Eagles and SOL Stars One Win from a Carpenter Cup Championship

PHILADELPHIA – Following an opening round, 10-inning, come-from-behind victory and a dramatic 6-5 walk off win in the group one final on Monday afternoon, it would have been understandable if the Suburban One American and Continental squad had a let down after taking the field in the winners bracket final Wednesday, June 22. After all, with all of the media, college coaches and cameras at the game, there were more than enough distractions that could lead to a less-than-par performance.

But there is something special about this year’s SOL team. The girls just would not allow that to happen on the biggest stage they will play on all summer.

"I have coached a team here since the start," said Heather Boyer, Upper Dublin manager and head coach of the all-stars, who are now 4-0. “We have had some teams that were chatty, even rambunctious, but this team just has a quiet confidence about them, and even though they have all made it a point to tell us how much fun they are having, when we take the field, it is all business.”

The SOL squad jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Group 2 winners bracket. Survivor Mercer County (3-1) won when C.B. East junior Allie Chase ripped a single and later scored the first run of the game when she was driven in by Micheller Holweger. Chase, who was 2-for-2, with two runs scored and a RBI, also drove in the eventual game winning run belting a base hit in the top of the fifth inning.

“This is so much fun,” said Chase. “I have been getting some good pitches to hit and have been able to get the bat on them in scoring situations. It was so great that we had to play only one game today, and we are in the championship game, which is just awesome.

“It was huge for us to get the lead,” added Boyer. “Especially being the visitors, in this heat, and with the pitching we are throwing at teams, it is hard to play catch up.“

“I don’t really concern myself with what the girls do on their high school team,” said Boyer on the decision to start C.B. South’s Alexandra Horvath on the pitching rubber. “She tried out for pitching when she came to the practices, and she has some serious breaking stuff that no body has been able to get a good swing on.”

Horvath did not pitch at all for the Titans this past season, but she was sensational in her first start, allowing no earned runs or a base hit in three very important innings before giving way to Wissahickon’s Katie Ziegler. Ziegler struck out four en route to securing the win and recording her second save of the tournament.

“I was a little off today,” said Ziegler. “But thanks to Allie getting us a big lead, I was able to hold them off, and my defense really stepped up behind me. This is so amazing to be in the championship game, and having to only play one game today was a big advantage for us, as some of the teams will end up playing four games today.”

Ziegler allowed two runs in the bottom of the fifth as Mercer County posted two runs on three hits in the frame and brought the go ahead run to the plate, with runners at second and third.

Thanks to a brilliant catch in right center on a drive bound for the wall by Upper Dublin’s Ashleigh Sharp, SOL was able to escape with a two run lead still intact at 4-2.

Defensively, the SOL squad continued to dazzle with two great catches by Eagles second-baser Steph DiNolfi and an outfield that caught anything hit to the grass. The combination of Sharp, Plymouth Whitemarsh junior Erica Miller and Norristown’ s Samantha Kidd recorded eight put outs.

“I just try to get a good jump on balls hit to me,” said Sharp. “I was able to see it right off the bat and had plenty of time to get under it. It would be so incredible to win this tomorrow coming off a not so great high school season. We would love to win this for coach Boyer and the other coaches they have really helped us all come together in a very short time.”

“I knew Allie Chase was a player,” added Boyer. “But had no idea how well she hit. She has been such a big part of what we have been able to do offensively and gotten hits in some key spots for us. I am just so happy for the girls; they deserve all of the credit. I am excited for them. We have never played the final day from the winners bracket. It’s important to get it done in the first try, but it eases the pressure a bit to know they have to beat us twice.”

“We have really gotten to know and trust each other,” said Norristown’s Samantha Kidd. “We had to play one game today while some will end up playing four or five. We have so many people that can hit that it takes the pressure off. If one person doesn’t knock in the run, we are pretty sure the next person will. We love our coaches, and they have really helped us get here so it would be cool to win it for them, too. I am pretty excited about tomorrow and can’t wait to get started.”

Schedule for Championship Day

• 9 a.m. – Game No. 29: Mercer County vs. the winner of Tri-Cape/Lehigh Valley game #28
• 11 a.m. – Game No. 30: Winner of Game  No. 29 vs. SOL American and Continental
• 1 p.m. – Game No. 31: (If necessary) The same opponents as game no. 30.

Winner Bracket Final

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Suburban One A&C

2

0

0

2

0

0

0

4

10

1

Mercer County

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

5

2

School

Player

POS

AB

R

H

RBI

CBW

Zanolini

C

4

1

1

0

CDE

Chase

CF

2

2

2

1

CBS

Horvath

P

2

0

1

0

CBE

Schoenewald

1B

4

0

2

0

UD

Sharp

RF

1

0

1

0

NOR

Kidd

LF

0

0

0

0

NOR

Pellechio

RF

1

0

0

1

PW

Miller

LF

1

0

0

0

NOR

DiNolfi

2B

2

0

0

0

PW

Baratucci

3B

1

0

0

0

WIS

Ziegler

P

1

0

0

0

Pitching Stats

SCHL

Player

IP

R

ER

H

BB

K

W/L

CBS

Horvath

3

0

0

0

0

1

W(1-0)

WIS

Ziegler

4

2

0

5

3

4

SAVE