Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 11, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9
Ava Storlazzi set the tone for a big night at the plate before fans had settled in their seats.
The Falcons’ leadoff batter – who was 4-for-4 with three stolen bases and the game-winning hit – grounded a single to center in the first inning, stole second and scored on an error. Then with two outs, Naya Schubel hit a two-run home run, and the Indians had three runs – all unearned – on the board.
It marked the beginning of a high-scoring contest between the Patriot Division rivals, and fans probably shouldn’t have expected anything less.
“It’s like the first game we had with them last year that went 12 innings,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry of a game his team won 11-10 in extra innings.
Monday’s game at Diamond Nation was decided in seven, but it was a marathon as the two teams combined for 23 hits.
The Falcons and Indians spent the game exchanging best shots. They were deadlocked 4-4 after two innings and 5-5 after five. Both teams scored four runs in the sixth inning, and the Falcons won it with two runs in the top of the seventh.
With one out, Hannah Definis lined a single to center, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Storlazzi, who delivered a single that plated a pair of runs.
In the bottom of the inning, Molly Sheehy led off with a single for the Indians, and one out later, Storlazzi – who plays second base – turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the ball game.
“Tonight’s game was a lot of fun,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Both teams played their hearts out. Of course, we would have liked to come out on the winning side, but ultimately, I’m extremely proud of our team and the way they battled until the final out. Pennsbury runs a phenomenal program and plays with class, and they earned that hard fought win tonight.”
There were plenty of offensive heroes on both sides.
In addition to Storlazzi’s big night out of the leadoff spot, three other players finished the game with two hits. Anna Evanchik was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. DeFinis was 2-for-4, and Liv Czerniak was 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored. Sammi Raub doubled and drove in a run.
Kylie Dressel – who started and threw six innings – earned the win in the circle. Evanchik notched the save with a scoreless seventh.
For the Indians, Sheehy was 3-for-4 with one RBI. Kayla Ripper was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Chelsea Seiler was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Olivia Schlindwein was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
“They had a kid that robbed Evanchik of extra bases – made a diving catch in center field that was going to the wall,” McSherry said. “That kid (Zoe) Hornstein – it was an ESPN play, She made the play of her career. It was definitely a great play.”
Pennsbury (3-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Thursday for a crossover game, and Council Rock North (4-2, 2-2) is off until next Monday when the Indians will travel to Central Bucks West for a crossover game.
Pennsbury 311 004 2 11-12-4
Council Rock North 130 014 0 9-11-3
SOL Colonial Division
NORTH PENN 14, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 (5 innings)
The day belonged to Bella Nunn.
The UMBC-bound senior struck out 13 of 15 batters she faced in an abbreviated perfect game. After retiring the last two batters of the first inning on fly balls, Nunn struck out 12 in a row to close out the game.
“She was on fire,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “She was throwing 65, and that’s a young team. I have to hand it to them – they didn’t give up, they were cheering each other on, but they were just overmatched.”
After weeks of cold weather, Monday’s warm weather was welcomed by all, especially Nunn.
“She could grip the ball,” Torresani said. “Her rise ball was rising, her curveball was breaking, and her screwball was doing what it normally does. The warm weather helped a tremendous amount.
“She had control – she never really got into a deep count, and everything she threw was doing what she wanted it to do. I truly believe it was because of the weather.”
For good measure, Nunn hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning. It was one of six extra base hits for the Knights, who had 10 hits in the abbreviated contest.
The Knights scored three runs in the first without the benefit of a hit and added three more in a second inning that included a two-out RBI double by Gianna Cimino as well as singles by Izzy Tubertini and Casey Sokol (RBI).
A five-run third inning put the Knights on top 10-0 and was highlighted by doubles from Liv Stevens and Cimino (2 RBIs). In the sixth, Sokol hit a solo home run that was followed by a Sophia Orth double and Nunn’s two-run blast.
Cimino finished the game 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Sokol was 2-for-3 with a home run, five RBIs and a run scored in a productive day at the plate.
“We hit the ball,” Torresani said. “Normally, when we see slower pitching, it takes us a while, but again, it was a great day. The girls just went out and hit the ball.”
North Penn (6-1, 3-1 SOL) returns to action Thursday when the Knights will host Pennsbury in a crossover game, and Central Bucks East (2-3, 0-3) is off until next Tuesday when the Patriots will host Bensalem in a crossover contest.
North Penn 335 03 14-10-0
Central Bucks East 000 00 0-0-1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, SOUDERTON 2
Riley Theis came away with a big win in a pitcher’s duel with Souderton senior McKenna Schroding. The Titans’ junior pitcher scattered five hits in the complete game win and did not allow an earned run.
“Souderton is a great team,” South coach Matt McLaughlin said. “Our pitcher – Riley Theis – dominated tonight.”
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Camryn Nadolski, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on a two-out error.
South got that run back in the bottom of the inning when Hannah Tracy led off with a single, advanced to third on a miscue. South plated a pair on the Indians’ second error of the inning.
Theis received a major assist from her defense in the second inning after the Indians loaded the bases with none out – the result of singles by Kendall Clemmer and Madison Byrwa sandwiched around a South miscue.
“We turned an insane double play, which basically saved the game,” McLaughlin said. “A ball was hit to our third baseman, Steph Bendziowicz. She came home for a force at home plate to our freshman catcher (Keira Im), who turned it down to our first baseman.
“That to me – as awesome as the game was – saved the game.”
The Indians did score the tying run that inning on a passed ball, but it could have been a whole lot worse.
In the bottom of the third, Tracy drew a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice by Maura Fleming. She scored a run that turned out to be the game-winner when Wheeler lined a double to center.
“Souderton can pitch like lights out – we only got four hits,” McLaughlin said. “Our number three hitter, Ella Wheeler, went 2-for-3 with two monster hits. She also made an over-the-shoulder game-saving catch in center field.
“Just overall, it was such a great defensive game. Our third baseman, Steph Benziowicz, was lights out. She made like five diving plays. This was such a big game for us because Souderton’s great, and if we lose, we’re 2-4, but instead we’re 3-3 and 2-1 in our division.”
For the Indians, Lily Ponce was 2-for-3.
Schroding started and threw four innings, allowing four hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking one. Skylar Byrnes allowed one hit in two shutout innings to close out the game.
In a winning effort, Theis fanned six and walked two.
Monday’s win comes on the heels of South’s 10-5 loss to North Penn on Friday.
“We were losing 6-5 in the sixth inning,” McLaughlin said. “We gave up four runs in the seventh inning, but up until that point, we gave them a really solid go. It doesn’t look like that on the scoreboard, but it was 6-5 in the last inning.”
Central Bucks South (3-3, 2-1 SOL) will be on the road at Pennridge Tuesday, and Souderton (3-2, 0-2) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Souderton 110 000 0 2-5-3
Central Bucks South 201 000 0 3-4-2
Non-league
ABINGTON 5, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 2
A five-run fourth inning propelled the Ghosts to a non-league win over the visiting Magic.
“Our bats and gloves finally came together,” Abington coach Tina Hesdon said. “It was a great team win.”
Trailing 2-0, the Ghosts opened the fourth with a single by Sammi Clewell, and one out later, Liz Hippel singled. Abington’s first run scored on an error, and then Natalie Broskley lined an RBI double to center to give the Ghosts a 3-2 lead. Mallory Beal and Mia Lucke both drove in a run with back-to-back singles, and just like that, the Ghosts turned a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 lead that held until the final out was recorded.
Beal (2-for-3, RBI, R) and Lucke (2-for-3, RBI) led the Ghosts seven-hit attack.
In the circle, Danica Santiago started and threw 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and two runs. Samantha Wenhold allowed one hit in 3.1 shutout innings, striking out five and walking three.
“Our pitching continues to be strong,” Hesdon said. “Altogether it was a hard-fought team win.”
Abington (2-3, 0-3 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Tuesday.
Mount St. Joseph 002 000 0 2-7-3
Abington 000 500 x 5-7-0
Saturday, April 6
WILLIAM TENNENT 4, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 3
Cara Waskiewicz stepped to the plate in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and the Panthers trailing 3-1. With two strikes, she hit a bases-clearing single to give the Panthers a lead they would not lose.
“She hit a shot into the right field gap that cleared the bases,” Tennent coach Rich Clark said. “The key element of this game was our bench. Our role players came off the bench and really contributed hugely to this win.”
Those contributions were never more apparent than in the Panthers’ sixth-inning rally. Madison Pirolli got the ball rolling with a leadoff single to left field. Pinch hitter Addison Swartz came reached base when she was hit by a pitch. Rylie O’Toole singled to load the bases with none out.
It looked as though the Panthers might come up empty when their next two batters were retired on a line drive to first and a pop out to third, but Waskiewicz delivered when it mattered most.
Tori Schmidt entered the game as a pinch runner and scored all the way from first on Waskiewicz’s single.
“Tori Schmidt was flying around and her shoe actually came off,” Clark said. “She just beat the tag with a slide. If she’s not at first base as a pinch runner, we don’t score. She’s got great speed.
“The credit really goes to Cara, Tori Schmidt and Addison Swartz. Basically, our whole bench came in and won that game for us.”
William Tennent (3-1, 2-1 SOL) will host Lower Moreland on Tuesday.
Archbishop Wood 101 010 0 3-6-1
William Tennent 000 103 0 4-4-2
PENNSBURY 14, CONWELL-EGAN 6
The Falcons exploded for 14 runs to defeat the Eagles in a non-league battle of neighboring rivals. It was a 5-5 game heading into the fourth inning when the Falcons plated four runs and then added five more in the fifth on their way to the decisive win.
Ava Starlozzi was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and three stolen bases. Sammi Raub was 3-for-5 with two RBIs., and Hannah Definis was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Presley Foote had a double and three RBIs. Naya Schubel also doubled and had two RBIs. Sophomore Jaylyn Rodweller doubled and had a pair of RBIs.
Kylie Dressel notched her first varsity win in the circle, allowing one run in 5.1 innings in relief.
Pennsbury 050 450 1 14
Conwell-Egan 140 001 0 6
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