WEST GOSHEN >> Archbishop Carroll senior Sam Swart was understandably excited after scoring a career-high nine goals in the Patriots’ 15-5 win over Owen J. Roberts in the PIAA 3A state quarterfinal at West Chester East High School Saturday.
“The Ferris wheel just kept going today,” said Swart. “It was like we were one big circle (on offense) the whole game, passing the ball around.”
The final piece in nearly each disciplined scoring drive was Swart, who fired at the goal with unerring accuracy.
Archbishop Carroll star Sam Swart, center, celebrates her first goal of the game against Owen J. Roberts Saturday. Swart would score eight more in a 15-5 win in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)
“Sam is the ultimate 1 v 1 girl,” Carroll coach Lorraine Beers said. “I’m going to love watching her play next year at Syracuse.
“We really played within ourselves today. Sometimes, we get too aggressive, and make bad passes and bad shots. But if our offense can be disciplined and read what the defense is doing, we can score.”
The victory puts Archbishop Carroll into the PIAA semifinal for the first time ever. The Patriots (23-1), whose only loss was to PAISAA tournament champion Agnes Irwin May 15, will face Garnet Valley Tuesday in the Class 3A semifinal. The Jaguars defeated Conestoga, 11-10, in double overtime, in the other quarterfinal at East.
Carroll defeated Garnet Valley, 18-12, April 29. But Beers said that’s yesterday’s news.
“Garnet Valley is a really good team, its goalie, defense, offense and coach,” said Beers. “They’re not going to let us beat them again by that margin. They’ve had a lot of film to study since then. It will be a tough matchup.
“For us, the semifinal will be fun. We’ve never gone this far before.”
Swart scored the game’s first goal just 1:22 into the contest, then a couple of minutes later junior Sydney D’Orsogna scooped up a loose ball and drove in for a score. Sixteen seconds later, Katie Detweiler made it 3-0.
Owen J. Roberts, the third-place finisher in District 1, called a timeout immediately after Detweiler’s goal, and nobody scored for the next 10 minutes. Carroll senior goalie Maddie Ferraioli made several standout saves during this span.
“Maddie had a lot of great saves today, and our defense played great,” Beers said.
Archbishop Carroll’s Katie Detweiler, left, speeds past Owen J. Roberts defender Maddie Koury in Carroll’s 15-5 win in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals Saturday. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)
Swart began to strike again, scoring twice in 14 seconds as the Patriots built a 5-0 lead.
“This is my senior year, and I wanted to end it on a good note,” said Swart. “I’ve been practicing shooting, and when my first shot today went in, I had a good feeling, like I was going to have a good game.”
When the Patriots went into their five-minute halftime with an 8-2 lead, they didn’t let up.
Swart, who had four first-half goals, said, “Coach Beers told us at halftime, ‘You’ve got an 8-2 lead, so what — they could still come back.’ We stayed focused in the second half.”
Swart opened the scoring in the second half, then D’Orsogna tallied her third goal of the game 51 seconds later to give the Patriots a 10-2 lead. Swart scored her sixth goal with 16:21 left (assisted by Grace Gallagher) to give Carroll an 11-3 lead, and Owen J. Roberts called another time out.
“Sam is a tremendous athlete, and we didn’t match up with her at all,” Owen J. Roberts coach Joe Tornetta said. “Lorraine does a great job coaching that team, but I’m disappointed that we went out like this. We’re a much better team than we showed today.
“It looked to me like we weren’t prepared to play, and that’s all on me. Our kids have battled all year, and they deserve to be in the mix, and it’s my job to see that we’re prepared. As tough as it is to say, in this case (this loss) is on the coach.”
Swart scored her seventh goal of the game with 14:30 left to give the Patriots a 13-3 lead, tallied her eighth goal four minutes later, and finished up with her ninth with 5:20 to go.
CHELTENHAM >> Kerri Quinn gave it a good ride, but the ball was tracked down by the center fielder.
Bonner & Prendergast had a few of those well-hit balls go nowhere fast Monday afternoon at Arcadia University in a PIAA Class 4A first-round game against Eastern York, the District 3 runner-up.
It was frustrating, too.
Quinn, the Pandas’ senior second baseman, was hitting second in the bottom of the seventh inning. Down a run, with one out, Quinn’s bullet to the outfield had gapper written all over it.
Eastern York’s Haidyn Shaffer had other ideas.
“I thought it was going to drop, but she made a great play,” Quinn said. “What are you going to do?”
Kaitlyn Martin singled to keep Bonner & Prendie’s season alive, but the Pandas eventually bowed, 4-3.
The Pandas won the Catholic League and District 12 championships for the first time since 2013. They fall to 0-2 all-time in state tournament play.
“Definitely proud of the way they battled,” coach Tom McNulty said.
This wasn’t the way the Pandas wanted to go out, ending a remarkable season with a defeat that was perfectly avoidable. Plaguing the Pandas were four errors, which led to a pair of unearned runs allowed by junior pitcher Meghan Sullivan, who threw well considering the outcome.
“If we hit the ball a little better and made a few different plays in the field, this game would’ve been a lot different,” said left fielder Molly McNulty, who will attend Penn State in the fall. “We tried.”
Prendie fell behind, 3-0, but battled back with two runs in the third inning. McNulty and Quinn reached base with infield hits, then Caroline Manfre hit a ball up the middle that was stopped by shortstop Kenny Buckmyer. The ball, though, bounced off Buckmyer’s glove and trickled far enough away to allow McNulty and Quinn, who was at second base when the play started, to score Prendie’s first runs of the day.
Trailing 3-2 in the third, the Pandas tied the game without the benefit of a hit. Melissa Callahan got on base via an error. Pinch runner Sam Frescoln stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. After McNulty walked, the Pandas pulled off a double steal. McNulty ran to second while Frescoln swiped home to tie the game, 3-3.
“We never gave up, even when we were down,” said Quinn, who will major in nursing at Temple. “That’s how we were all season, too. We never gave up.”
Alas, fielding woes continued to haunt the Pandas in the latter stages. The winning rally came in the fifth inning when pitcher Maelynn Leber (six hits, three Ks, one walk) smashed a one-out double. Morgan Little then hit a groundball to the hole at shortstop. Instead of trying to throw out the runner at first — it would have been a bang-bang play — Manfre threw to third base, but pinch runner Analese Fenwick made it to the bag well ahead of the toss. Buckmyer then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Fenwick, giving Eastern York a lead it never relinquished.
Allison Martin, the Pandas’ speedy centerfielder and Kaityln’s twin sister, made an outstanding diving catch to close out the fifth. The Martin girls are the granddaughters of former Pandas coach, Charlie Weiners.
Eastern York left 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings, when it was trying to tack on insurance runs. A pair of sharply hit grounders to Kaitlyn Martin were scooped up easily for the final out in each frame.
Sullivan scattered eight hits, but allowed only two earned runs while striking out five. The junior split pitching duties with McNulty this season. Both players made nine starts from the circle and in left field.
“I’ll remember this year the most, especially, because it was my first year being with my dad (Coach McNulty) and winning the PCL was really special,” Molly McNulty said. “If we would have gotten killed today, we would have all been a little bit more disappointed. I think we fought hard until the end … and I think we fought hard all year, for sure.”
CHELTENHAM >> A season that included a District 12 Championship for Archbishop Wood came to an end under the lights at Arcadia University’s Blankley Field Monday, an uncharacteristic eight errors — along with a strong-hitting Lampeter-Strasburg squad — blocking the Vikings’ path to the quarterfinals.
“They really struggled in the field today and that’s really not how we play,” Wood coach Jackie Ecker said after the 15-5 loss in a PIAA-5A First-Round contest. “But the girls kept pushing and that’s the best they could do.
“We were ready for the game, going up against a team you don’t know anything about. I knew it was gonna be a good-hitting team. We had to make the plays and we didn’t. But these girls never give up and I’m proud of them. They worked really hard to get here.”
The Pioneers, fourth place out of District Three, advance to Saturday’s quarters to take on the winner of the Spring Grove-Bishop Shanahan match-up.
For Wood, Jules Donchez went 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot with a walk, two runs and an RBI, helping the Vikings get within 4-3 in the third before Lampeter pulled away.
“We came in strong and determined and the game didn’t go the way we wanted to,” Donchez said, “but we played with as much determination as we did every single game. It just didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to.”
Each team put a run across in the first.
For Lampeter, Julz Garber singled and scored on a groundout, and then Wood answered in the bottom half when Donchez legged out an infield single and scored on an error.
The Pioneers went ahead in the second and increased their lead in the third.
Caroline Braungard crushed a double off the wall in left to knock in a run and make it 2-1 and then an inning later, Lampeter took advantage of singles by Delaney Groff and Natalie Carson along with two errors by Wood to make it 4-1.
The Vikings came right back.
“You’ll see us out there fighting,” Donchez said of the team’s resolve.
Cara Coughlin’s bunt single and Gianna Lancelotti’s double down the left-field line keyed a two-run third for Wood, slicing the gap to 4-3.
But just as the Vikings inched closer, Lampeter broke the game open.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Kylie Weaver belted a towering triple to the gap in left center, driving in three, and then she raced home on an errant throw on the play to make it 8-3.
The Vikings cut it to 8-4 in the bottom half on a single up the middle by Donchez, however the Pioneers added two in the sixth, the first on a wild pitch and the second on a ground ball by Brynne Baker, scoring Natalie Carson.
Lampeter polished things off with a five-run seventh before Wood closed out the scoring with an RBI pinch-hit single by Alicia Skinner.
The Vikings managed 12 hits in the contest, including the three by Donchez, who is only a sophomore.
Said Ecker: “She’s been consistent all season. She’ll be a good asset the next couple years.”
“Just knowing we were here was such a big accomplishment,” Donchez said of states. “We were hoping to make it to the next game but it just didn’t turn out that way.”
PHILADELPHIA >> For Cardinal O’Hara’s Grace Hussey and Alexia Galli, one of the coolest things about playing in the Carpenter Cup is getting to know new people.
And they know some of their Philadelphia Catholic League teammates’ strengths and weaknesses.
“It’s funny,” said Hussey, a slap-hitting lefty. “You know how to get them out when you’re playing against them, but now, you’re rooting for them not to get out.”
Galli caught all seven innings of the PCL’s second game Monday. She had the chance to receive a pair of really good pitchers in Hallahan’s Maddy McBride and Archbishop Wood’s Maria Browne.
“It’s fun because you get to see all the different pitches that they have,” Galli said. “It’s always different being able to catch new people. I like that.”
Unfortunately for the Catholic League, it did not go undefeated on the first day of the 13th annual Carpenter Cup Classic. After a 3-1 victory over Public League/Catholic Academies/Friends (Philadelphia PCCAF), the Catholic League dropped a 4-2 decision to Delaware North in the afternoon. The PCL will return to FDR Park Wednesday to play a losers bracket game.
“I wish we could have won and kept playing, but it’s also nice to get some rest,” Hussey said. “We’ll come back (Wednesday).”
The Catholics struggled to get hits against Delaware North despite solid pitching from McBride and Browne. McBride, a Sharon Hill resident, started and closed. In four innings of work, she allowed a run on two hits with three strikeouts. Browne scattered five hits and allowed three runs, but struck out six in three innings.
Delaware North did its damage in the third inning, when it erased a short-lived 2-1 deficit. Catcher/first baseman Mallory Weir, who reached base three times, hit an opposite field two-run homer to put DN ahead to stay. A two-out RBI triple by Grace Walker put the Catholics in a 4-2 hole.
Although the PCL had plenty of time to mount a comeback, the offensive production simply wasn’t there against Delaware North relief pitcher Caitlin Pontak, who tossed four innings of no-hit softball with four strikeouts and no walks. The Catholics’ lone baserunner off Pontak was Delaney Smith of Lansdale Catholic, who was hit by a pitch.
“We kind of went flat,” Catholic League coach Dan Milio said. “We got some runners on but couldn’t get them in.”
The silent act with the bats was frustrating after the Catholics showed some consistency in the second inning off Delaware North starter Savannah Sheats. Hussey used her fleet feet to leg out a bunt single with one down, then moved to second on a Galli single. St. Hubert’s Annie Wolfe blasted one to the gap in left-center for a two-run double as the Catholics went on top, 2-1.
An around-the-horn double play in the third squashed a potential Catholic League rally.
Allison Martin (Bonner & Prendergast) chipped in with a single in the first inning.
In the morning game, Kaitlyn Martin, who is Allison’s twin sister, went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs to help the Catholics to victory.
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The Delaware County squads debut Tuesday. It will mark the first time Delco will have two teams in the Carpenter Cup.
Delco West plays Olympic Colonial at 9 a.m, while Delco East gets rolling at 11 o’clock against Tri-Cape. If both Delco teams win or lose, they will face off at 1 p.m.
The Delaware County East roster, which is coached by Jim Bender, Alyssa Silipino, Chris Calciano and Bill Stauffer, includes Harriton’s Julia Ermi and Kiley Marsh; Haverford High’s Morgan Marchesani and Amber Moscoe; Penncrest’s Julia Eckels, Maya Hartman and Emma Stauffer; Strath Haven’s Brooke Bender and Malia Calciano; Sun Valley’s Kylie Kane; and Upper Darby’s Rebecca Sorrentino.
The Delaware County West roster consists of Garnet Valley’s Lindsey Hunt, Audrey Shenk and Diane Torregrossa; Haverford High’s Ali Murphy; Interboro’s Bridget Bailey; Marple Newtown’s Ally DeFruscio; Radnor’s Cate Remphrey; Ridley’s Ashley Shanks; Springfield’s Jenna Casasanto and Caitlin Chambers; Sun Valley’s Madison Gutowiecz and Carly Williams; and Upper Darby’s Brooke Jones and Lexi Witmer. Coaches are Pat Rafferty, Christina Tomczuk and Mike Snow.
***
And let’s not forget about the Inter-Ac League, which opens against Chester County Tuesday at 9 a.m. Among the players from Delco schools are Agnes Irwin’s Paige DiLullo, Rajaa Wilcox and Mary Naylor; Episcopal Academy’s Sandy Warhol; and Notre Dame’s Anita and Michelle Bilotta.
The trend in softball now is to have options when it comes to pitching. So while Player of the Year Bri Battavio is certainly an ace capable of a heavy workload, Archbishop Wood pitcher Marisa Browne makes for a solid 1-2 All-Area punch.
Browne, a junior, led the Vikings to the regular-season Philadelphia Catholic League title after a breakout sophomore season. The right-handed struck out a staggering 147 batters against just 19 walks with a 1.35 ERA. Her season highlight was an 18-strikeout shutout in the District 12-5A championship.
One of the area’s most prolific offenses was Hatboro-Horsham’s and the Hatters belted a lot of hits en route to a second place finish in their first year playing in the Suburban One League American. Traditionally, Hatboro-Horsham has had strong offensive catchers and outfielders and this season was no exception.
Top Photo: Archbishop Wood’s Marisa Browne winds up for a pitch during the District 12-5A final against Franklin Towne Charter on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. (Rachel Wisniewski/For Digital First Media)
Behind the plate, sophomore Britt Hubler smashed her way to a .580 average with 39 RBIs and showed plenty of pop with four home runs and seven triples. She was a tough out too, striking out just one time all season.
In center field, Brynn Griffith posted a special senior season, also batting at a .580 clip and providing plenty of runs scored (30) and driven in (37).
The Hatters’ infield could also use the bat pretty well. Senior first baseman Kylie Flagler, a Coppin State recruit, was a top of the order threat in every area, hitting .414, scoring 34 times, driving in 25 runs and hitting with power for seven doubles, three triples and two home runs.
Another team that could score in bunches was District 1-AA champion Dock Mennonite. While senior shortstop Jill Bolton’s first sport is field hockey, accepting an offer to play at Liberty, she’s a pretty good softball player as well. A nearly .500 hitter for her career, Bolton swung a .507 average this spring and did plenty of damaged with seven doubles, five triples and 10 home runs. She also drove in a single-season record 38 runs and scored 36 times.
Plymouth Whitemarshs Brooke Balkiewicz is forced out at second as Hatboro-Horshams Kylie Flagler looks to through to first during their game on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
While Central Bucks West didn’t see many wins this spring, senior third baseman Cara Hatzinger did all she could to change that. The infielder batted .434, striking out just three times and drove in 10 runs for the Bucks.
Gwynedd Mercy Academy senior Christina Shragher stood out as one of the best hitters in the AACA this past season, giving the Monarchs a power threat and a weapon on the bases. Shragher, who can play infield or outfield, hit a robust .552, doubled eight times, tripled twice and smashed five home runs to go with 22 RBIs and 27 stolen bases.
North Penn had three newcomers in the starting lineup this season. Two were freshmen and the third was outfielder Emily Groarke, who came over after playing the last two seasons at Dock. Slotting in as the Knights’ leadoff hitter and right fielder, Groarke reached base consistently and made a smooth transition from Bicentennial Athletic League to SOL play, earning first-team SOL Continental honors.
Lansdale Catholic center fielder Lauren Crim stretches out to catch a fly ball during the Crusaders’ PCL semifinal against St. Hubert at Arcadia University on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
Lansdale Catholic saw lineup changes throughout the season but by the end of the year, junior outfielder Lauren Crim had cemented herself at the top of the order. Crim gave LC plenty of quality at-bats, posting a solid average and ranking as one of the team leaders in hits and runs scored.
Things came together for Pennridge late as the Rams won six of seven to close the regular season and earn a playoff bid. Things came together all season for sophomore shortstop Kiley Watson all season however, with the rangy defender also fitting in at the top of the Pennridge lineup. A good hitter and aggressive runner, Watson was on base plenty for the bats that followed her in the order.
ALL-AREA TEAM P: Bri Battavio, North Penn P: Marisa Browne, Archbishop Wood C: Britt Hubler, Hatboro-Horsham INF: Kylie Flagler, Hatboro-Horsham INF: Jill Bolton, Dock Mennonite INF: Cara Hatzinger, CB West INF: Kiley Watson, Pennridge DP: Christina Shrager, Gwynedd Mercy Academy OF: Brynn Griffith, Hatboro-Horsham OF: Lauren Crim, Lansdale Catholic OF: Emily Groarke, North Penn Utl: Sara Tannenbaum, Upper Dublin
Honorable Mention
Alex Scheeler (Souderton), Mary Piccozi (Lansdale Catholic), Skylar Hengeveld (Pennridge), Angela Gervasi (Mount St Joseph), Ragan Ebersole (Plymouth Whitemarsh), Jordan Pietrzykoski (North Penn), Sam Harty (Pennridge), Renee Reynolds (Abington), Jules Donchez (Archbishop Wood), Morgan Gianelle (Cheltenham), Kayla Sawick (Upper Moreland), Taylor Carter (Archbishop Wood).
Top Photo: North Penn’s Emily Groarke at bat for SOL/BAL against Tri-Cape during the Carpenter Cup at FDR Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 20, 2017. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)
Bridget Bailey, Interboro: The junior ace led the Bucs to a pair of firsts in program history, a berth in the District 1 Class 5A final and a victory in the state tournament. Bailey kept the Bucs in every game, even in defeat. She allowed only one run in the Bucs’ 1-0 defeat to West Chester Henderson in the district championship game. She yielded only two earned run in the Bucs’ second-round state playoff loss to Cedar Cliff, which played for a PIAA title. For the season, Bailey won 14 games, including six by way of shutout. She posted a 1.54 ERA with 153 strikeouts in 132 innings as the Bucs captured the Del Val League title.
Junior ace Bridget Bailey led Interboro to its first PIAA tournament and first District 1 crown. (For Digital First Media/Bill Rudick)
Leigh Ann Jenkins, Ridley: The senior pitcher was lights-out effective in big moments for the Green Raiders, who won a District 1 playoff game (6A) for the first time since 2004. Jenkins recorded 14 wins with 145 strikeouts en route to All-Central League recognition. At the plate, Jenkins was an RBI machine. She knocked in 24 runs on the way to earning All-Delco honors for a second time. She hit .329/,356/,600 with four homers and 12 runs scored. Jenkins will continue her softball career at University of Charleston in West Virginia.
Annemarie Banes, Cardinal O’Hara: There wasn’t a better all-around shortstop in the county the last two years. The senior and two-time All-Delco was the catalyst of a Lions team that qualified for the Catholic League quarterfinals and notched 11 victories. En route to earning All-Catholic League honors, Banes paced the Lions with a .417 batting average. She finished with six doubles, four triples and two homers. In addition, Banes scored 12 runs and collected 15 RBIs.
Mackenzie Lewis, Sun Valley: You would be hard-pressed to find a better slap-hitter in Delco than Lewis, who is making her second straight appearance on the All-Delco team. The senior shortstop was a terror for opposing pitchers and the driving force on a Sun Valley team that reached the second round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs. An All-Ches-Mont League honoree, Lewis batted .500 with a .533 on-base percentage. She finished with 38 hits, 31 runs scored and 23 stolen bases while playing rock-solid defense. She is headed to East Stroudsburg.
Maura Kane, Cardinal O’Hara: A senior third baseman, Kane was the other half O’Hara’s uber-talented left side of the infield. And like Banes, Kane was a tremendous defender and hitter over the course of her career with the Lions. The right-handed batter hit .415 and tied Banes for most hits (22) on the team. In addition, she finished with seven doubles and a home run. Kane is making her first appearance on the All-Delco team after making Second Team as a junior Kane will join her older sister, Kaela, who also was an O’Hara All-Delco, at Moravian College.
Ridley’s Leigh Ann Jenkins earned her second straight All-Delco spot by leading the Green Raiders to a first district playoff win in 13 years. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)
Ali Murphy, Haverford: The sophomore centerfielder is an electrifying talent. She is arguably the fastest player in Delaware County who can cover a ton of ground on the outfield grass. As a left-handed slap hitter, Murphy was a vital part of Haverford’s run to the Central League title, batting .519 with a .532 on-base average. Murphy collected 40 hits from the No. 2 spot in the lineup. A first-time All-Delco, Murphy once scored from second base on a sacrifice fly. Haverford coach Bill Whitney said Murphy is the best outfielder he’s ever coached.
Sam Witmer, Upper Darby: The senior outfielder led the way for the Royals again this year. A rare three-time All-Delco honoree, Witmer continued her assault against Central League opponents. She was among the top bats in Delco with a .525 batting average, a .603 on-base percentage and a .656 slugging percentage. Witmer paced the 10-9 Royals, who qualified for the District 1 Class 6A postseason, in hits (32) and RBIs (27). Bound for Trinity College, Witmer added six doubles and one triple on the way to another All-Central League selection.
RonnieMarie Falasco, Delco Christian: While competing at the smallest school in Delaware County, Falasco produced eye-popping numbers in her four seasons with the Knights. The senior catcher was virtually unstoppable in 2017. She was the county’s top slugger with a season-best 11 home runs to go with five doubles and six triples. The Amherst College recruit batted a ridiculous .650 with a .732 on-base percentage. The 2016 Bicentennial League Player of the Year was named a 2017 Foot Locker Scholar Athlete, one of 20 selected among a field of over 36,000 applicants.
Garnet Valley’s Lindsey Hunt, right, is earning raves as probably the best catcher in the area, though she has two years remaining for the Jaguars.
Lindsey Hunt, Garnet Valley: The sophomore catcher might have the brightest future of any underclassmen in Delaware County. The All-Central League honoree is making her first All-Delco appearance after garnering honorable mention recognition last spring. Quite simply, she’s the top all-around catcher in the county. Hunt guided the Jaguars to a trip to the District 1 Class 6A tournament by hitting .531 with a .595 on-base percentage, with eight doubles, four triples and five homers. She already made a verbal commitment to Drexel University.
Amber Seamen, Interboro: It was another stellar year for the senior catcher. A two-time All-Delco, Seamen’s final season in the gold and black was her best yet. In leading the Bucs to a Del Val League crown, as well as an appearance in both a district championship and state tournament for the first time in program history, Seamen was as good as it gets as a two-way catcher. She batted .468/.488/.734 with 23 RBIs, 23 runs, four doubles, four triples and two homers. In 82 plate appearances, she didn’t strike out once. A candidate for Player of the Year honors, Seamen will play collegiate softball at Cabrini.
Michala Maciolek, Agnes Irwin: The senior catcher flies under the radar at Agnes Irwin, but she has proven to be one of the top talents in the county since her freshman year. A two-time All-Delco, Maciolek batted .574/.630/.957 with 16 stolen bases and 22 runs scored for the Owls, who qualified for the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament. Maciolek was instrumental in helping the Owls go from 1-13 in 2015 to the PAISSA playoffs in each of her final two seasons. In the spring, Maciolek was honored by the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame as a scholar athlete. She will continue her career at Syracuse.
The 2017 Main Line high school softball season featured many fine performances from our area teams. Haverford High School captured the Central League championship, and Villa Maria Academy captured the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies League title and advanced to the PIAA District One Class 4A championship game. Archbishop Carroll, Shipley School, Academy of Notre Dame and Episcopal Academy also completed fine seasons.
The All-Main Line high school softball teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections.
What follows are the 2017 All-Main Line high school softball teams:
FIRST TEAM
Grace Jackson, Academy of Notre Dame – Freshman pitcher, an All-Inter-Ac first team selection, posted an ERA of 0.89 in 118 innings pitched, striking out 196 batters. Batted .600 with .683 on-base percentage and scored 42 runs.
Sophia Marlino, Academy of Notre Dame – Junior shortstop/catcher and captain, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection for the third year, had 47 RBI’s in 26 games with 30 runs scored and 15 extra-base hits, including five home runs, for a slugging percentage of .803. Also, and National Fastpitch Coaches association Academic All-American for the third straight year.
Michala Maciolek, Agnes Irwin – Senior catcher, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .574 with a .957 slugging percentage, 22 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. The Owls’ MVP was noted for her outstanding arm behind the plate and fine leadership. Will continue her softball career at Syracuse University.
Mary Clare Boyle, Archbishop Carroll – Junior third baseman/pitcher batted .538 with an on-base percentage of .667 and an OPS of 1.282, scoring nine runs. On the mound, posted 1.38 ERA in 76 innings pitched, allowing only 44 hits and 12 walks.
Clair Boylan, Archbishop Carroll – Junior shortstop batted .625, with an on-base percentage of .750, scoring a team-leading 13 runs. Received first team All-Catholic League honors.
Samantha Martin, Baldwin School – Junior shortstop was unanimous first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batting .442 with slugging percentage of .865 and OPS of 1.365. Cracked nine doubles, two triples and two home runs, with 17 RBI’s in 15 games and 14 runs scored.
Maddie Loughead, Episcopal Academy – Sophomore third baseman, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, was a powerful hitter, with 36 hits in 64 at bats, including eight doubles, seven triples and four home runs. Considered the best baserunner on the team, she is noted for her fine defensive work and heads-up play.
Ariana Feliziani, Episcopal Academy – Senior center fielder and captain, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, had 28 hits (including seven triples) and 11 stolen bases. Noted for her timely hitting, strong arm, smart baserunning, heads-up play and matchless work ethic.
Sonia Groeneveld, Harriton – Senior pitcher/outfielder batted .400 with seven extra base hits, scored 16 runs, and provided strong pitching during each of the Rams’ seven wins.
Heather Lazer, Haverford High – Senior pitcher/shortstop/third baseman/first baseman, the All-Delco Player of the Year, was a first team All-Central League selection and Fords’ MVP for the third straight year. Had 36 hits (including seven doubles and nine triples), batting .480 with a slugging percentage of .813. Had 12 RBI’s from the leadoff spot.
Ali Murphy, Haverford High – Sophomore center fielder, a first team All-Central League selection (she had the most votes for an outfielder in the league), was the Fords’ Defensive Player of the Year. “She’s the best outfielder I ever coached,” said Haverford coach Bill Whitney. Batted .519 from the No. 2 spot in the batting order, and was noted for her outstanding speed and base running ability.
Brooke Nicander, Radnor – Senior pitcher and captain was Red Raiders’ MVP, batting .362 from the No. 3 spot with 21 hits, 15 RBI’s and 11 runs scored. Has accumulated 30 career wins on the mound for Radnor, as the team’s primary pitcher for the past three years.
Chrissy Wentz, Shipley – Senior shortstop, pitcher and captain was Gators’ MVP and a first team All-Friends School League selection. Batted .707 with six home runs, 39 RBI’s, 27 runs scored, a 1.630 slugging percentage and 11 stolen bases. Will play softball for Ursinus College.
Liz Durham, Shipley – Hard-hitting senior catcher and captain, a first team All-Friends’ School League selection, provided strong leadership and all-around standout play from behind the plate and offensively, batting .500, with a .583 on-base percentage.
Alyssa Viscardo, Villa Maria Academy – Sophomore pitcher was Hurricanes’ co-MVP, striking out 165 batters in 133 innings pitched, while posting a 2.10 ERA. An AACA all-star, she also was a strong, run-producing hitter, batting .317 with 14 RBI’s.
Bri Wright, Villa Maria Academy – Senior second baseman was Hurricanes’ co-MVP and an AACA all-star, batting .338 with 21 RBI’s and 15 runs scored. Was a slick fielder at the keystone position, recording 48 putouts.
SECOND TEAM
Academy of Notre Dame – Caroline Adams, freshman outfielder/pitcher; Michele Bilotta, junior first baseman; Marissa Mycek, junior shortstop/third baseman; Anita Bilotta, junior catcher/third baseman.
Agnes Irwin – Paige DiLullo, sophomore pitcher.
Archbishop Carroll – Jess Redding, senior second baseman; Abby Wick, junior catcher.
Baldwin School – Angela Smith, senior third baseman.
Conestoga – Olivia Cepielik, sophomore shortstop; Rachel Lopez, junior second baseman.
Episcopal Academy – Belle Volatile, freshman pitcher/middle infielder; Reilly Wright, senior shortstop.
Friends’ Central – Olivia Bartholomew, senior pitcher.
Harriton – Anna Walsh, sophomore shortstop.
Haverford High – Lindsay Moran, senior left fielder; Madison Lane, senior shortstop; Gabrielle Gentile, senior pitcher.
Merion Mercy Academy – Leah McCray, junior center fielder/left fielder.
Radnor – Audrey Rosenblum, sophomore shortsop; Sydney Aljian, senior second baseman.
Shipley – Sophie Webber, senior pitcher.
Villa Maria Academy – Ana Ciarrocchi, sophomore left fiekder; Fran Delviscio, sophomore third baseman; Riley Miller, sophomore center fielder.
HONORABLE MENTION
Academy of Notre Dame – Erin Mahoney, junior second baseman.
Agnes Irwin – Rajaa Wilcox, junior shortstop.
Archbishop Carroll – Erin Gibbons, junior center fielder; Maggie Delaney, junior infielder.
Conestoga – Emme Rycyzyn, sophomore catcher; Lauren Lofland, freshman pitcher.
Episcopal Academy – Brooke Royer, senior catcher.
Friends’ Central – Maddie McDonnell, senior third baseman.
Harriton – Julia Ermi, sophomore catcher; Kiley Marsh, sophomore third baseman.
Lower Merion – Jessie Epstein, senior shortstop; Hannah Charlson, sophomore pitcher; Kylie Pacchione, freshman third baseman.
Radnor – Grace Moore, senior first baseman; Sarah Rosenblum, senior outfielder.
Villa Maria Academy – Elisabeth D’Ascenzo, sophomore first baseman; Marissa Bruder, junior shortstop.
(Note: Barrack Hebrew Academy did not submit a nomination ballot.)
The source of so much of the frustration wrought on playing fields across Pennsylvania stems from an astoundingly brief phrase.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.It may be little consolation to a coach watching a season end in emphatic fashion that his or her travails stem in part from one sentence written nearly a half-century ago. But like roads to ancient Rome, every conversation about public and private school participation in interscholastic athletics in Pennsylvania leads to seventeen painstakingly assembled words.
“Private schools shall be permitted, if otherwise qualified, to be members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association,” reads Act 219 of 1972, which earned the signature of Gov. Milton Shapp on Oct. 16. That amendment to the Public School Code forever changed the landscape of high school sports; it remains the blind alley in which every conversation of reform invariably gets marooned.
Though high school sports then were hardly the attention-demanding behemoth of today, the ramifications resonated with the eight representatives who introduced House Bill 2104 to the General Assembly in May 1972.
Simple though it appeared, the bill sponsored by Rep. Samuel Frank, D-132 of Lehigh County, underwent two revisions, the key alteration gaining private schools not just the right to compete for state championships but full inclusion in the PIAA, which from its founding in 1913 had been the exclusive purview of public schools.
That detail is anything but trivial. It imbued private schools with full membership benefits of and required adherence to PIAA bylaws, even in areas where previous methods of operation had deviated. The legislative binding of the schools seems to preclude any hope of one day decoupling them via non-legislative means for separate state tournaments; mustering the political will to even spur the discussion has traditionally been in short supply.
That fact has entailed countless pages of deliberation, leading time and again to boardrooms, courtrooms and back to the floor of the General Assembly in Harrisburg. While possibilities to alleviate tension in the unbalanced playing field argument that was illustrated Monday are myriad, the most prevalent idea account for the differences in the operations of public and private entities. The most extreme envision separate tournaments for public and non-public entities.
If any of those hypothetical plans came to fruition, they’d almost certainly lead back through those same corridors of power.
***
The General Assembly’s action in 1972 established precedent to intervene in the PIAA’s affairs, a precursor to vaster intercessions down the road. The PIAA often veered into the General Assembly’s crosshairs through the end of the 20th century, and the late 1990s brought an especially contentious period that drastically reshaped the organization, calling into question its very existence.
“I am optimistic about the future of the PIAA,” Sen. James Rhoades, D-29 of Cambria County, declared in the Capitol Feb. 1, 1999 (page 13 of pdf). “Although the special committee’s factual findings paint a bleak picture of an organization in disarray, our investigation has compelled the PIAA leaders to adopt an attitude that is conducive to change.”
Such changes reverberate to the present. They speak to pronounced antipathy between the legislature and the organization; though PIAA reform has considerably soothed animosity, the specter of legislative intrusion still hovers over the mere hint of any landmark changes.
Rhoades, who died in 2009, had long been vigilant of the PIAA’s operations, chairing committees to investigate the dealings in 1988 and 1992. A bipartisan committee, the product of more than a year of deliberation, was impaneled in 1999 and sought more comprehensive reform. Of primary concern were issues of eligibility and finances, which the government felt the PIAA handled opaquely and arbitrarily. While the PIAA remains an independent and voluntary member organization, its funds funnel from taxpayers through schools. Citing displeasure from constituents and, in the words of panel member and Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-30 of Bedford County, “the absolutely dictatorial conduct,” of then PIAA executive director Bradley Cashman, the legislature took aim.
“We are not here today because of a single event,” Sen. Robert Robbins, R-50 of Butler County, said in 1998 (page 10 of pdf). “We are here today because of years of activities that have gone on and need to be looked into. We truly have to find out, as we look at the interscholastic sports system in Pennsylvania, what truly is best for our student athletes and go forward from here.”
Jubelirer trumpeted the committee’s labors — seven public hearings, 57 witnesses, 8,338 pages of documentation — that were distilled into 13 recommendations in the form of Act 91 of 2000, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Accountability Act. The most far-reaching created the Athletic Oversight Council (PAOC), a bicameral panel charged with keeping the PIAA on the straight and narrow via annual meetings devoted to major issues.
“For the first time in its history, the PIAA will be accountable for the way it runs interscholastic athletics in Pennsylvania,” Rhoades trumpeted. “This is a major victory for the rights of the Commonwealth’s student athletes and their parents.”
Most of the 13 original stipulations were implemented quickly, forming the backbone of the modern PIAA — open board meetings, competitive bidding, unfettered media access, a more inclusive board representing diverse constituencies, etc.
But Act 91, which gave the PIAA two years to comply, included this proviso: A year after the reform deadline (three years from bill passage), the Council could by majority vote “submit a proposal for the selection of a new entity to oversee the operation of interscholastic athletics in this Commonwealth.” Effectively, the Oversight Council has the authority to end the PIAA.
***
Fast forward a decade and every major change the PIAA has debated appears in the minutes of the PAOC. As it relates to questions of competitive balance, the PAOC’s stance is that any significant shift in classifications would have to, at the least, be heavily vetted by the legislature; any grand restructuring, such as separate tournaments for public and private championships, would likely involve much more than cursory input.
“For us to have separate playoffs,” PIAA executive director Dr. Robert Lombardi told PA Prep Live last week, “it would take the legislature.”
Other issues have borne the hallmarks of that input. When District 7 proposed sweeping changes to transfer language in the bylaws in 2006, alternatives were proffered to the PAOC. The integration of the Philadelphia Catholic League for the 2008-09 season was discussed for years by the council.
The legislature has also acted independently of the PAOC to mediate PIAA procedures. State Rep. Curtis G. Sonney, R-4 of Erie County, sponsored House Bill 1938 in 2011, proposing that “no nonpublic school or private school that offers scholarships or tuition assistance to students … may participate in interscholastic athletic playoffs or championships between public schools,” essentially partitioning public and private into Division I and II. That bill died in committee.
Separate from legislative meddling, the PIAA has endeavored to tackle allegations of competitive imbalance at somewhat regular intervals, but few have reached their intended finish lines. Private-school dominance was addressed briefly in the early 1990s and again in 2001 (with football spearheading the conversation). Explorations performed in 2003, at the behest of Cashman, and 2007, on a motion put forth by the District 1 Executive Committee (pdf), failed to produce a feasible conclusion. A six-classification scheme similar to the one enacted for the 2016-17 academic year was defeated in 2009. A 2011 sketch put forth by ELCO Athletic Director (now District 3 vice chairman) Doug Bohannon, which proposed grouping the top quartile of public schools by enrollment with the top quartile of private schools by enrollment together in a classification and so on, gained little traction.
These two strands — legislative input and the debate over competitive balance — converged in 2012 with the PAOC’s most salient intervention when the PIAA tried to alter definitions of schools. In May 2011, the PIAA Board of Directors put forth an amendment (pdf) to its constitution’s glossary to add to the lexicon the terms “boundary” and “non-boundary”. A “boundary” school would be any one in which “at least 75 percent of students enrolled therein reside within the geographic boundary of the public school district.” A “non-boundary” school would essentially be anything else. That differed sharply from the existing definition of a “private school” as simply “a nonpublic school;” the new demarcation lumped certain charter schools with private schools in accordance with their method of recruitment rather than public schools, which reflects their manner of funding.
Though tabled at its introduction in May, the proposal was altered slightly and passed by overwhelming margins on first and second readings in July and October. A third and final reading was twice deferred, in part to permit a meeting of the PAOC that allowed stakeholders, such as the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and other private school envoys, to lodge objections in January 2012 (page 43 of pdf), calling the idea “an intentional effort by a majority faction (public school districts) to accord disparate and discriminatory treatment to a sub-class of student-athletes”. The primary argument was that such language served as a preamble to partitioning schools into separate tournaments.
At a final vote in March, the boundary measure failed unanimously.
The reason, Cashman revealed in an interview with the Reading Eagle upon his retirement later that year and confirmed to PA Prep Live recently, was the specter of legislative involvement. Specifically, the PIAA faced proposed legislation effectively banning schools in the Commonwealth from participating in any organization that would hold separate championships on the basis of public/private status.
“That plan went through two readings, but by the time it got to the third reading, that’s when the board decided to back off because of legislation that was being threatened, and actually being introduced into the Senate, to make sure we didn’t discriminate against private school(s),” Cashman told The Eagle. “So the whole plan basically died because of that legislation. Once the board decided not to adopt those definitions of boundary vs. non-boundary schools, then legislation was pulled from the table.”
Professor Kenneth Jacobsen, Temple University Beasley School of Law
The boundary saga posits a pertinent deterrent to future queries. For instance, Bob Tonkin, a long-time administrator from District 9 who designed and championed the six-class football scheme, told PA Prep Live in December that the intimation of separating public and private was a non-starter. Any inkling of altering the fundamental schematic devolves into concerns of litigation and externalities the PIAA would rather not face, even before confronting the existential threat Act 91 empowers.
“If you talk to the legislature today, they won’t want to touch the issue with a 10-foot pole,” then PIAA board president Wally Blucas told the Meadville Tribune in 2007, a sentiment that rings true a decade later.
But fear over legislative involvement isn’t so cut and dry to some. Ken Jacobsen is a professor at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, specializing in sports and entertainment law. At a remove from the bureaucratic goings on of PIAA administration, Jacobsen’s expert view doesn’t see Act 219 necessitating the paralyzing inevitability of legislative intervention.
“If you repeat something long enough and frequently enough, then people start believing that,” Jacobsen said. “And I’m not saying that they’re not well-intentioned and they don’t harbor those views. As a matter of legislation … I do not believe from my reading that there’s a legislative impediment to the PIAA holding those state tournaments separated from boundary and non-boundaries.”
Jacobsen takes an optimistic view of the powers Act 219 endows. The PIAA has dominion over how it structures tournaments involving its members. While nonpublic constituents would decry separate tournaments as inequitable, Jacobsen sees the public schools’ boundary constraints as similarly discriminatory in the current system. The blessing of the legislature would provide the PIAA a bulwark against the inevitable flood of litigation. But from the legal view, once the noise and emotions obfuscating the facts are dispelled, Jacobsen poses the PIAA’s question as two-fold: What are its nondiscrimination requirements, and what is its mandate in administering athletics in Pennsylvania? His answer is clear.
“I do not believe from my reading that there’s a legislative impediment to the PIAA holding those state tournaments separated by boundary and non-boundary schools,” he said.
Any major change would ruffle feathers, entailing question of where political will lies, either in backing or impeding PIAA action, and what tolerance all sides possess for legal skirmishes. But in the meantime, the shadow of the General Assembly looming over the PIAA politicizes high school sports, turning it into what Jacobsen regards as a “ping-pong ball” subject to the political whims of a diverse body.
The myriad quandaries contributing to this political morass seem to heavily favor maintenance of the status quo.
***
Since its formation, State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-18 of Bensalem, has chaired the Athletic Oversight Committee. He regiments his stance by the PIAA statutes: It sets forth rules to which all members are beholden; Violations would incur sanction according to prescribed guidelines.
The tacit implication is that for a private school to win a state title, it has been deemed to have followed the rules. And to DiGirolamo, the impression of impropriety is just a smokescreen, albeit a vitriolic one.
“If there is a transfer or recruiting for athletic purposes, bring it to us,” DiGirolamo told PA Prep Live. “We want to know about it, and we’d be glad to act on it.”
Lombardi sees it much the same way. Any schools participating in the PIAA playoffs have inexorably adhered to prohibitions on athletic scholarships and overt recruiting, otherwise they wouldn’t have gotten there.
“People need to stop the rumors and innuendo and bring that forward with credible evidence,” Lombardi said. “We have the ability to hold hearings and hold people’s hands to the fire. There’s no credible evidence, just barroom talk, and we seem to be operating at a disadvantage that there seems to be, ‘oh so and so is here so they much be cheating.’”
The perception of impropriety, though, is harder to allay. Even DiGirolamo’s vice-chairman on the PAOC, State Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-6 of Bucks County, isn’t so sure of certain schools’ scruples.
“In my opinion, these schools are still recruiting,” Tomlinson told a PAOC hearing in 2015 (page 24 of pdf). “There are schools out there recruiting, I guess it is maybe hard to prove.”
Rep. DiGirolamo’s view is in part shaped by personal experience. A graduate of Bishop Egan, he empathizes with parents who choose private education, paying a second school bill on top of the one underwritten by their taxes. DiGirolamo was a vocal proponent of the Catholic League integrating to the PIAA more than a decade ago, and he sees recruitment — in the permissible, non-sports sense — as imperative to the survival of Catholic schools.
In an athletic context, Catholic schools have parameters within which they operate, including conditions of licit recruitment and declared feeder schools. While magnified for schools that must attract new students to keep the doors open, recruiting is hardly the sole domain of private schools: Cases of public schools poaching athletes from other districts are common, if not as attention-grabbing. Financial aid meted out by private schools is governed by Pennsylvania law and, in accordance with PIAA rules, must be based on financial need or academic merit, with principals overseeing compliance. Scholarships explicitly for athletic reasons are verboten, and DiGirolamo is satisfied by the information he’s received that the practice isn’t occurring.
“I have not been able to find a shred of evidence that they are doing that,” he said. “If people are paying their tuition or offering athletes scholarships, I wish they would bring that to the committee.”
With the Catholic League in particular, Cashman and Lombardi, as his associate executive director leading up to the league’s assimilation a decade ago, made exhaustive overtures to highlight ways in which schools’ previously unchecked activities differed from PIAA mandates. Of the many fault lines, athletic scholarships constituted the most visible infringement, but that is, according to administrators, a discontinued practice.
The problem that remains is in part a lagging stigma, tinged by jealousy and other emotions, that may not faithfully reflect the truth oversight bodies have empirically uncovered.
“I’ve heard the rumors out there, and the ones that would disturb me the most is if people are attending private schools and somehow getting tuition reimbursed or subsidized for athletic purposes,” DiGirolamo said. “If that is happening, that would raise all kinds of red flags. If that is going on, then I would say something has to do be done.
“But I don’t have any proof, nor do I think anybody has any proof that that’s going on.”
Top Photo: Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks, speaks to reporters during a Capitol news conference to float a middle-of-the-road proposal to end a two-week-old budget stalemate on Thursday, July 16, 2015 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
In Wednesday’s paper, the growth of charter school’s carves a niche between the traditional public and private spheres. How does the PIAA rise to the challenge of accommodating them? For an early look at part 3, visit PaPrepLive.com Tuesday night.
There’s a silver lining in the PIAA’s grappling with issues of competitive balance, particularly with regard to public and private schools: It seems that no state has settled upon a sustainable, scalable solution that is applicable everywhere. The potential remedies run the gamut, and it may be of some consolation to know that many states are arguing the same points that are tripping up the Commonwealth.
As such, one of the most frequent and least helpfully reductive solutions offered in interviews is the sentiment that, “X state does this, why can’t we just do that?”
The simple answer is that most other places are just as messy and no nearer to answering the question, if such a mythically perfect solution exists. A few examples we’ve come across in research that might be enlightening.
New Jersey holds separate championships for public and private schools in certain sports, then uses a tournament of champions model to crown an overarching winner in some sports. Only problem: To do that, New Jersey has to break its athletic association’s constitution, which bars the crowning of state champs according to an archaic clause of mysterious origins that was likely inserted to preserve Thanksgiving football. The Garden State is also wrangling with transfer amendments that are predictably drawing opposition and a complex geography with power centers in the north and south that in some ways mirror the PIAA’s Philadelphia-Pittsburgh axis, though Jersey has less ballast in between.
The key difference between New Jersey and Pennsylvania is that New Jersey is free of the legislatively arranged marriage of public and private. The NJHSIAA, which like the PIAA is a voluntary member organization, incorporated public and private schools from the beginning of its existence, whereas the PIAA’s inclusion of private schools to a previously all-public organization had to be forced by law.
New York’s high school administration is carved into four oversight bodies – public, independent, Catholic and New York City’s Public School Athletic League. Virginia and Maryland have separate playoffs, but they stem from separate athletic association. Delaware’s athletic association is administered directly from the state’s department of education, a scheme that doesn’t scale up when state size expands beyond three counties.
Alabama in 1999 adopted a multiplier, the first in the nation, for private schools, on the logic that private school students participate in interscholastic athletics at a higher rate than public school pupils. The multiplier was set at 1.35 times the private school’s enrollment. Tennessee, the site of a plethora of court cases, has two divisions and applies a multiplier on the basis of whether or not financial aid is provided. Illinois uses a multiplier and a success-factor system, which forces schools to move up based on titles won. Ohio, which twice voted down splitting the public and private schools into separate tournaments, operates off a complex mathematical formula to determine success factors.
This analysis springing from Ohio several years ago is a tidy summary of the available options, and though it’s eight years old and requires an independent revisit to update some of the information, Timothy Liam Epstein’s paper that specifically focuses on multipliers is one of several pieces of academic research that delves deeper into the topic.
The prevailing consensus is that no one seems to have a solution to the question of competitive balance, but the possibilities to improve the status quo are myriad.
Malia Calciano belted a two-run homer and pitched a complete game to lead Strath Haven to a 3-2 Central League decision over Penncrest.
Calciano’s dinger in the top of the sixth inning put the Panthers in front. Emily Lesher chipped in with an RBI single.
Elsewhere in the Central League:
Ridley 8, Garnet Valley 7 >> Ashley Shanks powered the Green Raiders going 3-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBIs. Anna Torrens added two hits, including a double, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Diane Torregrossa led the Jaguars with three hits, including a double.
Marple Newtown 16, Harriton 10 >> Maggie Conlin went 3-for-3 with a double and five RBIs to lead the Tigers to victory in their season opener. Ally DeFruscio hit a triple, and Rachel Cowley picked up with the win.
Upper Darby 12, Lower Merion 2 >> Sara Sullivan bashed two home runs and drove in four to help the Royals crush the Aces. All-Delco Lexie Witmer and pitcher Rebecca Sorrentino (nine Ks) also went yard for UD.
Conestoga 13, Haverford 3 >> Amber Moscoe had a nice day at the plate for the Fords (0-1, 0-1), collecting two hits and an RBI.
In the Del Val League:
Chichester 7, Penn Wood 1 >> Victoria Hudson was 3-for-3 with a double and Rose Ryback got the win from the circle for the Eagles. Ameenah Ballenger recorded 13 strikeouts and tripled losing effort. Melanie Miller added an RBI single for the Patriots (0-1).
Interboro 15, Academy Park 0 >> All-Delco Bridget Bailey struck out 11 of the 12 batters she faced in a perfect game. Kaitlyn Hill drilled a three-run homer for the Bucs (1-1, 1-0) and Claudia Fisky had a double and two RBIs.
In the Catholic League:
Cardinal O’Hara 17, Neumann-Goretti 1 >> Maggie Loomis, Sami Randazzo and Julia Mirarchi each had two hits in support of pitcher Jenna Smith, who hurled a one-hitter with four Ks.
CONCORD >> When a softball team loses two All-Delco infielders to graduation, that’s often a signal that a rebuilding phase is imminent.
For Cardinal O’Hara, starting from scratch doesn’t appear to be the case in 2018. The Lions have a team that’s pretty solid across the board and should only improve as the days go by. In two games, they have scored 32 runs.
Not a bad start, huh?
“We lost some really good players,” junior pitcher Jenna Smith said Friday after throwing a complete game with three strikeouts in a 15-2 thumping of Garnet Valley, “but our new players are really good, too.”
The Lions do not have a senior on the team this season. Allison Ahearn, Grace Hussey, Julia Kush, Smith, Alexis Galli and Sami Randazzo are among the returning players who gained varsity experience over the last two years.
“A lot of us have been playing together for a while, even though we are still a young team,” said Ahearn, O’Hara’s slugging first baseman. “We jelled really well today, and that’s a really good sign.
“A lot of us juniors have to step up. What we had last year, I mean, we lost our main hitters in Annemarie (Banes) and Maura (Kane), but we have new girls stepping in and they are going to keep getting better.”
The Lions (2-0) batted around twice Friday and won in five innings. Ahearn had a big day with three hits, including a two-run ground rule double in the second inning. She had five RBIs.
Ahearn took the double the opposite way to deep left field. Had the ball not trickled under the outfield fence, Ahearn would’ve had a bases-clearing triple. But in a game that O’Hara clearly owned, Ahearn was OK settling for the two-bagger instead.
Ahearn expects to be a vital part in the middle of the order this season.
“It’s a little bit of pressure (hitting cleanup), but I just try to relax and execute my goal,” Ahearn said. “I just need to move up the runners.”
The Lions were patient against freshman pitcher Maison Logan, who was making her first varsity start for Garnet Valley. Jags ace Becca Halford threw more than 100 pitches in Thursday’s loss to Ridley and was unavailable for Friday’s nonleague contest. O’Hara worked 16 bases on balls against GV pitching.
Looking to just get through the day, GV coach George White called upon All-Delco junior Lindsey Hunt from her position at third base. Hunt, a Drexel commit, is one of the best softball players in the area. She has power to all fields and is a tremendous athlete. A catcher by trade, Hunt got the game’s final five outs Friday. It marked the first time Hunt had ever pitched in a meaningful game.
She walked a few, and gave up a couple of runs and hits, but Hunt hung in there and took one for the team.
“We’re a young team and we have to bring some freshmen up to play on varsity,” White said. “I know with the weather that everyone is kind of in the same boat, not being able to play outside, but it’s been tough. Today, not having Becca available, we put our freshman (Logan) in a tough spot. We come back Monday and Wednesday next week and we’ll hope to win those games. We’ll be alright.”
As for Smith, she has focused on improving her pitching repertoire. In two games, she has looked sharp as she takes the next step in her development this season.
“We started working on the changeup and that’s pretty good now. My best pitches are probably the curve and the screw,” she said. “As a team we have a pretty good bond. A lot of us were on the same team last year so we all know each other pretty well.”
Hussey, the Lions’ leadoff hitter, coaxed five walks and scored four runs. Kush supplied a single, two RBIs and three walks. Slap-hitting sophomore Maggie Loomis had three walks and a sacrifice fly. Junior newcomer Alyssa Daly singled twice and scored three runs, while freshman Julia Mirarchi chipped in with a single and two runs.
Freshman Annie Bechtold laced a single to knock in both of Garnet Valley’s runs. Audrey Shenk added a double and a run scored.
Freshman Madison Thompson (2-for-4) ripped a two-out, two-run, walk-off double to lift Bonner & Prendergast to a 10-9 victory in eight innings Friday.
Winning pitcher Meghan Sullivan led off the eighth with a triple. Ariana McGeary added an RBI single for the Pandas (2-2, 1-2 Catholic League).
In the Central League:
Ridley 1, Lower Merion 0 >> Ashley Shanks broke a scoreless tie with an RBI hit in the top of the eighth inning. She finished with three knocks, including a double.
Anna Torrens had a solid day also for the Green Raiders, as she contributed a single and a double. Morgan Chapman allowed only three hits in throwing a shutout.
Penncrest 12, Marple Newtown 3 >> Melody Gleason belted a grand slam in the second inning to spark the Lions (1-2, 1-2) to victory.
Emma Stauffer went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, and Collette Ernst added two hits, an RBI and three runs scored.
Pitcher Maya Hartman notched the win.
Springfield 7, Radnor 5 >> Liz Duffy collected three singles and scored two runs to lead the Cougars (2-0, 2-0). Jenna Casasanto struck out seven in a complete game effort.
Audrey Rosenblum paced the Raiders by going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
In the Bicentennial League:
Calvary Christian 15, Delco Christian 2 >> Erin Mulholland’s home run was the lone offensive highlight for the Knights (1-1, 1-1).
In the Inter-Ac League:
Episcopal Academy 12, Agnes Irwin 2 >> Belle Volatile’s first-inning dinger set the tone for the Churchwomen in their home opener. Volatile and Jackie Miller both finished 3-for-4 at the dish. Hailee Moran and Emma Tansky (three stolen bases) each had two hits. Emma Tansky was the winning pitcher.
In nonleague action:
Upper Darby 12, Chichester 1 >> Lexi Witmer went 4-for-4 with a triple, and Sarah Sullivan smacked a double and a triple for the Royals. Rebecca Sorrentino was the winning pitcher.
Merion Mercy 11, Penn Wood 0 >> Leah McCray was 4-for-4 and Kiersten Crouse pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts for Merion Mercy (1-0). At the plate Crouse was 2-for-3.
Ameenah Ballenger had the only hit for the Patriots (0-2).
Anna Mefford’s single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning gave Haverford a 3-2 walk-off victory over Ridley.
Hannah Hermansen, who began the inning at second base due to the international tiebreaker rule, scored the winning run. Morgan Marchesani added a double and an RBI for Haverford (1-1).
Annabelle Donato allowed only four hits in throwing a complete game. Ashley Shanks collected three hits for Ridley.
Elsewhere in the Central League:
Strath Haven 10, Marple Newtown 8 >> Emily Lesher was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs scored to lead the Panthers (2-0). Audrey Kochanowicz belted a home run, and Hazel Kane legged out a triple.
Penncrest 12, Radnor 0 >> Maya Hartman twirled a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts as the Lions pounced on the Raiders. Abby Allinson crushed a three-run homer and Liz Hoole was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
Springfield 7, Harriton 3 >> Jordan Galloway paced the Cougars (3-0, 3-0) with three hits, including a double. Jenna Casasanto fanned 10 and allowed no walks in a complete game performance.
Garnet Valley 15, Lower Merion 0 >> Reece Gabriele powered the Jaguars to a blowout win, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Lindsey Hunt and Kelly McLaughlin each supplied a home run. Becca Halford pitched two-hit shutout with four Ks. Diane Torregrossa was 1-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
In nonleague action:
Interboro 6, Boyertown 0 >> All-Delco Bridget Bailey pitched a three-hit shutout with 14 Ks. Billie Kerwood was 2-for-2 with three RBIs for the Bucs (2-1).
In the Catholic League:
Bonner & Prendergast 15, Little Flower 2 >> Kaitlyn Martin clubbed two long balls, and Ariana McGeary launched a two-run homer as the Pandas (3-2, 2-0) rolled to their second win in a row. Meghan Sullivan pitched a three-hitter with nine strikeouts, and helped her caused with three hits and one RBI.
In the Ches-Mont League:
Sun Valley 14, Great Valley 7 >> Maddie Gutowiecz, who was the winning pitcher, belted two homers and knocked in five runs for the Vanguards. Jamie McIhlenney, Alayna Lloyd, Madison Koons and Claudia Davis all chipped in with two base knocks.
In the Bicentennial League:
Christian Academy 10, Faith Christian 5 >> Oksana Specht was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored as TCA won its season opener. Lindsay Haseltine (three RBIs), Courtney Bailey (two RBIs) and Makayla Peltz (two RBIs) contributed three hits apiece. Freshman Gen Kozub was the winning pitcher, striking out six.
Trailing by four runs in the bottom of the seventh, The Christian Academy made the most of its final opportunity at the dish.
Freshman Gen Kozub had the game-winning RBI as the Crusaders rallied for five runs in their last at bats to claim a 13-12 victory over MaST Charter in a Bicentennial League contest Tuesday.
Kozub was 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. Grace Gormley added four hits, two RBIs and three stolen bases from the leadoff spot for the Crusaders (2-0, 2-0). Lindsay Haseltine contributed with a single, a triple, two ribbies and a pair of steals.
In the Del Val League:
Academy Park 5, Penn Wood 0 >> Kayleigh Cervino twirled a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts for the Knights
Penn Wood’s Ameenah Ballenger also recorded 10 punchouts from the circle.
Interboro 7, Chichester 2 >> All-Delco pitcher Bridget Bailey struck out 16 and allowed zero walks in throwing a three-hit complete game. Bailey helped herself at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs.
Lilly Bonner was 3-for-3 with a triple and a walk for the Bucs (3-1, 2-0).
In the Inter-Ac League:
Penn Charter 4, Notre Dame 2 >> A four-run bottom of the sixth inning led the Quakers past the Irish. Grace Jackson collected two singles and Anita Bilotta added a double and a run scored for Notre Dame. Brooke McKeown singled and reached base three times.
Grace Stansfield was 2-for-3 and cracked a three-run homer for Penn Charter.
In the Catholic League:
Bonner & Prendergast 16, Neumann-Goretti 2 >> Allison Martin’s two home runs and four RBIs led the way for the Pandas, whose lineup pounded out 18 hits. Martin also pitched a two-hitter with three Ks to earn the win.
Meghan Sullivan also went yard twice and drove in three runs. Sam Lachette and Ariana McGeary both were 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Hallahan 6, Archbishop Carroll 2 >> Hallahan plated five runs in the top of the eighth to down the Patriots. Maddy McBride, a Sharon Hill resident, pitched a three-hit complete game with nine strikeouts.
In the Ches-Mont League:
Downingtown East 10, Sun Valley 2 >> Maddie Gutowiecz and Hailey Lipka each legged out a triple for the Vanguards.
With every passing day, Archbishop Wood senior Marisa Browne saw the softball team’s new field inching closer and closer to completion. The days of making a 10-minute drive to the Hatboro Little League facility for games or practices were gone. The Vikings finally had a field, even if the weather kept pushing back their first game using it.
Saturday, finally, Wood got to play a home game on its own field and ushered it in with a 15-0 win over West Catholic in three innings.
“It’s so nice having it here, it’s ours,” Browne said. “Football doesn’t even have a field of their own yet, it’s great. I was thrilled, I think everyone on our team was. A lot of the work was done over the summer but seeing it for the first time was exciting.”
The win improved the Vikings to 3-2 on the season and 3-0 in PCL play. While the field is new, the team is not with an experienced group again looking to contend in the Catholic League. Browne, Jules Donchez, Gianna Lancelotti, Taylor Schwartz and Kylee Guerrera make up the veteran core.
Wood has won the last two District 12 titles, the first in 3A and last year in 5A when the PIAA split to six classes but is still looking to put together a run in the PCL tournament and a victory in states. Like most teams in the area, the Vikings were hamstrung by poor weather throughout preseason but have seemed to hit their stride this past week.
A 9-2 win on the road at St. Hubert saw the Vikings’ bats come to life which was much-needed after the delay-filled start to the season.
“We’re feeling better, we had 14 hits against St. Hubert so the bats are starting to come alive to go with our pitching,” Wood coach Jackie Ecker said. “We have a really good squad this year, so I’m confident in them. Even in the cold, they didn’t give up and kept on fighting. It was tough but they picked it up and I think they’ll keep it going even with a tough schedule ahead.”
Ecker put together a solid non-league slate loaded with SOL squads and while the Vikings dropped their first two games against William Tennent and Council Rock North, Browne said they didn’t get too down about it.
The senior right-hander, a Drexel recruit, is one of the best pitchers in the PCL and also a solid bat. Donchez, Lancelotti, both juniors and Guerrera, a sophomore, anchor the top end of the lineup and have been some of the team’s top hitters since their first seasons with the program.
“There’s not a lot of negativity, I mean we’re girls so there’s drama, but we’re teammates and we rally around each other whenever we need to,” Browne said. “There’s more expectations on us, we have to play well every game, but we still have the same attitude that we’re just going to go out and play.”
Wood also has some newcomers and returners that have stepped up like Jackie Fagan, Rachael Burns and Sam Link. Freshman Deana Campbell likewise earned her way into the starting lineup, mostly in the outfield but also gives the Vikings another pitching arm.
Campbell pitched Saturday’s game and the coaching staff is looking to get the righty more innings through the season.
“This team, they really just rally around each other,” Ecker said. “I think that’s something we’ll do all season.”
Wood formally opens its new field next Saturday when it faces Council Rock South in a non-league game. After the varsity game, which is set for 12:30, there will be a field dedication and an alumni game.
The game will cap what is setting up as a challenging week for the Vikings. Wood is scheduled to host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, then has two PCL games in a Tuesday home game with Archbishop Ryan and a Thursday trip to Conwell-Egan before hosting the Golden Hawks on Saturday.
“I’m happy that softball teams after us at Wood are going to have their own field here,” Browne said. “We’re the ones that built it, well, not literally build it, but we helped bring it in.”
There’s a reason Brooke Jones bats cleanup for Upper Darby. She showed why in a 9-1 Central League softball victory over Strath Haven.
Jones was 2-for-4 including a homer, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Rylee Shanahan, Jess Liberio and Amanda Dawson added two hits and one RBIs apiece.
Penncrest 13, Lower Merion 1 >> Julia Eckels enjoyed a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, home run, six RBIs and two runs scored. Holly Werner added two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Maya Hartman and Colette Ernst allowed two hits each from the circle.
Haverford 11, Harriton 0 >> Annabelle Donato and Hannah Hermanssen combined on a three-hit shutout. Morgan Marchesani (three RBIs) and Ali Murphy (2-for-3, two runs) paced the offense.
Conestoga 10, Marple Newtown 5 >> The Pioneers scored three times in the fifth inning and added five runs in the top of the seventh.
Brianna Clark, Rachel Cowley and Abby Leyden and two hits and one RBI each for the Tigers.
In the Del Val League:
Chichester 15, Penn Wood 0 >> Ava Franz knocked in four runs, and Hayley Larrabee allowed just one hit in three innings to pace the Eagles (4-4, 3-1).
In the Ches-Mont League:
Avon Grove 4, Sun Valley 0 >> The Vanguards outhit the Devils, 6-5, but could not push any runs across the plate. Madison Koons had two hits for Sun Valley, and Maddie Gutowiecz allowed two earned runs and also had a double.
In the Bicentennial League: :
Christian Academy 16, Morrisville 0 >> Gen Kozub hurled a one-hit shutout with five strikeouts and also ripped a triple, drove in three runs and stole three bases. Grace Gormley added three hits, four runs scored, one RBI and two steals. Oksana Spect contributed two hits and two RBIs.
In nonleague action:
Archbishop Carroll 6, Penn Charter 5 >> Julia DiSands singled home Mary Clare Boyle in the bottom of the ninth inning to win it for the Patriots. DiSands turned a double play in the top of the seventh inning to send the game into extras.
DiSands, Boyle, her sister Erin, and Erin Gibbons finished with two hits each. Catcher Casey Maloney slugged a home run.
WARMINSTER >> There’s only one way Council Rock South softball coach Frank Marino describes pitcher Danielle Walters.
The sophomore right-hander is quite simply, a workhorse. A day after taking a loss against Neshaminy’s loaded offense, Walters stepped right back in the circle against Archbishop Wood looking to right the ship.
She delivered, both at the plate and in the circle, holding the Vikings to one hit in a 4-0 win Saturday afternoon.
“I had a lot of spin on the ball and I kept putting it on the corner of the plate,” Walters said. “I was hitting my spots pretty consistently.”
Wood’s offense was held in check but the Hawks didn’t have all that much success either thanks to the effort of senior pitcher Marisa Browne. Browne, who signed her letter of intent with Drexel on Thursday, struck out 16 CR South batters and gave up just five hits.
In a tight game where both pitchers are dealing, every mistake gets amplified and that was the case Saturday. CR South’s first two runs came on passed balls while a two-out error in the seventh inning allowed the Hawks to tack on two more runs.
“We have to work on that,” Wood coach Jackie Ecker said. “Marisa gives 180 percent every single time, I think I get more frustrated than her and she just keeps her composure. She works hard and always will keep us in the game, she takes a lot on herself and just keeps throwing until the game is over.”
Ecker also gave plenty of credit to Walters, who struck out eight batters of her own. Walters was one of few Hawks to have any kind of success off Browne, hitting a single in the first inning, drawing a walk in the third and lacing the RBI double in the seventh.
Walters’ one-out single in the first turned into the only run the Hawks needed when the sophomore advanced to third on a wild pitch and passed ball, then came home on a dropped third strike and passed ball on what would have been the third out of the inning.
“I told our players that could potentially be the only run we see,” Marino said. “It’s going to be a tight, low-run game with Marisa in the circle. We knew we were up against a tough pitcher but I just told them to keep going, work through the lineup and do whatever you can to get back up.”
Wood’s only hit came in the third inning when Rachael Burns’ drag bunt skirted the third base line long enough for the outfielder to reach base. The Vikings had a base runner in six of seven innings, but only two made it to second base and none advanced past there.
“She’s been a workhorse for us, we finally got a nice day and she showed her stuff,” Marino said of Walters. “It’s high school ball, you’re going to play almost every day from here on out so you have to forget what you did yesterday and they were ready to go today.”
It was a similar story on the CR South side where the Hawks kept getting runners on only for Browne to leave them on base. In the second, Allison Kirchner led off with a walk and swiped second, but Browne came back to strike out the side in order. Julie Barron led off the fourth with a double but got stuck on third as Browne retired the next three hitters.
“She can have a home run hit off her and then strike out the next two batters, that’s just the type of pitcher she is,” Ecker said. “She doesn’t really show much emotion on her face, which is great and she just goes at them and moves on to the next batter.”
Pinch-hitter Emily Cary drew a one-out walk in the seventh, starting the CR South rally. She would eventually score on a passed ball, giving the Hawks a needed bit of breathing room and South kept it going when shortstop Shorty Thompson reached on an infield error to extend the frame with two down.
Walters stepped in and fought, going down 0-2 before working a 2-2 count and finally delivering with a double to center field that plated Thompson. The pitcher took third on a throw home from the outfield and then came in when third baseman Alex Hopko singled her in before Browne struck out the next batter to end the inning.
“I knew I needed to get a hit at that time,” Walters said. “It didn’t matter where I hit it, I just needed to get on base and score runs. I had better timing I think, I was set up and ready to hit.”
Wood is hoping its bats come back strong next week, starting with a nonleague game at CB West followed by three straight PCL contests. The Vikings, who had two games postponed by rain during the week, did pick up a key victory on Tuesday when senior Taylor Schwartz hit a walk-off grand slam against Archbishop Ryan.
The Vikings are 5-0 in the league and on Saturday, had a formal dedication to their new field on the school’s campus.
“I want to play the strongest teams out there and Council Rock South is usually a strong team so we just learn from it,” Ecker said. “We have to come back on Monday, so it’s a tough week and we’ll go from there.”
The Hawks got a good bounce-back win and what they hope is some propellant heading back into the SOL National.
“It’s just going to make us stronger,” Walters said.
Meghan Sullivan did just about everything to lead Bonner & Prendergast to a 3-0 Catholic League softball triumph over Archbishop Carroll Saturday. Sullivan tossed a three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and two walks. At the plate she was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Angelina Brooks’ pinch-hit single to lead off the sixth inning triggered a two-run rally. She eventually scored.
FRANCONIA >> The ball left the bat of Lansdale Catholic catcher Rebecca Tiley’s bat and seemed destined to drop in shallow center field for a hit.
It only seemed that way until Bri Neely did something about it. The Souderton senior center fielder came charging in from her post deeper in the outfield and made a running snag of the ball, picking up the third out of the top half of the first inning and leaving two LC runners stuck.
If that wasn’t enough, Neely led off the home half of the inning with a triple as kept the energy flowing.
Neely had three hits and added a few more defensive plays to a solid Souderton effort as the Indians built a big lead then fended off a late LC charge in a 9-5 non-league softball win Monday afternoon.
“We had to fix what we messed up last time and we had to come out strong,” Neely said. “We needed a positive mentality and strong energy and that’s exactly what we got today.”
The Indians had a rough ending to last week’s slate of games when they gave up a big lead in a loss to William Tennent as the defense wasn’t able to get the job done. There were still a handful of miscues on Monday, but for the most part, the Indians (6-3, 2-3 SOL Continental) were pretty surehanded in the field behind senior pitcher Alex Scheeler.
Neely, who is committed to play at the University of Maine next year, reached base in her first four plate appearances and scored three runs. After tripling in the first, she scored when LC (6-4, 4-2 PCL) tried to throw out a base stealer to start a three-run frame. An inning later, she singled and later scored on a wild pitch as Souderton again plated three runs for a 6-0 lead.
“Bri is one of our energy sparks,” Souderton coach Liz Perkins said. “Whether it’s offensively or defensively, her speed and the ground she covers in center field definitely does a lot for us. The girls feed off each other so when she makes a big play, we’re able to come in and get the three runs.”
Monday’s win doubled Souderton’s win total from all of last season and Neely pointed to comfort and chemistry as a two main reasons why. Perkins echoed her senior co-captain in saying last year, her first as the team’s coach, was a feeling out process for everybody.
Having an offseason together, which included a heavy amount of work in the fall, has seemed to really pay off so far.
“The attitude is much better, the mentality is much better and we’ve come together as a team,” Neely said. “We’re more communicative with the team and our relationship with the coaches has improved too, they’ve been more energetic, motivating and inspiring.”
“We have good chemistry and it’s translating on the field,” Perkins said. “Starting early really allowed us to know each other before getting thrown into March and having all these new faces around so we really got comfortable with each other.”
LC, which started just three seniors, is about where coach Paul Suder expected it to be. The Crusaders’ two league losses came to Archbishop Ryan, a usual power and Bonner & Prendergast, the defending PCL champ, in a 10-9 extra inning setback.
Likewise, they were neck-and-neck with Central Bucks West last Friday before falling on a late home run in a 4-2 setback but overall, Suder is pleased with his team’s progress. With so many underclassmen vying for spots, there’s a focus on development in non-league games like Monday’s.
“We didn’t make them put a lot of balls in play, there were a lot of walks and usually what comes with the walks is you get an error,” Suder said. “Mary (Picozzi) is a only a sophomore and you see how hard she throws, so why stick her out in left field when you can have her out there to try and work it out.”
Picozzi struggled with her command most of the game, but she still struck out six hitters in her five innings of work. Suder also noted sometimes it’s more valuable to learn from an off day against a quality opponent than it is to dominate a team that’s a few levels below where LC is at.
So far this season, LC has shown it can hit the ball but it took a few innings to get that going on Monday. After two hits in the top of the first, LC didn’t register another hit until the fourth but finished with 12 total hits including four in a three-run sixth inning.
Picozzi went 3-for-4 at the plate while Tiley and Julia Marozzi each had two hits. Pinch-hitter Julie Waller had a two-run single in the sixth.
“I think we can hit the ball with anybody,” Suder said. “We came alive when stopped trying to pull the ball. (Scheeler) is keeping everything away and we were trying to pull the ball. The breaks work for both teams and it seems like when you have a pitcher throwing strikes, you get more defensive breaks.”
Souderton had its share of solid defensive plays on Monday. In the second inning, second baseman Emma Hallman was able to track down a pop-up in shallow right field and was able to double off the runner at first for an inning-ender.
Shortstop Jess Lepore made a great sliding play in the fourth to get the lead runner and turn a well-hit ball by Tiley into a fielder’s choice out. Neely added another gem in the fifth by throwing a ball from center to home where her younger sister Naila tagged out a runner to end the inning.
“I just think it was a good day, you have good days and bad days but today, it was just really connecting,” Neely said. “I think we needed a day like today and this confidence will carry into the rest of the week.”
