Carty, Scheeler lead Souderton past Christopher Dock for 8th straight win
TELFORD — The biggest surprise for Angie Carty Friday night came postgame when she was caught a little off guard by a prom proposal.
“I had an idea, but I didn’t know it was going to be tonight,’ she said.
Carty and the Souderton softball team left little doubt of the outcome of their non-league contest with Christopher Dock at Stover Field. The Indians scored five times as they sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and continued to pile on the runs from there in rolling to a 13-1 victory over the Pioneers.
“With that five runs that we jumped on right away with our first hits, everyone was getting and that’s what fueled us I think,’ Carty said. “We started to shut them down and we were building ourselves back up, when we came right out of the gate, that’s what fueled us for this game.’
Carty and Alex Scheeler — who batted 1-2 in Souderton’s lineup — both went 4-for-5 while Missy Wiley drove in four runs as the Indians (12-2, 10-1 Suburban One League Continental) won their eighth straight.
“They had a lot of girls hit the ball, I don’t know if we can change that. What are you going to do? Very aggressive hitters,’ Christopher Dock coach Wayne Benner said. “We threw a lot of balls off the plate and if you don’t get them off the plate and make them reach for it, they were hitting them.’
Katie Kehler was 3-for-4, Wiley and Dayna Shelly both finished 2-for-5 while Carty scored four times as Souderton posted its highest run output of the season — bettering the 12 Big Red had in its win over Central Bucks South April 24.
“Our lineup as a whole is very, very strong,’ Carty said. “Even though we’re such a young team, coming back from last year with our state championship, it’s such a great position that we’re in right now, where we’re at in the season.’
Scheeler picked up the win in a complete-game effort in the circle. She allowed one unearned run on eight hits, walked three and struck out five.
Lauren Weidler took the loss for Dock (10-3), giving up 13 runs — 12 earned — on 17 hits in seven innings. She had two strikeouts and two walks.
“It’s not easy to take and nobody likes to lose 13-1, but I think there’s a lot to learn from this,’ Benner said. “And it’s never bad to play good teams in my opinion.’
Along with being a meeting between local rivals, Friday’s game served as Senior Night for both sides, with the Indians’ four and Dock’s five seniors honored before the contest.
“It is so fun, I love decorating the whole area,’ Wiley said. “And the music gets you really pumped up.’
Souderton returns to action Monday when it hosts Council Rock North for a SOL non-conference matchup. Monday, its returns to SOL Continental play Tuesday at home against Pennridge. The Indians lead the conference, with North Penn — winners of their last seven — just behind at 8-2.
“We play our best when we play loose,’ Carty said. “And North Penn’s a very, very strong team, they’re a great team and as long as we come out with that confidence that we are going to win, then that’s what we have to.
“When we jump on it and we were strong at the plate, strong in the field, working as a team — I’ve never been on a team that’s so close, that works so well together. So, when we’re on point, that’s when we’re the best.’
Emily Gordon was 2-for-2 and Emily Groarke went 2-for-3 for Christopher Dock, which had a five-game win streak snapped. The Pioneers try to bounce back when it returns to Bicentennial Athletic League play at home Monday against MaST Charter.
Souderton already had a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Wiley stepped to the plate with two one and one out and belted a two-RBI triple to left field to double the advantage. Wiley came home for Big Red’s fifth run as Kehler singled on the next at-bat.
“I struggled in the beginning of the season, but now I am doing pretty well when I’m at the plate,’ Wiley said.
The Indians extended their lead to 8-0 with three runs in the fourth. Carty beat shortstop Jill Bolton’s throw home on a Morgan Yoder fielder’s choice. Three batters later with two outs and the bases loaded, Wiley dropped a single behind second base to score two.
Dock plated its lone run in the bottom of the fourth as Emma Lewis — who led off with a single — came home on a passed ball.
Scheeler added two more runs to the Indians’ total in the fifth with a two-RBI single. Souderton tacked on another tree in the seventh on a Carty RBI single, Yoder RBI fielder’s choice and Gaydos RBI single.
