There were plenty of thrillers in SOL play on Monday. Check out all the exciting action.
National Conference
WILLIAM TENNENT 13, HARRY S TRUMAN 11
Nikki Alden did it all for the Panthers in Monday’s big win. The sophomore standout not only earned the win on the mound, fanning seven in a complete game effort, she also had a monster day at the plate, finishing a single shy of the cycle.
“Nikki played out of her mind,” coach Erika Lee said. “She pitched fantastic and had a double, triple and home run.”
The loss was the first of the season in league play for the Tigers, and making the win even more impressive was the fact that the Panthers found themselves staring a 6-2 deficit heading into the third inning and still found themselves on the short end of a 9-7 score heading into the sixth inning when they exploded for five runs to take a lead they would not lose. Alden delivered the inning’s big blow – a three-run home run.
“It was intense,” Lee said. “It was fantastic. I had a feeling the girls were starting to believe in themselves.
“I didn’t know if we would win or lose. Obviously, you can never predict that, but I had a feeling they would play well because we were coming off Saturday with our two wins, and they played really well.
“We have been talking a lot about confidence and believing in yourself, and it was just our turn to win.”
Every player in Tennent’s lineup contributed at least one hit.
“That was great,” Lee said. “I love team efforts.”
In addition to Alden, Kaitlyn O’Toole was 2-for-5 with a double. Laura Petri was 2-for-3 with two doubles.
A recap of the scoring would show that the Tigers led 3-0 at the end of one inning before the Panthers plated a pair in the top of the second. Truman answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go on top 6-2 only to watch the Panthers knot the score with four runs in the third.
Truman went on top 7-6 in the fourth, but the Panthers got that run back in the top of the fifth before the Tigers scored two in the bottom of the frame. Tennent’s five-run sixth made it a 12-9 game, and the Panthers added a single run in the top of the seventh to go on top 13-9 before the Tigers scored two in the bottom of the seventh.
“The big thing about this game is we were down 6-2 in the second inning, and the girls battled back,” Lee said. “After that, it was a like a ping pong match until that breakout inning when we scored five.
“We had to fight the whole time because they are good. They hit the ball well, and they field the ball well. They’re just a good team.”
While the Tigers fell to 3-1 in league play (6-4 overall), the Panthers are 1-3 in the league (6-4 overall).
“I’m so lucky to work with these girls and work with my assistants,” Lee said. “Win or lose, these girls are believing in themselves, and it’s been a really fun time. Give my assistants some credit because without them, I couldn’t do anything. I’m really happy that they’re there.”
PENNSBURY 8, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7 (8 innings)
The Falcons trailed 7-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning but rallied to knot the score and send the game into extra innings. They won it in dramatic fashion when Michelle George delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth.
“I’m really proud of the kids and the way they came back, no doubt about it,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “We did some things that maybe made the score a little closer than it should have been, but they hit the ball.”
The Indians collected 13 hits in the loss.
The Falcons, meanwhile, were minus standout first baseman Suzanne Swanicke. The Falcons’ dangerous clean-up hitter was attending a convention for the Future Business Leaders of America.
In her absence, Lauren Cregan filled in at first, and McSherry elected to place his senior designed hitter into Swanicke’s cleanup spot.
“She does a nice job as our designated player, and we said, ‘We’re going to bat you four, and the reason we’re batting you four is those three kids – (Mackenzie) Obert, (Jess) Greenwald and (Christina) Bascara – are getting on base,’” the Falcons’ coach said. “She’s gone up there fearless. It doesn’t matter who we face –we faced some good pitchers this weekend in the St. Dominic’s Tournament, and she just goes up there and gets her hacks.”
The table was set for Cregan after Bascara – who homered in her first at-bat – was walked intentionally in her next four trips to the plate, and she made the Indians pay. Cregan finished the day with four RBIs, going 1-for-2 with a two-run single and a pair of sacrifice flies.
“That was really cool,” McSherry said of Cregan’s big day.
George also had a big day at the plate for the Falcons, going 3-for-5.
The Indians had their share of offensive heroes as well. Dom Pinto was 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Michelle Hand was 2-for-3 with one RBI while Diana Amendolara was 3-for-5 with a double, triple and two RBIs.
“They’re a good hitting team,” McSherry said. “They spread the ball around.”
While the Falcons improved to 3-0 in league play (5-1 overall), the Indians fell to 2-2 in the league (5-2 overall).
NESHAMINY 17, BENSALEM 2 (5 innings)
The Redskins exploded for 19 hits and 17 runs in the abbreviated contest.
“It was very, very windy, and to their credit – we had 19 hits, but of those 19 hits, only three of them were hard-hit balls,” Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti said. “Not that they were errors – we were just hitting spots where they weren’t. We only squared off on three balls.
“Their pitcher (Jackie Morell) threw a heavy ball and did a great job.”
Everyone in the Redskins’ lineup had at least one hit, but Lauren Quense led the ‘Skins with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate and five RBIs. Freshman Sam Offenback was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Julia McGovern was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI. Lauren Creamer was 2-for-2 with a double.
The Redskins struck early and often, plating two runs in the first and adding three more in the second. A six-run third put the ‘Skins on top 11-0, and they added three more in the fourth before the Owls put two on the board in the bottom of the inning.
“Bensalem has been playing some really good softball,” Chichilitti said. “In this league, you can’t take anything for granted.”
Lauren Quense earned the win on the mound, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out eight. Diana LaPalombara threw the final two innings.
Third baseman Jen Campbell, who had an RBI double, was 2-for-2 at the plate and accounted for two of Bensalem’s four hits.
While the Owls fell to 1-3 in league play (5-3 overall), the Redskins upped their record to 3-0 in the league (6-0 overall).
ABINGTON 5, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3
Celine Farina turned in a solid outing on the mound and also helped herself at the plate, delivering a pair of RBIs.
“She won the game for us on the mound, and she did a great job at the plate for us,” coach Ellie White said.
Farina’s sacrifice fly made it a 2-1 game after the Golden Hawks went on top 2-0 early on. Michela Monterosso contributed an RBI single to knot the score, and it was Farina’s RBI single that gave the Ghosts a lead they would not lose.
Monterosso, Emily McKay and Emily Willard led the Ghosts offensively – each of them was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Rachel Holden delivered a monster home run in the fifth inning.
“She could have walked around the bases,” White said. “We put the ball in play, we made some things happened, and we played defense behind Celine. We’ll take it.”
The win upped the Ghosts record to 1-3 in league play (5-5 overall) while the Golden Hawks fell to 1-3 in the league (2-6 overall)
Continental Conference
HATBORO-HORSHAM 6, PENNRIDGE 2
Val Sadowl delivered a three-run home run to spark the Hatters offensively in Monday’s win over the Rams. Jackie DiPietro also had a big day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Chrissy James was 1-for-2 with one run scored. She also had two sacrifices.
Senior Maggie Shaffer earned the win, allowing one hit in five scoreless innings while fanning six.
With the win, the Hatters improved to 4-0 in league play (8-0 overall) while the Rams fell to 1-3 in the league (4-6 overall).
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, NORTH PENN 1
In a classic Continental Conference showdown, the Maidens hung tough but could not push a run across against Titan mound ace Haileigh Stocks, who fanned three while earning the win.
North Penn’s only run came in the seventh and was unearned. By that time, the Titans had a 3-0 lead. Alyssa Virginio had the game’s big blow – a double in the second inning. Michelle Gessner was solid at shortstop for the Titans.
Both teams had five hits with Virginio collecting a pair and Carly Dudek, Alli Waddington and Hallie Bilker each contributing one hit.
Erin Maher and Alexa Gable both went 2-for-3 for the Maidens with Gable collecting a pair of bunt singles. Senior Jess Bower was 1-for-3 with a double.
Jackie Bilotti absorbed the loss, allowing four hits and two earned runs while fanning two and walking one.
While the Maidens fell to 3-1 in the league (4-3 overall), the Titans remain perfect in league play (4-0) and up their record to 7-1 overall.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 7, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
The Patriots picked up their first conference win of the season on Monday, downing their neighboring rival. The Patriots took a lead they would not lose when they plated a pair of runs in the second. They added one in the fourth and iced the win with a four-run outburst in the sixth.
“It was a solid defensive effort for both teams with each team committing just one error in the game,” East coach Erin Scott said. “Everyone in the lineup contributed to the win.”
Caroline Schoenwald was a productive 1-for-1 with two runs scored, Her one hit was a three-run home run in the sixth. She also had a sacrifice fly to finish the day with four RBIs.
Allie Chase was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs. Sierra Huckfeldt was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Kaylynn Johnson, Sarah Decker, Danielle Marzetti and Jess Haug each added one hit.
Jayme Ziegler earned the win on the mound, allowing just two hits while fanning four. Jen Fabian and Gina Schnecker accounted for West’s lone hits.
While the Bucks fell to 1-3 in league play (4-5 overall), the Patriots also are 1-3 in the league (3-5 overall).
SOUDERTON 15, QUAKERTOWN 11
The Indians won a slugfest over the visiting Panthers. Three pitchers saw action for the Indians, but it was sophomore Heather Milligan earning the win.
Paige Shelly was 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBIs. She delivered her first home run of the season, hitting the ball over the fence in left center.
Nikki Canfield (2-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Sarah Derstine (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Lauren Urbanski (2-for-3, two runs, 3 RBIs) each had two doubles. Meghan Weisel (2-for-5, 2 runs), Haley DeLany (1-for-1, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, double) and Corrinne Stiles (2 RBIs) all contributed to the offensive explosion.
The Panthers, who had 11 hits, were led by the two-hit efforts Meghan Lopes, Maddie Mulhall (double), Janelle Croisette (double, 3 RBIs) and Emily Reis (2 doubles, 2 RBIs). Allie MacIntyre had four RBIs.
The two teams combined for 23 hits and nine errors.
While Souderton upped its league mark to 2-2 (3-4 overall), the Panthers fell to 0-4 in the league (1-7 overall).
American Conference
CHELTENHAM 2, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
Lesenia Santiago had a big day for the Lady Panthers in Monday’s battle of two of the conference’s top squads.
The senior pitcher not only tossed a five-hit shutout while fanning six, Santiago also delivered a clutch RBI in the sixth inning.
The Colonials loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Santiago came up with a huge strikeout. She collected the game’s final out when she knocked down a hard shot up the middle and threw to first to preserve the win.
While the Panthers upped their league mark to 2-1 (4-5 overall), the Colonials saw their league record drop to 2-1 (2-4 overall).
UPPER DUBLIN 10, NORRISTOWN 4
The Flying Cardinals broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run outburst in the third inning. They added two more in the sixth and one in both the sixth and seventh innings to seal the win.
Upper Dublin capitalized on 11 free passes issued by a pair of Eagle pitchers. Leadoff batter Ashleigh Sharp once again ignited the Cardinals, finishing the day a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Her triple to lead off the game set the tone for the Flying Cardinals.
Norristown’s Taylor Copestick collected a pair of hits, including a double, and Gina Pellechio accounted for Norristown’s scoring in the sixth when she delivered a three-run triple
Kristin Ganderton earned the win on the mound, allowing seven hits while fanning five and walking two.
The Flying Cardinals evened their league mark at 2-2 (4-4 overall) while the Eagles fell 1-3 in the league (2-7 overall).
IMMACULATE HEART 8, PENNSBURY 4 (Saturday, April 14)
Immaculate Heart Academy brought a big reputation and an undefeated record into Saturday’s game against the Falcons at the prestigious St. Dominic’s Tournament. Immaculate Heart, ranked fourth in New Jersey’s state rankings, was undefeated and had not allowed a run coming into the tournament.
“That’s why we go up there because it just makes us tougher,” coach Frank McSherry said. “We’re better off playing those games than a non-league game where you know you’re going to get a ‘W.’”
Things didn’t look promising for the Falcons when Immaculate Heart plated three unearned runs in the fifth and added a single run in the sixth to go on top 4-0. The Falcons responded with three runs of their own in the sixth and tied it in the seventh with the promise of more runs to come when - with one out and runners on second and third – they had their four and five hitters due up. Immaculate escaped unscathed and won it with four runs in the top of the seventh.
PENNSBURY 2, LODI IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 1 (Saturday, April 14)
- Log in to post comments
