Souderton came up short in Thursday’s District 1 6A title game against Owen J Roberts. Pennsbury won its fifth place game while PW fell to Haverford in the third place contest. Check out the TNT (Tuff ‘n Tuffer) recaps. Souderton/OJR photos courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography, and PW/Haverford photos courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for galleries of both games. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports' SOFTBALL GALLERIES.
District 1 6A championship
#2 OWEN J ROBERTS 6, #4 SOUDERTON 1
It wasn’t the outcome the Indians had hoped for in Thursday’s District 1 6A title game, and while disappointed to come up short on the scoreboard, the players did not come up short on effort.
“We were battling,” Souderton junior Kiera Fadden said. “We got a little bit down, but there’s always
fight in the team. Everyone has each other’s back. It’s the ‘next play’ mentality – ‘If she got out, that’s okay. I’m going to pick her up because I’m right behind her.’”
Souderton was ultimately doomed by several uncharacteristic miscues, resulting in four unearned runs, and the Indians, according to Fadden, would welcome a rematch.
“They’re a great team for us to play,” she said. “It’s exciting to be here, it’s exciting to be in an environment like this.”
The Wildcats scored a pair of unearned runs in the second off freshman Katie Straub, who allowed one hit in three innings in the circle. They added a pair in the fourth, once again benefitting from a Souderton miscue.
Souderton made it a 4-1 game with a run in the fifth when Emma Messmer, who led off with a single, scored when freshman Katie Straub ripped a double down the right field line. Fadden – who had a pair of hits – followed with a single, but Straub was thrown out in a rundown.
The Indians threatened in the top of the sixth when Kathryn Jones hit a one-out double to center and Ava Detwiler drew a walk, but OJR’s Maddie Reed slammed the door on any comeback, retiring the next two batters she faced.
The Wildcats added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to a two-out, two-run single by Maddie Almond.
As the Indians head into the final leg of their journey, one player who can’t help but wonder what might have been this season is senior captain Skyler Byrnes. The Indians’ ace in the circle last year, Byrnes is coming back from a shoulder injury that limited her to brief stints in the circle. She has, however, been a consistent contributor at the plate.
“It was definitely an adjustment,” she said. “Early on, I kind of just accepted the role, but the further and further we got, it’s definitely been more difficult to not be the one in that spot.
“I’ve tried my best to conquer a different leadership role this year, be where my team needs me and accomplished enough, in my book, where this is a great season for the team, for me, and I’m happy to leave it all out there for my senior season.”
Byrnes’ team-first approach is one of many reasons why the Indians have been successful this season.
Souderton coach Tyler Bui:
“We are obviously disappointed to come this close to a district title and not win, but I am extremely proud of the girls for maintaining a great attitude. It was a tremendous experience for our young team to play in front of such a large crowd. We have some things to work through as a team, but these experiences will be valuable as we advance this postseason and even into next year.”
--Props: “I have seen significant growth in our players during this run, but I am especially proud of Emma Lewis for her consistency at the plate and working hard to help our pitchers navigate pressure-filled moments. She has been an important piece of our team, and I am excited to have her anchor us as we advance into state play.”
Up next: Souderton will face District 11 runner-up Emmaus in Monday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A State Tournament.
Souderton 000 010 0 1-6-3
Owen J Roberts 020 202 x 6-5-1
District 1 6A fifth place
#3 PENNSBURY 9, #1 NORTH PENN 7 (9 innings)
The visiting Falcons – already with a win over North Penn on their resume – found themselves on the short end of a 5-1 score after three innings. Down but hardly out, the Falcons rallied, and the bottom of their lineup – their six through nine batters - delivered in a big way, combining for seven hits and seven RBIs.
The Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the second, an inning highlighted by Felicia Connolly’s leadoff home run. It was the lone hit of an inning that included a pair of sacrifice bunts, three walks and an error.
In the third inning, Kaelyn Crocker got the Falcons’ first hit – a one-out double, and she was knocked in by Liv Czerniak. In the bottom of the inning, the Knights added a pair when Alana Battavio hit a leadoff double and scored when Connolly followed with her second home run of the day.
In the fourth, Jaylynn Rodweller walked, and Syd Kandravi smashed a two-run home run to make it a 5-3 game. Ryen Rittersbach followed with a single, and Keira Hoffman belted a two-run home run to even the score 5-5.
A Tallie Smink RBI single in the fourth put the Knights on top 6-5, but the Falcons got that run back in the fifth when Rodweller walked, moved to second on a ground out and scored on a single by Syd Kandravi.
The Knights regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth only to see the Falcons rally with a run in the seventh. Thompson led off with a single, Jaylynn Rodweller doubled, and Thompson scored on a Knight miscue, sending the game to extra innings where the Falcons won it.
Paige Fidishun earned the complete game win for the Falcons, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs in nine innings.
By the numbers: Pennsbury: Syd Kandravi (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBIs, 1R), Keira Hoffman (2-for-4, HR, 3RBIs, 1R), Ryen Rittersbach (2-for-5, 1RBI, 1R), Jenna Thompson (2-for-5, 2R), Jaylynn Rodweller (2B), Liv Czerniak (2B, 1RBI).
North Penn: Felicia Connolly (4-for-5, 2 HR, 3RBIs, 2R), Tallie Smink (2-for-2, 1RBI)
Key inning: Top of ninth – With the score deadlocked 7-7, the visiting Falcons put a pair of runs on the board. Jenna Thompson led off the inning with a single, and Jaylynn Rodweller drew a walk. With two outs, freshman Ryen Rittersbach singled to knock in the go-ahead run, and then senior Keira Hoffman singled and drove in a run to give the Falcons a 9-7 lead.
Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry:
--The game: “On paper, at least, we get a better draw by winning, but who knows? The other thing it does – it certainly beats going into the state playoffs with a loss in your last game. We lost a heartbreaker to Haverford – it was a heartbreaker only because we were flat, but our kids have come back. We were down 5-1 today to an all-state pitcher (Felicia Connolly).
“We told them – ‘This is a trap game. You are already in the state tournament. We have the prom this weekend, so they’re all thinking about their hair and nails. There are a lot of reasons for you guys to not win this game, so let’s go out and win it.’”
Up next: Pennsbury will face District 3 runner-up Chambersburg in Monday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A Tournament while North Penn will travel to District 3 champion Central Dauphin.
Pennsbury 001 410 102 9-12-2
North Penn 032 101 000 7-10-4
District 1 6A third place
#11 HAVERFORD 5, #9 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The Fords broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fourth and added two more in the seventh in Thursday’s third-place contest.
The Colonials plated their lone run in the third when Zoey Robinson, who doubled, scored on a single by Gia Bono.
Robinson (2-for-4, 2B, 1R) and Bono (2-for-2, 1RBI) led the Colonials’ attack.
Up next: Plymouth Whitemarsh will travel to District 11 champion Northampton on Monday.
Haverford 001 200 2 5-10-0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 001 000 0 1-9-1
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