Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday.
SOL Patriot Division
NESHAMINY 3, BENSALEM 2
The Redskins made their first win of the season a memorable one, notching a walk-off win when Lily Mormello – who legged out a bunt single to open the inning – scored on Morgan Volgraf’s one-out single.
“It was a little more exciting than we hoped it would be, but I’ll take what we can get,” Neshaminy coach Sarah Martoccio said. “This was huge. We came out with a slow start, and we’re really starting to pick up momentum.
“A lot of teams hit a point in the season where their offense starts to struggle. We’re just lucky to get it out of the way at the beginning of the year.”
While Mormello and Volgraf provided the seventh-inning heroics, sophomore Molly Ambrosius spent seven innings keeping the Redskins in it with an impressive complete game win. She allowed just two hits while fanning 11 and walking three.
“Our pitcher was phenomenal,” Martoccio said. “She had a no-hitter going into the sixth. They had their first hit on a bunt single and then a double, and that’s how they scored their two runs. She pitched phenomenal.”
Mormello was involved in the Redskins’ two-run third inning as well, leading off the inning with a bunt single and stealing second. One out later, Volgraf singled, and stole second, putting runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly by Zahmira Coppola-Miller plated Mormello, and a two-out single by Alleigh Waskie gave Neshaminy an early 2-0 lead.
Bensalem rallied to even the score in the top of the sixth. Megan Klein drew a leadoff walk, and Kayla Clarkson beat out a bunt single. Both players scored when Ashlyn Merz lined a two-out double to right field, knotting the score 2-2 and setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
Mormello’s 3-for-4 with two runs scored led the Redskins out of the leadoff spot. Olivia Hughes was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI, and Volgraf was 2-for-3.
This year’s Redskin squad is anchored by a handful of veterans.
“A lot of the other girls were in the program but just weren’t pulled up to varsity or they sometimes got pinch hitting opportunities, but we do have a really young group that’s coming up that we’re really excited about,” Martoccio said. “We have three freshmen that are consistently worked into our lineup. We have three sophomores that we’re really impressed with, so there are definitely some young faces out there. We’re really enjoying the youth in the program and seeing what they can bring because we’ve been impressed with what they’ve been showing us the last few games.”
For the Owls, Clarkson and Brianna Ryan split time in the circle. Ryan threw three shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits while striking out three and walking one.
Neshaminy (1-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South for a crossover game on Thursday, and Bensalem (1-3) will host Souderton Thursday in a crossover game.
Bensalem 000 002 0 2-2-3
Neshaminy 002 000 1 3-9-1
SOL Colonial Division
SOUDERTON 4, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
Sophomore Skyler Byrnes and senior McKenna Schroding combined for a nifty two-hitter, leading the Indians to a win over the Bucks. Byrnes started and threw four innings to earn the win, and Schroding closed it out.
One day earlier in a 3-2 loss to Central Bucks South, the roles were reversed for the two pitchers.
“McKenna wasn’t feeling well yesterday, so I pulled her out and threw Skyler in,” Souderton coach Carol Atkinson said. “Today, starting Skyler and McKenna finishing – it was a nice combination.
“Skyler played JV last year – she threw a couple of innings when McKenna was out at the end of the year last year. She’s solid, a good sophomore coming up.”
Another sophomore also came up big for the Indians. Kathryn Jones was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Her two-out, two-run double highlighted the Indians’ four-run fourth inning.
“She had a phenomenal game today hitting and defensive-wise,” Atkinson said. “She’s doing really well.
“She was my starting third baseman last year. I moved her over to second and put Lily (Ponce) back at third this year.”
Earlier in the pivotal fourth inning, Byrnes got things started with a one-out single to center, and Olivia Plinke followed with a single. A walk to Makayla Mihelcic forced home the Indians’ first run, and a second crossed home plate on Camryn Nadolski’s sacrifice fly to center. A walk to Kendall Clemmer loaded the bases for Jones, who delivered the inning’s big blow that gave the Indians a 4-1 lead.
West made it a 4-2 game with a run in the sixth.Taylor Hooven walked to lead off the inning, and Chloe Dryden grounded a single to left field, sending Hooven to third. She scored on a groundout by Laila Murray. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
“We knew going in West is a good team,” Atkinson said. “They have some phenomenal outfielders. They made some great plays on us in the outfield today.
“Their center fielder came up with a ball today – Lily Ponce drove one into left center, and she made a beautiful catch. Their left fielder read a beautiful bounce – it probably would have been to the fence, but she read the bounce really well. They’re a very solid team.”
Souderton (4-2, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Thursday for a crossover game, and Central Bucks West (2-2, 2-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Wednesday for a 6 pm contest.
Central Bucks West 000 101 0 2-2-1
Souderton 000 400 x 4-9-2
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, PENNRIDGE 2
The Titans are on a bit of a roll.
Less than 24 hours after eking out a 3-2 win over Souderton, they faced a Pennridge squad anchored by junior pitcher Averi Dockery. They scored four runs in the first two innings to take a lead they would not lose.
“Today was awesome,” South coach Matt McLaughlin said. “We played until almost 10 o’clock last night, came off a pretty emotional win.
“I’m thinking – today could get nuts because we’re playing against probably the first or second best pitcher in the state. This girl is going Division 1, Florida State commit, recruited as a junior. This kid is the real deal, and we jumped on her today.
“It wasn’t because she wasn’t doing well. Her defense kind of let her down, but she didn’t strike us out every time. We put the ball in play, and we caused so much chaos with stealing and bunting. For us, it was an incredible win because it’s a huge divisional win.”
The Titans scored a run in the top of the first without collecting a hit, capitalizing on a dropped third strike, a sacrifice bunt, a fielder’s choice and a groundout.
The Rams answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. The Titans paid the price for an intentional walk to Dockery when Ryleigh Lilly hit a two-run home run to left field.
The Titans scored three unearned runs in the top of the second, taking advantage of several costly Pennridge miscues. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings for the 6-2 final.
Riley Theis notched the complete game win, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out 10 and walking four.
“Riley went seven innings last night, and on about 12 hours rest, going seven innings again was just awesome,” McLaughlin said. “She got knocked around a little bit in the first inning, and I thought, ‘I’m pulling her out’ and putting my daughter (Lane McLaughlin) in, but the next inning she just shut it down and never slowed down.
“Riley’s performance was stellar, and defensively, we made all the plays today.”
For the Titans, Maura Fleming (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) and Keira Im (2-for-3) led the attack.
Dockery fanned 10 and walked two, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.
Central Bucks South (4-3, 3-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and Pennridge (2-3, 1-2) will host Harry S Truman in a crossover game Wednesday.
Central Bucks South 130 110 0 6-7-0
Pennridge 200 000 0 2-6-3
SOL Liberty Division
HATBORO-HORSHAM 10, UPPER DUBLIN 3
The Hatters broke a 2-2 tie with a four-run outburst in the third inning on their way to the win over the visiting Cardinals.
“It was nice to be on the field in nice weather,” coach Jen Tooley said. “We have not played a game in two weeks. The girls came ready to play today. Everyone contributed in today’s game.”
The Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the first, capitalizing on a pair of walks, an RBI single by Madden Reilly and an RBI double by Bella Fiore.
The Hatters answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Maya Ravi led off with a single and scored one out later when Alyssa Tooley lined a double to center. A two-out double to left field by Madison Karpovich knotted the score 2-2.
“Alyssa was slow to find her zone today, her teammates had her back by putting the bat in the ball,” coach Tooley said.
Tooley allowed just two hits the rest of the way while the Hatters’ bats took over.
In the fourth inning, Cara Neeld drew a leadoff walk and Tooley followed with a single. UD pitcher Kyla Garrison struck out the next two batters she faced but a walk to Adriana DeLeon loaded the bases, and Bella Karpovich followed with a two-run double to center, giving the Hatters a 4-2 lead. Kiersten Rimer’s single to center plated two more runs, and the Hatters led 6-2.
The Cardinals scored a run in the fourth, but that’s as close as they would get. A four-run sixth brought an end to any thoughts of a comeback by the Cardinals.
Tooley notched the complete game win in the circle, allowing just four hits while striking out eight. She also had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Bella Karpovich was also 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and one run. Madison Karpovich was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
For the Cardinals, Lizzi Tabourino was 2-for-2.
Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 3-0 SOL) will host New Hope-Solebury in a crossover game Thursday, and Upper Dublin (3-4, 1-4) will travel to Springfield Twp for a crossover game Thursday.
Upper Dublin 200 100 0 3-4-0
Hatboro-Horsham 204 004 x 10-13-0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 11, WISSAHICKON 8
A seven-run sixth inning gave the Colonials what appeared to be a comfortable 11-2 lead, but the visiting Trojans rallied in the top of the seventh, putting six runs on the board. It wasn’t enough.
“I have to give a lot of credit to Mike Borkowski and that Wissahickon team,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “They are young and scrappy, but very talented and well coached.
“I was so proud of our non-starters today – they came in the bottom of the sixth when we were up 4-2 and started a seven-run inning to give us the cushion we needed to pull out the win.”
PW opened up a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Caelin Kosvitch drew a leadoff walk, and she scored when Madison Moran doubled to left. Sam Skivo followed with a single, and both Moran and Skivo moved up a base on a Trojan miscue. Anna Powel lined a single to left that plated Skivo for a 3-0 PW lead. Rian Reed followed with a single, and with two outs, Joslyn Perez hit an RBI double to left that put the Colonials on top 4-0.
The Trojans made it a 4-2 game in the top of the sixth, but the Colonials effectively put the game out of reach with a seven-run outburst. Highlighting the inning were doubles by Skivo (2 RBIs) and Joslyn Perez (RBI).
Leading the offensive charge for the Colonials were Skivo (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2R), Powel (2-for-4, 3RBIs, 2R), Perez (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R) and Moran (2-for-3, 2B, RBI R).
Moran also notched the win in the circle, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out 11 and walking only one in six strong innings.
“Madison Moran pitched a great game for us today and had a nice day at the plate too, collecting two hits,” Perez said. “Offensive highlights were Sam Skivo, Anna Powel and Joslyn Perez all collected two hits each and are responsible for knocking in eight runs between them.”
For the Trojans, Sienna Miller was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, Sydney Darnell was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run, and Deanna Schank was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-2, 3-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham in a crossover game Thursday, and Wissahickon (3-5, 1-3) will travel to William Tennent for a crossover game Thursday.
Wissahickon 000 002 6 8-9-3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 004 007 x 11-14-1
QUAKERTOWN 10, ABINGTON 0 (6 innings)
Abbey Wenger tossed a three-hit shutout, and the Panthers provided their senior ace with plenty of run support, scoring in five of six innings. A two-out RBI double by Ellie Hilton in the bottom of the seventh brought an early end to the game.
Ava Beal was once again a catalyst for the Panthers, opening the game with a triple and scoring on a groundout, but it was a five-run third inning that blew the game open.
Madison Mallery and Beal hit back-too-back singles to open the inning, and a walk to Skyler Williams loaded the bases for Leah Schwalm, who lined a bases-clearing triple to center field. Schwalm scored on a wild pitch, and an error set the stage for the fifth run that put the Panthers on top 6-0.
A two-run single by Schwalm in the fourth upped the Panthers’ advantage to 8-0. Two innings later, Hilton brought an end to the game.
Beal finished the day 3-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored, Mary Wilkinson was 3-for-4, and Schwalm was 2-for-4 with a triple, five RBIs and a run scored.
In Tuesday’s win, Wagner struck out 10 and walked three.
Quakertown (5-0, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Lower Moreland for a crossover game Thursday, and Abington (2-4, 0-4) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday.
Abington 000 000 0-3-2
Quakertown 105 211 10-10-0
SOL Freedom Division
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 7, UPPER MORELAND 3
The Lions – who won all of three games last year – knocked the Golden Bears from the ranks of the undefeated, and they now are the only team without a loss in the Freedom Division.
While no one on the Lions’ side is celebrating just yet, there’s no mistaking this young squad has proven they can definitely compete.
“It was an interesting dynamic,” New Hope-Solebury coach Chris Marchok said. “We were fortunate enough to jump out to a 4-0 lead and then just kind of held on.
“That is a really good team. Upper Moreland a) they’ve got talent, they’ve clearly got talent, and b) they’ve got really good coaching. They play the game well. They bunt when they need to bunt, they made the defensive play when they need to make defensive plays, and they’ve got quality pitching. It’s a really good team. Honestly, we were fortunate to hang with them and fortunate to be able to come out on the positive side.”
The Lions’ four-run first began with back-to-back singles by Elena Shire and Kaylee Harris. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and both scored on Mabel Klossner’s double to center field. Dagny Mobley’s single to center plated Klossner, and after a single to Emily Wilson and a walk to Jackie Herbert loaded the bases, Bianca Elizondo singled home a run for the 4-0 Lions’ advantage.
“My kids were putting the ball in play,” Marchok said. “My kids are learning how to play, my kids are learning how to win. We didn’t have a senior in the lineup today. We went all the way from freshman up to junior, and every class contributed.
“The freshmen are the core up the middle. They’re pitching, shortstop, center. The pitchers competed their tails off today, the shortstops made some ridiculous plays, and the center fielder ended up running down a sinking line drive in the first inning that could have woken the other team up and didn’t.”
Although the game was far from over, the Lions never relinquished their lead. The Golden Bears scored a pair in the bottom of the fourth. Joslyn McCellan, who hit a one-out double, scored on a single by Melissa Torpey. With two outs, Torpey scored on an error to make it a 4-2 game.
The Lions upped their lead to 5-2 when Shire, who singled, scored on Klossner’s single to center. UM scored a run in the sixth to make it a 5-3 game, but singles by Knapp and Klossner set the stage for a triple to center by Mobley that put the Lions on top 7-3, a score that held until the final out was recorded.
“I talk a lot with our kids about unconditional support and love from us, the coaching staff,” Marchok said. “You’re going to make mistakes – go make mistakes. We love you anyway. Let’s just learn from the mistakes.
“There was a spot late in the game – it was like we were trying to make it fun and exciting, an error here, an error there. I just walked out to them, and I just laughed. I said, ‘Wow, this is getting fun, huh?’ I said, ‘Look, I still love you. I want you to right now stop looking back at what happened and envision yourself making the play to end the inning. Let’s go do it.’
“That was one of the cool things and what we celebrated in the huddle afterwards. I said, ‘Let’s celebrate the fact that two different times today, a kid who make an error got the next ball hit to them, and they made the play and got the out.’ I said, ‘Let’s celebrate that. Let’s celebrate the fact that we brought 17 kids to the game – 10 of them got in the game, and the other seven were awesome supporting the kids out there. The kids are building their own winning team culture. We’re still learning, and we’ve still got a long way to go, a long way to go, but the learning is going on. They’re eager, they are good to each other, they’re supportive to each other. They’re a good group of kids.”
Someone suggested this could be the Lions’ revenge tour. Marchok put the kibosh on that idea.
“It’s a wonderful journey with this group of kids who are growing, and they’re willfully and they’re eagerly growing and learning,” the Lions’ coach said. “There’s not a bit in it of revenge. It would be so shallow and so rewardless.
“I said, ‘I don’t need to win these games. I don’t care what goes on on the scoreboard. I care about you doing your best,’ and I hope that’s helping them succeed even more. I am enjoying it. I’m enjoying the friendships they’re forming with each other. It’s a fun group to be a part of.”
Klossner’s 3-for-4 day at the plate led the Lions and included a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Shire and Harris were both 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Mobley was 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, Knapp was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Izzy Elizondo was 2-for-4.
For the Golden Bears, Kaylee Brown was 2-for-4, and Makenzie Leo was 2-for-2.
Mobley and Klossner combined for the win in the circle, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out 10 and walking two. Kelly Bates and Delaney Stout split time in the circle for the Golden Bears.
New Hope-Solebury (4-1, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday for a crossover game, and Upper Moreland (5-1, 3-1) will be on the road at Springfield Twp on Wednesday.
New Hope-Solebury 400 010 2 7
Upper Moreland 000 201 0 3
WILLIAM TENNENT 13, LOWER MORELAND 3 (5 innings)
The Lions scored three runs in the top of the first, and the Panthers answered with three in the bottom. The rest of the game belonged to the Panthers, who scored 13 unanswered runs after the Lions took an early lead.
Neither team had a whole lot of hits – the Panthers had only six while the Lions had four as miscues played a role in the contest.
For the Panthers, Sydney Teufel was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. It was Teufel’s line drive single to left that plated the final run for the Panthers, bringing an early end to the contest.
Lexi Weidner was 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored. Her first double ignited a four-run second inning, and her second drove in a run in a three-run third inning. Morgan Kocher scored three runs out of the leadoff spot.
Megan Pickford started and threw four innings, allowing four hits and three runs – only one earned. Rylie O’Toole threw a shutout inning in relief.
William Tennent (4-1, 3-1 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Thursday in a crossover game, and Lower Moreland (1-4, 1-3) will host Quakertown in a crossover game Thursday.
Lower Moreland 300 00 3
William Tennent 343 21 13
SPRINGFIELD TWP 12, CHELTENHAM 2 (5 innings)
The Spartans – who pounded out 11 hits in the abbreviated contest – broke a scoreless tie with a five-run second on their way to the mercy rule win over the Lady Panthers.
“I am proud of every girl as all contributed to get our win,” Spartans’ coach Heather Gehlhaus said. “We did what we needed to offensively and defensively to be successful.”
In their second inning uprising, the Spartans had just one hit, but it was a big one – a two-run triple with two outs by Jordyn Serrao.
Springfield Twp went on to open up a 10-0 lead before the Lady Panthers put a pair of runs on the board in the fourth inning.
Serrao finished the day 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Norah Conlin was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs score, and Juju Cooney was 2-for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored. Serrao, Olivia Gatewood and Elana Dunbar each drove in two runs.
Also contributing extra base hits were Dunbar (triple) and Ani Axelrod (double).
Serrao and Julia Mathews split time in the circle for the Spartans.
Springfield Twp (2-2 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Wednesday, and Cheltenham (0-5, 0-4) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh for a crossover game Thursday.
Springfield Twp 053 22 12
Cheltenham 000 20 2
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