Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. Abington/Springfield Twp photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f63743818
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
PENNRIDGE 1, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
Two outs separated Pennridge and Rock South from extra innings in Thrusday’s classic pitcher’s duel at Druckenmiller Park, but Reagan Bauman took care of that little matter with one swing of her mighty bat.
The senior slugger smashed the first pitch she saw over the left field fence, giving the Rams the walk-off win.
This one, according to her coach, was gone the moment it left Bauman’s bat.
“There was no doubt it was going over,” Pennridge coach Wendy Iadonisi said. “My concern was that it was going to tail foul, and I was like, ‘No, just stay in.’ It was so high and so deep.
“Her at-bat before that – she hit a long fly ball, and my assistant coach at first base said she was running down with a smile, and she said, ‘Oh, I just missed it.’ She was swinging well all day. It was just a matter of time before she connected. It was just awesome for her.”
It was just the second hit for the Rams off Lexi Waring, but one was all it took to win this one.
“It was just such a well-pitched game for both sides, which is always nice to see,” Iadonisi said. “It’s something you expect in playoff softball. It was such a nicely played game. Our defense really stepped up.”
And delivering a pair of defensive gems was Bauman in center field.
“She made two beautiful catches,” Iadonisi said. “One was early in the game – it was a shallow ball behind second.”
The second was highlight reel material and came in the top of the sixth with two outs and Maddie McLean – who singled – on second base in a scoreless game.
“Diving – a full-out, flat out dive to right center robbing a hit from Avery Tumolo,” Iadonisi said. “It was a shot – a line drive. It was such a beautiful catch.”
Certainly not to be overlooked was the brilliant two-hit complete game shutout of sophomore Averi Dockery, who struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. She threw just 70 pitches – 57 for strikes.
“Averi just had a day,” Iadonisi said. “She didn’t give up any walks. Her defense stepped up behind her. Things are clicking
“Her pitches were moving so well today. She had great pop on it. She hit her spots. She’s just coming into her own. Even from last year, you knew she was going to be good. She was good last year as a freshman, but she’s just improved leaps and bounds. Her confidence and her whole demeanor is just next level.”
Waring turned in a glittering performance as well, allowing two hits in 6.1 innings, striking out 12 and walking one. This was one of those games neither team deserved to lose.
“We really needed this,” Iadonisi said. “We’ve lost three other games by one run, and just to come up and finish this one with a win was awesome.
“I told the girls how proud I was of them. We’ve been right there on the cusp of getting those close games. To get it at this point two weeks or so before playoffs, it’s a good point for it to happen. The girls enjoyed it and played really well as a team.”
Pennridge (9-5, 7-4 SOL) will host North Penn on Friday at 6:30 p.m., and Council Rock South (9-4, 6-4) will host Bensalem on Friday.
Council Rock South 000 000 0 0-2-0
Pennridge 000 000 1 1-2-0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 7, BENSALEM 6
Things didn’t look all that promising for the Titans, who found themselves on the short end of a 5-0 score heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. They rallied for five in the bottom of the inning and – after the Owls scored one in the top of the sixth – scored two in the sixth and held on for the win, their third of a busy week.
“I knew after yesterday this might be a little bit of a struggle today just to get going,” said South coach Kevin Rosini, whose team was coming off an emotional 7-6 win over Pennsbury the preceding day. “It was our third game in a row – that’s not an excuse, just a fact. It was raining, it just wasn’t ideal.
“We just couldn’t get going, we just couldn’t find that way, and today the way to find it was to be patient and let them put us on base, and they did.
The Titans managed just three hits in the contest with the big one – a two-out, two-run pinch hit single by Hollie Schaub to knot the score 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth, but for the second day in a row, they were on the receiving end of 10 walks. Four of those walks came in the five-run fifth that also included an error.
“We’ve had more walks in the past two days than we had the entire season leading up to yesterday,” Rosini said. “It started to rain – the rain really started coming down when it was 5-0. I told the kids, ‘Be patient, you never know.’”
In the two-run sixth, Hannah Tracy led off with a single, and the Titans had a pair on board after a Bensalem miscue. Maura Fleming’s sacrifice bunt was misplayed, allowing the tying run to cross the plate. Riley Theis was walked intentionally, and Ella Wheeler brought home the game-winner with a sac fly to right field.
“Hollie’s pinch hit single was just humungous, that was just huge, and Hannah (Tracy) leading off the sixth inning when we were down a run with a clean hit was big because it got the wheels in motion a little bit,” Rosini said. “We put the ball in play.”
The Owls pounded out 14 hits – more than enough to win on most days. No one had a bigger day than Lina Sponheimer, who was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Camryn Pickering was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, Adrianna Vargas was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored while Megan Klein was 2-for-4. The top four hitters in Bensalem’s lineup were a combined 11-for-20.
“The bottom line is we scored one more run than they did, and ultimately, that’s all that mattered. I give our kids a ton of credit. This was all them today, fighting through adversity. We’ve already won as many games this season as we did all of last season. This team has found a way to win, which is fantastic.
“This was a big week for us. We have our fourth game tomorrow in four days. For us to win the first three games of the week, that’s a great springboard. This is all them. I give all of our kids a ton of credit. We’ll get right back at it tomorrow.”
Central Bucks South (8-5, 7-4 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Friday, and Bensalem (3-11, 1-10 SOL) will be on the road at Council Rock South Friday.
Bensalem 100 041 0 6-14-3
Central Bucks South 000 052 x 7-3-0
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 12, ABINGTON 1 (6 innings)
The Spartans were clinging to a 3-1 lead after five innings but exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth to bring an early end to Abington’s Senior Night game under the lights.
“This was a great team win for us,” Springfield Twp coach Heather Gehlhaus said. “We went in with the mindset to be aggressive and come out strong. We did exactly that and so much more. Each player in the lineup and on the bench were the reason we came out with the win. I am just so proud of this team.”
Abington coach Bob Baginski tipped his hat to his opponent and his seniors.
“Credit to Springfield tonight – they executed in all aspects of the game,” the Ghosts coach said. “We are proud of our seniors and wish them well in the future. It wasn’t the result we wanted tonight, but we are grateful that we got to celebrate them under the lights with their friends and families.”
Taylor Schulz began a productive night with a two-out double in the first that plated Abby Schulz, who singled. The Spartans upped their lead to 3-0 with two runs in the third inning that included an RBI single by Charlotte Drapkin and a booming two-out RBI triple to right by McKayla McKeever.
The Ghosts scored their only run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Sammi Clewell, and the Spartans put the game away in the sixth.
The inning began with consecutive singles by J Davis, Drapkin and Emily West to load the bases. By the time the inning was over, all three had batted twice and nine runs had crossed the plate.
Taylor Schulz led the Spartans’ hit parade, finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Drapkin was 3-for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored. McKeever was 2-for-5 with two RBIs out
of the leadoff spot, Ashley Schulz was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, and West was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
“I am so proud of the way the girls played,” Gehlhaus said. “This was by far the best game for each player. We had so many strong hitters that showed up. Taylor Schulz was a beast at the plate going 4 for 4. Taylor really was a leader for our team, and I am so happy how she stepped up.
“McKayla McKeever, Charlotte Drapkin, Emily West, and Ashley Schulz were strong hitters for our team with multiple hits. Kayla Parsons and Norah Conlin made great plays in the field.:
Ashley Schulz earned the win, scattering four hits and allowing one run (unearned) while striking out eight and walking two.
“Ashley Schulz was yet again so strong for us on the mound,” Gehlhaus. “She has really been competing out there and throwing her best pitches every inning. I am just so impressed and proud of the way she’s pitching.”
Hailey Hernandez had a pair of hits to lead the Ghosts.
Springfield Twp (6-6, 5-5 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Friday, and Abington (4-9, 4-6) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
Springfield Township 120 009 12-15-5
Abington 000 100 1-6-6
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