Big Hits & No-Hitters: The top performers in softball, baseball, lacrosse, track
The spring season sure is off to a blazing start! Now, if only the 'spring weather' would catch up, right? But no worries, these resilient student-athletes are putting up big numbers — rain, cold or shine.
Check out this week's top performances, and then cast your votes for the Boys and Girls Athletes of the Week!
Top Performances in Baseball
Michael Walsh, Holy Ghost Prep: Trailing by one run in the seventh inning, Walsh delivered a two-out, two-run walk-off single to give the Firebirds a 3-2 win over Penn Charter.
Mike Shaw, George School: Shaw drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Cougars an 8-7 win over Academy of the New Church. He finished the game with two hits and two RBIs.
Joey Gale, Archbishop Wood: Gale hit a grand slam and also had a sacrifice fly to give the Vikings the 12-11 edge over Devon Prep.
Ryan Fox, Neshaminy: Fox had a stellar complete-game outing, giving up three hits and one run while striking out eight in an 8-1 win over Bensalem.
Anthony Trommer, Neshaminy: Trommer reached base five times with three hits and two walks, and scored a pair of runs in an 8-1 victory over Bensalem.
Jake Kozlowski, Neshaminy: Kozlowski had two hits and three RBIs, including the go-ahead RBI-single in the sixth, in Neshaminy’s 8-4 win over CR North.
Chase Ennis, Council Rock South: Ennis pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings while striking out seven to give the Golden Hawks the edge in a 3-2 triumph over rival Pennsbury. He also had two hits, including a double and drove in a run.
Quinn Illig, CB West: In a rivalry game against CB East with the Bucks trailing by a run, Illig crushed a two-run home run to give CB West a 4-3 walkoff win. Illig finished with two hits and three RBIs.
Matt Worek, Abington: Worek was 5-for-5 at the plate, with a triple, a double and three RBIs, in a 15-12 victory over Pennridge.
Matt Atchley, Pennridge: It was a two-home-run day for Atchley, who also had a double and three RBIs, in a wild 15-12 loss to Abington.
Andrew Armstrong, Harry S. Truman: Armstrong’s two-run double in the seventh inning set off a five-run inning for the Tigers against Archbishop Wood.
Nate Gilson, Harry S. Truman: With the game tied in the seventh inning, Gilson hit a two-run double to give the Tigers a 6-4 come-from-behind win over Archbishop Wood. Gilson finished with three RBIs in the game as Truman earned its first win of the season.
Jack Picozzi, North Penn: Picozzi delivered a gem on the mound against Hazleton, a team that reached the PIAA Class 6A semifinals last year. Picozzi gave up five hits and one run while striking out five through five innings to earn the 3-1 win. He also had two hits, including a double, and scored a run.
Top Performances in Girls Lacrosse
Olivia Graebner, Pennsbury: Graebner led the way with five goals and two assists in the Falcons’ 14-7 win over Abington.
Annalise Messina, Upper Moreland: The Golden Bears sophomore reached a milestone normally reserved for upperclassmen when she scored her 100th goal in Monday’s 15-7 victory over Archbishop Wood. Messina finished the game with six goals and one assist. She followed up with a five-goal, three-assist game in Wednesday’s win over Plymouth Whitemarsh. She then had six goals and two assists in a victory over Interboro.
Zoe Brossman, Council Rock South: Brossman netted six goals and assisted on two more to lead the Golden Hawks to their sixth straight win with an 18-1 victory over Neshaminy.
Madison Taylor, Quakertown: Taylor scored in overtime to give the Panthers a thrilling 9-8 win over Souderton. It was the Panthers’ first victory against Souderton, according to the Quakertown coaches.
Charlotte Ondria, Council Rock North: Ondria had a hand in 10 goals in CR North’s 22-12 win over CB South, scoring four goals and assisting on six more.
Kaya Mallon, Council Rock South: The Golden Hawks’ goalie had 14 saves against Gwynedd Mercy to help secure the 9-6 victory that kept CR South a perfect 7-0 on the season.
Kayla Stressman, North Penn: Stressman tallied four goals, three assists and caused three turnovers in the Knights’ 12-11 win over CR North.
More: Who are the top teams in Bucks/Montco girls lacrosse? Check out our first rankings
Top Performances in Softball
Amariah McKnight, Conwell-Egan: McKnight played a huge role in securing a 10-7 win against Archbishop Carroll in the Eagles’ first PCL game of the season, driving in four runs with a home run and two doubles. She also had several defensive gems at second base.
Ahlana Sesar, Conwell-Egan: The Eagles’ ace pitched a complete-game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out five in a 6-0 win against Villa Joseph Marie. She also had two hits in the game.
Dakota Fanelli, Archbishop Wood: Fanelli tossed a six-inning no-hitter, striking out 12 without walking a batter in a 10-0 win against Little Flower. She also led the way at the plate with two hits and three RBIs. In the Vikings’ next game against Bonner-Prendergast, Fanelli pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up just four hits and striking out 15. She also had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drove in three runs in the 7-0 win.
Lexi Waring, Council Rock South: With the tying run on base and the game-winning run at the plate, Waring came up with a huge strikeout to end the game and give the Golden Hawks a 6-5 win over rival CR North. Waring pitched 3⅔ innings, allowing just two hits and no runs, while striking out nine.
Kayla Clarkson, Bensalem: Clarkson came up huge for the Owls against an undefeated Bristol team. Clark allowed just two hits while striking out 11 for a complete-game shutout, securing the Owls’ first victory of the season with the 2-0 win.
Karlye Teman, Palisades: The sophomore had another excellent afternoon in the circle, striking out 16 while giving up three hits and two runs against Pen Argyl.
Natalie Kelley, Gwynedd Mercy: Kelley went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs in the Monarchs 17-8 win over Merion Mercy. In the next game, she had two more RBIs on a pair of hits against Upper Dublin.
Clarissa Smith, Germantown Academy: Clarissa Smith pitched a complete game, giving up just four hits and one run while striking out 16, in the Patriots’ win over Baldwin.
Jazziah Manning, Germantown Academy: Manning’s huge week at the plate helped the Patriots to a pair of victories. Against Archbishop Carroll, Manning went 2-for-3 with a double and five RBIs, and in a 5-1 win over Baldwin, she was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run.
Maysie Thomson, Neshaminy: The sophomore pitcher gave up just two hits and one run, earning her first career win as Neshaminy edged Souderton 2-1.
Molly Hitchen, Neshaminy: Hitchen had the go-ahead RBI-single in Neshaminy’s 2-1 win over Souderton.
Sammy Raub, Pennsbury: Raub cracked a walk-off home run to give the Falcons a 3-2 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
Laney Freiband, Pennsbury: The Falcons’ ace pitched a complete-game three-hitter, striking out 11 along the way, to deliver a 3-2 win against Hatboro-Horsham. She picked up another victory on Wednesday, giving up two runs while striking out 11 in dealing CR South its first loss of the season.
More: Play softball! These are the 38 top returning softball players in Bucks, Montco
Julia Shearer, North Penn: Shearer was perfect for seven innings, not allowing a single hit or walk while striking out 14, to secure a tough 1-0 win over Boyertown. It was Shearer’s third straight shutout, and in those three games she allowed four hits and no walks while striking out 40 batters through 17⅔ innings.
Alyssa Tooley, Hatboro-Horsham: Tooley pitched a complete-game one-hit shutout, striking out 11 along the way, in the Hatters’ win over Wissahickon. In addition, Tooley went 4-for-5 with a double and scored a run from the leadoff spot.
Abbey Wagner, Quakertown: Wagner continued to shine in the circle, giving up just four hits and one run while striking out 10 in a complete-game win against CB West.
Ava Beal, Quakertown: The Panthers’ leadoff hitter was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a stolen base and a run scored in a 9-1 victory over CB West.
Carli Maha, Quakertown: Maha delivered the go-ahead RBI-single in the sixth inning to give the Panthers a 4-3 comeback win against Pennridge.
Adrianna Vargas, Bensalem: The Owls’ sophomore hit her first career home run in the Owls’ 2-0 victory over Bristol.
Lina Sponheimer, Bensalem: Sponheimer hit a go-ahead RBI-single in Bensalem’s 2-0 win over Bristol.
Kaylie York, Souderton: York launched two home runs in the Big Red’s 15-1 win over Perkiomen, finishing with five RBIs in the abbreviated game.
Averi Dockery, Pennridge: Dockery hit a two-run home run and also pitched a complete game, with 12 strikeouts, in the Rams’ 15-6 win over Coatesville. She finished with two hits and five RBIs. Dockery went yard again in the Knights’ next game against Quakertown, and was 3-for-3 on the day.
Ashleigh Kenworthy, Pennridge: Kenworthy cleared the bases with a grand slam in the sixth inning of the Rams’ win against Coatesville.
Taylor Hooven, CB West: Hooven was the hero in the 10th inning, cracking a walk-off two-run single to give the Bucks an 8-7 extra-inning win against Archbishop Wood.
Devyn Kniese, Upper Moreland: Kniese smashed a three-run home run and doubled to drive in another run in the Golden Bears’ abbreviated win over MaST Charter.
Top Times in Track & Field
Alexis Megginson, Lansdale Catholic: The Crusaders’ freshman had a big win at the Philadelphia Catholic League meet, taking first place in the girls 100-meter dash with a time of 13.92.
Anthony Conrey, Conwell-Egan: The junior won both the boys long jump (20-4) and the triple jump (39-2) at the Catholic League meet.
Sabrina Beniquez, Gwynedd Mercy: The senior was a three-time winner at the Catholic Academies meet. Beniquez took first place in the 200-meter dash (28.17), the 400-meter dash (1:00.81) and the 300-meter hurdles (51.81).
Zyan Greene, Bensalem: Greene won the boys 200-meter dash in a speedy 22.13 and the 400-meter dash in 48 seconds at the Jim Kelly Invitational. His time in the 400 is the best in PA this season.
Robert Walton, Bensalem: The senior Owl won the boys high jump (6-2) as well as the 800-meter run (1:55.95) at the competitive Jim Kelly Invitational. His time in the 800-meter stands as the best in PA this season.
Ashley Landis, Pennridge: The sophomore not only won the girls 800-meter run, but also established the top time in PA, crossing the finish line in 2:14.56 at the Jim Kelley Invitational.
Top Performances in Boys Lacrosse
Nick Colovita, Council Rock North: Colovita netted five goals and dished four assists in CR North’s 18-4 victory over Neshaminy.
Andrew Zazoff, Council Rock North: Zazoff scored seven goals in an 11-8 win against SOL National rival Pennsbury.
Ben Souder, Pennridge: Souder won 18-of-25 faceoffs, putting the Rams in position for a 13-11 come-from-behind win over Hatboro-Horsham.
Jon Vereb, Pennsbury: The Falcons' goalie had nine saves in a 14-9 victory over Pennington.
Kolby Ranniello, Pennsbury: Ranniello tallied four goals and three assists in the Falcons’ 14-9 win over Pennington.
Colin Demi, Neshaminy: With under a minute to go, Demi scored the go-ahead goal to give Neshaminy a 9-7 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh. Demi finished with four goals and two assists.
Jimmy Garofalo, Upper Moreland: The Golden Bears’ goalie recorded 10 saves and allowed just two goals in a win against Conwell-Egan. He followed with an 11-save outing in a 9-2 victory over Archbishop Wood.
Poll! Vote for the Boys Athlete of the Week for April 2-8!
Poll! Vote for the Girls Athlete of the Week for April 2-8!
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Spring Top Performances in softball, baseball, lacrosse, track
