Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday. (Pennsbury photo courtesy of Cindy Hanson)
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
PENNSBURY 5, NORTH PENN 4 (9 innings)
When shortstop Caitlyn Martell squeezed a mile high popup for the game’s final out, it could very well have been cause for a jubilant celebration for the Falcons, and yes, the players were undeniably excited after handing the defending state champion Knights their first loss since last year’s District One 6A quarterfinal loss to Haverford (5-0), but their celebration – what there was of it – was relatively subdued.
Exhaustion certainly had something to do with that. Friday’s showdown between the SOL’s top two teams was the eighth game in 10 days for Pennsbury.
“We had five games last week, (two) days off and then played again,” senior Quinn McGonigle said. “Every single girl came out here with their whole heart and said, ‘You know what, let’s play, play to win.’”
McGonigle, who singled to center to lead off the ninth, scored the game-winning run when Sammy Raub lined a single just inside the left field line, and there was no mistaking – these are the games the Falcons enjoy.
“This is the best type of game,” said senior Ainsley McClure, who notched the complete game win. “We’d take this any day. We’d take a great team like North Penn any day over any 10-run game. This is what softball is about.
“It’s that thrill, it’s that fighting tooth and nail, it’s that you’re tired but you keep going. That was a long game, and we came off a long week. Kudos to our girls. They left every single piece of themselves out on the field. We’ve been exhausted.”
McClure has thrown 37 innings in the last seven days.
“She’s our horse, there’s no doubt about it,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “She just did a great job. Coming off that injury she had – she hadn’t thrown since September. Just to look at what
she’s done – she’s done a great job. She keeps us in every game. It was heartbreaking yesterday when she lost that perfect game with two outs in the seventh (in a 7-0 win over Central Bucks East).”
The Falcons’ ace allowed just four hits in Friday’s complete game win – two of them home runs, but she wasn’t interested in talking around her performance. Instead, McClure chose to talk about her team and her obvious affection for everyone on it.
“They always throw around the word family when it comes to teams, and usually it’s just default, but we really mean it – the culture we have is so amazing,” she said. “This game belonged to the girls on the bench, the girls on the field, people pitching and hitting. It belonged to every single person equally because we put our all in it.
“I’m so proud of them. This is a special season. This one is going to go down in Pennsbury history simply because our girls have never played harder, and they’re putting everything out on the field.”
“Everyone wants to be here,” McGonigle said. “Everyone wants to win, and everyone wants to play together. It’s not for yourself, it’s for the team. Some of us have grown up together, and some we just met this year. It’s insane.”
In the top of the ninth, the Falcons benefitted from the North Penn miscue after McGonigle singled to lead off the inning, and instead of one down and a runner on first after Rowan Mulholland’s grounder to the infield, the Falcons had two on board. The Falcons capitalized when Raub lined a single that plated McGonigle from second.
“We really just needed a run in that last inning, so I was really hoping for a hit anywhere – just score a run,” Raub said. “That’s what we were all looking for – just get a hit.”
NP ace Julia Shearer struck out the next three batters she faced, stranding a pair of Falcon baserunners. The bottom of the inning was not without drama. With one out, Hannah Cohen was hit by a pitch and Reyna Doherty was safe on an error, but McClure retired the next two batters she faced, and the win was in the books.
“This was really fun – we haven’t really had a game like this, so it’s beyond fun,” Raub said. “They’re a really good team.”
Earlier, the Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the first when Martell, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on Raub’s blooper over the infield, and they added a run in the third when – with the bases loaded – Laney Freiband grounded a two-out single to left. They added an unearned run in the fourth to go on top 3-0.
In the fifth inning, Maddy Gronback led off with a single to center – the first hit for the Knights, and two outs later, Shearer and Sarah Sabocsik drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. A two-run single to right by Annabelle Smink made it a 3-2 game.
The Falcons put a run the board in the sixth. Taylor Askey lined a two-out double to center, and with a base open, the Knights elected to walk Martell. McGonigle followed and singled to center, plating Askey.
“Last week coach actually moved me from the four hole to the two hole because they’re going to walk her, and they can’t walk both of us in a row, so if they put us back to back they have to work both of us – they can’t just work one of us,” McGonigle said. “My job is to get Caitlyn to the next bag. I love it when she’s on.”
Gianna Cimino led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot over the center field fence to make it a 4-3 game, and in the bottom of the seventh, Doherty ripped a leadoff home run to center to knot the score in dramatic fashion.
“Credit to their number nine hitter,” McClure said of Doherty. “She absolutely rocked that pitch. That was a tough pitch to take, it was a tough count, and credit to her, she stuck in there. That was all her hit.”
McClure retired the next three batters she faced, sending the game to extra innings.
“When (Doherty) hit that solo home run to tie it, they had the top of the order coming up, and Ainsley struck out the leadoff kid and got a couple of easy fly balls,” McSherry said. “That was big. When that kid hit the home run to tie it and the top of the order was coming up, I thought, ‘Oh we could be in trouble.’ They had the momentum, that’s for sure, but (we) answered back.”
North Penn coach Rick Torresani acknowledged he was surprised by his team’s showing.
“This reminded me a lot of the Haverford district playoff game,” the Knights’ coach said. “We just didn’t do the things we’re noted for doing, and we have to learn from it.
“Julia pitched a good game. She pitched over 150 pitches. I told them after the game – in order for us to compete at the level we want to compete at, we can’t make those errors and we have to play our ‘A’ game. You can’t just walk through the game expecting to continue what we were doing. All I can chalk it up to – we weren’t mentally ready and from now on, I really believed we learned a lesson. We’ll see what happens next week.”
Pennsbury (12-1, 10-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Monday, and North Penn (12-1, 8-1) will travel to Harry S Truman on Monday.
Pennsbury 101 101 001 5-8-2
North Penn 000 021 100 4-4-5
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, BENSALEM 0
Riley Erb looked anything but the part of a freshman in Friday’s crossover game at Bensalem, allowing just four hits in the complete game shutout while striking out eight and walking two.
“She was ahead of all the hitters, kept them off balance, never was really in any kind of danger,” South coach Kevin Rosini said of his rookie pitcher. “She just controlled things pretty well, got a lot of ground balls. She really pitched a nice game, which we needed. She’s just a freshman, and she’s been a really good addition. She pitched a great game today, she really did.”
The Titans scored a pair of runs in the top of the second when – with two outs – Suzie Williams delivered a clutch two-run single. Setting up Williams’ big hit were a double by Maddy Borowski and an infield single by Nora Sidorski.
In the third inning, the Titans loaded the bases with none out and scored a run on a fielder’s choice to up their lead to 3-0. With two outs in the fifth inning, Taylor Migliore hit a two-out RBI single that plated Ella Wheeler, who had reached base on an error, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout.
“It was a great win,” Rosini said. “We had lost four in a row, so this was a big win for us. It was a four-game week, a long week, and we have another four-game week next week.
“The kids really came together and played great defense, no errors today – the second day in a row for that. I was really pleased with how we played overall. We need to hit a little more. If we can carry that into next week, we have a little momentum on our side now, and I feel good about that.”
For the Owls, Megan Klein was 3-for-4 with a stolen base, accounting for 75 percent of her team’s hits.
Central Bucks South (4-7, 3-6 SOL) will be on the road at Council Rock South on Monday, and Bensalem (7-5, 6-4) will host MaST Charter in a non-league game on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Central Bucks South 020 110 0 4-8-0
Bensalem 000 000 0 0-4-2
NESHAMINY 8, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
Amanda Slabicki was in complete command in the circle, scattering seven hits while striking out eight and walking none in seven shutout innings.
“We played great defense behind her,” coach Tim Quense said.
The Redskins broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth inning. Meryn Bellacima lined a double to center field to open the inning and moved up to third on a wild pitch. She scored on Lindsey Gorka’s groundout. With the bases empty and one out, Jill Thomas lined a single to right field and moved up to second on a groundout. Kennedie Ruth drew a walk, and a pair of runs crossed the plate on a two-out error.
A 3-0 lead would have been more than enough for Slabicki, but the Redskins added five runs in the fifth inning. Carena Barr drew a leadoff walk, and one out later Bellacima smoked a two-run home run to left field. Gorka and Thomas collected back-to-back singles. A two-out error allowed a run to score, and Ryleigh Bilbrey followed with an RBI single for the 8-0 final.
Bellacima was 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and three RBIs, Thomas was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, and Bilbrey was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Gorka was 1-for-3 with a run scored and RBI, and Barr was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Ruth was 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs scored.
For the Patriots, Kaylee Masterson was 3-for-3 with three singles, and Amelia Funston was 2-for-3.
Neshaminy (10-3, 8-3 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Wednesday, and Central Bucks East (6-6, 3-6) will host Pennridge on Wednesday.
Central Bucks East 000 000 0 0
Neshaminy 000 350 x 8
PENNRIDGE 9, ABINGTON 4
The Rams brought a welcome end to a four-game skid, opening up a 7-1 lead after three innings and leading wire to wire.
“This was a great win for us,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “We really needed it after the past week and a half. This is always a grueling time of the season because of make-up games getting squeezed into the schedule. I couldn’t be more proud of the girls for the way they played as a team today. They came in with such a positive attitude and you could see they were hungry for a win.
“Averi (Dockery) pitched great for us today. She is a natural athlete, and up until now she has played the bulk of her innings for us at shortstop. (Pitcher) Grace Helbling will miss the remainder of the season with a broken arm that happened when she was hit by a pitch last week. Averi is only a freshman and is handling her new role like a seasoned veteran.”
The Rams set the tone for this one early, putting four runs on the board in the first. Catelyn Thrush got the ball rolling with a single to center to lead off the game, and Katie Buccafuri legged out a bunt single. Reagan Bauman lined a three-run home run to center field, and the Rams weren’t finished yet. Ashleigh Kenworthy and Ryleigh Lilly hit back-to-back singles, and Kenworthy scored on a fielder’s choice to give the Rams the early 4-0 advantage.
Abington put a run on the board in the second, but the Rams answered with three runs in the third. Kenworthy doubled to center to lead off the inning, and Lilly followed with a single to center. Olivia Crognale smashed a three-run home run to center, and the Rams led 7-1.
“Our girls came out early with a few runs in the first and continued to hit the ball well the whole game,” Iadonisi said. “We’ve scored early in previous games and tended to let off the gas, so it was great to see us remaining aggressive all seven innings.”
The Ghosts plated a run in a fifth inning highlighted by doubles from Sydney Steiner and Ellie Pierce (RBI). In the sixth inning, Lauren Everitt hit a two-run double to make it a 7-4 game, but that’s as close as the Ghosts would get.
Thrush was an all-but-impossible out in the leadoff spot for the Rams, finishing the game 4-for-5 with a double, triple and a run scored. Buccafuri (2-for-5, run), Bauman (2-for-4, HR, run, 3 RBIs), Kenworthy (2-for-3, 2B, 2 runs), Lilly (2-for-4, 2 runs), and Crognale (2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) all had multiple hits for the Rams.
“Catelyn Thrush had a great game for us in the leadoff spot,” Iadonisi said. “She was batting fourth and Reagan Bauman was hitting leadoff for the first half of the season. We just moved the batting order to try to get things started, and it seems to be paying off. Reagan came up big with a beautiful home run in the first inning. You could tell right off the bat it was over the fence. Catelyn has the power to hit three or four in the lineup, but she definitely has the talent and mentality for a leadoff batter. I think Reagan could be put in anywhere and do well. She’s swinging great for us.
“Olivia Croganale, Ashleigh Kenworthy and Ryleigh Lilly made great contact today. They all looked more aggressive and hit the ball really well. It was so nice to see the consistency in the lineup today. We are definitely looking forward to keeping up momentum for next week.”
Dockery notched the complete game win, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out 12 and walking six.
For the Ghosts, Steiner (2-for-4, 2B) and Pierce (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) had multiple hits.
Pennridge (5-7, 3-7 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Monday, and Abington (5-7, 4-6) will travel to Upper Moreland on Monday.
Pennridge 403 000 2 9-14-0
Abington 010 012 0 4-8-2
SOL Liberty Division
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 13, UPPER DUBLIN 9 (8 innings)
The Colonials had every reason to throw in the towel, trailing 5-0 early and still staring at a 9-4 deficit heading into the fifth inning. Instead, they rallied to knot the score with three runs in the seventh and won it with four more in the eighth. Freshman Rian Reed delivered the big blow with the bases loaded, ripping a shot to right field that got by the outfielder and emptied the bases.
“That was a huge character win,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “The girls scratched one out after being down 5-0 after one – and also with deficits of 6-2 and 9-4 – with an onslaught of hits late for the win.
“First time through the lineup, we struggled to adjust to Chloe (Foster), who threw great today. But we made the necessary adjustments and were able to start putting the barrel on the ball.”
In the top of the seventh, Sam Skivo reached base on an error, and Grace Carney and Caelin Kosvitch (RBI) each singled. Lauryn Kane – who already had two home runs to her credit in the game – was intentionally walked to load the bases. Reed singled to center field to plate a pair of runs, knotting the score 9-9.
In the top of the eighth, Kalina Childers reached base on an error, and Skivo followed with a single. Foster retired the next two batters on a strikeout and groundout. Kane was intentionally walked again, and Reed delivered yet again with a sharply hit drive to right field – her third hit of the day.
“We were really struggling to catch up,” Perez said. “It was a little different than the pitching we saw yesterday, so our girls’ timing was a little bit off.
“Lauryn (Kane) again, day after day she does what she does and got us off the schneid with a home run and hit another one the next inning just to keep us even in the game at that point, trying to scratch and claw our way back in run by run. I guess they started seeing her potential and started walking her after that.
“Rian comes in batting right behind her and just delivered. In the last three innings, she had a single, double and the last hit that won it. Protecting someone like Lauryn in the lineup is not easily, especially for a freshman, and she was huge today for us.”
For good measure, Reed also was on top of her game in the circle, allowing just one hit and striking out five in five shutout innings in relief to earn the win. It was her first varsity win.
“She really had command,” Perez said. “She was phenomenal. She was an absolute stud today. It felt like every time we got on the board, we let them score one or two in the following inning, and Rian came in and shut them down, for sure. She had a monster day.”
Kane also had a monster day. The senior slugger was 3-for-4 with two home runs – a solo shot in the top of the third and a two-run blast in the fourth. She scored three runs and had three RBIs. Skivo also had three hits while Marissa Perez, Julie Price and Kosvitch each had two.
For the Cardinals, Madden Reilly was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Foster helped her own cause with a two-run home run in UD’s five-run first inning. Brianna Kesslick was 2-for-3 with two runs, Kaitlyn Zacharia was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Bella Fiore had a two-out RBI double in the third inning.
“Their center and right fielders played a phenomenal game and certainly did track some balls down,” Perez said. “Their center fielder made one in the right center gap, took away a couple of extra bases and runs.
“After the two home runs, Lauryn (Kane) hit one down the right field line that would have been extra bases and their right fielder tracked it down.”
Foster absorbed the loss, allowing 14 hits and 13 runs (four earned) while striking out eight and walking four.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-3, 8-2 SOL) will travel to Perkiomen Valley for a non-league game on Saturday at 1 p.m., and Upper Dublin (4-8, 4-6) will travel to Gwynedd Mercy Academy for a non-league game on Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 002 211 34 13-14-3
Upper Dublin 501 300 00 9-11-9
SOL Freedom Division
LOWER MORELAND 6, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 3
Liz Neeld hit for the cycle to lead the Lions to the division win. Neeld singled in the first inning, tripled in the third, doubled in the fifth, and homered in the seventh.
New Hope got on the board first scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Lower Moreland tied things up in the top of the fourth inning with a single by Isabella Ricciardi, a double by Clare O’Donnell scoring Ricciardi, a single by Hannah Klanderman, and then a sacrifice bunt by Natalie Shiloni scoring O’Donnell.
The Lions scored two more in the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead. Juliet Yavas singled and then scored on Neeld’s double, Neeld advanced to third base on a bunt by Jess Dugo, and Neeld scored on a sac fly to centerfield by Sophia Azzarano. Lower Moreland added one more run in the sixth inning when O’Donnell walked and scored on a Shiloni double to right field. After Neeld’s solo homerun in the seventh inning, the score was 6-2.
New Hope answered with one run in the bottom of the seventh when Emily Primavera singled and then scored on a double down the left field line by Jackie Herbert. Herbert went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead New Hope in hits.
Neeld finished the day 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Neeld earned the win in the circle for Lower Moreland, striking out six, walking two, and allowing just one earned run.
Lower Moreland (6-5, 3-5 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday, and New Hope-Solebury (2-10, 2-9) will host Springfield Township on Wednesday.
Lower Moreland 000 221 1 6-10-2
New Hope-Solebury 020 000 1 3-9-0
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