Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday.
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
PENNSBURY 7, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
Ainsley McClure came oh so close to attaining perfection.
The Falcons’ ace took a perfect game into the seventh inning of Thursday’s crossover game at CB East, and she retired the first two batters she faced, upping her streak of consecutive outs to 20.
One out separated McClure from perfection when East slugger Amelia Funston stepped to the plate and hit a double.
“The story of the game was Ainsley,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “Funsten, who is their best hitter, was 0-for-2 going in, and she hit an opposite field line drive that just fell in fair territory for a double down the right field line.
“Ainsley struck out the next kid. It was that close to a perfect game. It was heartbreaking.”
McClure struck out 12 and allowed one hit in the complete game shutout.
“She was really, really hitting her spots, which was so big,” McSherry said.
The Falcons put three runs on the board in the fifth inning. Riley Mahoney led off the frame with a double, and she scored on Taylor Askey’s RBI single. Cait Martell singled, Quinn McGonigle hit a sacrifice fly, and Rowan Mulholland hit an RBI single.
In the sixth inning, Ava Storlazzi collected a one-out single and stole second. She scored on Mahoney’s RBI single. Askey hit another single, and Martell hit a ‘screamer’ to right field that was misplayed for an error.
“The wind really did determine this game,” McSherry said. “It was blowing in, and nobody could get anything going. We hit some shots that were just held up. It took us a little while to scratch some runs across.”
Mulholland, Mahoney and Askey were all 2-for-3 to lead the Falcons.
Pennsbury (11-1, 9-0 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Friday for a battle of the district’s second and third ranked squads. Central Bucks East (6-5, 3-5) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Friday.
Pennsbury 000 033 1 7-10-0
Central Bucks East 000 000 0 0-1-4
NESHAMINY 6, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
Kennedie Ruth notched the complete game win, striking out eight and walking three while allowing four hits in Thursday’s road victory.
“We played hard,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “Kennedie Ruth pitched a really good game, but we had runners on. Every inning we had at least one runner on.
“We played better, but we just can’t get that big hit to kind of push things a little bit. We’ll get there. We’re close. We had three tough games this week. We had a lead in two of them. In the Pennsbury game, we had the tying run at the plate after being down 6-0.
“We just need that next win to get over the hump. Neshaminy played well today. Once they got that lead, they tacked on a little bit here and there. We had no errors today, which I was happy about.”
The Titans, thanks to an RBI single by Marlena Hacker, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. They had opportunities to add to that but came up empty.
“We had two extra runners on in the first inning and couldn’t get them in,” Rosini said. “We had two runners on with two outs in the second inning and couldn’t get them in, and we had two runners on in the fourth inning and couldn’t get them in. We had runners on quite a bit today. We just couldn’t get that big hit. We had two runners on in the seventh inning and couldn’t get anybody in.”
That 1-0 score stood until the top of the third when the Redskins answered with four runs. Meryn Bellacima’s three-run home run was the big hit in the inning.
The Redskins added single runs in the in the sixth and seventh innings.
Ruth helped her own cause at the plate, finishing the day 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and two walks. Lindsey Gorka was 2-for-4, and Carena Barr had two hits. Zoey Shim was 1-for-3 with one RBI and was hit by a pitch. Amanda Slabicki was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
For the Titans, Hacker was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Grace Motley was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.
Neshaminy (9-3, 7-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks East on Friday, and Central Bucks South (3-7, 2-6) will travel to Bensalem on Friday.
Neshaminy 004 001 1 6
Central Bucks South 100 000 0 1
BENSALEM 14, PENNRIDGE 2 (5 innings)
On the heels of a shutout loss to North Penn, the Owls pounded out 13 hits and put up 14 runs in Thursday’s abbreviated contest.
“Today was the best game of softball we played,” Bensalem coach Erin Smith said. “Great hitting, great pitching, great base running. We had a tough schedule this week – we are playing four games this week.
“North Penn stymied our bats on Tuesday, and our girls were mad, and they took it out today.”
After the Rams put their leadoff batter on base, Maggie Formichelli struck out the next three batters she faced.
“We took the momentum to offense,” Smith said. “Megan Klein and Ayva Knowles walked, and Maggie smacked a ball at the third baseman, resulting in an error.
“Lina Sponheimer ripped a bases-clearing double. That was the start of the scoring, and the Owls were able to pound out four more runs when Camryn Pickering reached on an error, singles by Ashlyn Merz and Kayla Clarkson and a double by Megan Klein.”
In a three-run second inning, Pickering smacked a two-run single, and Clarkson also drove in a run, putting the Owls on top 10-0. The Rams got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth when Averi Dockery hit a solo home run to center field, but the Owls put an exclamation point on the win in the bottom of the inning, tacking on four more runs.
“Brianna Ryan had a pinch hit single her first varsity hit, and Ayva Knowles smashed a three-run home run to center field,” Smith said. “Pinch hitter Sam Connelly had her first varsity hit, a double to the fence, and pinch hitter Kaylie Kessler followed up with her first varsity hit.”
The Rams added a run in the top of the fifth when Ryleigh Lilly, who hit a two-out triple, scored when Catelyn Thrush lined a single to center.
Clarkson threw two innings in relief and struck out six. Formichelli threw the first three innings, fanning eight.
“Today was a great game for our team,” Smith said. “Maggie Formichelli has been pitching a ton of innings for us, so we decided to give her arm a rest on Tuesday against North Penn.
“It was the right move because she looked amazing today. She kept a really good Pennridge team in check. and our offense fed off that and smacked the ball.”
Sponheimer, Klein and Connelly each had a double for the Owls, who collected five extra base hits.
Bensalem (7-4, 6-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Friday, and Pennridge (4-7, 3-7) will travel to Abington on Friday.
Pennridge 000 11 2-4-2
Bensalem 730 4x 14-13-1
NORTH PENN 16, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1 (5 innings)
The Knights continued to roll, displaying their prowess in all facets of the game making a believer out of Rock North coach Susan Yee.
“North Penn is absolutely the real deal,” the Indians’ coach said. “They aren’t only talented from top to bottom, but they are very fundamentally sound and play good crisp softball as a unit. Every batter in their lineup, all the way through their substitutes, is potent, their pitching is dominant, and their defense is solid as a brick wall. Rick Torressani, Ellie White, Mike Beer, and Sarah Rambo really run a great program over there, and their team is just a fun team to watch because they do everything the right way.”
Brie Wilmot led the dangerous Knights’ attack, finishing 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and five RBIs. Annabelle Smink (2-for-3, 3 runs, RBI, BB), Shearer (2-for-4, run, RBI), Hannah Cohen (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Reyna Doherty (2-for-4), and Lexi Nyce (1-for-1, home run, 3 RBIs) also had productive days at the plate.
Julia Shearer allowed one hit in three shutout innings. Bella Nunn did not allow a hit in two innings that saw the Indians plate an unearned run. She struck out four.
Sarah Teitelman had the Indians lone hit – a double – and also reached base on a walk.
“I was really happy with the approach our girls took at the plate today while facing one of the most dominant pitchers in the region,” Yee said. “Julia Shearer has been a strikeout machine this year, and our girls did a great job, limiting her to only one strikeout.
“They put the ball in play and made North Penn’s defense make plays behind her, so I was extremely proud of the job they did in that aspect. I told the girls before the game, ‘This team is dominant, their pitchers are dominant, everybody expects them to crush us, so just go in, have fun, and play like you have nothing to lose, because you really don’t. Look at every ball we put in play as a win. Focus on little victories.’
“To their credit, that’s what they did, and as a result, the girls ended up pushing a run across the plate, which is a huge triumph in itself, considering it’s only the fourth run anybody has scored against North Penn all year. Despite the final score, I’m proud of the effort our girls put out, and the fact that they were able to focus on – and achieve – small victories along the way.”
North Penn (12-0, 8-0 SOL) will host Pennsbury in an eagerly awaited crossover game Friday at 3:45 p.m. Council Rock North (0-8) will host Wissahickon in a non-league game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
North Penn 232 63 16-17-0
Council Rock North 000 01 1-2-5
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
WILLIAM TENNENT 13, ABINGTON 3 (5 innings)
Runs have not been easy to come by recently for the Panthers.
Not only were the Panthers coming off back-to-back losses, they had scored just 10 runs in their last four games combined. That changed in a hurry in Thursday’s game at Abington.
The Panthers put three runs on the board in the first, which included back-to-back home runs, and the tone had been set. In the abbreviated mercy rule win, the Panthers pounded out 13 hits – eight for extra bases – and 13 runs.
“It honestly felt amazing,” Tennent junior Anna Coulter said. “We had two losses before this, and to come out here and win and not on our home field, it feels awesome to do it with my teammates.”
In the three-run first, Vicky Colagreco grounded a two-out single to center, and Gigi DeMito smashed a home run over the center field fence. Then it was Casey Yacovelli duplicating that feat with a mighty blast of her own over the center field fence, and just like that, the Panthers led 3-0.
“The energy – it just shot up,” Coulter said. “Just knowing we can actually do it and hit the ball.”
“The bats came alive today,” Tennent coach Rich Clark said. “Starting with the long ball in the first inning, and it just carried on the rest of the way.”
The fun continued in the second inning. Olivia Clee was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Chloe Hostettler drew a walk. Two outs later, Coulter stepped to the plate and lofted a three-run home run over the center field fence.
“I thought it was going to land before the fence, but then I saw that it was over – I’m like, ‘No way,’” Coulter said.
The Panthers added a run in the third without collecting a hit and then put the game out of reach with a six-run fourth inning. With one out, Morgan Kocher ripped a one-out triple to right field and scored on a wild pitch. Coulter and Colagreco hit back-to-back doubles, and the bases were loaded after DiMito drew a free pass. Yacovelli singled to center to plate a pair, and two more runs crossed the plate when Oliva Clee doubled to center. A double by Chloe Hostettler drove in a run, and the Panthers led 13-0.
“Chloe Hostettler – she was knocking the heck out of the ball down on jayvee,” Clark said. “We just called her up. This was only her second game. She came out, crushed a double, she was involved in a big hit-and-run and stole a bag, so she had a great day.”
In the bottom of the inning, a hit batter and error put a pair on board for Lauren Everitt, who ripped an RBI double to left field. Sarah Steiner followed with a double to center that scored a pair, but that’s where the rally ended.
Carlie Nydick notched the win, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out five and walking one in five full innings.
“This was only her second or third start,” Clark said. “She pitched well. We got off to a big lead, but I wanted to keep her in there – give her confidence and finish off strong, which she did.”
Colagreco’s 3-for-4 effort with a double led the Panthers hit parade. Coulter was 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs and three RBIs, and Kocher was 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored. Yacovelli was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs.
“This win definitely gives us a lot of energy to push through the next few games that we have,” Coulter said.
William Tennent (6-3, 6-2 SOL) will travel to Archbishop Ryan for a non-league game on Saturday, and Abington (5-6, 4-6) will host Pennridge in a non-league game on Friday.
William Tennent 331 60 13-13-1
Abington 000 30 3-4-4
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 10, UPPER MORELAND 8
The Colonials notched their sixth straight win, erasing an early 2-0 deficit with six runs in the third and then breaking a 6-6 tie with four runs in the sixth.
“A win is a win, and we’ll take it – but this game left a lot for us to clean up as we head into the second half of the season,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “While we left 10 girls on base, we did have 16 hits. Headlined by home runs by Kalina Childers – a 3-run home run, the freshman’s first of her career – and Lauryn Kane, triples by Caelin Kosvitch and Julie Price and three hits by Marissa Perez.
“Grace Carney and Madison Moran battled hard in the circle without ace Molly Moore available.”
In a two-run second, the Golden Bears benefitted from a pair of PW miscues.
Caelin Kosvitch led off the third inning with a triple to right field and scored on an error. A walk, a PW error and a Haylie Lindley single loaded the bases, and Julie Price emptied them with a triple to right field. Perez singled to plate Price, and a Sam Skivo RBI single gave the Colonials a 6-2 lead.
The Golden Bears evened the score in a fourth inning highlighted by singles from Natalie Walton, Alexis McDermott, Erin Shaffert (RBI) and Ava Bailey (RBI). Two more runs crossed the plate on an error.
Kane lined a leadoff home run to center field to open the bottom of the sixth. Rian Reed singled, and with two outs, Perez singled, setting the stage for the three-run Childers home run that gave the Colonials a 10-6 lead on their way to the win.
Despite the outcome, UM coach Melanie Martino liked a whole lot that she saw in Thursday’s contest.
“Our team is coming off a two-week stretch of really hard non-league games against really tough teams and fought with so much heart today with a few standout players,” the UM coach said. “Our pitcher Eowyn Stainback pitched a fantastic game and kept her composure so well as a sophomore with eight Ks.
“Sophomore Ava Bailey had a great game in center field with some great catches and had a RBI triple. Adding to our offense was Haleigh Woodman who went 2-for-3 with a triple. Regardless of the loss, I am incredibly proud of our team. We go into next week with six straight days of games and hope to keep the momentum.”
For the Colonials, Perez (3-for-3, 2 runs, RBI), Kane (2-for-4, HR, 2 runs, RBI), Reed (2-for-4, 2 runs), Lindley (2-for-4, run) and Skivo (2-for-4, RBI) all had multiple hits.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-3, 7-2 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Friday, and Upper Moreland (2-8, 1-6) will host Abington on Monday.
Upper Moreland 020 400 2 8-9-6
Plymouth Whitemarsh 006 004 0 10-16-4
WISSAHICKON 16, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 1 (5 innings)
Danielle Ciliberto and Emma Dutill combined for a two-hitter in the abbreviated contest, and Katelyn Fitzgerald had herself a day at the plate, finishing the game 5-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and six RBIs.
The Trojans scored a pair of runs in both the first and second innings. The Lions got one of those runs back, but the Trojans blew the game open with a six-run third and brought an early end to the game with six more in the fifth.
Ciliberto, who earned the win, threw four innings, allowing three hits, one run (unearned) while striking out six and walking none. Dutill threw a shutout inning, striking out a pair.
Ciliberto (3-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, BB, HBP) also had a good day, reaching base on all five trips to the plate. Emi Fox was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Also contributing were Grace Franczyk (1-for-5, run, 2 RBIs), Dutill (1-for-3, run, RBI, BB), Morgan Risnychok (1-for-2, run) and Julia Roth (1-for-1, 2 runs, RBI, BB).
Wissahickon (8-3, 8-1 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North for a non-league game on Saturday at 11 a.m. New Hope-Solebury (2-9, 2-8) will host Lower Moreland on Friday.
Wissahickon 226 06 16
New Hope-Solebury 010 00 1
QUAKERTOWN 12, LOWER MORELAND 0 (5 innings)
Sydney Andrews tossed a dazzling no-hit shutout in the abbreviated contest, striking out 12 and walking none. The Panthers’ ace had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in five runs.
“We just played a good game,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “We’ve been winning, but I don’t feel like we’ve been playing well.
“Today everything sort of clicked. Sydney was great, threw a no-hitter. Skyler Williams, Grace Baker and Cadence Lewis all had two hits. It seemed like the entire lineup was hitting today, which was great to see.”
The Panthers took care of business in a hurry, scoring five runs in the first inning and never looking back. Ava Beal led off the first with a ground single to center, and then came three straight walks – the third to Skyler Williams with the bases loaaded. Hilton scored on a groundout, and Andrews singled to right, plating two runs and putting the Indians on top 5-0.
Baker (2-for-4, run, RBI), Cadence Lewis (2-for-2, RBI) and Williams (2-for-3, 3B, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) all had multiple hits.
Quakertown (9-1, 8-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Monday, and Lower Moreland (5-5, 2-5) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Friday.
Quakertown 522 21 12-13-1
Lower Moreland 000 00 0-0-1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 15, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0 (4 innings)
The Hatters scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back on their way to the mercy rule win. Alyssa Tooley allowed just one hit in four shutout innings, striking out 10 and walking two.
“Alyssa Tooley has a strong performance on the mound, backed by solid defense on a very windy day,” HH coach Kelly Krier said. “It was promising to see us score runs in the first inning with two outs. Kendal Leitner was the spark that inning.
“We continued to have offensive production throughout our lineup. We did a fine job moving runners who were in scoring position. Maddie Karpovich, Tess Kearney and Marissa Rapino all had timely hits. We played five games in five days, and I’m very proud of our offensive and defensive play throughout this stretch.”
In the four-run first, Leitner grounded a two-out single to left. An error and a walk loaded the bases for Kearney, whose single drove in a pair. Karpovich followed with a two-run single, and the Hatters had a lead they would not lose.
Marissa Rapino (2-for-4, run, 2 RBIs), Leitner (2-for-2, 3 runs, 2 RBIs), Kearney (2-for-3, 2 runs, 4 RBIs), Karpovich (2-for-3, 4 RBIs) all had big days at the plate. Tooley had the game’s only extra base hit – a double.
Hatboro-Horsham (9-3, 9-1 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Monday, and Springfield Township (1-8, 1-7) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Monday.
Springfield Township 000 0 0-1-2
Hatboro-Horsham 402 9 15-10-1
UPPER DUBLIN 19, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
Chloe Foster notched the shutout in the abbreviated mercy rule win, allowing two hits and striking out seven in three innings.
Offensive highlights included Madden Reilly’s 2-for-2 effort with a triple and four RBIs and Kaitlyn Zacharia’s 2-for-3 showing with two runs scored.
Upper Dublin (4-7, 4-5 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday, and Cheltenham (0-8) will travel to Quakertown on Monday.
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