It’s been a rough season for a very young New Hope-Solebury softball team, but Friday, May 5 will most certainly go down as a highlight.
Jumping out to a 7-1 lead and holding off some Cheltenham rallies, including one in the bottom of the seventh inning, visiting NH-S (2-10, 2-10) check record rode a gutsy complete-game pitching performance from sophomore right-hander Emily Wilson and a 17-hit offensive attack to a 12-10 win over Cheltenham (0-12, 2-12) in a Suburban One League Freedom Division contest.
While her statistics were not sparkling, Wilson threw strikes when she needed to and worked out of trouble in several spots. She surrendered 11 hits and struck out six, while also going 1-for-5 at the plate with three runs and two RBIs. The Lions’ other win this season also came against Cheltenham.
“It definitely feels really good because we were coming off a couple of hard losses and I think our team gave its all today and showed some perseverance,” Wilson said.
After Cheltenham scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 7, the Lions responded with three runs in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh to seize back the lead, 12-7. The Panthers weren’t done, coming back with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, including two runs with two outs, but sophomore Izzy Elizondo made a nice play on a sizzling ground ball to first base to seal the win for NH-S.
“You have to mentally stay with it, and my team is always backing me up,” said Wilson. “I always know they are there for me.”
Elizondo, who played both catcher and first base in the game, went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, run and RBI. She said NH-S players did a good job holding their poise in a game where no lead seemed safe.
“When we have these types of games, we tell ourselves just go for an out. Just get an out, and that will get everything going,” Elizondo said. “We have had some drawbacks, but our team has been really positive and hopefully we can get some more wins the rest of the season.”
Other hitting stars for NH-S were Kaylee Harris (4-for-5, three runs, two RBIs), Elena Shire (2-for-5, two runs, two RBIs) and Jackie Herbert (2-for-3, RBI). The Lions have only one junior (Helen Knapp) and one senior (Ann-Cha Arnould) on the squad, and the rest are all sophomores and freshmen.
New Hope-Solebury head coach Chris Marchok, a former star baseball pitcher at Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem Township and Harvard University who spent time in the Montreal Expos’ and Phillies’ minor league systems, said the experience gained now should pay dividends in future years.
“We’re excited about the future but there’s going to be a few growing pains along the way,” Marchok said. “Anytime the girls can compete and compete well, win or lose, it’s a good feeling. Our kids took a lead today, got punched in the nose a little bit, but bounced back. I was very happy with how they stayed with it.”
Marchok was effusive in his praise for Wilson.
“I can never say enough good things about the leadership that Emily Wilson shows,” the coach said. “To me, she’s a coach on the field. She’s steadying, she’s persistent and has the heart of a lion.”
For head coach Alicia Heinemann’s Cheltenham team, right-hander Robin Miller went the distance on the mound, striking out four and giving up 17 hits and nine walks. Kendall Nelson was the offensive star for the Panthers, going 4-for-5 with three runs, two RBIs and six stolen bases. Also having big days at the plate were Bella Nicosia (3-for-5, two runs, two RBIs) and Tabitha Sterman (2-for-3, three RBIs).
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