The Corpus Christi Varsity Girls Softball team was champion of the Lansdale Catholic 6th Annual CYO Softball Tournament held May 4-5. The team went undefeated over the weekend, earning a 2-1 victory over Mary, Mother of the Redeemer in the championship game.

Pictured front row (from left): Julia Moroz, Jillian Gilmartin, Ashley Seal, Clare Hill, Sydney Clark. Middle row: Brigit Coleman, Brigid Murphy, Shannon Hill, Meghan MacDonald.Back: Coach Tim Hill, coach Tom Gilmartin, Terry Wilcox, Sarah McKenzie, Maddie Baldini, Mary Grace Carson, Kelly Daley, coach Dennis Hill, coach Ken Seal. Not pictured: Gabriella Rossi

BASEBALL
AAA
The Burlington Bees, sponsored by Schuylkill Valley Sports, fell to the Charleston RiverDogs, sponsored by Strike Zone Training Center, by a score of 4-3 last Friday.
The Bees got on the board in the first inning as Sawyer Haney scored on a fielder’s choice.  In the home half of the second, Darren Craig worked a lead-off walk, followed by an Adam Cameron single to start a three-run rally for the RiverDogs.
The Bees rallied back in the fourth, as second baseman Tyler Maloney singled home Andrew Long and John McDonald later scored on a fielder’s choice.   RiverDogs’ Blake Benner sealed the win, driving in the go-ahead run later in the fourth.
For the Bees, Trevor McDonald threw three innings, yielding only one run.  RiverDogs pitcher Danny Loveless tossed two strong innings in relief to earn the save.

• The runs were a plenty as the Durham Bulls sponsored by Thompson Toyota edged the Toledo Mud Hens sponsored by Hatfield Quality Meats 12-11 on April 29.
The Bulls bats were led by Kyle Moran who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored.  T.J. Grenda and Aiden Mc Closkey led the Bulls with great pitching. Getting quality hits for the Mud Hens were Andrew Reice, Peter Overby and Jake Vitali.

• In a defensive struggle on April 26, the Toledo Mud hens sponsored by Hatfield Quality Meats shut out the Charleston RiverDogs Sponsored by Strike Zone Training Center 2-0.
The Mud Hens were led by Eli Kantor who got on base twice and scored a run. They also got solid pitching from Ian Fischer and Chris Duffy.
The RiverDogs got great pitching from Blake Benner, solid defense from CJ McNally.  Matt Gearheart got the RiverDogs only hit.

• The Neher Group, Inc. Louisville Bats held off the hard charging Dr. Robert Azqrek Orthodontics Corpus Christie Hooks 8-7 on April 27.
For the Hooks, Andrew Cope was outstanding in the field and Justin Nichols had two base hits.
The Bats were led by Joe Muntz who had had a double & triple. Dawson Bennett also had two base hits and three runs scored for the Bats.

• The Hileman and Davis Portland Sea Dogs’ bats were on fire in a 12-3 win over the Round Rock Express on April 24.  
Charlie Mininger blazed the way with a single, double, a stolen base and three RBIs.  Brandon Chambers followed that with a single, a stolen base and an RBI. Drew Kramer finished up the night by walking all three times at bat, stealing three bases and scoring three runs.  
The Round Rock Express started rolling with Christian Rush’s triple in the first inning.  Ryan Healy was throwing some heat in putting up three strikeouts for the Express.

Minor A
Last Sunday, the Thompson Lexus Storm played the Richter Drafting and Office Supply Red Wings.
The Storm were led by the defense of catcher Riley Denton and the power hitting duo of Ben Peacock and Liam McLaughlin.   The Red Wings were led by the defense of catcher Alex McAloon and 3 put-outs recorded by Jack Pearson. Also, Gannon Perlini continued his season long hot hitting streak.

• The Trenton Thunder continued their solid start on April 17 with an offensive display against the Orem Owlz, with solid hits from Jackson Zumwalt and Chris Haberle.
For the Orem Owlz, Justin Grant laid his bat into three great hits and made two outs from the mound during the second inning and another from right field during the third.
Tyler Soto continued his hitting streak with four strong singles and great defensive play at shortstop during the second inning and first base in the fifth. Sean Comitalo added to his reputation by providing big hits in each of the first three innings.

Minor B
It was an exciting game on April 26 with the Sand Gnats taking on the Threshers.
Sand Gnat batters Grayson Weikel and Jake Rumer were hitting great and Joe Pearson and Jason Knapp were looking good in the field.
For the Threshers, Riley Cullen and Joe Dowd were hitting solidly along with Jack Bruno in the field.

SOFTBALL
Bolts
On April 28, the Quakertown National Bank Bulldogs and the Aunt Nancy’s Peanut Brittle Yellowjackets played an exciting game of U12 softball.
The high scoring game included hits by Izzy Serafini for the Yellowjackets and Ashley Fox and Allyson Motts for the Bulldogs.
The defense answered with Katie Gant in the field and Sarah Standerovich pitching for the Yellowjackets and Raine Bedeaux with a double play for the Bulldogs.

Thunder
The Bux-Mont Awards Hurricanes lost a close game to the visiting Lenape Valley Bandits 4-3 last Monday.
Pitchers Allison Arnold and Morgan Medl held the Bandits to 4 runs with solid defense from Emily Hegen and Bailey Fitzgerald.  Abby Lee, Kiersten Moyer and Kerri Piper hit well for the Hurricanes.  Emily Hegen had a great day at the plate with a late game triple that brought the Hurricanes to within one run.
The Bandits kept the lead with strong pitching by Tori Dunn, Cassidy McGarry and Madison McGarry. Madison McGarry finished with one run allowed and two strikeouts in her debut.
Excellent defensive plays by Taylor Hinkle at short stop and second base to hold the runners and Cassidy McGarry’s inning-ending fly catch at third base. Taylor Mercier stopped at nothing defensively playing catcher making great throws to third base on the steal.
Offensively, Tori Dunn, Julia D’Agostino, Emma Tantum and Amanda Miller carried the Bandits to the win.

• The Bux-Mont Awards Hurricanes and Pennridge Pediatrics Gators battled it out on April 21 with the Gators using a three-run rally late to win 7-5.
Morgan Medl pitched a close game for the Hurricanes, with Jocelyn Arnold pitching relief in the last inning.  Kasey Piper and Abby Lee batted well for the Hurricanes. Kalyee LaRue and Delanie Wolff pitched a great game for the Gators keeping the score close throughout.
Madison Hobbs had some good plays in the field while Lindsay Wilcox tried out a new position as catcher to help the Gators hang onto the lead in the last inning.

The Harleysville Thunderbirds 14U Gold fastpitch softball team took first place in the Thunderbirds Fall Fest ASA 14U "B" Eastern National Qualifier Tournament held Oct. 15-16 in Souderton. The Thunderbirds went 5-0, defeating the PA Ball Hawks 4-2 in the championship game. Harleysville, coached by Frank Ball, Ernie Klee, Tom Klee, Rob Reuss, Anthony Rosato and Ken Seal, earned a berth to the Eastern Nationals to be held in Dayton, Ohio in 2012.

Pictured front row (from left): Alyssa Schwab, Jovanna Alfonsi, Ashley Seal, Shannon Hill, Kailey Karabin. Back row: Meghan Klee, KC Beck, Celeste Rosato, Shannon Ball, Allison Klee, Briana Reuss, Rachel Helverson, Emily Oltman. Not pictured:　 Dayna Shelly.

The Harleysville Thunderbirds 16U girls softball team went undefeated (four victories and one tie) in winning the USSSA Fallapalooza Softball Tournament at Veterans Park in Quakertown Sept. 24-25.


 Pictured front row: Gabby Binando. Middle row (from left): Kacy Carroll, Jenna Gibbons, Morgan Yoder, Paige Shelly, Dayna Shelly. Back row:  Amanda Loar, Nicole Yanni, Missy Wiley, Erelle Sowers, Becca Shanks. Not pictured: Alyssa Kratz, Ashley Seal.

The Sting Fastpitch 12U Gold softball team won the 2011 PONY Eastern Zone 12U Nationals with an 8-3 victory over the West Jersey Witches 98 on July 28 in Cary, N.C.

The Sting finished the season 56-7, and along with the A flight national title, won the Pennsylvania ASA A Flight state championship and four other tournament titles. The team will be honored on Labor Day at Citizens Bank Park during the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves.
Based out of Royersford, the Sting, whose head coach is Lee Trythall and assistant coaches are Lori Ermish, Hiroomi Tada, Kevin Reinert and Bill Carty, is made up of players from at least five different school districts in Montgomery County.

Pictured front row (from left): Kaylee Tada, Sarah Reinert, Angie Carty, Cami Glenn. Back row: Natalie Damato, Gabi Ermish, Callie Wang, Alissa Vining, Jenna Trythall, Megan Kern, Lauren Waller.

The North Penn Eclipse 18U softball team won the USSSA Blazin’ Blitz tournament held in Limerick on July 16-17.  The gteam completed the weekend play without a loss, winning the championship game over the Marlton Thunder on a dramatic game-ending hit.

Pictured front row (from left): Jayme Ziegler, Courtney Derstine, Brianna Jerdan, Meghan Lopes, Julia Mae Marger, coach Kristin Diehl. Back row: Coach Greg Jerdan, Julia Angelos, Emily Wampole, Katelyn Beck, head coach Lenny Diehl, Brooke Shepherd, Sarah Parcell, Ashley Pawling, Sarah Transue, Brenda Diehl.  Not Pictured: Coach Morgan Birtch, coach Alyssa Campbell.

The Harleysville Thunderbirds 12U Fastpitch softball team took third Place  in the Pennsylvania ASA 12U State Tournament held July 8-10 in Jessup.

Pictured front row (from left): Shannon Ball, Shannon Hill, Meghan Klee. Back row: Kailey Karabin, Celeste Rosato, Spenser Gray, Allison Klee, Jovanna Alfonsi, Ashley Seal, Meghan Johnson, Briana Reuss. Not pictured: KC Beck.

The Harleysville Thunderbirds Black 14-and-under fastpitch softball team went 7-2-1 and finished in third place out of 86 teams at the PONY Eastern Nationals in Cary, N.C.

Pictured front row (from left): Becca Shanks, Dayna Shelly, Emily Allen, Bekah Slattery, Jenna Gibbons, Kacy Carroll. Middle row: Savannah Toth, Erelle Sowers, Bridget Casey, Paige Shelly, Nicole Yanni, Morgan Yoder, Amanda Loar. Back row: Coach Ken Shanks, coach Ed Sowers, coach Don Shelly. Not pictured: Heather Milligan.

In the Championship Round, Harleysville held off a last-inning rally by VA Edge to claim a 6-5 quarterfinal victory. The Thunderbirds put runnners on base in their semifinal matchup with W Pine Diamond Dusters, but could not find the bi hit and fell 4-1.

Earlier in the tournament, Harleysville earned a win, loss and tie in pool play, then opened bracket play with a 11-4 victory as it went 5-0 with three shutouts.

Bekah Slattery carried the bulk of the pitching duties, the lefthander throwing the last five games and collecting two shutouts. Emily Allen’s superb defensive efforts at second base prevented a few potential rallies from opponents. Center fielder Jenna Gibbons delivered crucial RBI singles on three occasions in tight games. The long ball off the bat of Kacy Carroll helped bury opponents in three contests. The Thunderbirds thank all who supported our team throughout this fantastic season.

The Phillies took second place in the TYA Softball Coach Pitch Division.

Pictured front row (from left): Memory Harrington, Allison Lindsay, Ella Broadhurst. Middle row: Arianna Stephens, Paige Taylor, Sarah Olewnik, Arden Serany, Maggie Duesberry, Danielle Preston, MiKayla O'Leary. Back row: Coach Eddie Olewnik, coach Matt Taylor, coach Karen Lindsay, coach Richard Duesberry. Not pictured: Leah Bezar, Alyssa Pisut.

After taking second place in a USSSA 16U Open World Series Qualifier in Quakertown the week before, the North Penn Eclipse 16U fastpitch Softball team  won the USSSA 2011 Pre-Summer Slammer WSQ on June 19 in Limerick.

Pictured front row (from left): Sarah Edelman, Alexa Gable, Katrina Marger, Kaitlyn Wilson, Lauren Ostopowicz, Ashley Shields  Back row: Jess Marcanello, Madeline Molitoris, coach Dan Molitoris, team captain Shannon Keen, coach Bob Ashton, team co-captain Melissa Fasick, Tehya Daneker, Sarah Seiler, Sarah Galang, coach Jim Edelman.  Not pictured: Coach Deanna Dungee.

The Eclipse went 6-1 in the 14-team tournament, winning four straight games on the final day to win the championship. Exceptional pitching by Sarah Galang and Sarah Edelman lead the Eclipse to each seed and elimination round victory.

In  the 5-2 championship game win over the Lyons Storm, Ashley Shields took the mound with the Eclipse behind 2-0 and proceeded to shut down the Storm offense the remainder of the contest. 

Madeline Molitoris and Tehya Daneker teamed up behind the plate to prevent Storm runners from scoring. The infield defense of Alexa Gable, Kaitlyn Wilson, and team captain Shannon Keen kept leadoff runners off the bases. Clutch catches in the outfield by Katrina Marger, along with two big throws to home plate from Lauren Ostopowicz and Jess Marcanello shutdown the Storm’s attempts at more runs. Key extra base hits from Co-captain Melissa Fasick, and Sarah Seiler brought in needed runs.

Placing and winning in these two tournaments qualifies the Eclipse 16U for both the USSSA ESPN Rise Fastpitch East Region World Series in Florida and the USSSA Eastern Region World Series in Maryland.

 The Harleysville Thunderbirds 12U Fastpitch softball team won the Thunderbirds Classic: USSSA World Series Qualifier Tournament June 11-12 at Alderfer Park in Harleysville.

Pictured front row (from left): Jovanna Alfonsi, Ashley Seal, Spenser Gray, Celeste Rosato, Meghan Johnson, Kailey Karabin. Back row: Shannon Ball, Shannon Hill, KC Beck, Briana Reuss, Meghan Klee, Allison Klee.

This is the second title of the year for the Thunderbirds 12U,as they had previously taken first in the USSSA Spring Dazzle tournament in April. Since the team was first assembled in September of 2010, it has achieved an overall record of 27-9-2.

The team is coached by Frank Ball, Ernie Klee, Rob Reuss, Ken Seal, Shannon McDonald.

Shannon Hill set the tone for Harleysville in its semifinal contest with the Storm. Hill started the game with three strikeouts as she allowed just one run on three hits and finished with 10 strikeouts in the circle.

Offensively, the Thunderbirds scored five runs on 10 hits, with Ashley Seal going 3-for-3. Hill had a pair of RBI, while KC Beck drove in a run with a double.  Celeste Rosato, Kailey Karabin, Allison Klee, Meg Klee, Jovanna Alfonsi and Briana Reuss all hit singles in the win.

Against Jersey Bandits White 12U in the championship, Seal struck out 10 as she pitched a one-hit shutout to help the Thunderbirds claim a 5-0 victory.

Spencer Gray, Seal and Rosato each finished with multiple hits as the Thunderbirds had nine hits from five different players.

Gray led off with a double in the first inning as Harleysville score three times in the frame, then took a 4-0 lead with a run in the third. In the sixth, Meg Johnson singled, then scored the Thunderbird's fifth run.

The Thunderbirds went 2-0-1 on the first day of tournament. Harleysville opened with an 11-2 victory over Storm, with Shannon Ball collecting a single and an RBI. Harleysville tied Jersey Bandits White 12U of Bordentown, N.J. then topped Tri-County Thunder 10-0. The results earned the Thunderbirds the No. 1 seed entering championship play on June 12.

The Banshee’s Fastpitch Softball 16U team from Horsham went 6-0 in winning the Richard Millhouse ASA 16U National Qualifier in College June 4-5. The championship secures a birth in the ASA/USA Championships to be played in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Serious travel players interested in the Banshee’s Fastpitch Softball organization at the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U level may go to our website at www.bansheesfastpitch.com for additional information. 

Pictured front row (from left) : Allison Milligan, Kate Yanders, Amanda Costello, Nicole Casagrand, Samantha Lichtner, Kate Mims.  Back row (from left to right) : Daria Edwards, Courtney Miller, Renae Petrucci, Maria Spinosa, Michelle Rauch.

The Corpus Christi Varsity Black girls softball team won the Region 20 championship game, defeating Mary, Mother of the Redeemer 10-5. The team is coached by Ken Seal, Tom Gilmartin, Tim Hill and Mark Moroz.

Pictured front row (from left): Jillian Gilmartin, Ashley Seal, Clare Hill, Maureen Moroz, Caroline Mulligan. Back row: Sydney Clark, Shannon Hill, Brigit Coleman, Leah Carreras, Danielle Marks, Caitlin Kerr, Brigid Murphy, Giovanna Citro. Not pictured: Maddie Baldini.

The Harleysville Thunderbirds U12 fast pitch softball team won the USSSA Spring Dazzle Tournament, held early April in Collegeville.  The team went 5-0 during the tournament.

Pictured front row (from left): Brianna Reuss, Shannon Ball, Shannon Hill, Ashley Seal, Jovanna Alfonsi, Meghan Johnson, Spenser Gray, Celeste Rosato, Allison Klee, Kailey Karabin, Meghan Klee, KC Beck. Back row: coach Ken Seal, coach Ernie Klee, coach Frank Ball, coach Shannon McDonald. Not pictured: Coach Rob Reuss.

The Montgomery Twisters 16U Softball Team went 5-1 to win the 2011 Memorial Day Classic in Quakertown. This win qualifies the Twisters to play in the USSSA World Series in either Salisbury, Md. or at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.


Pictured front row (from left): Hannah Sofield, Taylor Kane, Hannah Sheehan, Laura Kane, Becca Dougherty, assistant coach Megan Halberstadt. Back row: Head coach Rick Shoulberg, Megan Roynan, Krista Goepfrich, Alyssa Shoulberg, Rachel Kulp, assistant coach Mike Sheehan, Emily Smith, Lexi Mayo, Caroline Hentzen, Megan Gallagher, Danya Briefer, assistant Coach Rick Smith, Sarah Keller.

The Harleysville Thunderbirds 14U Red fastpitch softball defeated the Boyertown Storm 6-2 on May 14 to clinch at tie for first in the 20-team, rain-shortened USSSA May Madness Tournament held at Veterans Park in Richland Township. With the victory, the Thunderbirds assured themselves a berth in the USSSA World Series.

Harleysville trailed 2-0 before Morgan Campbell cut the deficit in half when her RBI Single plated Alyssa Hughes. The Thunderbirds then took the lead with five runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Hughes' base hit brought Missy Wiley and Dayna Shelly in for a 3-2 advantage. A Heather Moore single scored Hughes, while Brady Tillotson's two-run triple plated Moore and Samanthi Ali, putting the Thunderbirds up four.

Carlee Fairchild relieved Hughes in the cricle and pitched two scoreless innings to seal the victory.

Earlier, Harleysville defeated the Brandywine Blast 7-4 as Emily Gordon drove in two runs and scored once. Shelly, Wiley, Moore, Tillotson and Campbell also drove in runs while Hughes struck eight for the complete-game victory.

The Thunderbirds also bested Velocity Blue 7-1 with Fairchild collected the complete-game win. Campbell, Ali, Hughes and Moore each collected RBIs, while Emily Adelsberger scored twice.

Harleysville also had made several defensive highlights and timely stolen bases throughout the day. Maddie Cadler and Shelley were outstanding at catcher with Calder playing the position in two of the three games.

The St. Rose of Lima varsity softball team went undefeated in winning its second consecutive Lansdale Catholic Tournament. Led by the strong pitching of Alissa Mosser and Olivia Gorman, St. Rose defeated Mary, Mother of the Redeemer White, St. Anthony's, St. Bede, Corpus Christi Black and St. Luke's to take the tournament title.

Pictured front row (from left): Anna Mae Ferry, Maddy Peikin, Lauren Kasper, Olivia Gorman, Ann Schuck, Mary McDonald. Middle row: Emily Price, Shannon White, Avery Wood, Maggie Jones,
Brooke Pulli, Sam Hencken, Alissa Mosser. Back row: Coach John Mosser, coach Jay Jones.

The Nor-Gwyn U12 Heat Girls Softball team won its division championship for the second year in a row.

Pictured front row (from left): Coach Doug Peikin, Chrisitne Perez, Miranda Tossana, Samantha Hencken, Maddy Peikin, Lindsey Shearer, Molly Smith, Julia Santos. Back row: Coach Mark Lee, Chidubem Anyanwu, Allie Ernst, Morgan Shearer, coach Fred Hencken, Cydney Lee. Not pictured: Sylina Flowers.

Sportswear Plus from North Penn Valley Girls Softball Association recently won the 18U VIGS Softball championship. The team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to come back and defeat Deep Run 4-3.

Pictured front row (from left): Vanessa Yerk, Mel Nelson, Carolyn Collins, Hannah Sheehan. Middle row: assistant coach Meg Halberstadt, Trish Calhoun, Katie Weltman, Stephanie Hoover, Ashley Pawling, Katie Beck, Stephanie Kozempel, assistant coach Julia Collins. Back row: Head coach Paul Collins.

The TYA U12 Sunday Select softball team took first place in the ASA Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Class 'C' Fast Pitch Championship with a 7-4 victory over Annville-Cleona. The team went undefeated in the tournament, held in Doylestown July 17-18.

Pictured front row (from left):  Katie Beer, Madison Tanis, Caitlin Kerr. Middle row: Kelly McKenzie, Alexa Huzar, Nicole Wassel, Julia Puia; Back row: Celeste Rosato, Donna Intintolo, Sara Huzar, Ashley Puia, Brigit Coleman, Shannon Hill, Back row: Coach Anthony Rosato, coach Nick Intintolo, coach Bryan Tanis, coach Mike Beer, coach Jim Puia. Not pictured: Jessica McEwen.