Eagles Help SOL Fly Through Carpenter Cup Opening

PHILADELPHIA–With all of the year round club softball being played, it can get difficult at times to distinguish one marathon, five-games-in-a-day tournament from another.

One tournament that stands alone is the Carpenter Cup, sponsored and ran by the Philadelphia Phillies, with the opening days held in FDR Park and the final at Ashburn Park. 

Since its inception in 2005, the purpose of the Carpenter Cup has been to give the best high school players in the tri-state area the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college scouts. The hope is that this tournament, like the baseball Carpenter Cup Classic, will be a catalyst for many players to receive scholarships or admission to some of the country's finest universities.

The inaugural tournament, played in June of 2005, was won by Delaware South (Gold) claiming the first title. Since then South has recorded its second title, as well as two championships, beating the Lehigh Valley squad, slated to play Tuesday morning, and Jersey Shore, who won two games on Monday.

Upper Dublin head softball coach Heather Boyer has been there since the start of it all, and she looks forward each year to spending her first week of summer break coaching the all-stars of the Suburban One League’s American and Continental conferences.

"I have been here since the inaugural year," said Boyer. "It is fun every year to get to work with kids that all love the game and see how they all come together. They work all season, and then they come to a venue like this and go 'Wow, I’ve spent all year trying to beat them and not like them, and they are really kind of cool.'"

In the opening game of the tournament, Boyer and her squad got down early, but battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.

After fighting off two scoring chances by the Olympic/Colonial Conference all-stars, ’s Steph DiNolfi was on third with the winning run as Central Bucks East’s Allie Chase stepped into the box. On a 1-2 pitch, Chase lofted a ball deep to left, scoring DiNolfi and claiming SOL A&C’s first victory of the day.

"This year's group has some major skills," said Boyer. "I am excited about what we can do here. Getting that first win is always huge. You want to stay on the winner bracket side as long as you can here."

"I was very proud of the how they kept their composure today," added Boyer. "To get down in the first 2-0 on a questionable call, and not let it get to them, was really something. They just started picking away, and we got it done in the 10^th."

"I think it was actually a blessing," said CB East sophomore Allie Chase, who plays club ball for Newtown Rock, of the 10-inning affair to start the tourney. "We are still learning how to play with each other and have a lot of stuff to work through, so it was good to see what kind of pressure we could play under.

"I got an inside fastball, and I just got under it," she added.

"It’s a little nerve-racking here," said Norristown junior DiNolfi. "We have really bonded together, once we started playing and practicing. The coaches have been great. It was exciting to get the first win and score the winning run."

In the second game of the day, the SOL American and Continental team went up against the stars of the Philadelphia Athletic League and used a 5-0 rout to advance to the winner's bracket final of Group A on Monday. They'll meet Wednesday with the remaining team from Group B, which plays today.

"We love to spend time with these amazing girls," said Norristown coach Jon Kandrick. "It's our third year together. It's a lot of fun. I get to coach the kids we talk about to each other all year long. They are more relaxed this year—they joke around and are just a lot of fun to be around."

"We have stressed from the beginning—we just told them to have fun and play your game," added Kandrick. "Don’t let the game be bigger than it is. Relax and have fun with it, no matter how many coaches are here, and don’t get caught up in the hype."

In the third bout of the day, SOL C&A took on unbeaten Tri-Cape and emerged from the fray with a 6-5 win to advance to the winner bracket semifinal Wednesday at 1 p.m. as the only unbeaten team from day one.

"It's big to get through the first day 3-0," said Boyer. "It eliminates an extra game you could have to play on Wednesday and gives the girls so much confidence as they prepare for the day where all of the college coaches will be here."

"It’s exciting. It’s a great start," said Norristown's Gwyn Botley, who plays club ball for the Roxborough Phillies. "It’s really nice to have so many great players behind you. It gives you confidence on the mound to throw whatever you need to because you are sure they are going to make a play. I mean, we are here to play softball; all of the other stuff here is great, but bottom line is we are here to win games."

"I love to play softball,” added Botley. “I have met so many great people playing softball, including my best friend. We really appreciate all of the hard work the coaches have done with us. They have been fantastic."

"The girls are definitely more knowledgeable now," said Boyer. "They can check out who they are playing and have so much more information at their disposal to check out West Coast colleges. I absolutely love being here every year."