Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Wednesday.
Non-league
ABINGTON 12, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH’S 5
The Ghosts closed out their season on a high note, breaking a 2-2 tie with five runs in the fourth and adding five more in the sixth to earn the convincing non-league win.
“We had a good finish today and all our seniors contributed which was a great way to end the season,” coach Bob Baginski said. “Our coaching staff at both the JV and Varsity level are so pleased with our development this year and look forward to working with our underclassmen next year. We will miss our seniors and wish them nothing but success in the future.”
The Mount took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Ghosts went on top 2-1 in the bottom of the inning without collecting a hit.
In the pivotal fourth inning, the Ghosts received singles from Mackenzie Marcotte, Jenna Doyle (RBI) and Annie Sokolski (RBI) as well as a sacrifice fly from Julia Bruestle. Jess Sokolski’s three-run home run to right field was the inning’s big blow.
Marcotte was 2-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored. Bella Oquendo was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Jess Sokolski was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Meghan Strange doubled and drove in a run. Madison Cornell also had an RBI.
Jess Sokolski earned the win, allowing eight hits and five runs (only two earned) in 6.2 innings while striking out five and walking four. Maddie Slavin recorded the game’s final out with a strikeout.
Abington closed out its season with an 8-11 record (6-10 SOL).
Mount St. Joe’s 101 010 2 5-8-2
Abington 200 505 x 12-8-3
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7, WISSAHICKON 1
Emotions ran high on a day that saw the Indians notch a convincing non-league win but also saw their season come to an end.
“It was a really bittersweet day today for our team,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “The girls played well, and I was so happy for them to be able to end the season on a high note.
“We had such an amazing group of young ladies making up this year’s team, and the seniors we are losing will be irreplaceable in their leadership. They showed so much genuine care for one another it was truly something special. I’ve coached a lot of teams over the years, and this group rivals any group I’ve ever had in terms of their love for one another and pure selflessness.”
In the bottom of the second, the Trojans plated a run when Grace Franczyk, who singled, stole home as part of a double steal. The Indians responded with four runs in the top of the third.
Emma Zoldi led off with a single to left and advanced to second on an errant throw. Taylor Gearhart legged out a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Kat Hastings hit a shot to the fence for a double that plated a pair. Molly Sheehy followed with an RBI single, and one out later, designated player Bella Pellitta singled up the middle to score Sheehy, giving the Indians a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Sheehy led off the inning with a hard single to the left side. Sofia Shields beat out a bunt to first, and both runners advanced when the throw sailed out of play with Sheehy scoring. Emma Clayborne recorded back-to-back outs before walking Jayme Bordner to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Bordner took off to steal second, and the catcher elected to throw to third base.
“She didn’t clear the batter and hit pinch hitter Allie Roe’s helmet with the throw, causing it to sail into left field,” Yee said. “Sofia Shields quickly got up and raced home to score. However, the umpire mistakenly called ‘dead ball’ as the ball went to left field, and due to the fielders stopping on his call, they decided to send both runners back, erasing Shields’ run.”
Clayborne came up with a strikeout to end that threat.
In the top of the seventh, Shields reached base on an error, and one out later, Gabby Cohen hit a pop up just in front of the plate.
“Wissahickon’s catcher made a great diving effort but was not able to hold onto the ball, which was laying under her,” Yee said. “With the great effort and everybody focusing on the near catch, the majority of the people at the field didn’t notice the ball was in fair (territory) in front of the plate and stopped. In the confusion, the ball started being thrown around, eventually ended up out of play with Shields crossing the plate and Cohen ending up at third base.”
Kali Anderson pinch hit for Bordner, who was injured in a collision an inning earlier, and with an 0-2 count, and hit a ball up the middle to score Cohen for the 7-1 final.
“It was a total team effort today from the girls on the field, to the pinch hitters, and pinch runners, as well as the players in the dugout calling steals and bunts,” Yee said. “I just can’t say enough about this group and their teamwork.
“Wissahickon was a class act from beginning to end. Their coaches were great, and my girls kept commenting to me about how nice all of their players were. Both teams really served as fantastic examples of what high school athletics are all about this evening.”
For the Indians, the ending was an emotional one.
“Before the game, we had several girls who were already tearing up at the thought of this being their last time stepping on the field together,” Yee said. “They did a good job holding it together for the majority of the day, but heading into the bottom of the seventh all five of our seniors were in tears in the huddle, and the underclassmen were breaking into tears as well.
“I had to tell the girls, like Jimmy Dugan said in A League of Their Own, ‘There’s no crying in baseball…we still have a game to finish and I don’t want to have to put other girls in because you can’t see the ball through your tears to be able to catch it, let’s finish strong, put this emotion onto the field, and there will be plenty of time for group hugs and crying afterwards.’
“When Kat (Hasting) threw her final pitch, and it landed in Kandace Kiskurno’s glove to end the game, she exploded with emotion on the mound. Seeing her and her freshman catcher (Molly Sheehy) embracing one another full of emotion in the circle is a true testament to the type of comaraderie that Kat and the other seniors created with the whole group. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye on the Council Rock North side of the field, and that is the best example I can give of the type of legacy (Kat), Sophia Levy, Gabby Cohen, Bella Pellitta, and Allie Roe will be leaving for future generations of players within our program. They turned this team into a family, and I will be forever grateful to them for that.”
Emma Zoldi (2-for-5, 3B), Taylor Gearhart (2-for-4, SB), Molly Sheehy (3-for-4) and Jayme Bordner (2-for-2, 2B, SB) all finished with multiple hits. Kat Hastings had a double.
Hastings notched the complete game win, allowing eight hits and one run while striking out four and walking none.
Council Rock North – two spots out of the postseason playoff picture at 26 – closed out its season with an 8-12 record (4-12 SOL). Wissahickon (11-9, 11-5 SOL) is ranked 19th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Council Rock North 004 010 2 7
Wissahickon 010 000 0 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 15, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 4 (6 innings)
The Golden Hawks rallied from an early 4-2 deficit to outscore the Jems 13-0, bringing an early end to the non-league contest. It was the second win in as many days for the Golden Hawks, who defeated Harry S Truman one day earlier.
“We were down 4-2 and had very little energy,” Rock South coach John Engelhardt said. “I had to – I guess threaten them might be the best way to put it – to put every JV player in the game if our energy didn’t come up. We were coming off an emotional win against Truman on Senior Day.
“The girls responded with 13 runs in the fifth and sixth – our best two innings of the year. It was a great way to finish the season. Several girls had multiple hits and our most multiple base hits. It was a good team effort.”
Six Rock South players scored at least two runs and five had multiple hits. Kayla Patricelli was 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Kerri Despirito was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Avery Tumolo was 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Grace Stepp was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs, and Devon Wach was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Tumolo, Stepp and Wach are all freshmen.
Patricelli’s two-run home run in the first turned out to be a preview of things to come as the Golden Hawks opened up a 2-0 lead, although it didn’t look that way when the Jems answered with four runs to go on top 4-2 after three innings.
It was still a 4-2 game heading into the top of the fifth when the Golden Hawks put five runs on the board and then added eight runs in the sixth.
“We batted around in the sixth and got a lot of production out of the bottom of our lineup,” Engelhardt said. “Our six hitter, Kerri Despirito, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and our eight hitter, Avery Tumolo, went 3-for-4 with four RBIs.
“Ciara Constance did a great job on the mound for us, but our bats came alive, something that has not happened often this year. We’re taking a two-game winning streak into the offseason with a very young team, and we’ll build on this momentum. We’re not happy about having a six-win season, but we have a lot of young kids in the program that just got their feet wet with their first year of varsity experience, and we have a very talented freshman class coming up, so we’re excited with the direction the program is heading.”
Council Rock South closed out it season with a 6-14 record (2-14 SOL).
Council Rock South 200 058 15-15-3
Villa Joseph Marie 013 000 4-7
PENNSBURY 11, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 (6 innings)
Pennsbury closed out its regular season with a decisive non-league win. Ainsley McClure turned in another stellar outing in the circle, allowing just one hit in six innings while striking out 12 and walking none.
The Falcons – after going down in order in the first two innings – got on the scoreboard in the third inning. Rowan Mulholland’s two-run single highlighted the three-run inning that also included a pair of Colonial miscues.
That 3-0 lead stood until the sixth when the Falcons erupted for eight runs. Mulholland delivered a two-run double in her second at-bat of the inning.
Mulholland’s 3-for-4 effort at the plate included a double, four RBIs and a run scored. Caitlyn Martell was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Sam Raub singled and drove in a pair of runs. Quinn McGonigle had a double and one RBI. Liz Jordan came off the bench to deliver a two-run single, and Jess Rowe also had one RBI.
Pennsbury (19-1, 16-0 SOL) is the top seed in the latest District One 6A power rankings. Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-8, 11-5) is the 17th seed in the district rankings.
Pennsbury 003 008 11-8-1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 000 0-1-4
NORTH PENN 11, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 1 (5 innings)
Bri Wilmot hit a pair of home runs and Mady Volpe had one – three of six extra base hits by the Knights. Volpe also was in complete command in the circle, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out seven and walking four.
The Knights took care of business with five runs in the first inning after the Vikings – benefiting from a pair of walks and a single by Serena Crovetti – put a run on the board in the top of the inning.
Julia Shearer reached first on an error and Sarah Sabocsik drew a walk. Annabelle Smink’s RBI single plated Shearer, and Volpe emptied the bases with a three-run shot to left field. Wilmot followed and lined a home run to center field, and the Knights led 5-1.
A two-run third made it a 7-1 game, and the Knights – sparked by Wilmot’s two-run home run – added four runs in the fourth to bring an early end to the contest.
Wilmot closed out a productive day with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate that included a pair of home runs and a double, three RBIs and three runs scored. Shearer was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Smink was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Gianna Cimino was 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.
North Penn (19-1, 15-1 SOL) is the third seed in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Perk Valley 100 00 1-2-1
North Penn 502 4x 11-14-1
HARRY S TRUMAN 7, NAZARETH ACADEMY 6
The Tigers – 24 hours removed from a loss to Council Rock South – notched a bounce back win, opening up a 7-1 lead and then withstanding a late Nazareth charge.
In the bottom of the first, the Tigers put three runs on the board. Teyana Towner led off with a single, and Mara McKeon drew a walk. Back-to-back RBI singles by Courtney Nau and Jada Moran were followed by Emily Merrigan’s RBI double.
The Tigers managed just three hits the rest of the way. They added a pair of runs in the second without a hit, going on top 5-1. Merrigan’s solo shot to left field in the fourth gave the Tigers a 6-1 advantage, and McKeon’s RBI single in the fifth upped their lead to 7-1.
Merrigan finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two RBIs and a run scored. McKeon was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Towner was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
Jalecia Blackston was credited with the win, allowing three hits and two runs while striking out two in 2.1 innings.
Harry S Truman (11-9, 7-9 SOL) is 18th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Nazareth Academy 010 030 2 6-15-3
Harry S Truman 321 100 x 7-7-1
BRISTOL 20, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 2
The day belonged to the Warriors and coach Mike Lalli, who coached his final regular season game after 35 years at the helm. The long-time Warriors coach, who is retiring at the end of the season, surpassed the 600-win mark earlier this year. He has won 24 district titles and one state title in an unparalleled career.
The Lions managed just three hits off a duo of Bristol pitchers.
New Hope-Solebury closed out its season with a 3-16 record (3-13 overall).
Bristol 512 84 20
New Hope-Solebury 002 00 2
Tuesday, May 18
UPPER MORELAND 12, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 (5 innings)
The Golden Bears closed out their season with a shutout win over the visiting Lions, scoring six runs in the first inning and never looking back.
“Today our seniors came out to finish strong,” UM coach Melanie Martino said.
And finish strong they did.
Senior Chloe Kramer had three hits – two singles and a double, and Gabrielle Wiley had two singles and a sacrifice fly. Rylee McDade saved her best for last, finishing just a single shy of the cycle with a double, triple and home run.
“All three girls have been true leaders and the driving force for this season,” Martino said. “This particular group of seniors is incredibly special to me. Not only are they exceptional student-athletes, but they are my first seniors.
“This is not the first time I have coached them though. I have coached all three over the years since they were eight or nine and have had the privilege of watching them grow into amazing young women. I could not be more proud of these girls. I wish them all the best in their next journey.”
Upper Moreland closed out its season with a 9-9 record (8-8 SOL), and New Hope-Solebury was 3-16 overall (3-13 SOL).
New Hope-Solebury 000 00 0
Upper Moreland 601 50 12
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