Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. Wissahickon/Hatboro-Horsham photos provided by Keith Clemens Photography. CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9, ABINGTON 6
The Indians needed a win. Plain and simple.
Thursday’s win was just what the doctor ordered for an Indian squad that has been struggling.
“We were 1-5 in our last six games, and losing is something that can become contagious,” coach John Engelhardt said. “You start to question yourself, and you start to play not to make a mistake rather than being aggressive, and that’s what we’ve done.
“Today was one of the better wins in my career. Even though Abington is sixth in our (conference), I think Ellie White is one of the best coaches around.”
Engelhardt juggled his lineup, and Riley Sheehy found herself behind the plate for the first time.
“She sprained her hand, stayed in the game and gritted it out – she couldn’t swing a bat, so she bunted every time she was up,” Engelhardt said. “She was in pain, and she fought through it.
“Lauren Begg has a blister on her finger, and she’s battling through it. We were 6-1 and 14 games in, we’re 8-6, so every game regardless of the opponent is huge for us to make a run at the playoffs, and the girls knew that, so it was really awesome to see these girls come out and grit out a win against a quality opponent, and we got production from several different players.
“It won’t go in the stat book because Riley Sheehy didn’t do much at the plate, but her presence playing catcher and showing kids in the program you do whatever it takes – she’s a Division I outfielder, and she’s willing to catch because we needed her to catch. Lauren Begg is a Division I outfielder who’s going to La Salle, and she’s pitching. In smaller programs, we need kids play different positions, and it was awesome to see them do that.”
Marissa Haynes gave the Indians a lift, finishing the game 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
“She’s been our flex player, and it was really nice to see her break out,” Engelhardt said. “To get that production out of my eight hitter, it’s good stuff.
“I’ve started different lineups – I had a whole new outfield out there with Marissa Haynes in center, Alyssa Booth in right and Rachel Lorence, who’s a second baseman, in left. I’m just trying to get a spark at the bottom of our lineup, to see if there’s a way we can get things going. It was nice to see a kid that has wanted the opportunity to continue to be in the lineup prove today she deserved to be in the lineup.”
Juliana Shields hit a pair of solo home runs – one in the second and another in the third. Abby Seiple was 3-for-4 with a home run. Her solo home run in the third came on the heels of Shields’ second home run and gave the Indians a 3-2 lead after the Ghosts had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the frame.
Begg earned the win in the circle, allowing two runs while striking out two and walking none.
“She battled,” Engelhardt said.
Council Rock North (8-6, 4-5 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Tuesday, and Abington (3-9, 1-8) will be on the road at Pennridge for a non-league game at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
Abington 002 000 4 6
Council Rock North 012 051 x 9
NESHAMINY 11, PENNSBURY 1 (5 innings)
Sarah Dowalo allowed just three hits and one run while her teammates pounded out 10 hits in an abbreviated contest that was the nightcap in the Lower Bucks Softball Night twinbill.
Liana Jones was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored. Her two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth broke a 1-1 tie and ignited a nine-run inning for the ‘Skins.
Natalie Rios was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. She had a two-run double in the fourth. Paige Metz was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
For the Falcons, Casey Glynn doubled and scored the Falcon’s only run on an RBI single by Carly Parsons in the fourth.
The Redskins are fourth in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Neshaminy (15-1, 9-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Tuesday, and Pennsbury (4-10, 4-4) will host Council Rock South on Tuesday.
Pennsbury 000 10 1-3-3
Neshaminy 100 91 11-10-0
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
Giuliana Ruscio and Angelina Sherba found themselves locked in a classic pitcher’s duel, and it was Ruscio emerging the winner, tossing a complete game two-hit masterpiece. The Patriots’ ace struck out eight and walked four.
“She pitched a gem today,” coach Karl Knapp said. “As she goes, we go.
“We had a good umpire – he was just consistent, so you knew where to put the ball to get a strike. All of her stuff was just working. Her changeup was real effective. She either got people to pop up or strike out on it.”
The Patriots scored the game’s only runs in the fifth inning. Bailey Schellhorn singled with one out, and pinch hitter Loren Harper drew a base on balls. Both runners advanced on a groundout to the right side, and Tara Harper delivered the game winner, singling to drive in a pair.
“That was it, that was the story,” Knapp said.
No player on either side got more than one hit. Alyssa Catron collected the game’s only extra base hit, a double in the fourth that put Patriot runners on second and third with one out. Sherba came up with a big strikeout, and the Bucks escaped unscathed.
Sherba allowed just four hits while striking out eight and walking five.
With the win, the Patriots moved from 27th to 23rd in the latest District One 6A power rankings. Central Bucks West is 13th.
Central Bucks East (6-8, 5-5 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Monday for a non-league game, and Central Bucks West (7-6, 3-6) will host Souderton on Friday.
Central Bucks East 000 020 0 2-4-0
Central Bucks West 000 000 0 0-2-0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 7, WILLIAM TENNENT 5
It took some time for the Titans to find their offense against a Tennent team that had handed them a 2-0 loss in the initial meeting of the two teams. They led 6-0 after five innings and then withstood a Panther comeback attempt.
“Just like Souderton the other day – we made adjustments to the pitcher,” coach Kevin Rosini said. “It took us a little while. We made adjustments in the box and started getting some hits.”
The Titans broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth with Nicole Pilla’s RBI triple the big hit.
“She’s been hot lately, and she caught today, which was nice,” Rosini said.
Pilla led the Titans with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate. Maddie Rowley was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
For the Panthers, sophomore Hannah Reimel was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Senior Cassidy Hubmaster and Kate Heim had one RBI each.
Olivia Zoolalian earned the win, allowing eight hits and two runs in 5.2 innings. She struck out three and did not walk a batter. Kylie Kenney closed it out, striking out three in 1.1 innings of relief.
“Olivia did a nice job today,” Rosini said. “She went as far as she could go. We had Kylie there if we needed her, and we needed her at the end. Liv was getting the ball up a little bit, but she did a really good job. She got a big win for us. She kept us in the game early and got people out. That’s what we want her to do, and she did.”
The Titans remain atop the District One 6A power rankings while the Panthers are ranked 20th.
Thursday’s win was the fourth in as many days for the Titans.
“This was a gauntlet week, so I was happy with that,” Rosini said.
Central Bucks South (13-2, 8-2 SOL) is off until next Thursday when the Titans will travel to North Penn for a key conference showdown. William Tennent (7-9, 2-7) will travel to Quakertown on Monday night.
William Tennent 000 002 3 5-10-2
Central Bucks South 000 331 x 7-10-2
SOUDERTON 12, PENNRIDGE 2 (6 innings)
Things can change in a hurry in the world of high school softball. Twenty-four hours after falling to Central Bucks South 12-2 in an abbreviated contest, the Indians turned around to defeat the Rams by an identical score.
“In all aspects of the game – offensively, defensively, pitching, it was amazing,” said coach Liz Parkins. “We discussed it briefly yesterday that the team that showed up was not our norm and to leave that team in the past.
“We knew tonight was a new game, and they came out and definitely proved themselves. I said to them in the huddle that I was just so proud of the turnaround they did today.”
If the Indians needed a lift, they got one when Alex Scheeler hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. The Indians added a run in the top of the second when Emma Hallman, who led off with a double, scored on a fielder’s choice groundout
The Rams made it a 3-2 game when Skylar Hengeveld and Madison Silber both hit solo home runs.
“After that, I reinforced that it’s never enough for us – we needed to get a lead,” Parkins said. “Our defense took care of the rest of it, Alex threw the pitches she needed – forced the pop-outs, forced the double play, whatever it was.”
The Indians scored a pair of runs in the third. Scheeler delivered an RBI double, and Ali Gould had an RBI single. The Indians took that 5-2 lead into the sixth when they exploded for seven runs, bringing an early end to the game.
Scheeler earned the win in the circle, allowing six hits while striking out one and walking one. She also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs.
Also for the Indians, Bri Neely was 2-for-5 with a stolen base and RBI. Jess Lepore was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice, walk and two RBIs. Gould was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Hallman was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Julia Kistler was 2-for-3 with a walk. Jen Klepfer and Alina Skrzat both singled and drove in a run. Megan Hamilton doubled and drove in a run.
Morgan Henry’s 2-for-3 day at the plate led the Rams.
Souderton is 17th in the latest District One 6A rankings while Pennridge is 19th.
Souderton (8-5, 4-5 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Friday, and Pennridge (6-7, 3-5) will host Abington in a non-league game on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Souderton 212 007 12-15-1
Pennridge 020 000 2-7-2
SOL American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0
Jocie Baumeister tossed a gem for the Golden Bears, allowing just one hit while fanning 14 and walking just two.
“She was dominant – she was in control the whole game,” UM coach Scott Ludlow said. “Their top three hitters struck out eight times in nine at bats.
“She gave up one hit – a double in the fifth. She had good stuff today, she was on it, and we played very clean behind her. We had no errors.”
The Golden Bears scored the game’s only runs in the bottom of the sixth, benefitting from four bunts and two groundouts. Chloe Tice legged out a bunt single to open the inning, and it was safe all around as a result of a miscue on Baumeister’s bunt. Jackie Martino laid down a sacrifice bunt, and the bases were loaded when the Spartans had no play on Gianna Fiorenza’s bunt. Maura Casey and Jenna Sadowski both drove in runs, Casey on a groundout and Sadowski on a fielder’s choice when the Spartans threw home but did not get the runner.
That was the extent of the scoring for both sides.
“Today was softball,” Ludlow said. “It wasn’t one of those 19-7 games. It was well played on both ends. It was a pitcher’s duel for most of the game. It was a softball game.”
Tice was the lone player with more than one hit, finishing 2-for-3 with a run.
Upper Moreland (7-3, 5-3 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Dublin on Friday, and Springfield Township (4-6) will travel to Upper Dublin on Monday.
Springfield Township 000 000 0 0-1-2
Upper Moreland 000 002 x 2-4-0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 12, UPPER DUBLIN 2 (6 innings)
The Colonials scored three runs in each of the first three innings, opening up a 9-0 lead before the visiting Flying Cardinals scored one in the top of the fourth. The Cards never threatened as the Colonials rolled to the win in the abbreviated contest.
Lauren Fuhrmeister (2-for-3, RBI, run) and Emma Carney (2-for-3, RBI, run) were the only players for either side with more than one hit. PW leadoff batter Kamryn Kropinski was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. Jennifer Byrne singled, drove in a run and scored twice. Gianna Fazio was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Sydney Melillo was 1-for-1 with an RBI and run scored.
For the Cardinals, Korynn Bischoff was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Allison Beausoleil earned the win, allowing four hits and two runs (both unearned) in six innings. She struck out a pair and did not walk a batter.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-3 SOL) will travel to Harriton for a non-league game on Friday, and Upper Dublin (4-7, 4-5) will host Upper Moreland on Friday.
Upper Dublin 000 11 2-4-5
Plymouth Whitemarsh 333 201 12-10-2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 8, WISSAHICKON 1
Grace Daniels earned the starting nod in a week that includes five games in five days for the Hatters. She was in complete command, allowing just four hits and one run. She struck out 13 and walked just one in a dominant performance.
Offensively, Alicia Tauber had herself a day, going 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and a run scored. Kayla Tauber was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and leadoff batter Kyleigh Dinnien was 2-for-4 with a two runs scored.
For the Trojans, Emma Clayborne was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI.
The Hatters scored a pair in the first and seized control with a six-run fourth. The Trojans scored their lone run in the fourth.
“Wissahickon showed a lot of improvement from the first time we played them, and that was good to see,” HH coach Joe DiFilippo said.
The Hatters are ranked second only to CB South in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Hatboro-Horsham (13-1, 11-0 SOL) will host North Penn in its Senior Night game on Friday at 7 p.m., and Wissahickon (1-12, 1-10) will host Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 000 100 0 1-4-3
Hatboro-Horsham 206 000 x 8-10-1
QUAKERTOWN 15, CHELTENHAM 1 (5 innings)
Tori Caputo excelled in the circle and at the plate. The Panthers’ hurler allowed just three hits and did not walk a batter in five innings. For good measure, Caputo was 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and three singles.
Nikki Vanelli and Sara Stofik both had home runs. Bri Lefkoski was 3-for-3 while Vanelli, Abby Schwartz and Rebecca Hall each had two hits. Every player in the Panthers’ batting order had at least one hit.
Quakertown led 6-0 after three innings and blew the game wide open with a seven-run fourth.
Erin Kuchler accounted for the Lady Panthers’ only run with a solo home run in the third inning.
The Panthers are 14th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Quakertown (10-3, 8-2 SOL) will host William Tennent in a non-league game on Monday at 7 p.m., and Cheltenham (0-11, 0-13) will host St. Basil Academy in a non-league game Monday.
Quakertown 024 72 15-18-3
Cheltenham 001 00 1-3-3
Non-league
HARRY S TRUMAN 7, BRISTOL 5 (8 innings)
The Tigers displayed a flair for the dramatic in Thursday’s opening game of the Lower Bucks Softball Night twinbill. They scored a pair in the top of the seventh only to watch the Warriors knot the score in the bottom of the inning. Unfazed, they scored two more runs in the top of the eighth to win it.
“It was incredible,” coach Lisamarie Belmonte said. “Any time you can go out and play a team like Bristol and play good and then pick up a win is just huge for the girls.
“I can’t even express how proud I am of my players. They have just worked incredibly hard and deserve everything they’ve gotten. They put it all on the field, and it’s been fantastic. It’s a pleasure coaching them.”
In the top of the eighth, Riley Worthington singled with an 0-2 count to plate Aliyah Navarro with a run that was the game winner. Navarro was pinch running for Elle Olivero who had singled.
Olivero led the Tigers 13-hit attack with a 3-for-4 showing. Vanessa Tancini (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, run), Kailea Heston (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs, run), Worthington (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, run) and Mara McKeon (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, run) all had multiple hit games. Chrissie Huhn doubled and drove in a run and also anchored the infield at shortstop.
“Chrissie Huhn was huge today,” Belmonte said. “She came up big defensively and came up in key situations and drove in two runs to put us ahead in the seventh.”
Belmonte tipped her hat to her assistant coaches – Rick Palmer and Kristina Mulhern
“I’m so proud of my staff – we bounced ideas off of each other in the dugout today,” the Tigers’ coach said. “I can’t stress enough about my staff being so supportive and helping me through everything. I could never have done it without them.
“We all worked together. It was full team win today, and I am just extremely proud of them and the girls. It was great, it was absolutely great.”
The Tigers are the 22nd team in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Harry S Truman (7-6, 4-3 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Friday.
Harry S Truman 200 010 22 7-13-0
Bristol 003 000 20 5-14-3
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 9, METHACTON 0
Scoring runs hasn’t always come easily for the Golden Hawks, but they scored early and often against the visiting Warriors in Thursday’s non-league game. The decisive win came on the heels of a 2-0 loss to Pennsbury 24 hours earlier.
“Against Pennsbury last night, we got handcuffed against (Alyssa) Hileman,” coach Frank Marino said. “She was finding her spots, keeping it low, inside-outside. We didn’t do much. It was pretty much a pitcher’s duel for most of the game.
“The one thing I’ve been a little concerned about is we haven’t been manufacturing enough runs over the last four or five games. We’ve been finding ways to win, but our run production has been a little light. I was talking to the girls before the game, saying, ‘Just go out there, get up to the plate and make sure we’re swinging.’ It was just nice to have the bats alive, not have so much pressure on our defense and our pitchers.”
The Golden Hawks set the tone for the win in a three-run first that included a pair of walks and a two-run single by Julie Barron. Ally Kirschner drove in the third run with an RBI triple.
In the second, Danielle Walters doubled and stole third, scoring a run on a fielder’s choice to put the Hawks on top 4-0. They added three more runs in the fourth, sparked by singles from Devon Bradley and Mackenzie Marino, a two-run single by Walters and an RBI triple by Barron. They added three more runs in the fifth.
All told, the Golden Hawks pounded out 11 hits. Walters (2-for-2, 2 BB, 2B, RBI, 2 runs), Barron (2-for-3, 3B, 2 RBIs), Kirschner (2-for-3, 3B, RBI), Bradley (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Marino (2-for-3, run) all had multiple hits.
All but lost in the shuffle of the Golden Hawks’ offensive onslaught was the glittering complete game performance of Marino, who earned the shutout win and allowed just two hits while striking out seven and walking three.
The Golden Hawks are 11th in the latest District One 6A power rankings.
Council Rock South (10-3, 5-2 SOL) will travel to Villa Joseph Marie on Friday for a non-league game.
Methacton 000 000 0 0
Council Rock South 310 330 x 9
Wednesday, May 2
PENNSBURY 2, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
Alyssa Hileman was on top of her game, tossing a complete game shutout. She allowed just two hits
“She hit her spots,” coach Frank McSherry said. “She pitched very well.”
The Falcons got on the scoreboard with a run in the fifth. Karli Haines drew a base on balls, and the Falcons had runners on second and third after Alex Rishel doubled. With two outs, Syd Jakimowicz drove in the go-ahead run when she legged out her second infield hit of the game.
In the seventh, Olivia Mauro walked and stole second. Sierra Daly followed with an infield single, and a throwing error allow Mauro to race home with an insurance run.
“It was a very nice win,” McSherry said. “Walters is tough. She’s only a sophomore, and I think she throws harder than anyone we faced. She throws hard. She’s a good competitor.”
Jakimowicz was the lone player with two hits.
Pennsbury 000 010 1 2-6-1
Council Rock South 000 000 0 0-4-1
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