Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday. PW/Upper Moreland photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Pennsbury/CB South photos courtesy of Darryl Rule/JD Photography. Check back for galleries: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f860927651
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossovers
PENNSBURY 6, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2
Ava Storlazzi was a difference maker for the Falcons in Friday’s crossover win.
The speedy leadoff batter was 4-for-4 with a triple, three stolen bases and two runs scored. For Storlazzi, it was just another day on the diamond.
“She’s having a career year,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “Before today’s game, she was 16-for-37, so she’s 20-for-41 right now. The only reason she didn’t have four stolen bases is because she hit a triple.
“Her speed just drives people crazy, and she’s playing great defense too. At the top of the lineup, she really sets the table for us.”
The Falcons’ coach was especially pleased with the efforts of Liv Czerniak and Kylie Dressel in the circle. Czerniak, who earned the win, threw five full innings and faced one batter in the sixth, allowing seven hits and two runs – both unearned. Dressel did not allow a hit in two shutout innings to close out the game.
“Both girls did a great job against a good team,” McSherry said. “Czerniak came in and threw four scoreless innings until that fifth inning and both of their runs were unearned.”
It’s the kind of pitching performances that will win games for a Falcons’ squad that has put a lot of runs on the board.
“We’ve lost three one-run games where we’ve scored eight runs, eight runs and 11 runs,” McSherry said.
The Falcons got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the first when Storlazzi, who singled and stole second, scored when Sammy Raub doubled.
“She hit a rocket down the third base line,” McSherry said.
Pennsbury upped its lead to 3-0 in the second inning. Presley Foote singled and stole second, and after a walk to Czerniak, Bella Morales singled. An error on the play allowed Foote to score. Storlazzi followed with a hard grounder up the middle for an RBI single.
Jaylynn Rodweller’s RBI single in the third inning gave the Falcons a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Titans plated a pair of unearned runs, capitalizing on a Falcon error and singles by Hannah Tracy and Ella Wheeler (2 RBIs).
The Falcons got those two runs back in the sixth. Storlazzi roped a triple to left field, and she scored one out later when Olivia Klumpp tripled to right field. Raub’s RBI single gave the Falcons their final margin of victory.
“We needed this big time because they’re a good team,” McSherry said. “They’ve won some big games, and we needed this, for sure.”
In addition to Storlazzi, Raub was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, and Rodweller was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
For the Titans, Wheeler had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Steph Bendziowicz was 2-for-3. The duo accounted for five of their team’s seven hits.
Pennsbury (6-4, 5-3 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Saturday at 11 a.m., and Central Bucks South (8-6, 6-4) will host Neshaminy on Monday at 3:30 p.m. for the completion of a suspended game that was tied 11-11 at the end of seven innings.
Central Bucks South 000 020 0 2-7-3
Pennsbury 121 002 x 6-12-1
NESHAMINY 6, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3
The Redskins found themselves trailing 2-0 early to a West squad that was coming off a win over Pennsbury and had won five of six games heading into Friday’s crossover. They responded with six unanswered runs on their way to the important win.
“That was the biggest takeaway from the game today and the thing I was most proud of the girls for,” Neshaminy coach Sarah Martoccio said. “We had a handful of errors in the second inning that allowed them to score two unearned runs, but not for one second did any single girl on that field or in that dugout get down on themselves about it.
“Even girls that participated in the errors – they stayed up the whole time, which I think was absolutely huge for our momentum moving forward. I don’t feel like we had a moment to even feel sorry for ourselves. We just stayed up, we had confidence, and we knew what we could do at the plate, and we got it done.”
Making the win especially significant was the fact that it capped a week that began with a 14-4 loss to Souderton, a loss that threatened to take away the momentum they had gained in a five-game winning streak.
“When I talked to the girls after the game, we all kind of recognized that the mentality and the attitude we went into the game (at Souderton) with was not at our full potential,” Martoccio said. “We walked in a little bit more complacent than we have. We had a very busy week – not that that’s an excuse because we should be able to stay up throughout these weeks.
“It was one of those letdown games where it kind of happened, and the girls know that’s something that’s not going to happen again. We’re all on the same page. We used it as extra motivation looking forward to the next few weeks.”
In the top of the second, West’s Taylor Hooven lined a one-out double to center, and Julia Thomas was safe on an error. It looked as though the Redskins might escape unscathed when the next batter was retired on a fielder’s choice, but with runners on second and third and two outs, Sienna Lawson delivered a clutch two-run single to left field.
That 2-0 score stood until the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Morgan Leonhauser drew a walk, and Kendall McCafferty followed with a line single to left. A walk to Jill Rickards loaded the bases, and they were still loaded when Olivia Hughes stepped to the plate with two outs and lined a bases-clearing single to center field.
With one swing of Hughes’ bat, the Redskins turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
“Olivia Hughes has been huge in multiple games,” Martoccio said. “She’s had unbelievably timely hits. Everyone feels really good when she’s up to bat in those big situations. Everyone has so much confidence in her, and she is starting to have that confidence in herself, which is really exciting.”
The big story on Hughes’ single was Rickards scoring all the way from first.
“She had her mind set that she was scoring,” Martoccio said. “It was a hard hit ball, and the center fielder had to go to the side for it. I think she almost laid out a little bit to stop it from going by her. Jill got a really good read on it, and she just kept on going – that girl would run through a brick wall, even though we wouldn’t ask her to. She is unbelievably intense, and I love every second of it.”
In the fifth, Morgan Volgraf, who singled and stole second, scored on Zahmira Coppola-Miller’s single.
A two-run double by Lily Mormello plated a pair in the sixth, and the Redskins led 6-2. Ana Glemser’s RBI double in the seventh made it a 6-3 game.
“We came into the game knowing this was a game we really wanted to win in order to send ourselves into next week in a really good mindset and feeling really good because we have a very big week ahead of us,” Martoccio said. “We’ve had week after week that have been big weeks with so many games in them, so we really did want to get off on the right foot and continue that momentum into next week.”
Molly Ambrosius started and threw six innings to earn the win, allowing two hits and two runs – both unearned – while striking out two and walking four. Maysie Thomson closed it out.
At the plate, Mormello was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and McCafferty was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Rickards was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs score.
“Our freshmen, Kendall and Jill, have been doing phenomenally,” Martoccio said. “Kendall had two hits that were really big in both situations. None of them really let the pressure of the situation get to them. They just do what they need to do at the plate, and everyone feels good about it.”
For the Bucks, Lawson accounted for two of her team’s four hits and also had an RBI.
Neshaminy (8-3, 7-3 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South Monday at 3:30 p.m. for the completion of a suspended game that was tied 11-11 at the end of seven innings. Central Bucks West (7-4, 7-3) will host Pennridge on Monday.
Central Bucks West 020 000 1 3-4-1
Neshaminy 000 312 0 6-10-3
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 17, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 6 (5 innings)
The Indians pounded out 15 hits and put 17 runs on the board – all of this in just five innings – on their way to a no-doubt-about-it win in a crossover game.
Rock South led by just a 1-0 scored after one inning but torched the Patriots for 12 second inning runs.
“Today was a fun day for the CR North girls with everybody getting into the game and everybody contributing,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Once again, the girls put forth a full team effort with 11 different girls reaching base via a hit or working a walk during the course of the game.
“Although we jumped out to an early lead, I have to give CB East a lot of credit. They could have folded their tent and went flat, but they battled the whole time, and really made a big statement in the bottom of the second when our team started to be a little less focused. They sent a message loud and clear that if we didn’t play to the level we are capable of, regardless of the score, they were going to come back and take the W, so we better watch out. The level of resilience displayed by their young team will really pay dividends moving forward.”
In the top of the first, Kayla Ripper legged out a leadoff bunt single, and she scored from third on a bunt single by Sierra Klein.
The 12-run second was highlighted by two-run doubles from both Taylor Gearhart and Ripper. Gearhart also laced an RBI triple to right field, and the Indians also received singles from Ripper, Zoe Hardy, (2 RBIs), Haley Edelman, Zoe Hornstein (RBI) and Olivia Schlindwein (RBI). Two East miscues and three walks also contributed to the big inning.
In the top of the third, East answered with four runs. Olivia Owtscharuk laid down a bunt single to open the inning, and Elena Bhatt followed with a single. A walk to Kaylee Masterson loaded the bases. The Patriots’ first run scored on an error. After a single by Anna Devine loaded the bases yet again, Hailey Helmstetter hit a two-run single to left, and the Patriots’ fourth run scored on a groundout.
Emily Dzieken’s three-run double in the top of the fourth highlighted a four-run inning that put the Indians on top 17-4, but the Patriots didn’t go down quietly. In the bottom of the inning, Masterson led off with a single, and with two outs, Helmstetter hit a two-run home run to center field for the 17-6 final.
Lucy Mills notched the win, allowing seven hits and six runs (four earned) in five innings.
“I have to give Lucy Mills a lot of credit for the job she did in the circle today,” Yee said. “She showed a lot of maturity. When our defense kind of let her down a bit in the bottom of the second, she battled through it, and she responded with a perfect inning in the bottom of the third – 3 pitches, 3 outs. She could have tightened up and tried to overthrow and do too much, but she trusted her defense to settle down and work the outs behind her and just kept spinning the ball to get quick and efficient outs.”
Contributing multiple hits for the Indians were Ripper (3-for-5, 2B, 2RBIs, 3R), Gearhart (2-for-5, 2B, 3B, 3 RBIs, 3R), Klein (2-for-3, 2RBIs, R) and Payton Heisman (2-for-2, R).
“On top of a balanced attack from our starters – hitting a combined 12 for 26, including 2 doubles and a triple, 11 RBIs, and 15 runs, our bench deserves a lot of credit as well.,” Yee said. “They came in and went a combined 3-for-6 plus a walk, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored.
“This secondary attack was led by sophomore Payton Helsman’s 2-for-2 effort and freshman Emily Dziekan’s 3-RBI double in her first varsity appearance. The best part of it all was the support the girIs were all showing each other and their genuine happiness for their teammates’ achievements. The dugout absolutely erupted in response to Emily’s hit which was so cool to see how proud of her everybody was. Regardless of who was in the game and who was on the bench, they were all finding ways to help the group.”
For the Patriots, Helmstetter was 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBIs and a run scored.
Council Rock North (6-6, 4-6 SOL) will host Archbishop Ryan in a non-league game Monday, and Central Bucks East (3-9, 1-9) will host Lansdale Catholic in a non-league game on Monday.
Council Rock North 1-12-0-4-0 17-15-3
Central Bucks East 0-4-0-2-0 6-6-5
BENSALEM 12, PENNRIDGE 1 (5 innings)
It was a day when everything went right for the Owls.
That’s how Bensalem coach Erin Smith effectively described her team’s win over the Lady Rams in Friday’s crossover game. The Owls pounded out 13 hits, played flawless defense and received strong outings from a pair of pitchers.
“We have been grinding but not getting results,” Smith said. “We play good for a few innings but then have a bad inning where everything unraveled. We would have good at-bats and get runners in scoring position but not score them. We would foul off pitches then chase out of the zone for strike three. Today was a great overall performance.”
In the circle, Dana Oliverio started and threw four innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out three and walking none. Veronica Pachucki did not allow a hit in a scoreless inning in relief.
“Honestly, we went in with a game plan of throwing multiple pitchers today, but Dana came in and hammered the strike zone,” Smith said. “She isn’t the pitcher who is going to blow the ball by you, you have to play defense.
“Today we played great defense. We allowed only five hits and didn’t give them a chance to take any extra bases. Only two Pennridge players even reached second base and one was immediately doubled off on a line drive. Freshman Veronica Pachucki came in to close out the game and sat Pennridge down in order.”
A five-run first inning included singles by Lina Sponheimer, Ashlyn Merz (RBI) and Kayla Clarkson (RBI) while Adrianna Vargas (2 RBIs) and Sydney Daut (RBI) both hit doubles. The Owls also were on the receiving end of two walks.
Pennridge plated its only run in the top of the second to make it a 5-1 game, and the Owls put even more distance between themselves and the Lady Rams with a six-run fourth inning. Daut opened the inning with a double to center, and Oliverio and Meg Klein followed with RBI triples. Sponheimer (RBI), Merz and Cyanni Burke (2 RBIs) all singled, and the Owls led 12-1.
“Offensively we really started to put things together,” Smith said. “I challenged them yesterday at practice that they needed to cut down their strikeout numbers, start putting the ball in play and forcing the defense to make plays. Putting the ball in play worked. We were able to grind out 13 hits.”
Leading the Owls’ potent attack was Sponheimer, who was 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
“Megan Klein was 1-for-2 with a triple and a walk and forced a throwing error that landed her on third in her other at-bat,” Smith said.
Klein also scored three runs out of the leadoff spot. Clarkson was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, and Ashlyn Merz was also 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
“Freshman Sydney Daut had some great at-bats today, going 2-for-3,” Smith said. “She has been having good plate appearances but not able to see a ton of hits. We worked on her trusting her hands more, and today she smoked two doubles into the left center gap.
“Freshman Gina Oliverio also had really good at-bats. Her first at-bat she fouled off a few pitches but chased. Meg Klein went up to her before her next at-bat and gave her some advice, and she smoked a ball the left center gap for a triple.
“I really feel like everyone bought in today. Our seniors are constantly producing, but our freshmen really stepped up and produced both offensively and defensively. They played with confidence which was nice to see. I’m hoping we can finish the season playing the way we have the last few games.”
Bensalem (3-9, 3-7) will host Conwell-Egan in a non-league game Saturday at 11 a.m. The game is the Owls’ Awareness Game.
“We will be spreading awareness about MS, which senior Meg Klein was diagnosed with at the start of the season,” Smith said.
Pennridge (3-8, 2-7) will travel to Central Bucks West Monday.
Pennridge 010 00 1-5-1
Bensalem 510 60 12-13-0
NORTH PENN 16, HARRY S TRUMAN 0 (5 innings)
Showing no effects from playing a night game at Owen J Roberts and then making the trip to Truman less than 24 hours later, Bella Nunn retired the first 13 batters she faced – striking out six in a row to start the game. Only a leadoff walk in the fifth prevented her from an abbreviated perfect game.
The UMBC-bound pitcher struck out the next three batters she faced to close out the game, putting an exclamation point on the win. Nunn struck out 13 of the 16 batters she faced in a dazzling performance.
The Knights scored all the runs Nunn would need in a six-run second with all of those runs coming with two outs. Brandi Groarke got the ball rolling with a two-out single and stole second. She scored when Izzy Tubertini singled and advanced to second on a Truman error. Gabby Battavio followed with a single, and both players scored when Gianna Cimino lined a double to center.
Liv Stevens followed with an RBI double to left, and after Stevens stole third, Casey Sokol singled to bring her home. Sophia Orth followed with a single, and Sokol scored when Nunn lined a single to right field to put the Knights on top 6-0.
The Knights added four runs in the third and three in both the fourth and fifth innings to bring an early end to the game.
Battavio, who led the Knights, was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Cimino was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Stevens was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Jaclyn Diaz came off the bench and was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Orth and Nunn were both 2-for-3 with an RBI. Groarke was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Lexi Nyce hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth.
North Penn (13-2, 9-2 SOL) will host Pennridge on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (4-9) will host Nazareth Academy for a non-league game Monday.
North Penn 064 33 16-21-0
Harry S Truman 000 00 0-0-4
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossovers
WILLIAM TENNENT 5, ABINGTON 3
The visiting Panthers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the second inning, and although the Ghosts kept it close, they would get no closer than one run the rest of the way.
In the bottom of the first, the Ghosts put a run on the board when Sammi Clewell hit a single with the bases loaded and none out. The Panthers escaped further damage when Katie LaPlaunt retired the next three batters she faced.
Tennent answered with three runs in the top of the second. Sydney Teufel led off with a double to right field, and Victoria Colagreco was safe on an error. A single by Sammi Wood plated a run, and another run crossed the plate on a Ghost miscue. LaPlaunt’s sacrifice fly put the Panthers on top 3-1.
A leadoff home run by Abington’s Mia Lucke in the bottom of the third made it a 3-2 game, but the Panthers got that run back in the top of the fourth to go on top 4-2. Wood, Rylie O’Toole and Lexi Weidner loaded the bases with consecutive singles. With one out Morgan Kocher drove home a run with a single to right field, but a second runner attempting to score was gunned down at the plate by right fielder Natalie Broskley.
In the fifth, the Ghosts once again pulled to within one when Broskley scored on a two-out single by Sammi Clewell.
The Panthers plated an unearned run in the sixth for the 5-3 final.
For the Panthers, Teufel was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored, and Wood was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Clewell’s 3-for-4 day at the plate included two RBIs and led the Ghosts. Lucke was 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and one run scored. Broskley was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
LaPlaunt started and threw five innings, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out four and walking one. Cara Waskiewicz allowed three hits in two shutout innings, striking out a pair.
William Tennent (7-5, 5-5 SOL) will travel to Springfield Twp on Tuesday, and Abington (3-8, 1-8) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
William Tennent 030 100 1 5-7-1
Abington 101 010 0 3-9-6
QUAKERTOWN 11, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 5
The Panthers erupted for five runs in the first, and after that, an upstart Lions’ squad played the Panthers all but even, extending the game for seven innings. The Panthers won by six, but Friday’s game was a far cry from last year’s 24-2 rout of the Lions by the Panthers.
In the five-run first, the Panthers benefitted on a Lions’ miscue to open the inning – the first of two New Hope errors in the inning. The Panthers’ first run scored on a passed ball in an inning that included singles by Cadence Lewis, Mary Wilkinson (2 RBIs) And Abbey Wagner (2 RBIs).
The Lions never could dig their way out of the early hole but battled for seven innings.
The Panthers, who held a 10-9 advantage in hits and stole 10 bases, were led by the 3-for-4 effort of Lewis that included two stolen bases, two RBIs and two runs scored. Ava Beal was 2-for-5 out of the leadoff spot with three stolen bases, one RBI and four runs scored. Wilkinson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
For the Lions, Helen Knapp was 2-for-2 with a run scored, Kaylee Harris was 2-for-4 with a double, three stolen bases, one RBI and two runs, and Emily Wilson was 2-for-4.
Wagner earned the complete game win, allowing nine hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out seven and walking two.
Quakertown (13-0, 11-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Friday, and New Hope-Solebury (8-4, 7-3) will host Cheltenham on Tuesday.
New Hope-Solebury 011 021 0 5-9-5
Quakertown 510 221 x 11-10-2
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 12, UPPER MORELAND 2 (5 innings)
The visiting Golden Bears scored two runs in the top of the first. The rest of the game belonged to the Colonials, who scored 12 unanswered runs to bring an early end to Friday’s crossover game.
“Four-game weeks are never easy, especially after a late night in Haverford yesterday, but the girls really bounced back today,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “They could’ve settled and rolled over after being down 2-0 in the first inning to a tough Upper Moreland team, but I’m so proud of how the girls fought back to score every inning after that to win this game.”
In UM’s two-run first, Stephanie Jones led off with a single, and Kelly Bates followed and drew a walk. Both runners advanced on Kaylee Brown’s bunt. A single by Joslyn McCellan plated Jones, and Claire Walton’s sacrifice fly gave the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead.
In a three-run second, the Colonials received singles from Joslyn Perez and Emily Dobrowolski and also benefitted from a UM miscue, a walk and a hit batter.
PW’s three-run third inning was highlighted by RBI doubles from Joslyn Perez and Rian Reed as well as an RBI single by Dobrowolski, giving the Colonials a 9-2 lead.
Anna Powel ripped a two-run home run to center field in the fourth for the Colonials, who brought an early end to the game with a four-run fifth.
“Anna Powel was the offensive star of the game with a big two-run homer in the fourth and then two more RBIs with a single in the fifth to wrap up the game,” Perez said. “She was swinging a good bat last night, and it was nice to see that carry over to today.
“Fellow sophomores Joslyn Perez and Emily Dobrowolski also contributed two hits apiece for the well-rounded attack today.”
Powel was 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored, Joslyn Perez was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs, and Dobrowolski was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Marissa Perez was 1-for-2 with a double, stolen base, RBI and run scored.
Reed and Madison Moran combined for the win in the circle with Reed, who earned the win, throwing the first four innings and Moran closing it out in the fifth.
For the Bears, Jones was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and McCellan was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-2, 10-1 SOL) will be on the road at Abington Tuesday, and Upper Moreland (11-3, 8-3) will travel to Lower Moreland on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 200 00 2-6-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 033 24 12-9-2
UPPER DUBLIN 15, LOWER MORELAND 0 (4 innings)
A 10-run second inning propelled the Cardinals to an abbreviated win in Friday’s crossover game.
For the Cardinals, Kaitlyn Zacharia was 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored. Kate Brannigan was 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored, and Kyla Garrison was 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Bella Fiore was 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored.
Madden Reilly, Jolie Sheppard, Sage Taylor (double) and Sophia Vitella (double) all also added two hits, and Lizzie Tambourino was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Kyla Garrison notched the win, allowing one hit in four shutout innings while striking out eight and walking none.
Maddie Menchhhofer had Lower Moreland’s lone single.
Upper Dublin (8-6, 5-6 SOL) will host Quakertown on Tuesday, and Lower Moreland (2-9, 2-7) will travel to Abington Monday for a crossover game.
Lower Moreland 0-0-0-0 0-1-4
Upper Dublin 1-10-1-3 15-18-0
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