Major milestones, statement wins, highlight last week's top performances
It may be hard to believe, but playoffs begin this week in lacrosse, volleyball, and Catholic League softball and baseball. So it should come as no surprise that our local student-athletes were at the top of their games last week.
Major milestones, walk-off and overtime wins, and gritty performances were in high supply, for both postseason-bound athletes, and those looking for finish the season on a high note.
Check out the top performances here, and then vote for the final Boys Athlete of the Week and Girls Athlete of the Week of the regular season beginning Tuesday evening, through Thursday at 8 p.m.
Top Performances in Boys Tennis:
Sal Ponamgi, Alan Zhang, CB East
Ponamgi, a freshman, and Zhang, a sophomore, took third place in the District One Class 3A Tennis Doubles championship. The Patriots placed fifth in the team tournament to earn a spot in the PIAA championships.
Dom Gallo, Paul Pabalan, Holy Ghost Prep
The senior duo cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win against Lower Moreland in the District One 2A doubles tournament quarterfinals. The pair fell to top-seeded Bishop Shanahan in the semifinals.
Top Performances in Girls Lacrosse:
Paige Keller, CB East
Keller erupted for eight goals to power the Patriots to a 13-10 win over CR South. She had three goals against Upper Moreland in the final game of the season, with the Patriots finishing one spot out of the playoffs.
Ellie Carney, CR North
The freshman scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Indians a 7-6 victory over CB South. Carney finished with two goals, one assist and one draw control. Against CB East, she contributed three goals, one assist, and three ground balls in the win.
Julia Ondria, CR North
She scored two goals in an OT win against CB South, including the 100th goal of her career.
Lucy Carney, CR North
The Indians’ goalie recorded her 300th career save in a win against CB South.
Quinn Rodoff, North Penn
Rodoff scored a game-high five goals to secure a 12-10 fourth-quarter comeback win against Souderton.
Victoria Rossi, North Penn
The Knights’ goalie recorded eight saves, including the 200th of her career, in a victory over Souderton.
Maddie Thistlewaite, New Hope-Solebury
The senior was explosive at home against Cheltenham, scoring eight goals and won 19 draw controls.
Maggie Borek, Germantown Academy
She had three goals, three assists and three ground balls in the Patriots’ win over top Catholic League team Cardinal O’Hara.
Katie Pennekamp, Abington
The sophomore led the way with seven goals in a win over Quakertown.
Avery Farina, Souderton
The senior closed out the season by scoring six goals and assisting on two more in a 15-6 win over New Hope-Solebury.
Kate Unzicker, Pennridge
Her three goals and three caused turnovers against CR South helped the Rams secure a share of the SOL National Conference title for the first time since 1998 with the 12-7 win.
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Top Performances in Boys Lacrosse:
Dan Curran, Lansdale Catholic
Curran contributed all over the field in the Crusaders’ win over Archbishop Carroll, scoring five goals, assisting on two more, scooping up eight ground balls, and winning 17-of-18 faceoffs.
Gavin McDonough, Holy Ghost
He led the way with five goals and two assists in the Firebirds’ win over Interboro.
Matt Jacobsen, CB West
The senior had five goals and one assist while going 15-for-16 in the faceoff circle in a win over CR North.
Tyler Vandermark, Pennridge
The Rams’ goalie recorded 23 saves against a hard-hitting Souderton offense to secure the SOL National win for Pennridge.
Frank Fanelli, Pennridge
He had three goals and one assist to help the Rams edge CR South 10-9 and win their second straight SOL National title.
Sean Landis, Souderton
He scored the game-winning goal in the fourth quarter to give Souderton a 7-6 victory over Lansdale Catholic.
Matt Malanga, Souderton
The Indians' goalie had 10 saves and gave up a single goal in the second half to secure Souderton’s 7-6 comeback win against Lansdale Catholic.
Chris Glover, Harry S. Truman
Glover led the Tigers to two straight wins to close out the season, tallying four goals, three assists, and eight ground balls against Cheltnenham, and two goals, two assists and 13 ground balls against William Tennent. The senior became the first player in program history to reach 100 career points.
Tommy Bryson, Harry S. Truman
The junior recorded 19 saves in the Tigers’ win over Tennent, and he saved 85.7 percent of shots on goal against Cheltenham in a 17-3 win to close the season.
Connor Howard, North Penn
The Knights’ goalie turned away six shots on goal to record a shutout and conclude the season with a 9-0 win against Phoenixville.
Bradley Hill, Pennsbury
Hill won 16 of his 17 faceoff attempts, and scooped up 14 ground balls to help the Falcons edge Holy Ghost 8-6 in their season finale.
Colin Demi, Neshaminy
The senior had a hand in 10 goals, dishing out seven assists and scoring three of his own, as Neshaminy ended the season with a win over Upper Moreland.
Top Performances in Boys Volleyball:
Aaron Ladd, Pennridge
He powered the Rams with 15 kills, seven digs and four blocks in a 3-1 win over Souderton, as Pennridge went undefeated in league play (14-0) for the season.
Ben Grove, CB South
He posted 25 kills and 11 digs to lead the Titans over Quakertown for their fifth straight win, securing the 12th and final spot in the District One Class 3A playoffs.
Ryan Coxey, CB East
The setter’s strong performance included 17 assists, 10 digs and two aces as the Patriots defeated CB West to close out the regular season and secure the 10th seed in the District One 3A playoffs.
Luv Patel, Bensalem
He powered the defense with 22 digs, helping the Owls to a 3-1 win over Pennsbury and securing a first-round playoff bye.
Top Performances in Softball:
Julia Scannapieco, CR South
The junior pitcher threw a complete-game no-hitter against Harry S. Truman. Scannapieco walked just two batters while striking out 14 in the 9-0 win. She also doubled and drove in two runs at the plate.
Kylee Hangey, Pennridge
She went 2-for-4 with two RBIs to help the Rams to an 8-5 victory over Coatesville, ending a seven-game winless streak. She had two more hits the following day against CB East, as the Rams won their second straight.
Ryleigh Lilly, Pennridge
She went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run to lead the Rams to a win over CB East.
Dana Delamater, Dock Mennonite
Delamater tripled in three straight games, all wins, last week. She was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, triple and home run against Faith Christian. Delamater didn’t have a chance to try for a single to complete the cycle in the three-inning 15-0 win. She also tripled and drove in two runs against both Christian Academy and Plumstead Christian.
Sammi Wood, William Tennent
She went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs in a victory over Cheltenham, and was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth, against New Hope-Solebury.
Helen Knapp, New Hope-Solebury
The Lions’ lone senior had a Senior Night to remember, going 3-for-4 in a win over Lower Moreland that secured the team a share of the SOL Freedom title for the first time.
Kaylee Harris, New Hope-Solebury
She was just a double short of the cycle in a win over Lower Moreland, finishing with a home run, a triple and a single, and also scoring three runs.
Sammi Clewell, Abington
She hit a two-run home run to help the Ghosts edge Upper Dublin 6-5.
Karlye Teman, Palisades
She saved her best for last in the Pirates’ final regular season game. Teman pitched a complete-game no-hitter, striking out 15, in a 3-0 win against Saucon Valley.
Jenna Morrison, Gwynedd-Mercy
Morrison had a busy day on the base paths, stealing six bases and scoring three runs, along with going 2-for-4 at the plate, in a win over Merion Mercy.
Abbey Wagner, Quakertown
The Panthers’ star pitcher dealt a two-hit, complete-game shutout, striking out 11 batters without issuing a walk, in a 4-0 win against Wissahickon.
Bella Nunn, North Penn
Nunn issued a one-hit, complete-game shutout of Souderton, striking out an impressive 14 batters, while walking just one, in the 5-0 win. She fanned 14 again in a victory over CB South, recording her 200th strikeout of the season.
Casey Sokol, North Penn
Sokol hit a grand slam, in addition to a double and single, in her 3-for-3 day, during a win over CB South.
Avery Tumolo, CR South
Tumolo’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning scored the game-winning run against CR North, which secured a share of the SOL Patriot title for the Golden Hawks for the first time in program history.
Taylor Hooven, CB West
Her impressive defense at second base secured a 5-3 win for the Patriots’ against Conwell-Egan. In the bottom of the seventh with two runners on base, Hooven was able to intercept a hard-hit ball headed for center field and throw out the lead runner to end the game.
Ava Elliott, Souderton
Hitting ninth, Elliot went 4-for-4 with one RBI in Souderton’s win over CB East.
Lucy Mills, CR North
The sophomore came up big against Neshaminy, giving up just four hits in a complete-game effort, giving the Indians a 6-2 win and season sweep of their division rival.
Naya Schubel, Pennsbury
She crushed a three-run home run in the Falcons’ win over Bensalem.
Joslyn McCellan, Upper Moreland
She went 4-for-5 with four RBIs in a win over Cheltenham.
Sienna Lawson, CB West
The senior pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out 14 along the way, in an 8-0 win over Pennridge. Lawson recorded her 400th career strikeout in the game.
Zahmira Coppola-Miller, Neshaminy
She had another stellar day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in a win over Truman.
Morgan Leonhauser, Neshaminy
Leonhauser crushed a grand slam home run to help Neshaminy deal Conestoga its second loss of the season.
Molly Sheehy, CR North
The senior went 3-for-4 and scored a run in the Indians’ 4-3 win over Bristol, and recorded her 100th career hit in the game. After missing much of last season due to injury, Sheehy has 33 hits, and counting, this season.
Lindsey Rooney, Villa Joseph Marie
The center fielder went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs, and scored three runs in the Jems’ win over Faith Christian.
Lauren Bretzel, Conwell-Egan
She earned the win in the circle, pitching a three-hit shutout against St. Hubert, and helped her cause by driving in two runs.
Brianna Slack, Bristol
She didn’t allow a hit through five innings, while striking out nine batters, and drove in three runs in the Warriors’ 14-0 win against Calvary Christian.
Top Performances in Baseball:
Nick DiGiacomo, CR North
The right fielder went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in the Indians’ win over Bensalem.
Julian Grotz, Conwell-Egan
The sophomore drove in the lone run of the game in the ninth inning, giving the Eagles a thrilling 1-0 win against Catholic League rival and defending Class 6A state champion Father Judge.
Chase Forester, Conwell-Egan
The junior pitched a seven-inning shutout, giving up just two hits and one walk along the way, while striking out nine, as the Eagles topped Father Judge 1-0 in nine innings.
Logan Savage, Bensalem
In a marathon 11-inning game, Savage proved to be the hero, hitting a walk-off RBI single to give the Owls the 4-3 win over Truman.
Connor Klock, Souderton
With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh, Klock hit a walkoff RBI single to give Souderton a big win over CB East.
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Charlie Plebani, New Hope-Solebury
His varsity pitching debut was a gem, as Plebani gave up just two hits while striking out five for six shutout innings against Lower Moreland.
Brooks Saft, New Hope-Solebury
He hit his second home run in as many games, this time a two-run shot that gave the Lions a 2-1 win over William Tennent.
Mike Judge, Abington
His RBI single in the sixth inning drove in the game-winning run to give Abington the 3-2 edge over Upper Dublin.
Cooper Natisin, Quakertown
The senior had a tremendous outing on the mound against Wissahickon, giving up just two hits and no walks while striking out seven through eight innings to secure the 1-0 win. Natisin added to his impressive performance by hitting an RBI double to score the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning.
AJ Briggs, North Penn
Stepping to the plate with the bases loaded, Briggs was the eighth-inning hero for the Knights, singling to drive in the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Souderton.
Connor McCloskey, Pennsbury
The Falcons’ pitcher held Bensalem scoreless for six innings, giving up just two hits and no walks while fanning five in the win.
Will Scibona, CR North
His home run in the top of the seventh proved to be the game-winner against rival CR South.
Tyler Bonelli, Palisades
The Pirates’ leadoff hitter set the table with three walks, three runs scored, and an RBI single in a win over Executive Education.
Ted Musselman, Palisades
With two on base in the top of the eighth, Musselman hit his third single of the game, this time driving in the game-winning run in a win over Saucon Valley.
DJ Glass, Plumstead Christian
The senior allowed no earned runs while striking out eight in 4⅓ innings and earning the pitching victory, in addition to going 3 for 3 with a home run, double and two RBIs, in a 12-2 win over Jenkintown.
Matt Marsten, Quakertown
The senior tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout with seven strikeouts and had an RBI double to put the Panthers ahead for good in a 3-0 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
Grayson Weikel, Faith Christian
The senior tallied his ninth home run of the spring among his three hits and went 5⅔ innings to earn the pitching victory as Faith downed Bristol 8-5 in a battle of unbeaten teams.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High School Sports: Bucks County Top Performers in baseball, softball
