Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Friday. PW/Abington photos provided courtesy of Michael Rice. William Tennent/Springfield photos courtesy of Kady Schenk. Check back for galleries of both games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f63743818 (Hatbroro-Horsham photos provided courtesy of Diane Waeltz/HH softball)
SOL Colonial Division
NORTH PENN 8, PENNRIDGE 0
500 strikeouts in 254 innings.
Sounds impossible, and for most pitchers, it would be, but Julia Shearer is not most pitchers, and on Friday night, she surpassed the 500-strikeout mark, averaging 2.1 strikeouts per inning.
Not too bad for someone who was recruited by the University of Maryland as an outfielder and told her coach as much when he handed her the ball last year.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “At the beginning of her junior year, she said, ‘Coach, I’m not a pitcher, I’m a center fielder – that’s what I’m going to Maryland for.’ I said, ‘Okay, Julia, for North Penn and for me, you’re going to be pitching, and you’re going to be pitching a lot.’ She said, ‘Okay.’
“She realized after the success she was having – ‘Well, maybe I can pitch.’ When she won the Gatorade Player of the Year, Maryland said – ‘Maybe we should think about her pitching.’ They’re pretty excited to have somebody they didn’t know was a pitcher – just look at her.”
Shearer’s been described by opposing coaches as a generational player, and in the case of the North Penn senior, that’s not an exaggeration.
With Friday’s 15 strikeouts, Shearer now has 207 for the year, and the most remarkable stat is the fact that she has walked just six batters this season – five heading into Friday’s game. Her ERA was 0.24 prior to Friday’s shutout, .
The Knights are 19th in the latest MaxPreps National rankings, and if Shearer’s eyepopping pitching stats aren’t enough, she entered Friday’s game hitting .660 with eight home runs. She added another one Friday night while pitching a complete game two-hit shutout.
“It was an incredible night for her,” Torresani said. “Her parents and her relatives were there. It was a really good night for Julia Shearer.”
Shearer needed six strikeouts to reach the milestone. It didn’t take her long – after striking out five of the first six batters she faced, the senior standout struck out the first batter of the third inning for number six.
“To be honest, I know with 1000-point scorers, you stop the game, but I don’t know what you do with 500 strikeouts,” Torresani said. “At the end, we celebrated it.”
The Knights got all the runs Shearer would need in the top of the third. With one out, Shearer lined a double to left field, and Sarah Sabocsik followed and drew a walk. Both runners moved up on a groundout to the right side by Annabelle Smink, and both scored when Brie Wilmot singled. Gianna Cimino followed with a single, and when Sophia Orth was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for Bella Nunn, who singled to drive in two runs and put the Knights on top 4-0.
Shearer led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to center field. Also in the inning, Cimino had an RBI single to make it a 6-0 game. In the sixth, a sacrifice fly from Wilmot and another RBI single from Cimino closed out the scoring for both sides.
Cimino led the Knights’ 11-hit attack with a perfect 4-for-4 night at the plate that included two RBIs and a run scored. Also contributing multiple hits were Shearer (2-for-4, HR, 2B, RBI, 2R) and Sabocsik (2-for-2, 2B, 2R).
“It was a good game, a lot of people were there, and Pennridge has improved – they played well,” Torresani said.
North Penn (16-0, 12-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Tuesday, and Pennridge (9-6, 7-5) will be on the road at Villa Joseph Marie for a non-league game Monday.
North Penn 004 202 0 8-11-0
Pennridge 000 000 0 0-2-4
SOUDERTON 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2
The Indians scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth, erasing an early 2-0 deficit, and they went on to win by that score. McKenna Schroding notched the complete game win.
“It was a great pitcher’s game,” Souderton coach Carol Atkinson said. “McKenna did a great job. She’s been doing really well working her pitches and keeping them off the (center) of the plate. The last two games she’s been in a really good groove.”
Kathryn Jones ignited the Indians in the three-run fifth, roping a triple to right field to open the inning.
“Our freshman third baseman came up with a big hit in the fifth inning,” Atkinson said. “She’s our only freshman this year, and she came through with a big hit.
Jones scored on Makayla Mihelcic’s successfully executed suicide squeeze bunt. Cameron Nadolski followed with a line single to right and stole second. The Indians had a pair on board when Lily Ponce drew a walk. Nadolski, after stealing third, scored on a wild pitch, and Ponce, who stole second and third, scored on Kayley York’s sac fly to left field.
Earlier, the Titans broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the third. Camryn Lee opened the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. She scored when Maura Fleming hit a hard ground down the left field line for a double. Ella Wheeler’s single to center plated Fleming, and that 2-0 score stood until the fifth inning.
The Titans threatened in the top of the seventh. Fleming drew a leadoff walk and – with one out – stole second. She was stranded there as Schroding came up with a big strikeout for the inning’s second out, and a groundout to York at shortstop put the finishing touches on a win that avenged a 10-6 loss to the Titans on a Saturday morning contest in April.
“This was a big win for us, especially giving us momentum going into the last two weeks of the season,” Atkinson said. “We have three games next week.”
Schroding allowed eight hits and two runs while striking out eight and walking two.
“Sierra Miller had a really nice catch in shallow center field,” Atkinson said. “She kept coming in, and it was a beautiful catch.”
For the Titans, Wheeler was 3-for-4 with an RBI , and Lee was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Souderton (8-7, 6-5 SOL) will be on the road at Council Rock South on Monday, and Central Bucks South (8-6, 7-5) will travel to Archbishop Wood for a non-league game Monday.
Central Bucks South 002 000 0 2-8-0
Souderton 000 030 x 3-5-0
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 16, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 (5 innings)
The Bucks took care of business in a hurry in Friday’s rivalry game, putting six runs on the board in the first and adding seven more in the second on their way to a no-doubt-about-it win in the abbreviated contest.
“It was a very, very good team win today,” West coach Ali Coleman said.
Sienna Lawson tossed a four-hit shutout, striking out three and walking none. She received all the run support she needed in the top of the first inning.
Ana Glemser set the tone for a big offensive day for the Bucks with a triple to right field to lead off the inning, and Lawson drew a four-pitch walk. Chloe Dryden drove in a run that turned out to be the game-winner with a line single to center. With a pair of runners in scoring position, Molly Gibson lined a single to center that brought both home. With one out, Laila Murray hit a two-run homer to left field – her first home run of the season – to put the Bucks on top 5-0. Another run scored on a groundout.
Lawson opened the second inning with a double and scored on Dryden’s second RBI single of the game. Dryden scored when Gibson doubled to right field. Several walks, RBI singles by Ava Mattes, Lawson and Dryden (her second of the inning) upped West’s lead to 13-0. They added one run in the third inning and two more runs in the fifth.
Dryden’s 3-for-4 day with three RBIs and two runs scored led the Bucks 19-hit attack.
“Chloe Dryden went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and she had a lot of ground balls hit her way at shortstop, so she made a lot of plays today with solid defense” Coleman said.
Also contributing multiple hits were Glemser (2-for-4, 3B, RBI 1R), Lawson (2-for-4, 2B, RBI 2R), Gibson (2-for-4, 2B, 3RBIs, 1R), Murray (2-for-3, HR, 3RBIs, 2R), Emily Anton (2-for-2, 1R) and Mattes (2-for-4, 2RBIs, 1R). Taylor Hooven had a pair of RBIs.
Central Bucks West (8-7, 6-6 SOL) will host North Penn on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (3-12, 2-9) will travel to Bensalem on Monday.
Central Bucks West 671 02 16-19-1
Central Bucks East 000 00 0-4-2
SOL Liberty Division
QUAKERTOWN 5, UPPER DUBLIN 1
After winning five crossover games by a combined 76-9 advantage, Friday’s very competitive division game at Upper Dublin had to be a welcome change of pace for the Panthers. It was a 3-1 game heading into the seventh when the visitors tacked on a pair of runs, but they had to earn this one.
“We had a good game,” Quakertown coach Dave Scott said. “We played well – we did all the little fundamental things well, and that’s what got us the win.”
Abbey Wagner was in command in the circle, scattering four hits while striking out five and walking none in the complete game win.
“Abbey was really strong in the circle today,” Scott said. “She worked ahead of most of the hitters and really hit her spots and made it easy for us to call the game for her. She did very well today.”
Junior Ava Beal, who bats leadoff for the Panthers, reached a personal milestone when she picked up the 100th hit of her career.
“I was really happy for her,” Scott said. “it’s very impressive for her to have done it in two and three-quarters seasons. She’s been very consistent throughout her high school career.”
It was Beal who put the Panthers on the board in the top of the first after leading off the inning with a single and eventually scoring on a passed ball.
In the third inning, Cadence Lewis singled and scored when Beal collected her second hit of the game. Leah Schwalm’s RBI single put the Panthers on top 3-1.
The Cardinals got on the board in the sixth inning, thanks to Kaitlyn Small’s RBI single. The Panthers answered with two runs in the top of the seventh. Skyler Williams singled to start the two-out rally, and she scored when Schwalm lined a double to center. Maya Hellyer’s RBI single plated Schwalm for the 5-1 final.
“Leah Schwalm had two two-out RBIs, which were huge,” Scott said. “Maya Hellyer also had a two-out RBI.”
For the Panthers, Beal (2-for-4, RBI, 2R), Williams (2-for-4, 2B, 1R), Schwalm (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 1R) and Lewis (2-for-3, 1R) all had multi-hit games.
Small was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Cardinals.
Quakertown (15-0, 11-0 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday, and Upper Dublin (11-5, 8-4) will travel to Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Quakertown 102 000 2 5-9-1
Upper Dublin 000 001 0 1-4-1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 10, ABINGTON 0
A two-run home run by Madison Moran in the bottom of the fifth inning brought an early end to Friday’s division contest. The Colonials took an 8-0 lead into the fifth after scoring in each of the first four innings.
Moran’s blast was the third round tripper of the day for the Colonials, who collected 10 hits – eight for extra bases.
“The girls have really been locked in this week with some great practices, and it really came through today,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “I think we started getting a little complacent, and the Tennent loss Monday woke us up a bit.
“We’ve been preaching unselfish, situational hitting all season and really focusing on hitting your pitch early in the count.”
Sam Skivo started the home run fest with a two-run shot to center in the first inning. In the second inning, the Colonials added a pair of runs. Rian Reed and Anna Powel got things started with back-to-back doubles, setting up back-to-back sac flies from Jenna Yablon and Joslyn Perez to put PW on top 4-0.
In the third inning, Molly Moore, who hit a one-out triple, scored on a groundout by Skivo.
Reed opened the fourth inning with a triple to center and scored When Powel followed with a two-run home run to center field. Yablon tripled – PW’s third of the game – and scored on Joslyn Perez’s groundout to put the Colonials on top 8-0, setting the stage for Moran’s homer in the fifth that brought an end to the contest.
Moore notched the win in the circle, allowing three hits in five shutout innings. She struck out 12 and did not walk a batter.
Reed was 2-for-2 with a double, triple and two runs scored. Powell was also 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Skivo was 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored, and Moran was 1-for-1 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Joslyn Perez had two RBIs.
“Today we had eight extra base hits, showing that the girls are really focused on driving their pitch instead of challenging themselves,” Perez said. “We also had a couple of sacrifice flies and groundouts to the right side to score runs.
“Now we turn our attention to Tuesday night’s game at Quakertown as we head into the home stretch.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-4, 10-2 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Tuesday, and Abington (4-10, 4-7) will be on the road at Lower Moreland on Monday.
Abington 000 00 0-3-1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 221 32 10-10-0
HATBORO-HORSHAM 12, WISSAHICKON 0 (5 innings)
The Hatters celebrated their six seniors under the lights at Horsham Little League fields with a shutout win over the Trojans in an abbreviated contest. Senior Alyssa Tooley tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out 13 and walking two.
“It was a great night to celebrate our six seniors,” HH coach Jen Tooley aid. “Both teams had a lot of energy playing under the lights.”
The Hatters put a pair of runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning, loading the bases with none out thanks to back-to-back singles by Alyssa Tooley and Tess Kearney and a walk to Abby Waeltz. Tooley and Kearney eventually scored on passed balls.
A pair of walks and a two-run double to left by Kearney in the second inning put the Hatters on top 4-0. A three-run triple by Amaya Lundy highlighted the eight-run fourth that put the game away for the Hatters.
For the Hatters, Kearney was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, and Lundy was 2-for-5 with a double, triple, four RBIs and one run scored. Tooley was 1-for-1 out of the leadoff spot with three runs scored.
Hatboro-Horsham (9-5, 9-2 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Monday, and Wissahickon (4-12, 3-9) will host Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 000 00 0-3-5
Hatboro-Horsham 220 8x 12-7-0
SOL Freedom Division
WILLIAM TENNENT 8, SPRINGFIELD TWP 2
The Spartans scored a run in the top of the first. It was their first and only lead of the game, and it was erased in the bottom of the inning when the Panthers scored a pair of runs and added four more in the next.
They couldn’t have scripted it much better to celebrate the team’s six seniors – Anna Coulter, Gigi DeMito, Lainey Scotese, Giselle McLaughlin, Alyssa Lewicki and Gracie Pugnetti as well as jayvee manager Maddi Marinkovic.
“It was an emotional night tonight,” Rich Clark said. “I’ve had this entire group of seniors since they were freshmen. So it’s bittersweet knowing they will all be graduating and moving on to the next phase of their lives and won’t be coming back next year.
“That being said, it was a great night and great celebration. With all the side distractions, I was proud how the entire team was able to stay focused on the task at hand and pulled out another big win.”
A highlight of the night was a surprise start in left field for Pugnetti, a four-year jayvee player.
“Gracie has always been that girl that every coach would love to coach,” Clark said. “If ever there was someone that deserved their day in the sun it was her. As fate would have it, the first ball in play came to her and she made a great play. There was nothing more satisfying to me today than seeing the smile on her face that lasted the entire game. I’m not sure who was more excited, her or I. Hopefully, this is something that she will always remember.”
The top four batters in Tennent’s lineup – two sophomores and two seniors – did most of the damage and were a combined 9-for-16 with seven RBIs. DeMito was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run, and Anna Coulter was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Victoria Colagreco led the way with a 3-for-4 effort that included an RBI and run
scored, and Morgan Kocher was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
After Taylor Schulz’s RBI triple gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Kocher and DeMito opened the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles. Kocher, who stole second, scored the tying run on DeMito’s single. With one out, Coulter singled home a run, and the Panthers had a lead they would not lose.
McLaughlin led off the bottom of the second with a double to right, and Lewicki was safe on an error. With one out, Kocher delivered a two-run single, and Colagreco and Coulter hit back-to-back two-out RBI singles that put the Panthers on top 6-1.
Ashley Schulz’s RBI double in the top of the third was the Spartans’ last hurrah. The Panthers’ put the finishing touches on their Senior Night win with two runs in the fifth inning, thanks to a RBI singles by DeMito and Colagreco.
Carlie Nydick (4 IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 4K, 1BB) and Rylie O’Toole (3IP, 2H, 0R, 7K, 2BB) combined for the win in the circle.
William Tennent (9-4, 9-3 SOL) will be on the road at Archbishop Wood for a non-league game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Springfield Twp (6-7, 5-6) will be on the road at Nazareth Academy for a non-league game Monday.
Springfield Twp 101 000 0 2-4-3
William Tennent 240 020 x 8-12-2
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 12, CHELTENHAM 10
The Lions opened up an early 7-1 lead only to watch the Lady Panthers rally to knot the score with a five-run fifth inning. Undeterred, the Lions answered with three runs in the top of the fifth and then fought off a late Panther rally.
The win – just the second of the season – was welcome indeed for a Lions’ team that has remained positive.
“I’m glad the kids have maintained their good attitudes and keep coming out,” NH-S coach Chris Marchok said.
Runs and hits were plentiful for both sides as the two teams combined for 22 runs and 24 hits, and the scoring started early. A three-run first inning for the Lions was highlighted by singles from Elena Shire, Kaylee Harris and Jackie Herbert.
The Lions added three more in the second to go on top 6-1, and in the third, an RBI single by Harris upped that lead to 7-1. Cheltenham evened the score 7-7 in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Harris led off with her third single of the game, and she scored when Izzy Elizondo doubled to left. Herbert’s double that followed included a Panthers miscue, and two more runs scored for a 10-7 lead.
Shire’s RBI single in the sixth upped that lead to 11-7, and it was 12-7 heading into the seventh when the Lady Panthers put three runs on the board and had the tying run at the plate, but the Lions prevailed.
Leading the Lions’ 13-hit attack was Harris, who was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Shire was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs out of the leadoff spot. Elizondo was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run, and Herbert was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Emily Wilson, who earned the complete game win, drove in a pair of runs and scored three runs.
For the Lady Panthers, Kendall Nelson was 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot.
New Hope-Solebury (2-10) will host Springfield Twp on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (2-12, 0-12) will host Academy of the New Church on Monday in a non-league game.
New Hope-Solebury 331 031 1 12-13-2
Cheltenham 101 500 3 10-11-6
UPPER MORELAND 7, LOWER MORELAND 2
The Golden Bears fired up their offense in the first inning, scoring four runs and taking a lead they would not lose. Liz Santry’s two-run double was the big blow in the frame.
“We have really come together as a team this year, led by not only our captains but all of our seniors,” UM coach Melanie Martino said. “They are truly all a special group, and as a coaching staff, we could not be prouder of them.”
Eowyn Stainback earned the victory in the circle. The righthander went four and a third innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Kelly Bates threw two and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. Bates recorded the last eight outs to earn the save for Upper Moreland.
Alyssa Wiley’s 3-for-4 effort at the plate led UM’s offense.
“Once again, Alyssa Wiley was clutch for us today,” Martino said. “She has been so consistent.”
Upper Moreland (8-6, 6-5 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and Lower Moreland (4-11, 2-9) will host Abington on Monday.
Lower Moreland 100 010 1 2
Upper Moreland 420 001 x 7
SOL Patriot Dvision
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, BENSALEM 0
Council Rock South (10-4, 7-4 SOL) will host Souderton on Monday, and Bensalem (3-12, 1-11) will host Central Bucks East on Monday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH, HARRY S TRUMAN (Ppd.)
Council Rock North (8-7, 5-6 SOL) will be on the road at Harry S Truman on Monday for a makeup game.
PENNSBURY, NESHAMINY (Ppd.)
Pennsbury (12-2, 9-2 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Tuesday, and Neshaminy (8-7, 7-5) will host Conwell-Egan in a non-league game on Monday.
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