CB West earned a dramatic come-from-behind win. Check out all of Thursday’s results.
National Conference
WILLIAM TENENT 6, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2
William Tennent softball is on the rise.
Looking for proof?
Earlier this season, the Panthers took a beating at the hands of Rock North. On Thursday, they exacted a degree of revenge.
“They beat us 16-0 the first time – it was bad,” coach Erika Lee said. “Our girls were in that growth period during that time. They weren’t playing up to their potential that game, and they made a lot of mistakes.
“When you think about it, you’re happy when you play a good team like that early in the season because you realize what you need to work on. It was our first league game, and they definitely welcomed us to the league, so to speak. The girls learned from that and grew from that.”
The Panthers won Thursday’s game with a three-run uprising in the fourth inning. turning a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead Highlights of the inning were back-to-back triples by Amber and Kaitlyn O’Toole. Amber’s emptied the bases and plated three runs while Kaitlyn’s sent Amber home with an insurance run.
“We talk a lot about proving it – not to everybody else but to yourself,” Lee said. “I feel like at this point if we can play consistent Tennent softball, then the sky is the limit for these girls.
“They have to believe in themselves, and they have to maintain what they can control, and that’s their level of play. We’re going to play some really, really good teams, and we’re going to win games, and we’re going to lose games, but as long as we consistently play Tennent softball, that’s what we’re looking for.”
Nikki Alden earned the win on the mound for the Panthers, scattering seven hits in seven innings.
“She pitched great,” Lee said.
The win was the fifth in the last seven games for the Panthers, who improved to 3-5 in league play (8-6 overall).
“I was so proud of them today because they played really well as a team,” Lee said. “It was a very nice win.
“Our girls just played their game. It was one of the best defensive games I’ve seen them play, and I had to move some people around. The girls stepped up and did what they had to do. It was great.”
The Indians saw their record drop to 4-4 in league play (7-4 overall).
PENNSBURY 12, BENSALEM 0
The Falcons used a six-run uprising in the third inning to seize control of Tuesday’s contest.
“The score doesn’t tell how well we played for most of the game,” Bensalem coach Dan Schram said. “The one thing I was really proud of was I think we really attacked (Buehler) at the plate. The kids came out with a good approach at the plate. We got a few hits against Val. They capitalized on our mistakes – passed balls, errors, and it’s momentum. What’s been happening is we win big and lose big. It’s hard when you make those few mistakes.
“You have to execute, you have to make plays.”
The Owls committed six errors in the fateful third inning, and the Falcons made them pay. The Falcons added two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth before closing it out with three runs in the seventh.
“We had a really, really bad inning, and they started to hit the ball too,” Schram said. “I really believe in the kids I’m coaching. They’re a great group of kids. They kept their spirits up.
“When you’re young and momentum doesn’t go your way, it snowballs. “
Pennsbury was led by the standout performance at the plate of Mackenzie Obert, who was 4-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.
“Pennsbury is definitely a great team,” Schram said. “Hats off to coach (Frank) McSherry and the whole squad. I think they’re in for another great year. They’re going to make a long run.”
Val Buehler scattered four hits while fanning seven and walking two in the shutout. Jackie Morell absorbed the loss, allowing 11 hits while striking out three and walking none. Just five of the Falcons’ runs were earned.
“They weren’t really rocking the ball,” Schram said. “Jackie is giving us enough to win. It’s just how we execute.”
While the Panthers improved to 6-0 in league play (8-1 overall), the Owls fell to 2-6 in the league (6-6 overall).
NESHAMINY 8, ABINGTON 0
The Redskins continued to ride the strong arm of pitcher Lauren Quense, who scattered three hits, struck out 15 and walked just two in seven scoreless innings on the mound. Neshaminy pounded out 13 hits, led by the 3-for-4 effort of Sam Offenback, who had three RBIs. Julia McGovern was 2-for-3 with four runs scored, and Quense was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Neshaminy remained perfect on the season, upping its record to 7-0 in league play (11-0 overall). The Ghosts fell to 2-6 in the league (6-8 overall).
HARRY S TRUMAN 11, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 (5 innings)
The Tigers improved to 5-3 in league play (6-7 overall) while the Golden Hawks fell to 1-6 in the league (2-9 overall)
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 9, SOUDERTON 8
The Bucks staged a miraculous comeback in the bottom of the seventh, rallying from an 8-1 deficit to earn the dramatic win.
“It was important for the kids because it builds their confidence,” West coach Wayne Finkbeiner said. “Actually, we have been hitting the ball pretty well.
“We played Hatboro tough (in a 6-4 loss), and we had some good games. We just haven’t been able to get the key runs.”
It looked as though Thursday’s game might be following an all-too-familiar pattern for the Bucks, who loaded the bases with none out early but came up empty.
All the frustration of innings past was erased when the Bucks plated eight runs in the seventh inning. The inning began with a leadoff single by freshman Ashley Juliano, who made her first varsity start on the mound.
Jann Toland and Maggie Gratz both delivered two-run doubles in the seventh, and Gina Schnecker’s second single of the inning drove in the game winner.
Jen Fabian’s triple in the sixth accounted for West’s other run.
“We’ve been pleased with their hitting, and there were a lot of key hits,” Finkbeiner said. “Their pitcher struggled a little bit and walked a couple of players.
“It was one of those games where I really feel for the Souderton coach. She’s heartbroken because they were up 8-1. I’ve been in that situation, but today everything just went right. The kids hit the ball really well up and down the lineup. We had a lot of hits in that last inning.”
Toland finished the game 3-for-4, and Gina Schnecker was 3-for-5 while Cassie Zanolini was 2-for-5 and Maggie Gratz finished 2-for-4.
Juliano earned the win in her first start, fanning two and walking one.
“She didn’t pitch bad – she only had one walk,” Finkbeiner said. “Souderton hit the ball hard. They scored some runs early, but they started to put the ball in the air, and we were able to catch the ball.”
Turning in multi-hit performances for the Indians were Lauren Urbanski (4-for-4), Sarah Derstine (2-for-4), Megan Weisel (2-for-4) and Nikki Canfield (2-for-4).
While the Indians fell to 3-5 in league play (4-7 overall), the Bucks improved to 2-6 in the league (5-8 overall).
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, NORTH PENN 1
The Patriots capitalized on three home runs – all in the final two innings – to earn the come-from-behind win over the Maidens, whose only run also came on a round tripper.
The win effectively erased memories of East’s 10-0 loss to the Maidens in the league opener for both squads on April 3.
“It definitely feels good,” East coach Erin Scott said. “I know the skill we have on the team, I knew we could compete with them, and I knew we could play that kind of game. North Penn always brings out a good team, no matter what.”
In the early season meeting between the two squads, the Patriots were without a pair of key players - pitcher Jayme Ziegler and catcher Julia Schoenewald.
“We had a rocky start to the season,” Scott said. “Our first couple of games – we had a couple of tough losses to teams that I think the girls knew and we know we should have beaten.
“At this point in the season, it just shows how much they have grown. They could have easily gotten frustrated – and we did get frustrated, but I think overall the group learned something from it.”
The Maidens actually took a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jess Mower delivered a solo home run with two outs. Michele Holweger, who led the Maidens with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, followed with a double but was stranded on second.
The Patriots, meanwhile, were having trouble generating a whole lot of offense.
“The beginning of the game was frustrating,” Scott said. “We were putting the ball in play, but we were popping up a lot. Then we started hitting, but North Penn was making all the plays.
“Their shortstop (Jenn Halcovage) had a nice catch. We were having three or four at-bats an inning until the sixth inning.”
In the sixth, Caroline Schoenewald put the Patriots back in the game with one swing of the bat when she delivered a solo home run to lead off the inning.
The fun was just starting for the Patriots.
In the seventh inning, Kaylynn Johnson and Sarah Decker got things started with back-to-back singles. A failed bunt attempt, resulting in a forceout at third, brought Caroline Schoenewald to the plate, and once again she delivered, this time smacking a three-run home run. With two outs, Allie Chase hit a solo shot, putting the Patriots on top 5-1.
Caroline Schoenewald finished the day 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, Chase and Jess Haug also were 2-for-4 while Julia Schoenewald, who gunned down a runner attempting to steal, was 1-for-2.
Ziegler threw the final five innings and earned the win on the mound, scattering five hits. Sierra Huckfeldt allowed one hit and one run in two innings of work. Jackie Bilotti absorbed the loss for the Maidens.
While the Patriots had one error, the Maidens had none.
“North Penn played a great game,” Scott said. “Their centerfielder (Erin Maher) had a couple of catches that were phenomenal. She had a couple of diving catches that could have taken the wind out of our sails.
“It was a very clean game.”
The Maidens saw their record fall to 5-3 in league play (7-5 overall) while the Patriots evened their league mark at 4-4 (6-6 overall).
“We’re just going to go back out there tomorrow,” Scott said. “We just have to keep going. I don’t want to get overly excited and not focus on the fact that we need to keep working and doing what we’re doing, but I’m proud of them and I’m happy for them.”
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, QUAKERTOWN 1
The Hatters needed a late rally to down the pesky Panthers on Thursday. The Panthers, who scored a run in the first, took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning when the Hatters rallied to knot the score. Hatboro won it with a run in the seventh.
Maggie Shaffer (2-for-3) and Daria Edwards (2-for-3) both contributed RBIs for the Hatters. Jackie DiPietro was 2-for-4.
Shaffer earned the win on the mound, allowing just three hits while walking one and fanning nine.
While the Panthers fell to 0-8 in league play (1-11 overall), the Hatters improved to 7-1 in the league (11-1 overall).
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, PENNRIDGE 0
Morgan Decker, Carly Dudek and Haileigh Stocks each went 2-for-2 to lead the Titans’ attack. Stocks also earned the win on the mound, allowing just two hits while fanning nine and walking two.
While the Rams fell to 3-5 in the league (6-8 overall), the Titans upped their record to 8-0 in the league (11-1 overall).
American Conference
CHELTENHAM 10, UPPER DUBLIN 1
The Lady Panthers scored two runs in the first, two more in the fifth and one in the sixth before blowing the game wide open with five runs in the seventh. The Flying Cardinals’ only run came in the fifth.
Sabrina Casseus, Nina Jackson and Erika Winter led the Lady Panthers with two hits each. Casseus had three RBIs.
Ashleigh Sharp was 1-for-3 with Upper Dublin’s lone RBI.
Kristin Ganderton absorbed the loss, allowing five earned runs while striking out six and walking none. Lesenia Santiago earned the win for the Lady Panthers, allowing four hits while striking out four and walking none.
The Lady Panthers improved to 4-3 in league play (6-8 overall) while the Flying Cardinals fell to 3-4 (5-6 overall).
NORRISTOWN 13, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 (5 innings)
The Eagles scored two runs in the first and blew Wednesday’s game wide open with an eight-run second inning on their way to the decisive win in the abbreviated five-inning contest.
Gina Pellechio was 2-for-2, which included a double, with two runs scored and two RBIs. Stephanie DiNolfi was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Monica Levins was 1-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs.
Brianna Kennedy earned the win on the mound, allowing three hits while fanning three and walking one in five shutout innings.
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