Softball: Cardinal Duo Helps SOL All-Stars Fly in Carpenter Cup

At the highest level of high school softball, the season never ends. It continues with invitationals and tournaments for as long as the weather allows, but one competition that stands alone is the Carpenter Cup.

The tournament is sponsored and run by the Philadelphia Phillies, with the opening days held in FDR park, and the final at Ashburn Park. 

The purpose of the cup, since it inception in 2005, 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. Many players have gone on to receive scholarships or admission to some of the country's finest universities.

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've 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 [local rivals] and not like them, and they are really kind of cool.'"

In the opening game of the tournament, Boyer and the SOL All-Stars fell behind early, but battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.

In the Carpenter Cup, officials use the international tie-break format, which places a runner on second to start the inning.

After fighting off two scoring chances by the Olympic/Colonial Conference All-Stars (NJ), Norristown’s Steph DiNolfi was on third as the winning run, when 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."

“I was very proud of the how they kept their composure today,” added Boyer. "To fall behind in the first 2-0 on a questionable call, and not let it get to them, was really something."

“I think it was actually a blessing,” said C.B.East sophomore Allie Chase, of the 10-inning affair to start the tournament. “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,” added Chase.

“It’s a little nerve-racking here,” said Norristown junior Stephanie 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 came away with a 5-0 victory.

Flying Cardinals' sophomore Ashleigh Sharp was outstanding in the field against the Philadelphia Athletic League, as she recorded seven put-outs in the game. This included a clean sweep in the fourth inning, with Sharp recording all three outs.

Sharp also had an impact at the plate, grabbing two base hits, scoring one run and driving in another.

“We love to spend time with these amazing girls," said Norristown coach Jon Kandrick. “We just tell them to have fun and play your game—don’t let the game be bigger than it is. Relax and have fun with it, no matter how many (college) coaches are here, and don’t get caught up in the hype.”

In the third contest 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 on Wednesday at 1 p.m. SOL was the only unbeaten team from day one.

“It’s different, coming off a bad season,” said Upper Dublin sophomore Kristen Ganderton, who plays club ball for the Sellersville Belles and made some outstanding plays at first base in the first day of action. “It’s great to see us winning. I just want to play hard and show that I may be young, but I can play with everyone here.”

“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.”

 “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.”