The SOL/BAL finished pool play with a 2-1 record, one of three teams in the four-team pool with identical 2-1 records. A tiebreaker gave Souderton the top seed from its division entering Wednesday’s playoff. (Team photo: SOL/BAL Twitter) Photos provided courtesy of Gregory Powell. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL/BAL Seeded First in Division Heading into Playoffs
The SOL/BAL finds itself in an unexpected spot, but it’s a good one.
Uncertain whether the team would even return for Wednesday’s playoffs since three of the four teams in its division boasted 2-1 records, the SOL/BAL found out late Monday night that it would be the top seed from its division.
Seventeen players representing nine SOL teams are on this year’s roster, and once again, the players are enjoying the experience of competing on an SOL all-star team.
“It’s just so fun getting to play with new players because that’s really what softball is about, getting to meet such amazing people and having such a great time,” Neshaminy rising senior Kendall McCafferty said. “I love softball so much, and it’s just so fun getting to play with new players.”
This is McCafferty’s first year playing in the Carpenter Cup.
“My travel coach (Rock Gold coach Rick Waye) recommended that I should try it this year,” McCafferty said. “It’s just a great experience getting to play with the girls that I usually am competing against in high school softball.”
McCafferty is teammates with Kiera Fadden, a rising senior on a Souderton team that defeated Neshaminy in a District 1 6A quarterfinal contest, but in this setting, rivals become friends.
“It’s such a great experience getting to play with the girls I’m usually competing against in high school softball,” Fadden said. “It’s so fun getting to work with new players, and we all worked really well together today, and they’re all just so nice. It’s fun getting to play with such talented players.
“It’s so cool to be on the same side of the field with them. Usually, I’ll see them up to bat and I’ll see them make great plays, but it’s fun to actually get to talk to them and get to know them personally.”
It was also Fadden’s first year playing in the Carpenter Cup.
“I really enjoyed playing school ball so definitely just feeling the pride of wanting to represent my school in this,” she said. “Also, I’ve never had the opportunity, and I’ve heard it’s a fun experience to play in this, so I wanted to experience it for myself.
“It’s interesting because a lot of the girls are on teams we played in the playoffs, so it’s fun to be like, ‘Oh hey, we played against you guys.’ It changes your perspective of them. There were a lot of cheers going on that I usually don’t get to be a part of, so that was just fun and just being in a new atmosphere with different people.”
While McCafferty and Fadden are seasoned veterans, Paige Fidishun just completed her freshman season with Pennsbury.
“I knew a lot of people on the team – we play together or against each other throughout the years,” Fedishun said. “It’s honestly been such an amazing experience, playing with these girls that are all so good. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Fidishun was encouraged to go out for the team by CR South coach Scott Molle, who is an assistant on her travel team.
“We’re all from different teams, and we’re all enemies on the field, but now we get to all be friends and play together and learn to know each other,” she said.
All three were major contributions in a successful day.
--The games: In the SOL/BAL’s 10-2 win over Delaware South in Monday’s opener, McCafferty and Fadden were offensive catalysts.
McCafferty - who batted .554 with 41 hits (17 for extra bases) in her high school season just completed - was 2-for-2 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Fadden was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Gia Bono also had a pair of hits. Margot McLean (Council Rock South) had one hit – a double – and three RBIs.
Fidishun was 1-for-2 with an RBI, and she also started in the circle, throwing three innings and allowing two runs but only one earned. Liv Brodzinski (PW) closed out the game with three shutout innings, allowing just one hit.
SOL/BAL 10, Delaware South 2
By the numbers: BAL/SOL: Kiera Fadden (2-for-2, 1RBI, 1R), Gia Bono (2-for-3, 1RBI), Kendall McCafferty (2-for-2, 3B, 2 RBIs, 1R), Ellie Miller (1-for-2, 2B, 1RBI, 1R), Margot McLean (1-for-2, 2B, 3RBIs), Jenna Pesapane (1RBI),
Paige Fidishun (W) (3.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K) (1-for-2, 1RBI), Liv Brodzinski (3.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 2K)
Key inning: Bottom of first – After Delaware South scored a pair of runs in the first inning, the SOL/BAL answered with eight in the bottom of the inning. Jenna Pesapane (CR South) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Kaelyn Crocker (Pennsbury) followed with a single. Gia Bono (PW) hit a single that plated a run. Kendall McCafferty (Neshaminy) laced a two-run triple to left field, and Paige Fidishun (Pennsbury) singled home a run. One out later, Mia Lucke (Abington) drew a walk, and Ellie Miller (Neshaminy) followed with an RBI double to center field. Margot McLean (CR South) hit a double that plated a run. A ground out by Fidishun plated the eighth run of the inning.
Delaware South 200 000 2-5-2
SOL/BAL 801 01x 10-11-0
The SOL/BAL came up short in its second game against the Ches-Mont squad, falling behind 6-0 early and managing just seven hits in an 8-3 loss.
Ches-Mont 8, SOL/BAL 3
By the numbers: BAL/SOL: Ellie Miller (1-for-2, 1R), Paige Fidishun (1-for-2), Kaelyn Crocker (1-for-1, 1RBI), Jill Rickards (1-for-2, 2B)
Mia Kiskurno (3.0 IP, 6H, 6R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K), Katie Straub (2.0 IP, 2H, 2R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K), (1-for-2, 2B)
SOL/BAL 001 020 3-7-2
Ches-Mont 150 20x 8-8-2
In their third game the SOL/BAL turned a 2-1 deficit into a 7-2 lead with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the third inning.
“We knew since we lost the second game that we needed to win the third game to make it to the next day, so we really focused on getting solid at-bats and making plays in the field when we needed to,” McCafferty said.
SOL/BAL 7, Jersey Shore 3
By the numbers: BAL/SOL: Gia Bono (2-for-2, 2B, 1RBI), Jill Rickards (1-for-1, 2B, 1RBI, 1R), Ashlyn Curtier (1-for-2, 2B,1RBI, 1R), Liv Brodzinski (1-for-2, 2B, 1RBI, 1R), Ellie Miller (2-for-2), Margot McLean (1RBI)
Mia Kiskurno (0.1 IP, 0H, 0R), Ellie Miller (2.2 IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER 0BB, 1K), Paige Fidishun (2.0 IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 2K)
Key inning: Bottom of third – Trailing 2-1, the SOL/BAL plated six runs to take a lead they would not lose. Gia Bono (PW) – who had four hits on the day - led off the inning with a double, and Taylor Toutkoushian (Pennridge) followed with a single to right field. A double steal with Kiera Fadden stealing home accounted for the inning’s first run. Jill Rickards (Neshaminy), Ashlyn Curtier (CR South) and Liv Brodzinski (PW) hit back-to-back-to-back RBI doubles. Ellie Miller (Neshaminy) and Katie Straub (Souderton) both singled, and Jenna Pesapane accounted for the inning’s sixth run that with a sac fly that put the SOL/BAL on top 7-3.
Jersey Shore 011 10 3-7-0
SOL/BAL 106 0 x 7-9-3
--The team: This year’s squad includes an interesting mix of young players and veterans. There are four freshmen on the squad – Paige Fidishun (Pennsbury), Kaelyn Crocker (Pennsbury), Ashlyn Curtier (Council Rock South) and Katie Straub (Souderton).
“It’s amazing how talented the freshman are,” Perez said. “We see it all season long, so it’s not a surprise to me, but year after year, it’s like these girls are getting better and better and younger and younger. It’s really exciting.”
The team also includes seven sophomores and six juniors. Three of the juniors – Fadden, McCafferty and Jill Rickards – tried out for the first time.
“That was exciting too,” Perez said. “It’s good for these girls to play with other kids from other schools and from other ages, and it’s just so much fun for the girls, for the coaches. Something I’ve always been confused by – I know how good our league is and then you’d get to the tryouts and be like, ‘Where are the girls at?’ It’s fun when you get to see some new girls from schools you don’t normally get to see at tryouts.
“I’m excited that travel coaches are recommending them because in years past, we’ve heard quite the opposite – some of the girls were discouraged or forbidden from playing by their travel coaches. I know the Phillies and the Carpenter Cup do a really good job of trying to avoid dates that interfere with big travel tournaments. Even last year, with all the rain, they did their best to work around the travel tournaments because they want the best product out there, so it’s exciting to hear that travel coaches are encouraging it.”
Up next: The SOL/BAL will return to action Wednesday (10 am) at FDR Park against the second place team from Division D, which will be in action Tuesday. Teams in Division D included defending champion Tri-Cape, PCCAF, Mid Penn and Delaware North.
- Log in to post comments
