Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Tuesday. (Neshaminy senior photo provided courtesy of Jesse Garber)
SOL Patriot Division
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 7, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 6
The Golden Hawks made history with Tuesday’s heart-stopping win, clinching at least a share of the SOL Patriot Division title and putting their names in the program record books as the first team to accomplish that feat since the school’s inception in 2002.
“We are all so very proud of these girls and what they have accomplished so far this year,” Rock South coach Scott Molle said. “They have their eyes set on doing great things, and today clinching at least a share of the division is something they will always have as the first team ever at South to do so. That can never be taken away from them and I can proudly say every single girl on this team has made contributions to their success.”
As for Tuesday’s win, it was anything but easy and not without its share of drama.
“What can you say?” Molle said. “This team lives for the dramatic wins, and they just never ever give up. We had a total of two hits heading into the sixth and trailed 5-1. Then the girls made all the adjustments they needed and pounded out seven hits to tie the game at 5.
“That was another special inning for us as we were able to just bear down and do what we needed to get back into this game. This is a special group that just won’t give up. They want to win and do everything that’s needed to get a W.”
Trailing 5-1, the Golden Hawks opened the top of the sixth with Helen Woloshyn lining a single to left field and scoring when Gabby Bloom doubled to left field. With one out, Julia Scannapieco singled home a run, and Avery Tumolo followed with a single. Shannon Williams followed with a run-scoring single, and it was a 5-4 game. Katie Aamland’s single to right brought home the tying run.
In the bottom of the inning, the Indians regained the lead, plating a run on a bases-loaded walk. That 6-5 lead didn’t last long.
In the bottom of the inning, Bloom and Grace Stepp drew back-to-back walks, and Bloom – who advanced to second on a wild pitch – scored on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Avery Tumolo plated Stepp and gave the Golden Hawks a 7-6 lead.
“Avery Tumolo was able to lift a deep ball to the outfield to get in the winning run,” Molle said. “Grace Stepp walked in the seventh, and I decided to keep her in to run because her softball IQ is thru the roof and was able to grab an extra base in that inning to get into scoring position for Avery.
“Late in the game, the team worked deep counts and were able to get pitches they could hit and drive into the outfield that helped us get the runs we needed. The coaching staff I have at South are incredible students of the game and just know how to get the adjustments to the girls that help them succeed. I am so proud of all of them, and they really helped bring a new culture to South that is so fun to see.”
Although the Hawks had a one-run lead, It looked as though the Indians would be tying things up when Sierra Klein led off the inning with a shot to deep center but was robbed of the tying home run by Woloshyn in center field.
“Helen Woloshyn was just on another level today,” Molle said. “She had another three-hit performance and scored two runs for us, but the best play of the day and maybe even the year was made in the bottom of the seventh when North’s leadoff batter cracked a deep ball to left center field.
“Helen tracked the ball so well and leaped and crashed thru the fence and stole a home run that would have tied the game. This kid is someone who just won’t let a ball fall in near her and will put her body on the line no matter what. We have so much confidence in her in center field, and we believe she is the best outfielder around with her speed and her athleticism, which is elite level.”
Lexi Waring, who notched the complete game win, struck out the next two batters she faced to close out the game.
“The resiliency of this team has just been on display all year, and it’s been really fun to watch,” Molle said. “They never give up attitude of this team shows how strong their bond is for each other, and the never-count-them-out personality they have is something that you just can’t teach. You have to bind together as a team and truly care about each other to get it done the way they have.”
In addition to Woloshyn, Williams also had a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI.
“We also have to talk about Gabby Bloom - once again batting out of the two hole, she was 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs scored and a RBI,” Molle said. “Gabby has settled into that spot in the lineup and just keeps coming up big at the plate for us. Her aggressive base running in the seventh helped us score the tying run.”
The Indians’ nine-hit attack was led by Taylor Gearhart (2-for-4, RBI, 2R), Klein (2-fo-4, 2B, 2 RBIs), Chelsea Seiler (2-for-3) and Olivia Schlindwein (2-for-2, R). Klein’s two-run double highlighted a three-run third for the Indians.
“Today was a typical North/South rivalry game,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “Lots of emotion, and it was anybody's game until the final out. I have to give South a lot of credit, they never give up and they battled back until the final out. Their center fielder (Woloshyn) is absolutely the real deal. She is lightning fast, and she not only set the table for their team offensively, but she also saved the game in the bottom of the seventh when she robbed Sierra Klein of a game tying homerun, making a diving catch over the center field fence.
“Despite coming out on the losing end, I couldn't be more proud of my girls and how they handled themselves throughout the game. They played with pride and class the entire time and represented our school and our program in a positive light. It's a tough loss, but our girls can walk away and hold their heads high knowing they can hang with the best, and hopefully carry the lessons we learned from this game into the future.”
Council Rock South (15-1, 12-1 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Friday, and Council Rock North (9-7, 6-7) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday.
Council Rock South 100 004 2 7-9-
Council Rock North 003 021 0 6-9-4
NESHAMINY 14, HARRY S TRUMAN 0 (5 innings)
The Redskins celebrated the team’s four seniors with a decisive win over the visiting Tigers.
Neshaminy put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first and then put the game away with 10 in the third.
Ellie Miller and Maysie Thomson combined for the abbreviated three-hit shutout in the circle. Miller started and threw three innings, allowing two hits while striking out five and walking one. Thomson closed it out with two shutout innings, allowing one hit, striking out three and walking one.
The four-run first was highlighted by Morgan Volgraf’s RBI double to left field and Morgan Leonhauser’s sacrifice fly to center.
In the 10-run fourth, Lily Mormello and Volgraf led off the inning with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for a three-run home run by Zahmira Coppola-Miller. Also contributing singles in the inning were Alleigh Waskie, Leonhauser, Molly Hitchen (2 RBIs), Jill Rickards (RBI), Olivia Hughes and Coppola-Miller (RBI).
Leading the Redskins with multiple hits were Mormello (2-for-4, 3R), Volgraf (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3R), and Coppola-Miller (2-for-3, HR, 4 Bis, 2R).
Neshaminy (11-5, 10-4 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (5-13, 2-12) will host Bensalem on Thursday.
Harry S Truman 000 00 0-3-6
Neshaminy 4-0-10 00 14-12-0
PENNSBURY 19, BENSALEM 6 (6 innings)
If it’s offense you like, this was the game for you.
The two teams combined for 32 hits and 25 runs with the Falcons scoring eight in the top of the sixth to bring an early end to the game.
The Falcons led by just a 7-5 score after four innings but scored four in the fifth and eight more in the sixth to put the game away.
Leading the offensive charge for the Falcons was Jaylynn Rodweller, who was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Contributing two hits each were Liv Czerniak (2-for-5, RBI), Sammy Raub (2-for-2, 4R), Anna Evanchik (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, 3R), Presley Foote (2-for-5, 2 RBIs), Bella Morales (2-for-3, 2R) and Ava Storlazzi (2-for-2, 2R). Keira Hoffman – in her first varsity start – was 1-for-2 with a double.
The Owls’ attack was led by Abbie Krevolin (2-for-4 RBI, R), Lina Sponheimer (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, R), Sydney Daut (2-for-4), Kaylee Clarkson (2-for-4, 2B, 2R) and Veronica Pachucki (2-for-2, RBI).
Czerniak notched the win in the circle, throwing five innings. Evanchik closed it out with a scoreless sixth inning.
Pennsbury (9-6, 8-5 SOL) will host Bensalem (4-12, 3-10) in a rematch Wednesday.
Pennsbury 310 348 19-20-0
Bensalem 010 410 6-12-2
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
The Bucks rebounded from a tough loss to North Penn last week to earn a hard-fought win over their crosstown rival.
Sienna Lawson was outstanding in the circle, holding a good South team to only one run on five hits, while striking out 10 batters. South had runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth, and fifth innings but came up empty in those innings as Lawson was able to pitch out of those innings without allowing a run.
West got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning when Laila Murray led off the inning by hitting a towering fly ball to dead center, which easily cleared the center field fence to plate the first run of the game. Murray was playing her first game as a shortstop for the Bucks.
South tied the game in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, West scored three runs to take a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning. Ana Glemser was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Lawson’s single. Murray followed with a two-strike single to right, scoring Ana Glemser with the go-ahead run.
On the play, according to coach Mike Daher, the throw from the South right fielder beat Glemser to the plate, but an outstanding fade slide by Glemser away from the catcher's tag would give West the lead for good.
Elle Cooper, running for Lawson, scored the third run on an RBI groundout by Molly Gibson. The final run of the inning scored when Katherine James reached first on an error, which scored Murray with the fourth and final run of the game. South went down in order in the top half of the seventh on three strikeouts by Sienna Lawson.
“This was a great win for us against a very good CB South team,” Daher said. “Matt McLaughlin does a great job as the South coach, and he always has his team ready to play. They do all of the little things well and they are a very difficult team to beat. The fact that we were able to beat them twice this year is a great accomplishment for our girls.
“Sienna Lawson was outstanding today. She battled through seven innings and pitched us out of difficult situations in several of those middle innings. She was on the top of her game today. Laila Murray had a big day at the plate, hitting the home run to give us the lead and then driving in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth on that two-strike hit to right field. She is really showing a lot of confidence at the plate right. In her last at bat, she looked at two strikes to go down 0-2 and then waited on an outside pitch and hit it to right field for a very big RBI single. Sienna Lawson also had a big hit in that last inning to put the winning run in scoring position. We did not have a lot of hits today, only five, but we had some big ones at key times in the game. We also played solid defensively and, of course, got a great game from Sienna.”
Central Bucks West (10-5, 10-4 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Thursday, and Central Bucks South (10-8, 8-6) will host North Penn on Thursday.
Central Bucks South 000 001 0 1-5-2
Central Bucks West 000 103 x 4-5-1
NORTH PENN 5, SOUDERTON 0
The Knights checked off their first goal.
With two games remaining in the regular season, they clinched at least a share of the division crown, winning their eighth title in nine years.
“This was big for the girls because going into the season they were being told that there were going to be other teams that were going to take it, and with the five girls that graduated, we weren’t going to be that good,” NP coach Rick Torresani said. “The girls took that to the heart from the very beginning, and they came out and played hard.
“Even after losing to West early, which set us back a little bit, these girls continued to go with the program, knowing they weren’t going to let down, and they were going to win it again, but they want to win it outright, they don’t want no tie for the championship.”
Bella Nunn once again stood tall in the circle, tossing a one-hit complete game shutout. She struck out 14 and walked only one, throwing 99 pitches – 71 for strikes – and facing just 24 batters. She put an exclamation point on the win by striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game.
“It was a very nice win,” Torresani said. “Souderton is always a tough place for us to play. The girls came through and Bella came through again. She’s not walking batters, and everything is working out so far.”
The Knights broke a scoreless tie with a five-run fifth inning. Brandi Groarke singled to lead off the inning and moved up to second on Izzy Tubertini’s sacrifice bunt. Gabby Battavio singled, and a Souderton miscue loaded the bases with one out.
Olivia Stevens lined a single to center, plating Groarke, and another error allowed a pair of runs to cross the plate. Sophia Orth followed with a single, and with two outs, Tallie Smink lined a two-run double to right field for a 5-0 lead that held the rest of the way.
The Knights were led by the two-hit efforts of Stevens (2-for-4, RBI, R), Orth (2-for-4), Smink (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs) and Gabby Battavio (2-for-3, R). Casey Sokol was 1-for-3 with a double.
Orth, the Knights’ catcher, has had two hits in four of the team’s last five games and is 8-for-17 in that span.
Ava Detwiler’s one-out double in the bottom of the fifth was the Indians’ lone hit off Nunn.
North Penn (16-2, 12-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South Thursday, and Souderton (8-7 5-7) will be on the road at Central Bucks East Wednesday.
North Penn 000 050 0 5-10-1
Souderton 000 000 0 0-1-2
PENNRIDGE 12, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 (6 innings)
The Rams notched their second win in as many days, riding the strong effort of Destiny Novashinski in the circle and a 13-hit offensive attack to the decisive win.
“It was a great team win where we capitalized on the opportunities that we were presented with,” Pennridge coach Kristyn Marinelli said. “Destiny had another impressive performance in the circle, and it was her game to win.
“Defensively, we were solid behind her, and I loved to see that all of our seniors - Lizzie Flexer, Maddie Finney, Kylee Hangey, and Avery Miller - were able to contribute in a positive way.”
Novashinski scattered eight hits and allowed just one run while striking out five and walking none to earn the win.
The Patriots took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Kaylee Masterson delivered a two-out RBI single.
The rest of the game belonged to the Rams, who put a pair on the board in the second, benefitting from an East miscue. They added two more in the third when Ryleigh Lilly smashed a two-run home run to center field for a 4-1 Pennridge advantage.
A four-run fourth inning was highlighted by singles from Kylee Hangey, Jadyn Gulbinski (2 RBIs), Lilly and Gabby Hamburger (RBI).
Pennridge’s 8-1 lead was more than enough, but for good measure, the Rams scored two runs in the fifth and then brought an early end to the game in the sixth when Brooke Bennett delivered a two-run single.
Leading the Rams’ hit parade were Hamburger (3-for-4, RBI), Lilly (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R), Payton Keyser (2-for-4, 2R) and Hangey (2-for-4, 2R).
For the Patriots, Maggie Funston (2-for-3), Sara Camposano (2-for-3, 2B, R) and Elena Bhatt (2-for-3, 2B) each turned in two-hit performances.
Pennridge (5-10, 3-9 SOL) will travel to Veterans Park on Wednesday to face Quakertown in a non-league at 6:30 p.m. Central Bucks East (4-13, 1-13) will host Souderton on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 010 000 1-8-5
Pennridge 022 422 12-13-1
SOL Liberty Division
ABINGTON 6, UPPER DUBLIN 5
The Ghosts opened up a 6-3 lead after two innings, and although they didn’t score the rest of the way, they held on for the win.
“Our never-give-up mentality kept us in the game today,” Abington coach Tina Hesdon said. “Sam Wenhold delivered an impressive pitching performance, while Sammi Clewell has been hitting exceptionally well, with three home runs in the last three games.
“Our team has strengthened its bond over the last few games, which has been evident on the field.”
The Cardinals benefitted from a pair of Ghost miscues to score three runs in the top of the first, and the Ghosts got two of those back when – after a single by Hailey Hernandez – Sammi Clewell smacked a two-run home run.
Abington’s four-run second included RBI singles by Miikayla Hesdon and Natalie Broskley as well as two walks and several miscues.
Upper Dublin made things interesting with a run in the top of the sixth and another in the top of the seventh when Madden Reilley hit a solo home run. The Cards had the tying run on second base, but Sam Wenhold closed out the game without further damage.
Wenhold notched the complete game win, allowing eight hits and five runs (three earned) while striking out five and walking none.
The Ghosts were led by the 2-for-3 effort of Hernandez, who also scored a pair of runs.
For the Cardinals, Kate Brannigan and Kaitlyn Zacharia were both 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Kyla Garrison absorbed the loss for the Cardinals, allowing five hits and six runs (three earned) while striking out 11 and walking three.
Abington (5-10, 3-10 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon on Thursday, and Upper Dublin (9-9, 6-8) will travel to East Plymouth Park for a 7 p.m. game against Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday.
Upper Dublin 300 001 1 5-8-4
Abington 240 000 x 6-5-4
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Colonials opened up a 5-0 lead after two innings and then did not score the rest of the way, but the duo of Rian Reed and Madison Moran made sure that early lead would be more than enough.
“League wins are tough to come by in the Liberty Division, especially on the road at Hatboro Horsham,” PW coach Mike Perez said. “I’m proud of the girls for grinding that one out.
“We got a couple big hits early from Madison Moran, Rian Reed and Caelin Kosvitch. From then on, our pitching and defense was able to hold onto the lead for a big win.”
In the top of the first, Marissa Perez drew a leadoff, stole second and scored when Reed doubled to center field.
The Colonials added four runs in the second. Joslyn Perez drew a leadoff walk, and she scored when Madison Moran lined a double to left field. Ava McEvoy was hit by a pitch, and Emily Dobrowolski drew a walk. Moran scored the inning’s second run on a passed ball, Caelin Kosvitch and Reed both delivered one-out RBI singles, and the Colonials led 5-0.
The Hatters broke up the Colonials’ shutout bid then they plated an unearned run in the third. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Reed was credited with a win for the Colonials, allowing four hits and one run (unearned) in four innings. She struck out five and walked one. Moran closed it out with three shutout innings. She did not allow a hit, striking out four and walking one.
Kosvitch (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) and Reed (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs) led the Colonials’ attack.
Alyssa Tooley led the Hatters with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate that included a double. She started the game and threw the first two innings. She was relieved by Kennedy Conn, who allowed just one hit in five shutout innings, striking out six and walking one.”
“We did not get the win, but these girls are playing so great as a team,” Hatters’ coach Jen Tooley said. “The coaching staff was very happy to see the growth in their softball confidence since our last outing versus PW (an 8-0 loss). This was a game that we were in from first pitch to last. We had opportunities with runners on several times, but just couldn’t move them.
“Kennedy Conn came in to pitch in the third inning and shut down the scoring. The poise and confidence she had was that of a fourth-year starter, but she is only a freshmen.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-2, 11-1 SOL) will host Upper Dublin for Senior Night at East Plymouth Valley Park on Thursday at 7 p.m. Hatboro-Horsham (10-5, 10-4) will travel to Quakertown on Thursday for a 7 p.m. game at Veterans Park.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 140 000 0 5-5-2
Hatboro-Horsham 010 000 0 1-4-2
QUAKERTOWN 4, WISSAHICKON 0
Abbey Wagner tossed a complete game two-hit shutout, striking out 11 and walking none in a superb outing in the circle.
The Panthers broke a scoreless tie in the third, and Wagner jumpstarted the inning with a bunt single to lead off the inning. She was thrown out at home on a standout defensive play by the Trojans on Kira Jefferson’s line single to center. Jefferson, who advanced to second on the throw, scored when Skyler Williams singled.
That 1-0 lead stood until the fifth. With one out, Jefferson was safe on an error, and she scored when Williams hit a home run to center field. Leah Schwalm followed with a double and was replaced by courtesy runner Colleen Gallagher, who scored for a 4-0 Quakertown lead when Ellie Hilton lined a double to right field. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Williams led the Panthers’ attack with a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate that included a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
Quakertown (16-1, 13-1 SOL) will host Pennridge in a non-league game at Veterans Park on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Wissahickon (5-13, 3-11) will travel to Abington on Thursday.
Wissahickon 000 000 0 0-2-2
Quakertown 001 030 x 4-8-0
SOL Freedom Division
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 11, LOWER MORELAND 3
The Lions picked up their fourth win in as many games, and this one – the third straight game they put 11 runs in the board – might not have seemed all that special, but it turned out it was.
With Tuesday’s win, New Hope-Solebury clinched at least a share of the program’s first ever title with two league games remaining.
“In the gym at New Hope, there’s one blank banner,” NH-S coach Chris Marchok said. “There’s been a lot of talk about the idea that we’re going to make that not blank anymore.
“This feels a little weird. I would have preferred to learn this when I was with my kids and putting a win out there. We got the win and let it happen – it feels pretty cool.”
There might be ‘talk’ now, but there certainly was no talk of a potential championship when the season began.
“We were looking at a couple of young kids coming in to help solidify things,” Marchok said. “Solidifying things is one thing but sitting at 11-3 and clinching at least a tie of the title is quite a different thing from saying – ‘Hey, we’re going to solidify things.’
“Honestly, with what we had, we literally talked about keeping our eyes on the process. They got so bored of me saying it – ‘Focus on the process, the process, the process. Focus on each pitch, focus on trying to run the bases the right way.’”
In Tuesday’s win, Lower Moreland plated a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning. NH-S scored one in the second and tied it 2-2 in the third on an RBI single by Mabel Klossner.
That 2-2 tie stood until the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Kaylee Harris ripped a triple to center field, and she scored when Klossner followed with a double to center and then stole third. She scored on Dagny Mobley’s single to left field. An error on Emily Wilson’s bunt single scored another run, and after Helen Knapp singled, Rachel Sim delivered an RBI single, and just like that, New Hope had a 6-2 lead.
Lower Moreland added a run on a single by Anika Swanson in the top of the sixth, but the host Lions put the game away with a five-run bottom of the inning. Harris got the ball rolling with a one-out solo home run to right field. Klossner followed with a double and once again stole third. She scored on another Mobley single. By the time the inning was over, NH-S led 11-3, which held until the final out.
The Lions were led by the three-hit efforts of Harris (3-for-4, 3B, HR, RBI, 3R), Klossner (3-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, 2R), Mobley (3-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2R) and Knapp (3-for-4, R).
Marchok paid tribute to Knapp, the team’s lone senior.
“She’s that senior who has remained an unbelievable leader even though she hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time this year,” the Lions’ coach said. “Tonight was Senior Night, and she goes 3-for-4. She has been a wonderful, wonderful leader, and she has continued to be this upbeat, funny, positive leader.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for the young women who stuck it out.”
Knapp is one of many players who has contributed to the Lions’ turnaround.
“It doesn’t show up in statistics, but there’s a third freshman (Rachel Sim) out there who is locking down everything in center field,” Marchok said. “It’s just taken her a little while to get her batting underneath her. The kid catches everything that goes out there – balls that have not gotten caught in a decade are the balls this kid is catching. It’s three freshmen up the spine have just allowed everyone to settle in.
“When you look at it, it’s taken Izzy Elizondo, it’s taken Emily Wilson, it’s taken Jackie Herbert, it’s taken Bianca Elizondo, it’s taken Devon Maguire, and it’s taken Elena Shire. They’ve settled in, and they’re playing so much better because I think they just feel comfortable where they are. It’s been such a fun ride with these kids. No team can win because of one or two players, nobody can, but I do believe the addition of the spine running up the middle of field – that spine has let everyone settle down and get comfortable in the game.”
Mobley and Klossner combined for the win in the circle on Tuesday, combining to allow six hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out 15 and walking one. Both have played key roles in the program’s ascent to the top of the division.
“I use the expression – they’re learning how to win,” Marchok said. “We’re not the Hatboros, we’re not the Upper Morelands, we’re not the William Tennents. Those are programs that for so long have done it so well. We are figuring out how to compete with teams like that. It’s just so fun seeing our kids getting a little more confident each game.
“Tonight, Izzy Elizondo behind the plate didn’t know she was catching until eight minutes before the game and goes out and puts in a fantastic effort. That’s a kid who was my shortstop and third baseman last year. It’s been a blast, it’s been kind of awesome.”
For Lower Moreland, Izzy O’Brien (2-for-4, R) and Alexis MacPhee (2-for-3, RBI, R) led the attack.
New Hope-Solebury (12-4, 11-3 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Thursday, and Lower Moreland (3-13, 3-11) will host Springfield Twp on Thursday.
Lower Moreland 200 001 0 3-6-4
New Hope-Solebury 011 045 x 11-15-3
SPRINGFIELD TWP 9, UPPER MORELAND 3
The Spartans pulled off the upset of the day, stunning the Golden Bears on their Senior Night. The win brought an emphatic end to a six-game losing streak for the Spartans.
“I am so proud of our team,” Springfield Twp coach Heather Gelhaus said. “We went into this game with a mindset of let’s have fun and see what can happen. This team has had a rough few weeks, and they showed a lot tonight.”
Julia Matthews notched the complete game win in the circle, scattering nine hits and allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out five and walking two.
“Julia Matthews stepped in the circle and controlled the game,” Gelhaus said. “She did an unbelievable job and had a strong defense behind her. Our defense made huge plays especially McKayla McKeever and Keira Brandon.”
The Spartans put a run on the board in the top of the second when Joce Davis singled and scored on a groundout.
A four-run third inning gave the Spartans a 5-0 lead and was highlighted by singles from Norah Conlin, Maura Solomon (RBI) and Elana Dunbar (RBI). The Spartans also benefitted from a pair of walks.
The Spartans took a 6-0 lead into the fifth when the Golden Bears plated a pair when Claire Walton hit a two-run single that made it a 6-2 game.
In the sixth, Davis delivered an RBI single to up the Spartans’ lead to 7-2, and a two-run single by Solomon put the Spartans on top 9-2.
Eowyn Stainback’s RBI single in the bottom of the inning trimmed the Spartans’ lead to 9-3, but that’s as close as the Golden Bears would get.
“We got behind early tonight, and a well-coached Springfield capitalized on our mistakes,” UM coach Melanie Martino said.
The UM coach paid tribute to her four seniors.
“Ava Bailey had missed last season after an ACL tear and then had another season-ending injury the first game of the season,” said Martino. “She has still managed to be a constant source of encouragement for her teammates in our dugout and has helped lead as one of our seniors.
“Senior Eowyn Stainback started in the circle and played second. Eowyn had two hits and an RBI for us today. Once again, senior Kaylee Brown led us from behind the plate tonight and collected a hit. Senior Makenzie Leo, our designated player, had a hard hit ball late in the game after fouling a ball off her ankle the inning before. Makenzie is a tough kid and wasn't going to let that take her out of the game.
In addition to Stainback, Erin Distel (2-for-3) also had two hits for UM.
Contributing multi-hit games for the Spartans were McKayla McKeever, who was 2-for-3 with three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Davis was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored, and Solomon was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Dunbar was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
“It was an all-around effort on offense with multiple players contributing,” Gelhaus said. “Maura Solomon was clutch at the plate delivering three RBIs. Joce Davis and McKayla McKeever were 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored each.
“Shoutout to Upper Moreland’s seniors for a good career and wish them luck with their future!
Springfield Twp (4-12, 3-11 SOL) will travel to Lower Moreland on Thursday, and Upper Moreland (12-5, 9-5) will face Cheltenham at Arcadia University on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Springfield Twp 014 103 0 9-11-2
Upper Moreland 000 021 0 3-9-2
WILLIAM TENNENT 15, CHELTENHAM 0 (3 innings)
Megan Pickford allowed just one hit in three shutout innings in a winning effort in the circle, and the Panthers pounded out 12 hits in the abbreviated contest.
The Panthers scored four runs in the top of the first with Chloe Hostetler’s two-run double the big hit in the inning. An eight-run second put the game away.
Sammi Wood’s 4-for-4 effort led the Panthers and included two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored. Hostetler was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIS. Sydney Teufel doubled and had two RBIs.
William Tennent (12-5, 9-5 SOL) will host New Hope-Solebury in a key division battle. Cheltenham (0-14, 0-13) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday.
Cheltenham 000 0
William Tennent 483 15
- Log in to post comments
