Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action Thursday.
National Conference
PENNSBURY 4, BENSALEM 3
Not a whole lot has gone the Falcons way this year. Already down two players – Mia Pitt and Alyssa Civil – to potential concussions, things went from bad to worse when the Falcons saw senior pitcher Casey Boltersdorf go down when she crossed first base after collecting a base hit to right field in the fourth inning.
“We’re down two kids, so we have two junior varsity kids starting,” coach Frank McSherry said. “When Casey comes down on the bag at first, she blows her knee out. I’ll know more tomorrow, but she was done.”
Trailing 3-2, McSherry moved first baseman Alyssa Hileman into the circle, and the freshman pitcher delivered in a big way.
“She comes in and pitches four innings and gives up one hit,” McSherry said.
With a hole to fill at first base, the Falcons’ coach called up a sophomore jayvee player with no varsity experience to play first base.
“Here’s what it looked like in the fourth inning when they’re coming up – we have a sophomore who never played any varsity at first,” McSherry said. “We have a freshman at second, we have a sophomore at shortstop, we have a sophomore at third base taking Mia Pitt’s place in her first varsity start, we have a freshman pitcher, we have a freshman in right field (Olivia Mauro) who has zero varsity starts, we have a freshman in center and a sophomore in left.
“So we have four freshmen and four sophomores and Marguerite Salamone is the only upperclassmen – she’s a junior behind the plate. It was a MASH unit out there, no doubt about it, and somehow they gutted it out.”
Jen Brady – filling in for Pitt at third base – had a remarkable day at the plate in her debut, collecting a double and single.
“In the sixth when we tied it, there was a runner on base with two outs, and she battled,” McSherry said of Brady. “She must have fouled off three or four and then she hits a swinging bunt, just trying to protect.
“They had an error, and she ends up getting on base. We ended up scoring a run in the inning. She kept the inning alive.”
The Falcons won it in the seventh. Salamone led off with a single, and with one out and runners on first and second, Bailee Zaccaro delivered a single to plate the go-ahead run. Hileman closed it out with a one-two-three seventh.
“It was storybook-like,” McSherry said. “We told them how proud we were of them. When we see our senior pitcher go down, we could have caved. They just stepped up.
“All these kids playing for the first time on varsity – they held it together. We were sloppy in the field – we committed seven errors, but we committed those errors early.
“When HIleman came in, the defense shored up for some mysterious reason. Casey didn’t deserve to give up three runs – all of them were unearned, but we got that out of our system, and the kids played really well.”
The Falcons, who collected 10 hits, were led by Salamone’s 3-for-4 effort that included a double.
“Jackie Morell is a really good pitcher,” McSherry said. “She’s been the toughest pitcher we’ve faced, and we made some adjustments.”
Things won’t get any easier for the Falcons (8-5, 4-5 SOL), who will face a powerhouse Robbinsville team that boasts a 14-2 record on Saturday night. Bensalem is also 4-5 in league play (7-5 overall).
Pennsbury 020 001 1 7
Bensalem 201 000 0 3
ABINGTON 4, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2
The Ghosts showed no ill effects from Tuesday’s loss to Neshaminy, leading from wire to wire in Monday’s game against the Golden Hawks.
“It was a big win,” coach Ellie White said. “To be able to bounce back and beat a good team like Council Rock South – they’re very well coached. Greg (Heydet) has done great things with those kids. It was a great win for us.”
Nicolette Ray stole the spotlight for the Ghosts with a complete game effort on the mound. She scattered four hits.
“She pitched an awesome game,” White said. “That poor kid is sick as a dog. She went to the doctor, and she has laryngitis, tonsillitis, an upper respiratory infection and sinusitis.
“In her first at-bat, she put one over the fence.”
Ray’s blast gave the Ghosts a 1-0 lead, and they sealed the Golden Hawks’ fate with a three-run sixth. Jamie Gosselin got the ball rolling with a one-out single and immediately stole second. Ray was intentionally walked to put a pair on board. Gosselin stole third, and a steal of second put two runners in scoring position for Jade Sowell, who nailed an 0-2 pitch for a two-run double. Sowell raced home on Maddie Malfara’s RBI single.
Abington upped its record to 7-2 in league play (10-3 overall) while Council Rock South is 4-4 in the league (8-5 overall).
Council Rock South 000 000 2 2
Abington 100 003 x 4
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 4
The Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the first but came up empty. In the bottom of the inning, the Indians scored a pair when catcher Taylor Amazeen delivered a two-run double.
The Indians led 4-1 after two innings and took that lead into the sixth when the Tigers tacked on a run to make it a two-run game. The Indians answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Highlights of the inning were a home run by Taylor Briggs and a double by Marisa Gergel.
The Tigers – sparked by a two-run double by Jessica O’Neil – plated a pair in the seventh for the 7-4 final.
Amanda Camp earned the win in the circle, surviving five errors by the Indians. Camp helped her own cause with six putouts.
O’Neil absorbed the loss for the Tigers.
“She did a great job keeping us off-balance,” coach Chris McDermott said of O’Neil.
Council Rock North improved to 5-2 in league play (10-3 overall) while Truman is 2-8 in the league (3-10 overall). The Indians will host archrival Council Rock South on Friday.
Harry S Truman 010 001 2 4
Council Rock North 220 003 x 7
NESHAMINY 14, WILLIAM TENNENT 4 (5 innings)
In an overpowering display of offense, the Redskins slugged six home runs – four in a 10-run first inning – on their way to the win in the abbreviated five-inning contest.
“The wind blew out today,” Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti said. “It’s rare you get that easterly wind, but today we had it.”
The fun started when Hunter Hart – who had a pair of home runs – hit a solo shot with one out in the first inning. A walk to Sarah Snider-Leonhauser set the stage for a two-run blast by Sam Offenbeck. Nikki Wild followed with a solo home run to put the ‘Skins on top 4-0, and they were just getting started. Back-to-back singles by Corinne Garuffe and Shelby Kishel were followed by a Sophie Beretski double. A single by Olivia Zaino and a sacrifice fly by Hart were followed by a Snider-Leonhauser home run in her second at-bat of the inning, and the Redskins led 10-0.
Contributing multiple hits were Hart, Snider-Leonhauser, Offenback, Garuffe, Kishel and Beretski.
Snider-Leonhauser’s double in the third inning was the 100th hit of a standout career.
Amber Brugger earned the win for the Redskins, who are 9-1 in league play (13-1 overall). William Tennent is 1-9 in the league (4-10 overall).
William Tennent 020 20 4
Neshaminy 1012 1x 14
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, PENNRIDGE 0
Alexis McConomy gave the Titans a much needed lift, tossing a five-hit shutout to earn the complete game win in the circle. For good measure, the sophomore hurler had a pair of hits.
“She’s kind of taken over our starting role for now,” coach Dan Hayes said. “She’s not a strikeout pitcher. She’s not overpowering, and we didn’t help her out in a lot of instances as far as fielding and giving her support with hits.
“She’s hung in there, and it was just really nice to see her get a win today.”
The Titans plated both of their runs in the fourth inning. Mikaela Simons was safe on a two-base error, and she moved up to third on Meghan Bradley’s sacrifice bunt. Maddie Bieber double plated a run that would turn out to be the game winner, and a second run crossed the plate when McConomy doubled to the fence in left center.
That was more than enough support for McConomy, who picked up her first varsity win for a Titan squad that had dropped four of five games entering Thursday’s contest.
“The William Tennent loss was really a tough loss,” Hayes said of his team’s 2-0 loss to the Panthers earlier this week. “We just didn’t hit a lick.
“Hatboro (an 8-4 loss Tuesday) – we always split with Hatboro. We had a talk yesterday after practice about setting some new goals for the rest of the year. With the power rankings the way they are, it’s all about winning ball games. You just have to win.”
The Titans improved to 6-4 in league play (8-5 overall) while Pennridge is 2-8 in the SOL (4-8 overall).
Pennridge 000 000 0 0
Central Bucks South 000 200 x 2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 4, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 (9 innings)
Lexie Campbell tossed a two-hit masterpiece to lead the visiting Hatters to the win.
“Unbelievable game,” coach Joe DiFilippo said. “I’ve been around Lexie for four years, and this is by far the best game I’ve ever seen her pitch.
“She just hit every spot. She threw nine innings today – two hits, five strikeouts and one walk. She pitched six innings yesterday against North Penn and gave up zero earned runs. She pitched five innings against CB South and gave up two runs, and she pitched the whole game against Souderton and gave up two earned runs.”
The Hatters plated three unearned runs in the ninth inning to win it. With one out, Bria Cashman reached base on an error, and she moved up to second Jackie Locke’s sacrifice bunt. Dee Moyer singled to put runners on the corners. An error on Jen Cader’s grounder to short allowed a run to cross the plate. Jaynie Black was hit by a pitch, and Bryn Griffith’s single plated a pair to give the Hatters a 4-1 lead.
Campbell did the rest, retiring the Patriots in the bottom of the frame to put the finishing touches on the big win.
Earlier, Jen Cader hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to give the Hatters a 1-0 lead. The Patriots rallied to knot the score in the bottom of the sixth, setting the stage for extra innings.
Griffith was 2-for-5 with two RBIs to lead the Hatters.
Both teams are 5-5 in conference play. The Hatters are 7-6 overall, and the Patriots are 7-8.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 100 003 4
Central Bucks East 000 001 000 1
NORTH PENN 4, QUAKERTOWN 3
The Maidens used a late rally to eke out a win over the pesky Panthers.
“It was our seventh game in eight days,” said coach Rick Torresani, whose team has won seven straight since falling to Souderton. “The kids were tired. They were tired yesterday when we played Hatboro.”
Back-to-back two-out doubles by Hannah Uhler and Nicole Yanni (RBI) spotted the Maidens a 1-0 lead in the first. The Panthers erased that when Nikki Vanelli connected for a three-run home run in the second and a 3-1 Quakertown lead.
The Maidens got one of those runs back in the third and then won it with two runs in the sixth. Bri Battavio drew a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Lauren Schwartz delivered an RBI single to plate Battavio with the tying run. After Katie Beer drew a walk, Becky Christoffers collected an RBI single for a run that turned out to be the game winner.
Battavio threw the first three innings, allowing all three runs. Jackie Bilotti worked the final three to earn the win.
“I didn’t want to start Jackie today,” Torresani said of resting his ace. “Bri gave us four good innings. She had one bad pitch.”
North Penn upped its league mark to 8-2 (14-2 overall) while Quakertown is 2-8 in league play (5-8 overall).
Quakertown 030 000 0 3
North Penn 101 002 x 4
SOUDERTON 5, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
Dayna Shelly delivered a grand slam in the first inning to spot the Indians a 4-0 lead on their way to the win. Setting the stage for Shelly’s big blast were base hits by Angie Carty, Alex Scheeler and Morgan Yoder.
In the third, the Indians tacked on an unearned run to go on top 5-0, and that lead held until the bottom of the seventh when Emma Dryden, who was 3-for-4, ripped a solo home run.
Shelly was the lone Indians with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and one run scored.
Scheeler earned the win in the circle, allowing eight hits and one run while striking out six.
Souderton 401 000 0 5
Central Bucks West 000 000 1 1
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 7, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6
Brittany Gelman turned in a dazzling performance at the plate to lead the Trojans to the hard fought win. The senior standout was 4-for-4 with three doubles, a triple and three RBIs.
“She was tearing the cover off the ball today, and she played a heck of a game at shortstop,” coach Mike Borkowski said.
Gelman delivered an RBI double in the first to spot the Trojans an early 1-0 lead. She had a two-run double in a three-run third that put the Trojans on top 4-0, and in a three-run sixth, she had an RBI triple.
Michela Coleman was 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
“She had a very nice game and did a nice job at catcher – she threw a runner out at second and trying to take an extra base at third at the end of the game,” Borkowski said. “She did a real nice job behind the plate.”
Destini Paige was rock solid at third base, according to Borkowski.
“I jokingly was calling her ‘beast mode’ because she made some really nice plays at third base,” the Trojans’ coach said. “She had seven putouts at third and no errors. She was on fire today. She played a great game on the defensive side.”
“Our pitcher, Halle Segal, pitched a very good game today – no walks, and she spread out her eight hits,” Borkowski said. “She got roughed up the last game, and she came back and shut them down the first three innings and came out like a pitcher and really did a great job.
“It was a good game. Both teams played well.”
PW leadoff batter Ragan Ebersole had two hits, including a double, and three runs scored. Elena Iannuzzelli reached base four times, collecting four singles, while Allison Spinelli had a pair of hits.
Wissahickon evened its record at 4-4 in league play (5-7 overall) while PW is 1-8 in the league.
Wissahickon 103 003 0 7
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 103 2 6
UPPER MERION 10, NORRISTOWN 0
Nicole Kowalski tossed an impressive six hit shutout to lead the Vikings to the big win. She struck out six.
“She pitched a very good game,” coach John Whitney said. “She did a good job.”
Kowalski had plenty of offensive support on a day that saw the Vikings pound out 13 hits. Dez Kandy was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Olivia Sborlini and Micaela Ghanayem both had a pair of hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Allie Moffet had two hits, including a double, and Kowalski had a pair of hits, including a solo home run in the seventh to put the finishing touches on a big day.
The Vikings led 3-0 after three innings and then put four on the board in the fourth to seize complete control of the game.
Kat Watson was 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot to lead the Eagles.
Upper Merion upped its conference mark to 8-0 (9-2 overall) while the Eagles are 1-8 in conference play. Upper Merion will travel to Villa Maria Academy Friday for a game with postseason implications as the Vikings are ranked fourth in Class AAA and the Hurricanes are ranked first.
Upper Merion 102 420 1 10
Norristown 000 000 0 0
CHELTENHAM 8, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 2
The Lady Panthers rebounded from a disappointing loss to Upper Merion less than 24 hours earlier to earn the big conference win on Thursday.
Sisters Madison and Morgan Gianelle did most of the damage, combining for five hits – including a triple – four RBIs and three runs scored to lead the Lady Panthers. Becca Simms added a triple, RBI and run scored.
Cheltenham scored two runs in the first and added three more in the second to go on top 5-0. The Spartans, despite collecting nine hits, never threatened.
Alyssa Ard and Kaitlyn Cannon led the Spartans with 2-for-4 efforts at the plate. Alison Currie had an RBI double.
Grace DeRosa earned the win, allowing nine hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out five and walking one. Jen Hammons absorbed the loss, allowing 10 hits and eight runs (five earned) while walking two and striking out four.
Cheltenham is 6-3 in conference play (7-6 overall), and Springfield is 6-2 in league play.
Springfield 000 100 1 2
Cheltenham 230 021 x 8
UPPER MORELAND 12, POPE JOHN PAUL II 10
About the Author
