Neshaminy rolls past Rock North
NEWTOWN, PA. » It’s sure looking like there might once again be no stopping the Neshaminy High School softball team in the Suburban One National League and it’s easy to explain why.
Neshaminy has the two best pitchers in the league with seniors Amber Brugger and Sarah Dowalo. And with a lineup featuring as many as eight seniors when Dowalo is on the field, the Redskins have the most potent attack in the SONL.
It was all on display again Tuesday afternoon as Neshaminy crushed a Council Rock North team that figures to be its chief challenger by the score of 12-0 in five innings.
Neshaminy (9-1) has now played four SONL games and won three of them by the run-rule. The one game it didn’t 10-run its opponent was against Abington and the Redskins were missing four starters that day.
“We still have some things to work on defensively, but we are really seeing the ball well right now,” said Neshaminy coach Dave Chichilitti, whose team is ranked third in the area by The Trentonian.
“I figured going into the year we would be strong from one through six or so. But it’s all come together for the whole lineup. It’s very encouraging.”
A lot of Neshaminy players are hot, but the one who is really on a roll of late is third baseman Natalie Rios. Heading to La Salle next year, Rios came into the Rock game batting over .500. She must be near .600 by now after going 4-for-4 with a double, two-run homer deep over the center field fence and a whopping six RBIs.
It goes on and on. Amber Brugger had two hits at the top of the lineup and also got the pitching win with a strong two-hitter and four strikeouts in four innings of work. She was pulled from the game in the fifth because of a nagging blister, but that didn’t slow down the Redskins at all as Dowalo came in and struck out the side.
Already committed to Penn State, sophomore Liana Jones also had two hits, including a two-run homer of her own to center field. And catcher Paige Metz continued to contribute at the bottom of the lineup with a hard RBI single. Amanda Kurtz also got in on the fun with a double.
“We hit a lot for Metz last year, but she really turned it on towards the end of the season,” said Chichilitti. “Paige has been a big plus for us.”
In fairness to Rock North (6-2), it looked like a team coming off a long layoff following a class trip. The Indians can play a lot better than this, but the bottom line is like everyone else they are looking up to Neshaminy.
There probably will be a league game where Neshaminy will hit the ball straight at the other team and have at least a close call, but it is a clear favorite every time it takes on an SONL opponent.
As such, it will be interesting to see what transpires next Tuesday when it heads to Notre Dame, a club it is just itching to beat after losing its first two meetings with the Mercer County team.
Neshaminy (9-1) CR North (6-2) 230 34 — 12 11 1 00000—023
WP-Brugger. LP-Begg. 2B-Rios (N), Kurtz (N). HR-Rio, Jones (N). RBIs: Fee, Rios 6, Jones 2, Kurtz, Watkins, Paige.