Check out Wednesday’s SOL softball results. To view photos of the North Penn/Bensalem game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
NESHAMINY 11, SOUDERTON 6
The Indians threw a bit of a scare into the Redskins in Wednesday’s non-league battle, opening up a 2-0 lead in the first and taking a 6-4 lead into the fourth inning when the Redskins exploded for three runs to take a lead they would not lose.
“Every person in Souderton’s lineup squared off on the ball fairly well of Lauren (Quense), who I consider one of the best pitchers around,” Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti said. “We knew we would be able to score some runs. I was just happy that our girls were able to stay focused, stay back and hit the ball in gaps like they’ve practiced.”
All told, the Indians collected eight hits off Quense, but most of those came in the first three innings. The Redskins mound ace held the Indians scoreless over the final four innings.
Neshaminy pounded out 14 hits on the bitterly cold afternoon.
“Just because it was so cold, it kind of stunk, and like our coach said – there was a time we could have all given up because it was miserable, but we didn’t,” senior Lauren Creamer said. “We fought back, and it was all worth it in the end.
“I know Lauren was having a tough time because she couldn’t feel her hand, so some of her pitches were hanging where they normally wouldn’t have been.”
Creamer delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning when the Redskins took the lead for good.
“I’m glad it was like this in our first game instead of coming out and blowing someone out of the water,” Creamer said. “We were challenged, and now we know what we can do as a team. We know we can pick each other up. We know we won’t give up.”
The Redskins, according to Creamer, are playing with a sense of urgency after last year’s disappointing early exit from districts.
“This is the last season for our seniors, and we’re playing our hardest for the seniors last year because it ended on such a bad note,” she said. “We were third in the state two years ago and then last year we were eliminated in the first round (of districts), and it makes us want to play so much harder this year.”
Creamer, Sarah Snider-Leonhauser, Diana LaPalombara, Julia McGovern and Molly Garrigan all had multiple hits to lead the Redskins. LaPolambara delivered a solo home run in the sixth to give the Skins an 8-6 advantage.
Souderton coach Courtney Hughes had no complaints about her team’s performance against the Skins. Freshman Angie Carty led Souderton with a 3-for-4 performance that included a double and one RBI. Morgan Yoder and Dayna Shelly each had two RBIs for the Indians, and Paige Shelly also had an RBI.
It was a two-run triple by Shelly that spotted the Indians 2-0 lead in the first. The Redskins answered with a run in the top of the second, but Souderton scored a single run in the bottom of the frame. Both teams scored three runs in the third, but the Indians had no answer after the Skins added three more in the fourth.
While Souderton is 1-1 on the season, the Skins are 1-0.
Neshaminy 013 301 3 11-12-0
Souderton 213 000 0 6-8-4
NORTH PENN 4, BENSALEM 2
The defending district champions found themselves locked in a classic battle with the Owls, but a two-run third inning proved to be the difference in the game.
“He’s building a nice little program over there,” North Penn coach Rick Torresani said of Bensalem coach Dan Schram. “He has a nice pitcher (Jackie Morell).
“I heard he had some good kids coming through the program. They have a nice team. They could win some games in that conference.”
The Owls took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after freshman Lauren Morell – in her first varsity at-bat – lined a solo home run over the left field fence. One inning later, Melissa Fasick duplicated that feat, delivering a solo shot of her own to left field to knot the score.
The Maidens took a lead they wouldn’t lose in the third. Sophomore Rebecca Christoffers got things started by drawing a leadoff walk, and Erin Maher followed with a single. A single by Michelle Holweger loaded the bases and set the stage for a two-run single to right by Alexa Gable that put the Maidens on top 3-1.
That lead grew to 4-1 in the fifth when Gable delivered an RBI triple, plating Maher who had singled. Gable, Maher and Jenn Halcovage led the Maidens, who had nine hits, with two hits each.
According to Torresani, Wednesday’s game was the perfect start to the season.
“We had some scrimmages without the basketball players,” said Torresani, who was without Maher, Halcovage, Vicky Tumasz, pitcher Jackie Bilotti and Meghan Curley (concussion) “We needed something before our league started for our five basketball players, so they could get in the game mode against a pitcher that was a pretty good pitcher. This was a good game for us.”
Bilotti allowed just five hits while fanning three and walking two. Only one of Bensalem’s runs was earned.
“She’s such a good kid,” Torresani said of his pitcher. “She just goes out there and fights. She made a few really nice plays on the mound on balls that were hit back to her. I was very, very pleased with the way she pitched.”
The Maidens are 1-0 while the Owls are 0-1.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 0
Nicole Casagrand rose above the elements to toss a three-hit shutout in Wednesday’s nonleague contest. The senior hurler fanned five and walked just one as the Hatters improved to 2-0 on the young season.
Daria Edwards delivered the game’s big blow – a two-run home run in the third. The Hatters added an insurance run in the fifth for the 3-0 final. Maria Spinosa was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Jen Cader was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored, and Carly Johnson was 1-for-2 with a double.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, ABINGTON 0
The Patriots seized early control of Wednesday’s contest, plating four runs in the first and adding two more in the third. Single runs in the fifth and sixth innings put the finishing touches on the decisive win.
Julia Schoenewald had a monster day at the plate for the Patriots. The senior catcher was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, one RBI and three runs scored. Freshman Kayla Ventura continued her torrid offensive production with a 2-for-3 effort that included a double, triple and two RBIs. Caroline Shoenewald delivered a home run, and Allie Chase had a pair of RBIs.
Jayme Ziegler earned the win on the mound. Theresa Haug worked a scoreless seventh to close it out. East’s defense committed just one error.
For the Ghosts, Lizzie Lloyd was 2-for-3 with a double and single. Raechel Holden had a double.
East improved to 2-0 on the season while the Ghosts are 1-1.
WILLIAM TENNENT 7, CHELTENHAM 0
Tennent responded to Friday’s disappointing outing against Central Bucks East by earning a convincing win over Cheltenham.
Junior Nikki Alden fanned 10 in the shutout on the mound. Kaitlyn O’Toole sparked the offense with a 2-for-4 performance that included a grand slam. Sara Keeny was 3-for-4 at the plate.
“It was a great all-around team effort,” coach Erika Schwanbeck said.
Tennent evened its record at 1-1 while Cheltenham is 2-1.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 9, EASTON 5
The Titans broke a 5-5 tie in dramatic fashion when sophomore Maddie Decker delivered a grand slam in the sixth inning. The Titans are 2-0.
PENNRIDGE 8, CHRISTOPHER DOCK 0
Paige DeCew continued her dominance on the mound, fanning 15 and walking none in a glittering seven-inning performance. Dock managed just three hits off the Pennridge mound ace, and the Rams, according to coach Paul Koehler, played outstanding defense behind DeCew.
Emily Mayhew led the Rams offense with a 3-for-4 effort that included a pair of doubles and three RBIs. DeCew once again helped her own cause, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Briana Gery also was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.
Pennridge is 2-0 on the young season.
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