Spring-Ford edges PJP2 in Limerick-area softball showdown

Pope John Paul II may barely miss the PAC-10 final four this season, as the Golden Panthers trail fourth place Perkiomen Valley by two games in the loss column, but they have served notice to the league that they are for real.

After beating Spring-Ford in their earlier meeting, Pope John Paul II traveled to Spring-Ford with the intention of getting a win any way they could.

“This is a big game for us,” said Manager John Bilella. “Every one is big from here on, but we need win to get some wins to put the heat on Methacton and PV.”

Pope John Paul (5-6 league, with two games in the next five days versus Perk Valley) carried a 3-2 lead into the fifth inning. After posting five more runs in that frame, it seemed they would sweep the season series from the Rams.

Led by Meg O’Connor (1-for 4, run scored, 2 RBI), who drove in two runs along with Jane Rogers and Patsy Murphy, who each knocked in one, PJP2 chased starter Kristin Williams and built an 8-2 bulge.

Spring-Ford (10-3, 12-3 overall) refused to pack it in and exhibited why it is the defending Pioneer Athletic Conference Champion. Alexa Nadwodny ( 1-for-3, 2 runs scored), Deme Kanakis ( 2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Liz Bauer, who drove in three runs with a 2-for-3 hitting performance, helped the Rams answer with five runs in the bottom half of the fifth and score the winning run on a walk off single in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 9-8 win.

“You have to give them credit,” added Bilella. “They are a good team, but we had a chance to win it. This is the most talented team I think I have ever been around, and we are learning to put it all together still.”

Golden Panthers starting hurler Nikki Troisi, who has been stellar all season, allowed five earned runs on five hits while striking out six. Haley Williams was sensational in relief for Spring-Ford allowing two runs on three hits I three innings of relief.

Pope John Paul II          0  1  2    0  5  0   0  - 8

Spring-Ford                        0  2  0    0  5  1   1  - 9

Golden Panthers                  AB            R            H          RBI 

Amanda Light                           3            1            1            0

Katie Eliff                                 2            1            2            0

Meg O’Connor                        4            1            1            2

Meg Kugler                              2            2            1            0

Nikki Troisi                              1            2            1            0

Jane Rogers                              3            0            1            1

Patsy Murphy                           2            0            1            1

Talia Catagnus                          3            0            0            0

Diedra Weiber                          2            1            0            0

Kelly Romberger                   0            0            0            0

Maria Aristoklis                      1            0            0            0

                                    Totals            23            8            8            4

Spring-Ford                             AB            R            H            RBI

Kanakis 2b                               4            2            2            1

Bauer   lf                                  3            1            2            3

Kofer  rf                                   3            1            1            1

Diegel  3b                                 3            0            0            1

James   1b                                3            0            0            1

Robinson p                               2            0            0            0

Bates ss                                    2            1            2            1

Nadwodny  c                           3            2            1            0

Sasek cf                                   3            1            1            0

Williams                                   0            0            0            0

Olsen                                       0            1            0            0

                        Totals               26            9            9            8

Pitching                                 IP            R          ER          H         SO          BB

Troisi                                        5            7            5            5            6            5

Weiber (L)                               2            2            2            4            4            2

Williams (W)                            4            5            4            4            3            4

Robinson                                  3            3            2            4            1            3