Beretski’s heroics gives Neshaminy softball huge win over CR North

LANGHORNE >> It was one of those moments and games as an athlete you will remember for the rest of your life.

With her team tied in the bottom of the seventh and a runner on second with two outs, Sophie Beretski jumped all over a pitch and crushed a scorched line drive over the center field fence to give the Neshaminy High softball team a thrilling 4-2 win over Council Rock on Thursday afternoon, May 5.

With the victory, defending champion Neshaminy improved to 12-1 and opened up a commanding two-game lead over second-place Council Rock North (8-3) in the Suburban One National League.

“I might have in travel ball, but not in high school,” replied a jubilant Beretski when asked if she had ever hit a walk-off home run after being mobbed by her teammates.

“I knew I was going to get a good pitch because it was a 2-0 count. I think (the pitch) was down the middle, but I’m not sure. I just know I put a good swing on it.”

Beretski’s home run capped off an excellent game in which Rock North tied it with runs in the sixth and seventh innings, only to see its hopes dashed by the Kutztown University-bound Beretski.

“It was a playoff atmosphere,” agreed Beretski. “We knew we had to come out and play our game.”

For a long time, it looked like Neshaminy would need no such late heroics.

With sophomore lefty Sarah Dowalo cruising along with a one-hitter after five innings, Neshaminy held a 1-0 lead courtesy of a single by Mackensie Compson in the third and an RBI double that one-hopped the right field fence by — you guessed it — Beretski.

Dowalo was excellent with 12 strikeouts, but Rock North was able to suddenly break through in the sixth on a two-out triple by Nicole Rounsavill off the base of the right field fence and Hanna Stalker’s smoked double down the left field line.

Neshaminy regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on a lead-off home run to center field by Rebecca Dixon against Jenna Khantzian, who had relieved Amanda Camp in the fifth. It was the fourth homer of the year for Dixon, who wasn’t even a starter at the beginning of the season.

Unlike its first loss against Neshaminy in which it was never really got going, Rock North tied it in the seventh when Madison Tomlinson raced home on a wild pitch. Earlier, Tomlinson had a one-out infield single, stole second and reached third on a bunt single by Elena Dalibeo, who had two of her team’s six hits out of the No. 9 spot in the order.

Rock North elected to bring Camp back into the circle to start the seventh and she was greeted by a lead-off single by new catcher Paige Metz. Camp came back to get two outs on fly balls to center, but that brought up Beretski, who had struck out in her previous at bat against Khantzian.

The rest, as they say, is history.

“Sarah pitched really well and Sophie really came through,” said Neshaminy coach Dave Chichiletti. “Sophie showed senior leadership, which is huge.”

A lot can happen, but it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if these teams met for a third time down the road in the districts.

Neshaminy 4, Council Rock North 2

(May 5 at Neshaminy)

CR North (8-3) 000 001 1 – 2 6 0

Neshaminy (12-1) 001 001 2 – 4 10 1

WP-Dowalo. LP-Camp. 2B-Stalker (CRN), Compton (N), Beretski (N). 3B-Rounsavill (CRN). HR-Beretski. Dixon (N). RBIs: CRN-Stalker. N-Beretski 3, Dixon.