SOL/BAL bounced by Chester County
PHILADELPHIA — After 28 innings of softball in 24 hours, the Suburban One League/Bicentennial Athletic League’s time in the 11th Annual Carpenter Cup is over.
After winning the morning sessions Tuesday and Wednesday, the group coached by Upper Dublin’s Heather Boyer was eliminated Wednesday with an 8-2 loss to Chester County.
The SOL/BAL won the morning game 7-1 over Delaware South, but failed to find a way to stay alive any further into the day. Chester County knocked SOL/BAL out of the double-elimination tournament behind a three-run fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and end the team’s time in South Philadelphia’s FDR Park.
“We just could not answer,’ Boyer said. “Yes, (we started hitting the ball on the ground) and yes, (the ball found some holes). It is about the more plate appearances you have the more pitches you seen. It was a little bit of everything.’
SOL/BAL which came to the all-star tournament in search of its second championship in franchise history. The team won it all in 2012, has a second place finish and number of third place finishes over the last decade.
When Boyer and North Penn coach Rick Torresani held tryouts for the team, they were looking for talent first and foremost. But availability and position scarcity also played its role. What they ended up with is 10 of the 17 girls being sophomores, which bodes well for next year.
“Theoretically, if a lot of them have the time and they want to do this next year,’ Boyer said. “They know what to expect when they come back out here.’
The juniors are getting a jump start on their senior season. With college coaches in attendance, the thoughts about playing softball become more of a reality. The Carpenter Cup shined bright on juniors such as Cheltenham’s Madison Gianelle, Pennridge’s Julia Helbling, Upper Merion’s Olivia Sborlini and North Penn’s Katie Beer.
“When I coach field hockey and softball at Upper Dublin and I stuck between a sophomore and a junior I usually think about the future,’ Boyer said. “I usually give the spot to a sophomore because they have another year to grow. In this, I’ll give the nod to the junior because it is their last crack at it. This year the talent was just really strong in the sophomore class.’
The sophomores still have time to think about future scholarships, but the two days did put some names on the radar. Sophomores Michaela Coleman (Wissahickon) had an RBI against Delaware South and sophomore Sarah Tannenbaum of Upper Dublin got the group out to early lead against Chester County. North Penn’s Bri Battavio drove in a run in game one, scored and singled in game two Tuesday.
“It is nice to have Bri and (North Penn’s) Melanie (Lauro), knowing they will back you up,’ Beer said. “With Bri, Melanie and Coach T makes it feel a little more like school ball. I think if we had a little more time (three practices prior) we have been even more meshed together. But we blend pretty well and we all got along.’
Upper Dublin sophomore Sarah Tannenbaum welcomed the chance to play in the Carpenter Cup for her high school head coach. She had a RBI in the second game Wednesday to help SOL/BAL jump out to an early lead. There was no one else Boyer would want in center field. She hopes to have the chance to play for her next summer back at F.D.R. Park with many of the girls here this year.
“A lot of us will be back to play on this team next year,’ Tannenbaum said. “Plus some other sophomores will come out. It does not make a big difference who the coach is, but (coach Boyer and I) love each other. I will probably be back next year.’
