIs), Luca Penna (2-for-2, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, BB) and Emma Dutill (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) had multi-hit games. Also contributing were Katelyn Fitzgerald (1-for-1, run, 2 RBIs, 2 BB), Emi Fox (1-for-2, 2 runs, RBI), Meredith Walsh (1-for-3, 2 runs, RBI), Siena Miller (1-for-1) and Julia Roth (1-for-1).
Dutill also notched the win in the circle, allowing one hit in two shutout innings, striking out five and walking two. Gianna Trerotola threw one inning, allowing three hits and three runs while striking out three and walking one.
Wisssahickon (7-3, 7-1 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Thursday, and Cheltenham (0-6) will host Lower Moreland on Wednesday.
About the Author
