Souderton & PW were winners in Monday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A Tournament. Upper Dublin notched a win in Class 5A. Check out the TNT (Tuff ‘n Tuffer) recaps.
Souderton/Emmaus photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos.
PIAA Class 6A opening round
#1-2 SOUDERTON 2, #11-2 EMMAUS 0
Kathryn Jones called it her ‘big moment’ hat.
It was a name the Souderton senior’s sparkling silver cowboy hat certainly had earned in the Indians’ 2-0 opening round state tournament win. Jones had not only driven in the game-winner with an RBI triple in the first inning, but she also tossed a complete game no-hitter in a rare start in the circle, striking out 13.
“The hat is a first game kind of thing,” Jones said. “I think you’d call it the big hit hat or the big 
moment hat. I did have a big hit, and then I guess the no-hitter deserved the big hit/big moment hat.”
Jones, who found out Sunday she was going to be starting, had not seen action for the Indians since throwing an inning in Souderton’s 11-1 loss to North Penn on May 7. As for when she’d last thrown a complete game, Jones acknowledged it was a long time ago.
“The last time I threw a complete game was for my travel team two years ago - I typically come in and close for my travel team,” said Jones. “Here, I either start and go for a couple innings or close or just play third base.”
Jones, the first team All-SOL Colonial Division third baseman, might have had an idea this was going to be a good one when she fanned the side in the top of the first.
“I got good vibes from my warmups,” Jones said. “I was like – I’m gonna make sure I go as long as I can.’”
Jones saw to it that the Indians had an early lead with her RBI triple in the bottom of the first. She issued a leadoff walk in the second and then struck out the next three batters she faced. She had two strikeouts in the third inning, recording eight of the first nine Emmaus outs by strikeouts.
The Indians added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Ava Detwiler lined a one-out single to center, and Skyler Byrnes was safe on an error, setting the stage for an RBI line drive single to right field by Emma Messmer that gave the Indians a 2-0 advantage.
“When I hit that, I felt it off my bat, and I knew it was going to score a run because we had a runner on second,” Messmer said. “It felt so good to get the extra safety run.
“We were leaving runners on all the time, and it was frustrating, but I knew we were gonna win the game either way.”
Jones retired the first batter she faced in the seventh on a groundout to first. After issuing a one-out walk, Jones fanned the next two batters she faced to close out the game.
“This is awesome,” Messmer said. “Kathryn was on fire. I’m only a junior, and our team is doing so good.
“It’s the best feeling ever knowing we’re going to round two in states, and there are only eight teams left. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Our team chemistry is just so good. We’ve all been playing together since we were like 10 years old, so even before high school, our team chemistry was good.”
Jones, meanwhile, was confident from the outset.
“All I cared about was that we had the lead,” Jones said. “Whenever we get the lead early, we typically win.”
When it was pointed out that the Indians were one of just eight 6A teams still standing in the state, Jones’ face lit up.
“It feels so good,” the senior captain said. “Oh my gosh, I didn’t even realize that. It feels so good. This is just such a good senior year.”
As for seniorities, it does not extend to softball, according to Jones.
“For schoolwork, I do have it,” she said. “But I just want to be doing softball 24/7. I just want to keep playing.”
By the numbers: Kathryn Jones (W) (7.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB, 13K) (1-for-3, 3B, 1RBI)
Emma Messmer (1-for-3, 1RBI)
Key inning: Bottom of first – Katie Straub led off the inning with a line single to right, and with two outs, Jones ripped a line drive triple to right field that plated the game’s first run.
Souderton coach Tyler Bui:
--Jones answers the call: “What can I say? It was one of those things where we’ve been 
keeping her in the bullpen throwing, and she’s such a good third baseman. Defensively, we’re best when she’s there, and fortunately for us, we had two other pitchers out there who got the job done.
“There was just something about this game – I knew Kathryn was not going to get nervous. She’s going to go out, and she did exactly what we asked her to do and just got the job done.
“She’s throwing a lot harder than she did last year, and her ball has a lot of movement. I watch her in the bullpen. She definitely has a lot more spin on her ball, and this year she’s added some velocity, so that’s helped her a lot.”
--Elite eight: “(We were) the ones everyone was coming after. Well, now we get to play with house money. We’ve got nothing to lose. We’re playing the (defending) state champs. I told the girls – if we would have lost today, I would have been disappointed, but they came (out) loose. They looked like they were having fun, and that’s all I can ask.
“We were expected to win this game. Next game we’re probably not, and that’s okay. I think the girls will be loose and ready to play. It’s very exciting for us to get an opportunity to play the defending state champions.”
Up next: Souderton has earned a date with District 3 champion Central Dauphin in Thursday’s second round. The defending state champions knocked North Penn out of the tournament with a 3-1 win.
Emmaus 000 000 0 0-0-2
Souderton 100 001 x 2-8-1
#1-4 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, #11-1 NORTHAMPTON 1
The Colonials rode the combination of strong pitching by sophomore Liv Brodzinski, timely hitting and superb defense to what was a historic win.
“I’m just so happy right now,” Brodzinski said. “I really didn’t want it to be my seniors’ last game. We’re all working as hard as we can to keep going as far as we can into states.”
Brodzinski acknowledged that the Colonials’ upset of top-seeded North Penn in a District 1 6A quarterfinal game was a confidence builder.
“I feel like that win really brought us all together as a team, and it made us want to keep winning after that,” she said.
Brodzinski allowed just five hits and did not walk a batter in Monday’s win, and according to the sophomore hurler, a key to the team’s success was the energy in the dugout.
“The past two games it’s been a little low, but especially this game, we were all hyped for our first game of states,” Brodzinski said. “Also, my outfield really helped me out today, especially Emily Dobrowolski, who was catching a bunch of balls that could have been gappers.
“It brought me up and brought the whole team’s energy and vibe up.”
Brodzinski has been going the distance in the playoffs after splitting time in the circle during the regular season.
“I’m just happy for the opportunity, and I love all my defense behind me,” she said. “They’ve been playing so well, and I just hope we keep playing like that.
“Last year, I was behind two girls that were seniors, so just getting to look up to them and now being in that spot – they came back and watched us play today. They’re always supporting me now, which is really cool.”
The two teams exchanged runs in first inning. Lori Flannery got things started for PW with a one-out double, and she advanced to third on Gia Bono’s single. Anna Powel’s groundout plated Flannery, but the Konkrete Kids got that run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run with two outs.
The Colonials won it with a pair of runs in the fifth inning.
By the numbers: Plymouth Whitemarsh: Lori Flannery (2-for-4, 2B, 2R), Anna Powel (1RBI), Lizzy LaNoce (1-for-3, 1RBI)
Liv Brodzinski (W) (7.0 IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 5K) (1RBI)
Key inning: Top of fifth – PW broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth. With one out, Lori Flannery singled, and Gia Bono followed and drew a walk. The bases were loaded when Anna Powel was safe on an error. Liv Brodzinski’s sac fly played the go-ahead run, and Lizzy La Noce’s single drove in a run that put the Colonials on top 3-1.
Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Mike Perez:
--Making history: “I don’t think we’ve ever (had a state win) before. I’m not sure. I know three years ago we made it to states, but we lost in the first round. A lot of people said that was the first time we ever made it to states, so I think this might be the first time we’ve ever won a state game, which is amazing.
“Our school has a rich history in athletics. But most people, when they think of PW, they think of football and boys’ and girls’ basketball, especially more recently. Our baseball team has had a lot of success, and I used to always say to the girls – when you look at the banners in the rafters of the gymnasium, we were kind of stuck between some of the really high end programs, and ours just had a couple dates on it, and so that’s really been some of our motivation over the past few years – to add some more dates onto the banner in the gym, and the girls are seeing that it’s possible.”
--The game: “We didn’t have much detail on these guys. Heading through districts, you have a lot of common opponents, and you know some girls from here or there from travel programs. Once you get into states, you start playing some of these teams that you’re not familiar with. It’s tough. You can see their scores on Game Changer, but you don’t know who they’re playing either, so it’s really hard to get a gauge on that kind of information. So, we just went in kind of unknown.
“We knew a couple of players from things that had been posted on social media, but it’s hard to really get a true gauge of what you are heading into. We knew they were a solid team, and we had a feeling they were going to be a lot like us with good pitching, good defense, a solid lineup, and that’s kind of what they were. Today we were lucky enough to come on the winning end.”
--Props: “We knew Liv (Brodzinski) had the stuff to be an ace, for sure. We just weren’t positive she had – I don’t know if you want to say stamina, but she just hadn’t had to do that grind. She was on JV last year but came up towards the end of the season. She hasn’t had to do it at the high school level. It’s not easy to be that number one that goes a full game every game, so we’ve been trying to rest her throughout the season and pick and choose some of the important dates. She really stepped up in our North Penn game, and she was phenomenal against Souderton. She pitched really, really well today. She moved the ball around really well, changed speeds pretty well and just kept them off balance and overpowered a few of them.
“Our defense was amazing again. Lori Flannery is a freshman, and she’s amazing. She had two hits, and she ran through a temporary fence on their one home run – flipped over the fence to catch the ball but didn’t quite get there, but she’s just that type of player. She does it all.”
--On facing Haverford: “It will be interesting, for sure. We made some decisions the other day in our game versus Haverford, knowing we might be playing them again a couple days later. It was also coming off an emotional week for us. We had to play nine innings against North Penn, extra innings in a nail biter against Souderton, and that was the end of the week, so we weren’t quite at our best.
“We’ll definitely be more well-prepared Thursday for that game. I know the girls are excited about getting to play them again.”
Up next: Plymouth Whitemarsh will face #1-3 Haverford in a second-round game Thursday. The game is a rematch of last week’s third place game, a 5-1 Haverford win.
“We both had to win today in the first round of states,” Perez said. “They had a much easier first game than we did (a 17-0 win over Central in five innings). We had a challenging game today. It’s good to play tough competition. That’s what we’ve been doing all year long, and I think it sets you up for big games like that.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh 100 020 0 3-6-1
Northampton 100 000 0 1-5-2
#3-2 CHAMBERSBURG 7, #1-5 PENNSBURY 5
The Falcons looked to be well on their way to a win after opening up a 5-2 lead, but Chambersburg rallied, closing out the game with a 5-0 run.
“It just wasn’t our day,” Pennsbury coach Frank McSherry said. “But we told them – they have a lot to be proud of.
“We’re losing a bunch of seniors – it will be a big holes to fill.”
Included in the strong group of seniors are a pair of four-year starters – Bella Morales and Liv Czerniak. Jenna Thompson was a three-year starter. Jaylynn Rodweller would have been a three-year starter but missed her junior year with a torn ACL.
“The seniors really carried us,” McSherry said. “They did a great job.”
Chambersburg took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Falcons erupted for four runs in the third inning. Bella Morales led off with a single, and with one out, Jenna Thompson’s bunt single scored Morales from third. An error on Jaylynn Rodweller’s ground ball to first was followed by a bunt single by Paige Fidishun. Syd Kandravi’s RBI single put the Falcons on top 2-1, and another run scored on a fielder’s choice. Kaelyn Crocker’s two-out single plated the Falcons’ fourth run.
Chambersburg trimmed that lead to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the third. An RBI single by Fidishun in the fourth gave the Falcons a 5-2 lead, but that’s when the hits and runs stopped coming.
Chambersburg scored two runs in the fifth and took a lead it would not lose with three in the sixth.
The Falcons were led by Thompson (2-for-3, 1RBI, 2R), Fidishun (2-for-3, 1RBI) and Crocker (2-for-4, 1RBI)
Pennsbury closed out its season with a 20-5 record.
Pennsbury 004 100 0 5-10-1
Chambersburg 101 023 x 7-7-1
#3-1 CENTRAL DAUPHIN 3, #1-6 NORTH PENN 1
The Knights knew when they fell in the District 1 6A fifth place game they would face a tough challenge with defending state champion Central Dauphin staring at them across the bracket. The two teams have won five of the last six state titles, and this was a game some had penciled in for the state final instead of the opening round of states.
In Monday’s battle of two of the state’s top pitchers, it was Central Dauphin sophomore Autumn Andreoli who came out on top, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out 12 and walking two.
Senior Felicia Connolly absorbed the loss, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out eight and walking two.
The Rams put two runs on the board in the third inning and one more in the fourth. The Knights only run came in the seventh when they did bring the tying run to the plate.
Gabriella Brigidi drew a leadoff walk, and with one out Brandi Groarke lined an RBI double to center. Andreoli killed that potential rally with a strikeout and pop fly to shortstop.
North Penn closed out its season with the SOL Colonial Division title and an overall record of 21-4. Three of those losses came in the last four games.
North Penn 000 000 1 1-4-3
Central Dauphin 002 100 x 3-6-1
PIAA 5A State Tournament opening round
#1-3 UPPER DUBLIN 2, #11-1 SOUTHERN LEHIGH 0
Kyla Garrison made all the right pitches, and her Cardinal teammates made all the right plays behind her, propelling the Cards to a hard-fought 2-0 win in Monday’s state opener.
“That’s been the last four years – we’ve been very, very fortunate,” UD coach Heather Boyer said of Garrison’s steady presence in the circle.
Garrison scattered seven hits and struck out nine in the complete game shutout.
“It’s very exciting,” the Cards’ senior ace said. “I feel like more is on the line now because it’s my last year, but that makes it more meaningful when we actually win.”
Boyer lauded the strong play of her defense.
“I think the composure and the poise – Molly Reilly and Kate Brannigan both had really strong defensive games,” said Boyer, going on to credit the play of Reily at first base. “You’re getting all those putouts from the plays that your teammates are making in the infield. A lot of times that doesn’t go down in the scorebook in terms of how good your stretch was or how good your positioning was on the bag. The balls you dig out of the dirt to make those plays happen.
“Molly had another one of those today with a really good stretch from a hard-hit ground ball. That was in the first inning, and it kind of set the tone because it was one of their better hitters. So instead of having one out and their second batter on, now it’s two outs, and you are starting to settle in pretty early which is good.
“Then she had a really good play on a bunt in the fourth inning. They had a leadoff single, and she made a really good play on a bunt to close that down. Those strong defensive plays don’t always get the shout outs in the statistics like they should, so that was pivotal for us.”
Brannigan came up big at shortstop.
“Kate came up with a huge double play in the sixth inning,” Boyer said. “There was one out and a runner on first, and the next ground ball was hit to her, and she fielded it beautifully. Just her footwork was outstanding. She tagged second and went right across to first base and got her, and that got us out of the inning.”
For the Cards, it is only the second time they earned a berth in states, duplicating a feat they accomplished in 2023 when they also advanced to the second round of states.
The Cardinals put a run on the board in the second when Sophia Vitella, who singled, scored on a passed ball. They added a run in the third. Garrison hit a two-out triple to center. Jolie Sheppard entered the game as the courtesy runner and scored on an RBI single by Vitella.
Southern Lehigh threatened to get on the scoreboard, but the Garrison and the Cards came up with the big plays. Southern Lehigh had runners on second and third in the second with no outs, but a popped-up bunt with two strikes and a pair of strikeouts ended that threat.
The Spartans had a runner on second with one out in the third inning, but back-to-back strikeouts by Garrison once again prevented any damage. That scenario was replayed in the fourth inning with Garrison once again coming up with two strikeouts.
In the sixth inning, a one-out single by Demi Lewis gave Southern Lehigh another spark, but Kate Brannigan came up with an unassisted double play to end that inning. Southern Lehigh's last chance came in the seventh inning when the Spartans collected a pair of hits, but with runners on first and second, Garrison retired lead-off batter Isabella Germani with a strikeout to end the game.
“We made a lot of plays,” Garrison said. “I try to minimize the amount of runs that they can score because it’s a low scoring game sometimes. I just go out there and I try to do the best that I can.
“My team has been making good plays, so that’s less pressure for me if everybody’s making plays. I guess I do put pressure on myself sometimes, but it’s probably good.”
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Kyla Garrison (W) (7.0 IP, 7H, 0R, 0BB, 9K) (1-for-3, 3B),
Sophia Vitella (2-for-3, 1RBI, 1R), Paige McKenna (2-for-3, 2B)
Key inning: Top of second: Sophia Vitella led off with a single to right field and advanced to third on Paige McKenna's double to left center. Kate Brannigan reached first on a fielder's choice to load the bases. After a strikeout and offensive interference call, the bases were still loaded, and Vitella then scored on a passed ball to give UD an early 1-0 lead.
Upper Dublin coach Heather Boyer:
“The girls worked hard to get here. They’re enjoying the experience. We’re trying to remind them to take it all in and don’t try and rush the moment. Absorb it. This is only the second team in school history to make it this far. Most teams don’t get this opportunity.
“I played a lot of good softball when I was younger, and I’ve coached for a lot of years. This is not always a given. You don’t get to the playoffs a lot of the time, so to be here and be part of something like this – it’s a great opportunity to make memories. It’s really the process of playing through a season that creates all those lifelong memories that you make, so you want to make sure that we’re enjoying it as we go and just having fun. You’re going to have some nerves. We have some young kids that have never seen this because they’re only sophomores, so they’re going to have first game jitters at a state playoff game. Trying to keep them loose and having fun is part of the battle, just keeping them in a good mindset.”
Up next: Upper Dublin will face District 1 runner-up Springfield-Delco in a second-round game Thursday.
Upper Dublin 011 000 0 2-5-1
Southern Lehigh 000 000 0 0-7-2
#2-1 ABINGTON HEIGHTS 6, #1-4 UPPER MORELAND 0
The Golden Bears never could find their offense in Monday’s opening round of states, managing just three hits in the shutout loss.
Abington Heights only had four hits of its own, but three of them – two doubles and a home run – came in a three run fifth.
Upper Moreland closed out its season with a 17-7 record and a share of the SOL Freedom Division title.
Upper Moreland 000 000 0 0-3-1
Abington Heights 200 031 x 6-4-1
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