Sixth-inning rally propels Plymouth Whitemarsh past Spring-Ford, 4-3
ROYERSFORD >> Jenna Yablon wasn’t too happy with her start to Wednesday’s game.
A fly out with runners in scoring position followed by a strikeout with two on in the top of the fourth meant Plymouth-Whitemarsh’s sophomore center fielder was due when she came up a third time in the sixth inning.
Yablon’s patience paid off. She delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded, igniting a four-run rally and sending the No. 12 seed Colonials past host and No. 5 Spring-Ford, 4-3, in Wednesday’s District 1-6A second round.
“The top of our lineup was making strong contact,” said Yablon, “so by my third at-bat, I needed to pick them up. My only thoughts were ‘strong contact.’”
She followed through, sending her two run-scoring hit back through the middle against a drawn-in infield, setting the table for freshman Joslyn Perez who followed with an RBI hit up the first-base line to knot the game at 3.
Junior shortstop Marissa Perez’s sacrifice fly would plate the eventual winning run.
“Joslyn and I see it as our job to round out this lineup,” added Yablon. “I’m really proud we came through today.”
PW improves to 15-6, and now gets to improbably host a District 1 quarterfinal Friday after No. 13 Pennridge topped No. 4 Boyertown.
“It’s not a surprise to us,” said PW coach Mike Perez. “Our win Monday (over Souderton) gave us a lot of confidence.
“They’ve been doing it all year. Our 8 and 9 hitters have been two of our best all season, and they’ve been there game after game. It speaks to the teamwork that we have.”
The other half of that teamwork approach came from senior pitcher Molly Moore, who allowed three early runs but recovered to retire Spring-Ford’s last 11 hitters in order, finishing with 12 strikeouts.
Moore, who went the distance in the win against Souderton, repeated the feat Wednesday and said her intensity rose throughout the contest.
“I’d say I got angrier as the game went on,” said Moore. “My pregame was better. My teammates picked me up when I got down. I had something to prove after the home run (in the third inning).
“It gets under your skin, but you have to use it as motivation rather than letting it beat you.”
Spring-Ford built their 3-0 lead on a two-run homer from senior center fielder Ellie Jarrell, who took a two-strike offering over the left-center field fence.
An inning later, Nova Legassie took advantage of a PW misplay on Jarrell’s fly ball with two outs, running hard from second base to make the lead 3-0.
Rams starter Jess Fliszar worked out of trouble in the fourth inning, but otherwise cruised through the early frames before running into trouble in the sixth.
Katie Cecconi relieved Fliszar after Yablon’s two-run single, stemming the tide to give the Rams a last chance. They just couldn’t solve Moore.
“Give PW credit — their pitcher threw really well,” said SF coach Shawn Corropolese.
“Ellie [Jarrell] had a big hit for us. She’s been doing that her whole career, and that’s what we just talked about after the game. I thanked (the seniors) — thanked them for busting their butts for us for four years.”
The Rams enjoyed fine outfield defense from Jarrell and right fielder Caitlin Ashley, who handled seven chances without a miscue.
Spring-Ford, the 2022 Class 6A state champions, ended 2023 at a record of 16-4.
“There was a bullseye on our back every time we took the field,” said Corropolese. “The kids knew that, and we tried to move forward putting last year in the rearview mirror.”
Corropolese is optimistic for the future of the program, as only two starters from Wednesday graduate.
“For example, our two pitchers today — a junior and a sophomore — the future is bright,” said Corropolese.
As for that bullseye Corropolese mentioned, the victorious Colonials acknowledged playing the defending champs did provide some motivation. But Molly Moore knew she needed a win to extend her high school career.
“The motivation was my teammates. I’m doing it for my teammates, for (Grace Carney, a fellow senior). I feel like we’re often underestimated, so I’m doing it for the whole team.”
And as has become the standard for Plymouth-Whitemarsh, the whole team picked up their pitcher on Wednesday.
“We just play our game,” said Moore. “All of us.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Spring-Ford 3
Results
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth Whitemarsh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| Spring-Ford | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Spring-Ford | PW | ||||||||
| ab | r | h | bi | ab | r | h | bi | ||
| Lester | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | MPerez | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jarrell | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Kosvitch | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ashley | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Moore | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fliszar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Skivo | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gancasz | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Childers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Burgess | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Reed | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Naylor | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Moran | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Eross | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Yablon | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Bainbridge | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | JPerez | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dailey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Totals | 29 | 3 | 7 | 2 | Totals | 30 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
HR – Jarrell. LOB-PW 9, SF 9.
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
| Plymouth Whitemarsh | ||||||
| Moore (W) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 1 |
| Spring-Ford | ||||||
| Fliszar (L) | 5 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Cecconi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
