Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action on Friday. CB South/Souderton photos provided courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for a gallery of action photos…CLICK HERE to go directly to the SOS Softball gallery.
National Conference
ABINGTON 6, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4
The Ghosts picked up an impressive road win, and it was Brooke Clewell delivering the game’s big blow – a three-run home run in the third inning that broke a 1-1 tie and gave the visitors a lead they would not lose.
“I tell my girls – with a 20-game season, every win is important,” coach Ellie White said. “These days it doesn’t matter who you beat – you just have to get the wins now that the number of playoff teams have been reduced.
“Council Rock South is a good team. They have a ton of talent, and Greg (Heydet) is an awesome coach. To beat them is even better.”
Heading into the seventh inning, the Ghosts were clinging to a 4-3 lead but tacked on a pair of runs that loomed large when the Golden Hawks pushed a run across in the seventh. Kierstin Gant delivered an RBI single to right, and a second run crossed the plate when the ball was misplayed.
In addition to Clewell, Renee Reynolds was 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Tori Brandenburger was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Sammy Marasheski was 2-for-4.
The Golden Hawks collected just five hits off winning pitcher Megan Burdziak but benefitted from some free passes. With the tying runs on base, Brandenburger collected the game’s final out to record the save.
Abington (6-7, 3-5 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Monday in a non-league game, and Council Rock South (7-6, 3-5) will host Cheltenham in a non-league contest on Saturday.
Abington 103 000 2 6
Council Rock South 100 002 1 4
PENNSBURY 1, BENSALEM 0
In a season that featured one high-scoring game after another, the Falcons – behind the strong arm of Alyssa Heilman – have won back-to-back pitcher’s duels. Twenty-four hours after edging Truman 2-0, the Falcons eked out a win over the Owls.
“Their pitcher pitched a really good game,” coach Frank McSherry said of Dani Sharp. “We only had two strikeouts, but we just hit the ball right at people, and they made all the plays. They had no errors.
“They play you tough, they swing the bats, and they’re young.”
Heilman was once again all but untouchable, allowing just three hits with 12 strikeouts and no walks.
“She did a great job,” McSherry said. “She was hitting her spots really nicely.”
The Falcons – who collected just six hits off of Sharp – scored the only run Heilman would need when sophomore Alex Richel delivered a solo home run. Richel’s game winner came on the heels of sophomore Allison Rose’s game-winning home run one day earlier.
Pennsbury (10-3, 6-1 SOL) will take on Abington on Tuesday in game one of a National Conference doubleheader at the Northampton Civic Center Complex in Richboro, and Bensalem (6-6, 1-6) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Bensalem 000 000 0 0
Pennsbury 001 000 x 1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
Jenna Khantzian allowed just three hits while striking out 12 and walking none in a complete game win for the Indians. The sophomore hurler helped her own cause with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate that included three RBIs.
Rock North’s senior co-captains also had big days. Sabrina Crane was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and three runs scored, and Taylor Amazeen was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
“This was a good team win against a young, well-coached Truman team,” Rock North coach John Engelhardt said.
Lauren Begg accounted for the Indians’ lone extra base hit with a triple.
Kailea Heston had a double for the Tigers.
After the two teams exchanged single runs in the fourth inning, the Indians took the lead with three runs in the fifth.
Council Rock North (9-3, 6-2 SOL) will face Council Rock South on Tuesday in game two of a National Conference doubleheader at Northampton Civic Center Complex. and Harry S Truman (2-10, 1-7) will host William Tennent in a non-league game on Monday.
Council Rock North 000 130 2 6-10-1
Harry S Truman 000 100 0 1-3-2
Continental Conference
WILLIAM TENNENT 4, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3
Looking for an unusual finish? This one fits the bill.
With the score tied 3-3 and runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh, Tennent sophomore Brianna Koonce was supposed to be on the receiving end of an intentional walk. It didn’t quite work out that way.
“The infield was up, and their pitcher threw a ball that was way too close to the strike zone – Brianna swung, and it went right past the second baseman,” coach Deanna Myers said. “That’s why it’s important for pitchers to know how to do a pitchout.
“Their coach said, ‘I want to put her on,’ and the umpire said, ‘You have to pitch to her.’ The pitcher put one close to the plate, and Brianna went to the right side, and it went right up the middle.”
Myers, for one, was not surprised to see Koonce attack a pitch she liked.
“When they came out to talk about walking her, I could see the look in her eyes – she was almost kind of upset,” the Panthers’ first-year coach said. “She’s like, ‘I’m hitting, I’m seeing the ball. I want to hit because I want to win.’
“She didn’t give up, she didn’t hang her head, she went up to bat, and she went for it.”
The walk-off win snapped a six-game losing streak for the young Panthers, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit. Koonce and fellow sophomore Caitlin Mitros both were 2-for-4 at the plate, and freshman Hannah Reimel was 2-for-3.
“I love seeing the growth just since the beginning of the year and the confidence they’ve gotten,” Myers said. “Even with losing six games in a row, they still came out wanting to play.
“It’s easy for a team that loses six in a row to shut down and check out for the season, but every day the girls are like, ‘Come on, let’s go. We need a W, we want to win. Let’s do it.’ We finally got it.
“I think this win was huge and a big confidence booster. I’m hoping the momentum carries into next week.”
Senior Riley Dougherty and junior Kayla Finkelstein split time in the circle. Dougherty threw the first four innings, and Finkelstein closed it out to earn the win.
William Tennent (3-7, 2-4 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Monday, and Central Bucks West (4-7, 2-5) will host Abington in a non-league game on Saturday.
Central Bucks West 200 100 0 3
William Tennent 100 110 1 4
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 12, SOUDERTON 1
Taylor Marinelli continues to put up the kind of numbers that suggest she might not be seeing a whole lot of good pitches in the near future. The senior slugger was 3-for-5 with a double, home run – her eighth in 12 games – and five RBIs.
She was hardly a one-woman show in Friday’s win that saw the Titans collect 16 hits. Alexa Ortman was equally productive, finishing the day 3-for-4 with a double, triple, three runs scored and four RBIs. Only a home run separated her from the cycle. Maddi Bieber was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Alexis McConomy was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Maddie Rowley was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Lost in the shuffle of the Titans’ offensive onslaught was yet another strong outing by sophomore Kylie Kenney, who tossed a complete game five-hitter. She struck out eight.
For the Indians, Jen Klepfer was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Alyssa McCormick and Ali Gould were both 1-for-3. Alex Scheeler was 1-for-2 with a double, walk and run scored.
Central Bucks South (9-3, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Abington on Monday for a non-league contest, and Souderton (2-8, 0-6) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Monday for a non-league game.
Central Bucks South 220 321 2 12-16-0
Souderton 010 000 0 1-5-5
NORTH PENN 4, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
The Knights scored single runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings, and that was more than enough to earn a conference win over the Patriots.
Kariam Bou-Colon was 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and two runs scored, and Jordan Pietrzykowski was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Elia Namey also hit a solo home run.
For the Patriots, who scored their only run in the third, Hailey Aspinwall was 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.
Bri Battavio earned the win, allowing four hits while striking out two and walking one. Giuliana Ruscio absorbed the loss.
North Penn (9-3, 6-1 SOL) will travel to Great Valley on Monday for a non-league contest, and Central Bucks East (7-5, 4-3) will travel to Hazleton for a non-league game on Saturday.
Central Bucks East 001 000 0 1-4-3
North Penn 011 011 x 4-7-0
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 10, CHELTENHAM 0 (6 innings)
Erin Gallagher tossed her second shutout in as many days and third this week – although she had an assist in this one as Marley Wardle threw a one-two-three sixth. Gallagher allowed just one hit in five shutout innings on Friday, striking out six and walking two. For the week, Gallagher did not allow a run in 17 innings.
Gallagher also had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Sarah Tannenbaum was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Meghan Muth was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Upper Dublin (8-4, 6-1 SOL) will host Quakertown on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (0-8, 0-6) will travel to Council Rock South on Saturday for a non-league game.
Cheltenham 000 000 0
Upper Dublin 122 401 10
QUAKERTOWN 11, WISSAHICKON 0
Tori Caputo tossed a no-hitter in the abbreviated five-inning contest. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.
The Panthers scored twice in the second inning, exploding for six more in the third.
Ryann Kemmerling led the Panthers’ attack with a perfect 3-for-3 effort. She drove in three runs and scored twice. Abbey Schwartz was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, Maddie Moyer was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, and Sarah Stofik was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Lauren Beal contributed a home run and two RBIs.
Quakertown (9-2, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Palisades for a non-league game on Monday, and Wissahickon (2-9, 2-6) will travel to Wilson for a non-league contest on Saturday.
Quakertown 026 30 11-13-1
Wissahickon 000 00 0-0-4
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 10, GWYNEDD MERCY 0 (5 innings)
The Rams pounded out 14 hits, and Kailyn Bell and Meghan Bauer combined for a shutout in the abbreviated contest.
The Rams were led at the plate by Kiley Watson (3-for-4, double, RBI, three runs) and Krista Yerk (3-for-3, two RBIs, two runs). Also contributing multi-hit games were Samantha Harty (2-for-2, two RBIs, two runs), Skylar Hengeveld (2-for-3, RBI, run) and Grace McGinley (2-for-2, double, two RBIs, run). Bell helped her own cause with a 1-for-2 day that included a pair of RBIs.
Bell started and earned the win, allowing three hits while fanning four and walking one in three innings. Bauer did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one.
Pennridge (5-6, 2-4 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
Gwynedd Mercy 000 00 0-3-2
Pennridge 522 01 10-14-1
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