Spring fever! See which players started the season on a hot streak
It's finally spring, and that means a return to the wonderful world of outdoor sports. While the weather wasn't exactly ideal, these baseball, softball, lacrosse and track athletes didn't need much time to warm up. See which players made strong impressions in the first week of the spring season.
And be sure to vote for the first Boys and Girls Athlete of the Week for the spring season — the polls are open Tuesday evening through 8 p.m. Thursday!
More: Vote for the first Girls Athlete of the Week for the spring season!
Baseball
Aiden Kenney, Pennsbury: The Falcons’ sophomore pitched a one-hit shutout and struck out six over three innings to earn the save in relief of starter Kayden Faulcon. The Falcons defeated Western PA power Pittsburgh Central Catholic 4-0.
Jack Picozzi, North Penn: Picozzi hit a walkoff line drive to center in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Knights a 3-2 win over Prairie View, Colorado. Picozzi was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Geno Bianco, Lansdale Catholic: Bianco was a perfect 4-for-4, which included a double and triple, and scored four runs hitting leadoff for the Crusaders in a win against Jenkintown. He also added an RBI and stolen base to his impressive stat line.
Joe Tiroly, Pennsbury: Tiroly supplied plenty of offense for the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double and 2 RBIs, in a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Jadon Tang, CR North: With the Indians down 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Tang’s leadoff double set the table for a remarkable comeback. Tang later scored the tying run, and Indians added a few more for a 10-6 comeback win against Holy Ghost Prep. Tang went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Joel Bonner, Neshaminy: Bonner drove in the game-winning run in the sixth inning to give Neshaminy a 4-3 victory over Abington. He also had a double in the game.
Trey Porter, Hatboro-Horsham: Porter had a busy afternoon at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk and three runs scored, in the Hatters 10-3 win over CR North.
Dariel Tiburcio, Archbishop Wood: Tiburcio had an incredible day at the plate, crushing a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, in the Vikings win against New Hope-Solebury. Tiburcio went 4-for-5, including a double, with six RBIs.
Keller Bradley, Pennsbury: The freshman pitcher earned the win in his first career start, pitching four scoreless innings. Bradley allowed just two hits and struck out four in the 3-0 victory against Ohio’s Pickerington Central.
Ryan Zuckerman, Pennsbury: Zuckerman crushed two home runs and drove in three runs in the Falcons’ 9-5 win against Baldwin.
Softball
Karlye Teman, Palisades: The Pirates’ sophomore pitcher picked up right where she left off after a fantastic freshman campaign. Teman pitched a complete-game no-hitter, allowing just one walk and striking out 13, in the Pirates' season-opening 4-1 win against Bangor.
Olivia Schlindwein, Council Rock North: The freshman pitcher was dazzling in the first start of her high school career. In a 4-0 win against Wissahickon, Schlindwein allowed two hits and two walks and struck out an incredible 17 batters in a complete-game shutout.
Lindsey Gorka, Neshaminy: Gorka went 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBIs and two runs scored in Neshaminy’s 10-0 victory over Bensalem.
Chloe Dryden, CB West: Dryden went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored, including a steal of home plate, in the Bucks’ 20-3 win over Wissahickon.
Liz Santry, Upper Moreland: Santry had a fabulous day at the plate against New Hope-Solebury, driving in four runs with a home run and a double in the win.
Alyssa Wiley, Upper Moreland: Wiley had three hits, including a triple, and drove in three runs in the Golden Bears win over New Hope-Solebury.
Brianna Slack, Bristol: Slack was splendid in the circle, allowing three hits and striking out 15 in the Warriors’ 3-2 win over Renaissance Academy. In another matchup against RA, Slack earned the victory after giving up four hits and striking out 13 in a complete game.
Maddie Nelson, Neshaminy: Nelson had a pair of doubles and four RBIs in Neshaminy’s win over Archbishop Ryan.
More: Take a look at the top boys volleyball players in Bucks/Montco
Boys Volleyball
Nathan Knapp, Pennsbury: Knapp netted 15 kills, 7 digs and 5 blocks as the Falcons opened the season with a 3-2 win against Neshaminy. In the next match against Abington, he contributed eight kills, six digs and two blocks to lead the Falcons.
Matt LaBouliere, Central Bucks East: LaBouliere had a huge game in the Patriots’ season opener, recording 14 digs, 13 kills, 3 blocks and an ace, in a 3-0 sweep of North Penn.
Evan Jalosinski, Pennridge: Jalosinski dished out 38 assists to help the Rams edge Upper Dublin 3-2 in their season opener. He then dealt 42 assists in the Rams’ 3-1 win over North Penn.
Nate Brown, Souderton: Brown tallied 18 kills and four blocks to lead the Indians to a 3-0 sweep of CB East.
Veer Patel, Bensalem: Patel had 30 assists to lead the Owls in a 3-0 sweep of Lower Merion.
Track & Field
Jamir McClinton, Abington: The sophomore took first place in the boys 100-meter dash, sprinting a speedy 11.81 at the Pennsylvania Track Classic.
Keith Axten, Abington: The senior ran the boys 200-meter dash in 23.35, good for first place at the PA Track Classic.
Peyton Krebs, Souderton: Krebs raced to a first-place finish in the girls 200-meter dash with a time of 27.10 at the PA Track Classic.
Rebekah Hickey, Quakertown: The Panthers’ senior won the girls 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:31.75 at the PA Track Classic.
Thomas Smigo, Palisades: The Lehigh University commit was a three-time winner in Palisades meet against Bangor. Smigo won the boys 800-meter run (2:05.69), the 1,600-meter run (4:24.40) and the 3,200-meter run (10:55.50).
Nicole Eden, Council Rock North: The senior won three events in the Indians’ meet against Pennsbury. Eden took first place in the girls 100-meter (13.12), the 200-meter (28.56) and the long jump (15-07).
Mario Toscano, Germantown Academy: Toscano won both the discus (128-11) and the shot put (41-7) at the PA Track Classic.
Girls Lacrosse
Cayla Wurz, Pennridge: Wurz scored four goals in Pennridges’ 14-4 victory over Abington.
Charlotte Ondria, Council Rock North: Ondria came up big in the Indians’ win over New Hope-Solebury, tallying five goals, three assists, three draw controls and two ground balls. In a 17-3 win over Neshaminy, Ondria delivered four goals, two assists and three ground balls.
Zoe Brossman, Council Rock South: Brossman scored five goals and assisted on three more in the Golden Hawks win over Hatboro-Horsham.
Mia Raven, Germantown Academy: The senior led the way with five goals and three assists in the win over Gwynedd Mercy.
Kate Unzicker, Pennridge: Unzicker scored three goals and assisted on another three in the Rams’ 20-2 win over Quakertown. She also had a ground ball and six draw controls.
Paige Keller, CB East: Keller led the way with four goals and seven draw controls, and also forced two turnovers, to lead the Patriots to a 12-7 win over Jenkintown.
Paige Dougherty, CB East: Dougherty scored six goals, assisted on another, and also had six draw controls and three ground balls in the Patriots’ 19-10 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
Katie Pennekamp, Abington: Pennekamp scored five goals to lead the Ghosts to a win over Neshaminy.
Kalena Mandeville, CB West: The Bucks’ goalie had six saves along with five caused turnovers in a win over Archbishop Wood.
More: Take a look at the top boys lacrosse players in Bucks/Montco
Boys Lacrosse
Rocco Ippoldo, Germantown Academy: In a win against Easton, Ippoldo delivered seven goals to lead the Patriots to their first win of the season.
Reese Levinson, CB South: Levinson scored the game-winning goal with 15 seconds to go to give the Titans a 10-9 win over Abington. Levinson had two goals and two assists.
Andrew Zazoff, Council Rock North: Zazoff led the way with five goals and four ground balls to give the Indians’ a win over Springfield in their season opener.
Gavin Selchert, Lansdale Catholic: Selchert tallied four goals and three assists to lead the Crusaders in a non-league victory against Springfield.
Noah Epstein, Council Rock North: Epstein’s solid defensive effort, which included four forced turnovers and four ground balls, helped the Indians’ secure a 10-4 win over Harriton.
David Benjamin, Hatboro-Horsham: Benjamin scored six goals and was 4-for-4 on faceoffs in the Hatters’ win over Archbishop Carroll.
Matt Jacobsen, CB West: Jacobsen was an impressive 15-for-16 on faceoffs, and also contributed three goals and three assists in the Bucks’ win over Easton. In a victory against Lower Merion, Jacobsen score three goals, assisted on two more, and went 12-for-18 faceoffs.
Austin Hahn, CB West: Hahn scored five goals and had one assist, reaching 100 career points, in the Bucks’ win over Great Valley.
Leo Fowler, New Hope-Solebury: Fowler made 10 saves in net to secure a 9-3 victory for the Lions’ in their season opener against Pottsgrove.
Caiden Myers, North Penn: Myers scored five times in the Knights’ 12-3 win over Archbishop Wood.
Robert Lowery, Abington: Lowery scored six goals and assisted on two more in the Ghosts 17-3 win over Neshaminy.
Frank Fanelli, Pennridge: Fanelli assisted on four goals and scored two of his own in the Rams’ 16-1 victory over Quakertown.
Thomas Williams, CB East: Williams scored three times and assisted on three more goals to lead the Patriots’ to an impressive 9-6 win over St. Joe’s Prep.
Connor Howard, North Penn: The Knights’ goalie made an impressive 19 saves to help edge WC Henderson 7-5.
More: Vote for the first Boys Athlete of the Week for the spring season!
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Spring Top Performers: The best in softball, baseball, lacrosse, track
