Young Sun Valley confident good times are ahead
ASTON >> Jordyn Skarren and Ally Sheppard do not feel melancholy about their team’s 3-7 record. While the results aren’t where they’d like them to be, the Vanguards have 10 games remaining in their season and the future of the program is very bright.
The sophomore Skarren is the team’s No. 1 pitcher. She has emerged as one of the best sluggers in the Ches-Mont League and Delco. Skarren exploded on the high school scene as a freshman, earning all-league honors last year. Her batterymate, junior Ally Sheppard, was selected to the All-Ches-Mont second team and is having another fantastic year.
Junior shortstop Devin Warner is already verbally committed to play the sport at Chestnut Hill College. Sophomore Layla Murphy is another exciting underclassman. The Vanguards are young, talented and hungry. Even during the late stages of Wednesday’s 11-2 loss to a tough Coatesville squad, the home team remained engaged, cheering on teammates until the final out was made.
“We played well today. That team over there is just really good,” Sun Valley coach Shawn Potter said. “We hung in there. We were proud of them. Ally, who is one of our captains and our catcher, is having a great year. Jordyn has been great, too.”
And they are two lead-by-example players Potter is happy to build his program around.
Skarren noted how this year has been a “different experience” compared to last season when the Vanguards finished 8-12 and barely missed the cut for the District 1 Class 5A playoffs. For starters it hasn’t been easy trying to replace Brianna Lawson, a two-time All-Delco and all-state selection who is playing at Division 1 Monmouth.
“It’s a brand new team and we are a young team,” said Skarren, who belted a home run and struck out five from the circle. “I think we’re still growing as a whole. We just have to get used to each other’s abilities and how well we play the game and just work together to get better.”
The Vanguards showed their firepower Wednesday, collecting nine hits against a Coatesville (6-4) squad that is competing for a spot in the Class 6A district tournament.
“As girls keep getting at bats and keep getting more comfortable at the plate, only good things are going to happen,” Sheppard said.
The Vanguards jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Skarren singled and went to second base on an error. With two outs Warner smashed an RBI double. As Emily Hess laced a single back up the middle, Warner tried to score from second but was thrown out by Coatesville center fielder Ashley Stinger for the third out.
The Red Raiders took the lead with a three-run spot in the third inning. Danielle Sweigart had a two-run single and scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Caitlyn Reynolds.
The Vanguards got a run back off Coatesville starter Ashlynn Sherman when Skarren hit a bomb over the fence in dead center. Murphy followed with a double, but the Vanguards couldn’t bring home the tying run.
Skarren reached base for a third time via intentional walk in the fourth inning to load the bases. Murphy grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the threat. Warner finished 2-for-3 and Abby Gawne had a double for the Vanguards.
In the Inter-Ac League:
Episcopal Academy 9, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 0 >> Freshman Maddie Masiko eclipsed 100 strikeouts on the season for the Churchwomen. She has 103 through the halfway point of the team’s schedule. Masiko also helped her cause with a single, double and an RBI.
Liv Cella bunted for a single and came all the way around to score thanks to a three-base error. Riley Spor smacked a two-run triple and Evie Aldridge went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Freshman Sophia Santinelli added two hits, including a double, and fellow classmate Sofia Foulds went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In the Central League:
Ridley 12, Strath Haven 2 >> Maddie Gordon, Sydney Schaefer and Caitlyn Senkow led a 15-hit parade with three apiece. Schaefer had a solo homer, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Gordon (three runs) and Senkow each doubled.
All-Delco shortstop Haley McMenamin belted a three-run dinger and singled for the undefeated Green Raiders. All-Delco catcher Paige McLaughlin also went yard and finished with two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Winning pitcher Addison Najmola struck out six.
In nonleague action:
Interboro 9, Conestoga 2 >> Erin O’Shea collected four hits and three RBIs to lead the visiting Bucs (7-2) to a big victory over the Pioneers. Sarah Smith pitched a complete game and also legged out a triple.
Ava Rudolph added three hits and Ava Magee supplied a pair of base knocks, including a double, and two RBIs.
In the Del Val League Tuesday:
Interboro 19, Academy Park 0 >> Home runs by Ava Magee, Summer Burrell, Candace Horner and Olivia Bulovas led the Bucs’ offensive onslaught. Bulovas allowed just one hit in three innings, striking out eight of the 11 batters she faced for Interboro (6-2, 2-0 Del Val).
