Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action on Friday. Pennsbury/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 9, NESHAMINY 3
The score might suggest otherwise, but listening to coach Frank McSherry tell it, Friday’s battle between the neighboring rivals was a typical Pennsbury-Neshaminy game. Until, that is, the Falcons – sparked by a grand slam from Caitlyn Martell – erupted for six runs in
the sixth inning.
“Over the years, we’ve just had such tremendous games with them, and this had all the makings of the same kind of game,” McSherry said. “We scored in the first inning – it’s 1-0, and that held up until the fourth when we put up a two-spot, and they answered right back. It was like, ‘Wow, this is going to be one of those games until the end,’ but we had a mini explosion in the sixth which really helped.
“They have a bunch of hitters, there’s no doubt about it, and with kids that can hit like they can hit and the pitching they have, they’re going to be formidable.”
In the Falcons’ six-run uprising, Quinn McGonigle’s two-run single gave the Falcons a 5-2 lead with runners still in scoring position on second and third.
“They walked Taylor Askey to load the bases and set up force-outs, and it seemed like the logical thing to do,” McSherry said.
It might have been, but Caitlyn Martell made it hurt, smashing a grand slam to deep center field.
“Caitlyn laid into one – she hit a bomb over the center field fence,” McSherry said.
Rowan Mulholland was the lone Falcon with multiple hits, finishing a big day at the plate 3-for-4 with an RBI single in the first inning that spotted the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Riley Mahony had a double.
For the Redskins, Kaylee Jones was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Mia Barrone was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Amanda Slabicki was 2-for-2 with a double.
Ainsley McClure earned the win, allowing 12 hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out two and walking none. The Falcons collected nine hits off a pair of Neshaminy hurlers. Kennedie Ruth, who was relieved by
Barrone in the fifth, absorbed the loss, allowing four hits and three runs.
“It was kind of a weird game,” McSherry said. “Both Ainsley and Kennedie – and I think it was because it’s early in the season, the weather isn’t ideal. Our field is cool to begin with because it’s tree-lined and doesn’t get sun, and it got cooler as the day went on. I’ve seen both of them pitch better than they did today. It was one of those games. I think the pitching will heat up when the warm weather hits.”
McSherry discovered midway through the game that the school would be closed this weekend, cancelling his planned Saturday practice.
“Maybe there’s a silver lining, give the kids rest and just get ready for a big week next week,” McSherry said.
Pennsbury (2-0 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Monday, and Neshaminy (1-2, 1-1) will be on the road at Harry S Truman on Monday.
Neshaminy 000 020 1 3-12-2
Pennsbury 100 206 x 9-9-3
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4
The Indians took the suspense out of this one early, thanks to a seven-run uprising in the bottom of the first. All told, the Indians pounded out 12 hits.
“I was extremely impressed with the emotional control and focus our team had today,” North coach Susan Yee said. “On top of this being such a big rivalry, the girls were playing against their former coach (John Engelhardt), so this was definitely an emotional game for them.
“They did a fantastic job of balancing their enthusiasm and energy with focus on their task, which can sometimes be even more difficult than the physical aspect of the game. The girls also really put into play a lot of the things that we have been focusing on at practice recently, namely their defensive rotations, and trusting that they can try and make plays and will always have somebody behind them.
“While we didn’t play perfect defense, the girls did show perfect rotations and a tremendous amount of effort in getting to those places quickly. Any time we had a ball get by, there was not only one person right there for the backup to hold their runners where they were, but in a lot of cases there were two girls. If these young ladies hadn’t put in that effort and attention to detail, I think the final score of the game would have been a lot different.”
There were offensive heroes galore for the Indians. Sofia Shields (2-for-4), Molly Sheehy (2-for-2), Kandace Kiskurno (2-for-3) and Noelle Wood (2-for-3) all turned in multiple hit performances. The Indians have five extra base hits with Wood, Kat Hastings and Bordner each hitting a double while Taylor Gearhart had a triple.
Jayme Bordner had a team high three RBIs. Shield had a pair of RBIs while Sheehy and Wood both had one.
“It was a complete team effort with production from all parts of the order, including seven different players crossing home plate,” Yee said.
Hastings earned the complete game win, allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out five.
Yee credited the effort of Rock South.
“I was extremely impressed with the effort shown by CR South,” the Indians’ coach said. “A lot of teams would have folded after getting down 7-0 at the end of the first inning, but they stayed right in there and gave us all we could handle for the rest of the game.
“They were laying out, getting dirty, fighting as hard as they could until the final out. That is huge and will serve them well as the season wears on. They deserve a lot of credit, they fight until the end, and I have no doubt they are going to surprise some people this year.”
Council Rock North (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Bensalem on Monday, and Council Rock South (2-2, 0-2) will host Pennsbury on Monday.
Council Rock South 000 020 2 4-8-3
Council Rock North 701 110 x 10-12-3
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, SOUDERTON 1
The Patriots pounded out 14 hits on their way to a convincing win that knocked the Indians from the ranks of the undefeated. Soleil Dooner allowed three hits and a run in the first and then scattered just three hits over six shutout innings. She struck out 11 and did not walk a batter.
“She had a really outstanding game,” East coach Karl Knapp said. “She was really on today. She’s a very good change-up pitcher. She threw that in some real timely spots.
“In fact, that’s how she got the final out of the game – the last pitch was a change-up for a strikeout. It was a phenomenal pitching performance from her. So far this season, she’s had really good outings.
“We usually split between Alex Frenia and Soleil, and we talked to both of them and said, ‘If you’re on a roll and you’re doing good, we’ll just leave you in,’ and both of them are fine with that.”
The Indians got on the scoreboard in the first, stringing three two-out hits together. Abby Burns singled, and Riley York doubled, setting the stage for Ryan Zimmerman’s RBI single.
Souderton took its 1-0 lead into the fourth when Amelia Funston ripped a two-strike pitch over the left field fence, knotting the score 1-1. It was her first of two home runs on the day. Mackenzie Wilson collected a one-out single and scored when Bailey Shellhorn singled to right, giving the Patriots a lead they would not lose.
Funston’s two-run blast – this time over the center field fence – gave the Patriots a 4-1 lead in the fifth, and they put the game out of reach with a four-run burst in the seventh that included RBI singles by Frenia, Wilson and Elise Waddington. Funston was on the receiving end of an intentional walk in the inning.
Frenia finished the day with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Shellhorn had a hit and RBI and, according to her coach, played a brilliant second base. Wilson had three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
“Mackenzie Wilson, one of our sophomores, is really hitting great,” Knapp said. “She’s in the five spot, which is a tough spot, and she’s been really coming through.”
Elizabeth Gray once against created havoc out of the leadoff spot, collecting three hits, two stolen bases and a run scored. She also threw out a runner at home trying to score from second on a single to center with a strike to the catcher’s glove.
“Elizabeth Gray had a good day,” Knapp said. “She’s just a real threat on the bases because she’s so fast. She puts a lot of pressure on defenses.”
Waddington also had a hit and RBI, and pinch runner Jess Kepner scored from first on a single and an error.
For the Indians, Riley York and Zimmerman both had two hits. York and Megan Kummery each had a double.
“A lot of the Souderton girls are the same as 2019, and they put 20-some runs on us in two games,” Knapp said of a season that saw the Indians notch wins of 15-5 and 14-2 over the Patriots. “They really had our number. They were beating us up.
“To be honest, I was surprised. I thought this would be a dogfight, but our hitting started to come through. All year we thought we were a good hitting team but not living up to our potential. I guess that last inning against Pennridge when we came from behind in the seventh must have really lit a fire under them. It was just a great combination of having the hitting really coming through and Soleil (Dooner) having an outstanding pitching performance.
“We’re really proud of them. The fact that it’s 50-50 of veterans and young people with their first crack at being a varsity ballplayer – they’ve really come through.”
Knapp also pointed to the outstanding leadership of the team’s captains, Shellhorn and Dooner.
“They’ve really pulled this team together,” Knapp said. “My assistant (Dave Schulman) was saying – and I think he’s right – that these are probably two of the best captains we’ve ever had. They just seem to be able to connect with the players.
“We’ve had some controversies, but they’ve seemed really able to iron that all out, and get everybody on the same page. It’s been a good year so far compared to the way we started out in 2019. I don’t think we’d won a game to this point. We have tough games next week with the two CB schools and North Penn Friday.”
Central Bucks East (4-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Monday, and Souderton (4-1, 1-1) will be on the road at North Penn on Monday.
Central Bucks East 000 220 4 8-14-1
Souderton 100 000 0 1-6-1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 7, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3 (8 innings)
Nicole Pilla stole the spotlight with another dazzling offensive performance, leading the Titans with a 3-for-4 effort that included a triple, home run, sacrifice fly, two RBIs and one run scored.
“She’s scorching hot,” South coach Kevin Rosini said. “In her last at-bat, they threw her all change-ups on purpose, hoping she wouldn’t swing. The home run came with two strikes.
“She’s killing the ball. She’s 8-for-12 in three games and is batting .667, and she’s catching every inning of every game. She’s our four-year player, and she’s on fire right now. She’s such a good leader – she’s catching pitchers who have never thrown varsity in their life. She’s our anchor, she’s our everything.”
Still, the outcome would have been a whole lot different had it not been for the game-saving catch of freshman Allie Franck with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and the winning run on third base.
“The girl hits a popup behind first,” Rosini said. “As soon as she hit it, I said to myself, ‘Game over.’
“Allie Franck, our freshman second baseman, did a full-on dead sprint, did a headfirst dive and caught it. If that ball would have dropped, it would have been game over.”
In the top of the eighth, Franck led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on a bunt single down the first base line by Jamie Marks.
“Grace Motley came up and hit a little bloopy ball that got over the pitcher’s head and landed in the infield, so Allie scored,” Rosini said. “Taylor Migliore bunted for a hit, so now we have the bases loaded.”
Braylee Webb’s RBI single to center put the Titans on top 5-3, and with one out, Jasmine Chui drew a bases-loaded walk that pushed a run across and gave the Titans a three-run advantage.
“Nicole came up and hit a seed to left field, which the leftfielder caught, and Taylor scored to put us up 7-3,” Rosini said.
Early on, the Bucks took a 2-0 lead in the third, benefitting from a Chloe Dryden single as well as a walk and several stolen bases. They took that 2-0 lead into the fifth when Pilla tripled and scored on Marlena Hacker’s RBI single to make it a 2-1 game.
That score stood until the top of the seventh. Suzie William singled with one out and immediately stole second, eventually scoring on a wild pitch to knot the score. A solo home run by Pilla gave the Titans their first lead.
“West doesn’t have a fence, so she has to run it out,” Rosini said. “The triple she hit earlier would have been a home run at South.
“In the bottom of the seventh, they have a runner on first with two outs. I’m screaming to our outfielder, ‘Don’t let the ball get by you.’ A girl hits a base hit to right field, and it bounced by our right fielder, so the runner from first came around and scored to make it 3-3. The batter got all the way to third.”
That’s when Franck saved the day, setting the stage for the wild finish.
“We needed this win,” Rosini said. “We needed it just for our own belief in ourselves. We have so many new people, so many young people. Even our seniors – besides Nicole, nobody has really played.
“We’re playing all new people who have never played varsity in their life. We could have gotten down on ourselves. We could have bagged it, and this freshman (Franck) makes a catch – in my five years, that’s the best play I’ve ever seen for South. Not even close because that saved the game. Right after that, our energy just got even better, and they fought so hard.
“We needed it because we’ve got such a tough week next week. I told the girls – ‘Five years, that’s the proudest I’ve been of a win’ just for the way they handled things. We’ve just got to keep working. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re getting better.”
In addition to Pilla, Hacker was 2-for-4 with one RBI and a stolen base.
Madison Borowski notched the complete game win – her first varsity win, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out 12.
Central Bucks South (1-2, 1-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks East on Monday, and Central Bucks West (0-4, 0-2) will travel to Pennridge (Druckenmiller Park) for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
Central Bucks South 000 001 24 7-11-3
Central Bucks West 002 000 10 3-4-0
NORTH PENN 9, PENNRIDGE 3
The Rams broke North Penn’s string of 15 straight shutout innings by plating a first inning run. That turned out to be pretty much their last hurrah as the Knights went on to open up an 8-1 lead on their way to the convincing win.
“Pennridge always plays us tough, and they did the same,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “They’re a well-coached team.”
Mady Volpe was once again in complete command, allowing six hits while striking out 15 and walking none. The Coastal Carolina recruit also had herself a night at the plate, collecting a double, home run and four RBIs.
After the Knights plated an unearned run in the top of the first, the Rams answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Caitlyn Thrush, who opened the inning with a double to right and then stole third, scored on Madison Silber’s two-out single.
The Knights seized control of the game with a five-run outburst in the third. The inning was highlighted by Volpe’s three-run home run to center. A double by Sophia Collins set the stage for a two-run blast to center by Bri Wilmot, and the Knights led 6-1.
In the fourth, the Knights added a pair of runs, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Annabelle Smink and an RBI double by Volpe. The Rams got those runs back with two runs of their own in the sixth. Thrush led off with a single, and Cassandra Schillo followed with a two-run home run to second to make it an 8-3 game. North Penn closed out the scoring with an unearned run in the seventh.
Torresani was pleased to see sophomore Annabelle Smink pick up a pair of hits out of the three hole. She also had an RBI and scored a run.
“Sophia Collins, a junior, was struggling in the earlier games,” Torresani said. “She worked hard, and she had two hits tonight.”
Thrush accounted for three of the Rams’ six hits, finishing the night a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
North Penn (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Souderton on Monday, and Pennridge (1-2, 0-2) will host Central Bucks West on Monday.
North Penn 105 200 1 9-11-0
Pennridge 100 002 0 3-6-3
SOL Liberty Division
HATBORO-HORSHAM 9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5
The season opener finally happened for a Hatters’ team coming off a shutdown for COVID-19 protocols. Negative test results allowed the Hatters to return to the field for the first time since their scrimmage with Neshaminy on March 22.
“It was great to get out there,” HH coach Kelly Krier said. “I was so happy for our girls. They’ve really been great in terms of their attitudes and trying to make the most out of it. It’s so hard when you don’t have any games to base your practices on.
“We’ve been working hard. We’ve got a mix of veteran players and new players, and it gave us time to work on some things, but without a doubt, getting out and playing a real game – we haven’t had a scrimmage in almost three weeks. It feels like a decade ago. It’s just a great feeling to be back. We’re definitely getting a late start and have a very busy next few weeks ahead of us.”
The Hatters opened up a 4-0 lead and stretched that to 8-2 in the fourth inning on their way to the win. Kendall Leitner earned the complete game win, allowing five hits and five runs (four earned) while striking out 13 and walking two.
“Kendall Leitner set the tone for us today on the mound,” Krier said of her veteran pitcher. “Rachel Gieringer – who was my third baseman way, way back – is my assistant coach, and she noticed that our whole team’s energy followed Kendall’s energy, so Kendall, for sure, set the tone for us.”
If the Hatters needed an early boost, they got it when Amya Lundy hit a two-out double that plated a run in the first inning.
“Our sophomores – Amya Lundy, Abby Waeltz and Tess Kearney – all did well,” Krier said.
Leitner led off the second with a single, Waeltz delivered an RBI double and eventually scored on a groundout to put the Hatters on to 3-0. In the third inning, Marissa Rapino singled and scored on a Kayla Tauber single to make it a 4-0 game.
A triple by Lauryn Kane and a two-run double by Hanna Suh in the top of the fourth pulled the Colonials to within two, 4-2. The Hatters answered with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach.
“When PW came in and scored two runs and got the game back in contention, there was a moment where I thought – ‘Okay, we’re either going to respond to this or let it deflate our sails,’ and we came back and scored four runs that inning,” Krier said. “It was just great to see both the veteran players and our young girls step up.
“What I liked from our team today was they played as a team. We had girls sacrificing, we had girls backing each other up – those little things that might not show up in a scorebook, but from a coach’s perspective, I was so pleased. I told the girls at the end of the game – it’s a good start, but we still have places to go and there’s still a lot of growth we have in our team and players.”
Rapino was 2-for-4 with two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Tauber was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Leitner was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Tess Kearney was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
“We did not do a lot of offseason stuff because of COVID,” Krier said. “Our first day together was that first Monday in March, and fortunately, the weather cooperated, so we had a lot of practice time outdoors. Our scrimmages went off without a hitch, and then we just hit this COVID wall. Today our pregame speech was, ‘It’s game day, let’s play.’
“This year after our first scrimmage, we said, ‘If we get one practice in after today, we’ve had a longer season than last season.’ We’ve been trying to make the best of it, trying to make the players feel safe and ease the stress they’re going through, and trying to also create some sort of normalcy even with social distancing, mask wearing and hand washing. To give these kids an opportunity to have fun and smile is something Rachel and I are really striving to do. Winning helps, for sure, but we’re just excited to play.”
Hatboro-Horsham (1-0 SOL) will travel to Abington on Monday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-3, 0-2) will host Upper Dublin on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 201 2 5-5-1
Hatboro-Horsham 121 401 x 9-11-1
WISSAHICKON 5, ABINGTON 2
Danielle Ciliberto did it all for the Trojans in Friday’s win. The junior pitcher not only earned the complete game win in the circle, she also had a monster day at the plate, contributing a pair of triples, two runs scored and two RBIs.
“Danielle really showed how good of a softball player she is,” Wissahickon coach Mike Borkowski said. “She can play just about anywhere on the field. It’s really nice to have two good pitchers with Danielle and Emma (Clayborne).”
“We played a solid game. Their pitcher (Jess Solkowski) wasn’t fast, but she had our hitters guessing. She pitched well. It was a good game.
The win was the first of the season for the Trojans.
“We came so close against Council Rock South the other day,” said Borkowski of his team’s 3-2 loss in eight innings. “All we needed against Council Rock was one or two hits here or there, and we could have won that game, but we did start three sophomores who never played varsity before.
“Our defense has gotten tremendously better. We’ve been working really hard on our defense. We took a couple days this week to work on the offense because we had several injuries and we had to move a lot of players around. We’re only playing with nine or 10 players, so it’s been a little bit rough this year.”
The Trojans broke a 1-1 tie with a pair of runs in the fifth. Emmi Fox led off the inning with a single and scored on a bunt by Luca Penna, who crossed the plate on Cilberto’s triple to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead. Leanna Schneck’s solo home run in the fifth pulled Abington to within one, but Penna – who collected a two-out single – scored her second run of the game when Ciliberto hit her second triple. Katelyn Fitzgerald’s single plated Ciliberto with an insurance run.
Ciliberto retired the side to close out the game.
While the Trojans pounded out 11 hits, the Ghosts managed just two off of Ciliberto.
“Danielle’s one mistake was giving up a rocket line drive home run to Leanna Schenk,” Borkowski said.
Schenk accounted for both of Abington’s hits, finishing the day 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and run scored. Madison Cornell had the team’s second RBI.
Wissahickon (1-2, 1-0 SOL) will host Quakertown on Monday, and Abington (1-3, 0-2) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday.
Wissahickon 100 020 2 5
Abington 010 010 0 2
QUAKERTOWN 11, UPPER DUBLIN 1 (6 innings)
Syd Andrews turned in another superb outing for the Panthers, allowing two hits and one run while striking out 14 and walking only one. If she needed run support, the junior pitcher got plenty as the Panthers pounded out 14 hits in the six-inning contest.
“Syd was great again in the circle,” coach Dave Scott said. “Ava Beal and Skyler Williams each had big days including Skyler’s first varsity homerun.”
The Panthers put a pair on the board in the bottom of the first that was highlighted by singles from Beal, Maya Hellyer and Williams. Upper Dublin cut that 2-0 lead in half when Gretchen Wolpert ripped her second home run in as many games, this one a solo shot to right field.
In the bottom of the inning, the Panthers got that run back, thanks to doubles by Andrews and Williams (RBI). A three-run fourth was highlighted by a two-run double to center by LauraRose Morelock. They added four more in the fourth and a single run in the sixth. A solo one-out home run in the sixth by Williams brought an early end to the game.
Williams was 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBIs and one run. Beal was 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot with three runs scored. Morelock was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs, and Andrews was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Quakertown (4-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon on Monday, and Upper Dublin (1-1) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday.
Upper Dublin 001 000 1-2-3
Quakertown 201 341 11-14-0
SOL Freedom Division
LOWER MORELAND 20, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 5
The Lions exploded for 11 runs on nine hits in the third inning, blowing wide open a close game. They finished the abbreviated game with 17 hits.
Isabella Ricciardi was 3-for-4 with a triple and home run, and Liz Neeld was 4-for-4 with a double. Hannah Klanderman had a triple, and Natalie Shiloni was 3-for-4 with a triple.
Dana Schwartz was the winning pitcher with five strikeouts.
Lower Moreland (1-2, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Wednesday, and New Hope-Solebury (1-2, 1-1) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
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