Check out the results for SOL softball teams in action Thursday. To view photos of the Quakertown/CB East and CR North/CR South games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
National Conference
WILLIAM TENNENT 10, ABINGTON 8 (10 innings)
Every now and then, magic happens.
It was something close to magical when Tennent senior Jackie Heim – whose father lost his courageous battle with cancer last week – stepped to the plate in the 10th inning of a tie game and ripped a no-doubt-about-it home run over the left field fence, plating a pair and giving the Panthers the electrifying win.
“This was like a scripted story,” coach Biz Keeny said. “This was movie-like.
“You just kind of felt it and you watched it.
“She buried her father on Tuesday, and it was one of those moments and you thought, ‘This kid deserves this.’ This is a great ending for a kid in a very difficult week. We couldn’t have written a script like this. It was a special moment for her.”
For 10 innings, the two teams exchanged best shots. The Ghosts led 2-0 after one, but the Panthers came back to take a 6-2 lead after four. Undaunted, the Ghosts scored a pair in the fifth and two more in the seventh to knot the score 6-6, setting the stage for extra innings.
With the international tiebreaker in effect, Keeny was willing to give up a run in a exchange for an out in the top of the 10th. He wasn’t looking to give up two, but that’s what happened. That left the Panthers’ coach with some tough decisions to make when the bottom of the inning rolled around and his team staring at an 8-6 deficit and the top of his order due up.
“I had the decision of what I wanted to do with Sara (Keeny),” Keeny said of his speedy daughter. “Myself included, I wouldn’t think that’s a bunt situation, so we bunted her. Now we have first and third because she beats it out (for a single).”
That set the stage for Marissa Govan to deliver a double over the leftfielder’s head.
“They tried to throw Sara out at home, and Marissa moves up to third base,” Keeny said. “Now I have a runner at third base in an 8-8 game with nobody out.”
A popup behind second base for the inning’s first out brought Heim to the plate.
“Do they pitch to her – that was my concern,” Keeny said. “I walked their kid (Nicolette Ray). She hit two home runs, and we walked her the next three times.
“They pitched to Jackie, and the first pitch – she swung out of her shoes. I said, ‘Jackie, I don’t need a home run. I just need a ball up in the air or a line drive, and we’re going to win this game.’ Lo and behold, she went deep and hit it over the right center field fence. It was a very nice ending after a difficult week.”
Keeny credited Govan for standout defensive play.
“She kept the game close,” the Panthers’ coach said. “She made a heck of a catch in left center to keep it 8-6.”
The Panthers were led by the offensive performances of Keeny (2-for-4, double), Heim (2-for-5, double, home run) and Alyssa Hillman (2-for-4). Govan, Erica Engart and Steph Rossin each contributed a double.
For the Ghosts, Ray was 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs while Jamie Gosselin had a pair of hits.
William Tennent is 2-9 in league play (5-11 overall) while Abington is 8-4 in the league (12-5 overall).
Abington 200 022 000 2 8
William Tennent 004 200 000 4 10
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 6, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4
The neighboring rivals found themselves locked in another classic battle, and it was the Indians scoring three late runs to rally from 4-3 deficit to earn the important win.
“What a great win,” coach Chris McDermott said. “We had just come off getting beaten up by Neshaminy and Souderton.
“After the Souderton game, instead of talking to my girls, I made them have an hour and a half practice. We just went over play after play after play, and they came out today like the team I know they are.”
The Indians got on the scoreboard first, 
plating three runs in the top of the third. Marissa Gergel, who was walked intentionally twice, hit a double to plate a pair of runs. Taylor Amazeen’s RBI double spotted the Indians a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Golden Hawks put a pair of runners on board, setting the stage for a three-run blast by Stephanie Andreoli.
“It was a high pitch,” McDermott said. “We tell our pitcher not to give her anything to hit.
“Steph Andreoli takes a high, high pitch that definitely would have been called a ball and hits a home run that scores three runs. Elyse was throwing in the 60s, and there’s no fence there, so it was gone.”
The Golden Hawks went on top 4-3 in the fourth when Melanie Wilkinson, who had singled, scored on an RBI triple by Mikayla Becker. That lead stood until the sixth when – after a hit batter – Sabrina Crane delivered an RBI double. Crane moved up to second on a groundout, and she scored on a successfully executed suicide squeeze by Amazeen. For good measure, the Indians added an insurance run in the seventh for the 6-4 final.
Elyse McMenamin earned the win in the circle, allowing five hits while striking out seven and walking just one.
Council Rock North upped its conference record to 7-3 (10-5 overall) while Council Rock South is 4-7 in conference play (9-8 overall).
Council Rock North 003 002 1 6
Council Rock South 003 100 0 4
NESHAMINY 14, PENNSBURY 1 (5 innings)
It looked like it might be another classic battle between the neighboring rivals after the two squads exchanged first inning runs, but the rest of the night belonged to the Redskins. Neshaminy scored two runs in the second to go on top 3-1 and then blew the game wide open with five in the fourth and six in the sixth inning.
The Redskins pounded out 14 hits with Mackensie Compton (home run) and Alexis Watskins (double) accounting for the team’s lone extra base hits. Compton, Watkins, Hunter Hart, Sophie Beretski, Corrine Garuffe and Rebecca Dixon all contributed multiple hits. For Dixon, it was her first varsity start, filling in for Sarah Snider-Leonhauser who is nursing an injury but expected back in the lineup in several days.
Amber Brugger earned the win, allowing three hits and one run while walking one and fanning one in the abbreviated five-inning contest.
Neshaminy – which clinched at least a share of the conference crown – is 11-1 in league play (16-2 overall) while Pennsbury is 5-7 in the league (9-8 overall).
Neshaminy 120 56 14
Pennsbury 100 00 1
HARRY S TRUMAN 5, BRISTOL 4
Truman coach Kyle Hoffman has got to be wishing this week could go on forever. The Tigers capped a remarkable week with a walk-off win in game one of the annual doubleheader at Bristol Borough Field when Steph Wolf – who has been on a bona fide tear – delivered a two-run double.
“It’s been unreal,” Hoffman said. “We’re 4-0 this week. You would have never expected this.
“The girls are so excited. The excitement has been growing game by game. After Pennridge, they were a little excited – okay, we got a win. After Pennsbury, they were more excited, but they didn’t want to act like they were shocked that they got a league win. We said, ‘We beat Pennsbury – be happy,’ but they knew they were missing people. Then they beat Abington, and they were really excited. Today it was dramatic – a walk-off, and they were really excited.”
With one out in the seventh, Kelsey Hackbart slapped a single to right, and Tori Ahleman reached first on an error, putting runners on first and third. Ahleman stole on the next pitch, and both runners scored on Wolf’s double.
Wolf led the Tigers with a 3-for-4 effort. Ahleham was 2-for-4 while Jess O’Neil and Foley were both 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Jess O’Neil earned her fourth win of the week.
“She pitched another great game,” Hoffman said. “They’ve absolutely turned it on.”
Truman improved to 7-10 on the season (4-8 overall).
Bristol 003 100 0 4
Truman 020 010 2 5
Continental Conference
QUAKERTOWN 5, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2
The Panthers continued their late season run, turning an early 1-0 deficit into a three-run lead with two runs in the second and two more in the third. The Patriots plated single runs in the first and third innings.
“The girls’ confidence level is up,” coach Rich Scott said. “They’re hitting the ball well. They believe in each other, the confidence is there.
“I’ve been telling them all year – in most of the games, on paper, we’re the better team, but we have to start proving it.”
In the two-run third, Lauren Beal collected a one-out single, and with two outs, Hillary Scott kept the inning alive with a single. Meghan Klee followed with a bad hop double that plated a pair, putting the Panthers on top 4-2. They added a single run in the fifth for the 5-2 final.
Beal and Klee were both 2-for-3 with a run scored. Klee also had two RBIs.
Alyssa Wilkinson earned the complete game win, allowing five hits and one earned while striking out two and walking one.
Quakertown is 4-8 in conference play (8-8 overall) while Central Bucks East is 5-7 in the league (7-10 overall).
Central Bucks East 101 000 0 2
Quakertown 022 010 x 5
NORTH PENN 4, PENNRIDGE 0
Jackie Bilotti cranked out another gem for the Maidens, scattering three hits and striking out seven and walking none.
The Maidens took a 1-0 lead in the fourth and increased that lead to 3-0 in the sixth, thanks to a two-run home run by Bri Battavio. A single run in the seventh gave the Maidens their final margin of victory.
North Penn improved to 10-2 in conference play (16-2 overall) while Pennridge is 2-10 in conference play (4-12 overall). With the win, the stage is set for Monday’s conference showdown against Souderton.
North Penn 000 102 1 4
Pennridge 000 000 0 0
HATBORO-HORSHAM 11, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 (6 innings)
The Hatters scored three runs in the first before the Bucks plated a single run in the top of the fifth. They put the game out of reach with seven runs in the fifth and ended it with a single run in the sixth.
Taylor Sciubba earned the win in the circle, scattering three hits and fanning seven in six innings.
Highlighting the Hatters’ 10-hit performance was Maddy Brody’s 1-for-1 effort as the freshman collected her first varsity hit.
Hatboro-Horsham evened its league record at 6-6 (10-7 overall) while the Bucks are 2-10 in the league (4-13 overall).
Central Bucks West 000 010 1
Hatboro-Horsham 300 071 11
American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 13, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 6
The Colonials haven’t had a whole lot to cheer about this season, but they had reason to celebrate on Thursday when they exploded for 10 runs over the final three innings to turn a 6-3 deficit into the convincing win.
“I’m very happy about it,” coach Dana Moyer said of her team’s performance. “It was good to see the girls enjoying the win.”
Igniting the Colonials was sophomore leadoff batter Ragan Ebersole, who was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases and three runs scored.
“We have a leadoff batter who has just been killing it for us,” Moyer said. “She’s amazing. She started the season in center field, and then I brought her in to catch.
“She’s been killing it behind the plate, as a leadoff batter – everything. She’s fearless and has a great softball IQ. She’s been a dream for us this year.”
Elena Iannuzzelli also had a big day, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, two stolen bases and three runs scored.
“She’s a gritty player and always dives,” Moyer said. “Elena dove for a ball, and she got one of her prom nails stuck in the ground and it ripped her fingernail off on her throwing hand. She’s dealing with that action, but you’d never know it. She’s just a trooper.”
Jewell Terraces was 2-for-4 with a triple and double, and Ashley Yeager, who earned the win in the circle, also was 2-for-4.
“She was standout,” Moyer said. “She and Ragan were our battery, and they were amazing.”
Brianna Littlepage led the Spartans with two hits and three RBIs.
While the Spartans are 6-5 in league play (6-6 overall), the Colonials are 2-10 in the league.
“We absolutely needed this,” Moyer said. “I think they relaxed a little bit.
“I told them, ‘Play your game, stay focused, but have fun. Focus on hitting your pitch and hitting the ball where it’s pitched.’”
Plymouth Whitmarsh is 2-10 in league play while the Spartans are 6-5 (6-6 overall).
Plymouth Whitemarsh 111 024 4 13
Springfield 200 400 0 6
UPPER MERION 3, UPPER DUBLIN 2
The Vikings officially made it a three-peat, clinching sole possession of their third consecutive American Conference with Thursday’s win over the visiting Flying Cardinals.
“It’s a tremendous accomplishment,” coach John Whitney said of winning a third straight crown. “It was a good ball game.”
Upper Merion plated single runs in the first and second only to watch the Cardinals rally to knot the score 2-2 in the top of the fifth. A triple by Sarah Tannenbaum highlighted the frame for UD.
The Vikings won it with a run in the bottom of the inning when Micaela Ghanayem, who had doubled, scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Linda Sobek.
Alyssa Adinolfi earned the win in the circle, allowing four hits while striking out six in the complete game effort.
Upper Merion is a perfect 12-0 in league play (14-2 overall) while the Flying Cardinals are 5-7 in the league (6-11 overall).
Upper Dublin 000 020 0 2
Upper Merion 110 010 x 3
CHELTENHAM 4, UPPER MORELAND 2
The Lady Panthers opened up a 4-0 lead and then withstood a late rally by the Golden Bears, who scored a pair of runs in the sixth.
Becca Simms led the Lady Panthers, who had seven hits, with a double and three RBIs. Grace DeRosa added a double and run scored.
DeRosa also earned the win in the circle, allowing seven hits in seven innings while fanning four and walking three.
“She fielded her position very well,” coach Ron Perlstein said. “She played well defensively. That’s something that was very important.
“She came up big in tight spots. They put pressure on us in the sixth inning. They had the bases loaded – it’s 4-2, and they got three hits in a row. She got a very good batter – their second hitter – for a big out. She finished strong. It was one of those refuse-to-lose deals. I was proud of her today. She made a lot of big plays.”
The Panthers coach also lauded the defensive effort of third baseman Allie Williams.
“Coach (Scott) Ludlow was bunting, and they hit a lot of seeds to third,” Perlstein said. “She played well, made a lot of nice plays. You could tell she played because her uniform was dirty from top to bottom.”
Cheltenham upped its record to 9-3 in conference play (10-6 overall) while the Golden Bears are 6-5 in the league (7-6 overall).
Cheltenham 100 021 0 4
Upper Moreland 000 002 0 2
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