Methacton puts it all together in PAC semifinal win over Upper Perkiomen
ROYERSFORD >> Methacton put it all together and advanced to the Pioneer Athletic Conference softball championship game with a 6-1 semifinal win over Upper Perkiomen Wednesday night at Spring-Ford’s Ram Park.
Caroline Pellicano threw a six-hitter with eight strikeouts for the win and the Warriors knocked out 15 hits and made no errors. Methacton (15-4) will try for its first title since 2014 back at Ram Park at 7 p.m. against undefeated Spring-Ford, a 10-2 winner over Upper Merion in an earlier semifinal.
Taylor Angelillis drilled a solo homer among her three hits, Nicole Timko singled three times, and Abby Penjuke, Caraline Newman and Tori Bockrath each picked up two hits to lead the Warrior attack.
“Fifteen hits, you really can’t beat that,” said Pellicano. “And you do what you do on defense. Everyone made the plays, kept the ball in front of them. Whether you hit the ball over the fence or dink it, contact is what counts. It’s great to have the team pick you up.”
“They’ve been hitting well all year,” said Methacton coach Cathy Miller. “They have confidence in their hitting.”
Newman doubled home a run in the top of the first and it remained 1-0 until Methacton added two in the fifth on five straight hits, including RBI singles by Kiki Hamilton and Newman.
Upper Perk (14-7) threatened in the second when Dani Freer led off with a double and moved to third with one out. But catcher Kelci Cost fielded a bunt right out in front of the plate and threw out the batter while holding the runner at third.
Then right fielder Timko caught a fly with a runner on third and one out in the third and made a strong throw to the plate to nab the runner at the plate to retire the side.
“They made some good plays,” Miller said concerning her players. “We did play some good defense too. We’ve been playing good defense all season. And Caroline pitched a really nice game. We put it all together.”
Pellicano ran into some trouble in the sixth when Jenna Sullivan led off with an infield hit and came all the way around on a single to right by Morgan Lindsay. A one-out walk – one of just two allowed by Pellicano – brought the tying run to the plate, but a force at third and a strikeout ended the inning.
Angelillis hit one out of the park to start the seventh and Carly Sorber doubled home the final run.
Pellicano retired the Indians in order on two grounders and a strikeout to wrap up the win.
“I was really focusing on my spin tonight,” said the junior right-hander. “My change-up was really working. And the rise … that’s a hard pitch to master. You have to keep them off-balance too. I really hope we can come out tomorrow and do the same thing. If we do the same thing, we can win.”
Upper Perk will now get ready for its district playoff opener on Monday.
“They’re a good team,” said Indian coach Dean Sullivan. “I’m excited to see the game tomorrow. That’s probably the best matchup you can have in the championship game this year. Their right fielder made a great throw home to get an out. We always seem to have one inning where we give up three or four runs. We made some contact. They made some plays.
“We’re a young team and we’re hoping the experience will help us the next two or three years. We’ll shake it off. The whole season starts on Monday.”
