Neshaminy stops Bristol in softball

Megan Jonigkeit gained some of her competitive fire from her older brothers, Jason and Evan.

Jason Jonigkeit, 27, was a wide receiver for Neshaminy's football team and also bowled and played baseball at the school.

Evan Jonigkeit, 24, competed in the same three sports for the Redskins, excelling as an outfielder in baseball.

"They helped motivate me, strengthened my athleticism," Megan said. "They would always come to my games. They were very supportive."

Yesterday, showing versatility and a team-first approach, Jonigkeit moved up in the order and batted leadoff for Neshaminy in a nonleague game against Bristol.

She went 1 for 3, scored a run and stole a base as the visiting Redskins won the Bucks County battle, 2-0.

"She's really stepped up for us recently," Neshaminy coach Kathleen Houser said. "Being a four-year starter, she knows what I expect from her."

The 5-foot-4 Jonigkeit opened the third inning with a single to center field. She moved to third on Samantha Creamer's up-the-middle single, and scooted home on a wild pitch.

Freshman Samantha Bender, making her fourth varsity start, flirted with a no-hitter. She went 52/3 innings without yielding a hit. Bristol's Shawna Wolp, her pitching counterpart, broke up the no-hit bid with an infield single.

It was a tough break for Bender, as the slapped ball bounced in front of shortstop Christina Udris and then spun away from her, toward third base.

"A few of us had talked about the no-hitter in the dugout, just before we took the field in the sixth," Jonigkeit said. "I guess we jinxed her."

That was the only hit allowed by Bender, a righthander who struck out 11 batters and issued two walks.

After a strong start this season, the young Redskins (8-7 overall, 7-5 Suburban One League National Conference) endured a major hitting slump and plummeted in the standings. On Tuesday, they were upset by Abington, 5-4.

Against the Warriors, who are 12-4 overall and 7-1 in the Bicentennial Athletic League, five freshmen started for Neshaminy.

"The experienced players try to help out the younger girls as much as possible," Jonigkeit said. "We want to do whatever we can to make them better players."

Jonigkeit will study elementary education and play softball at Kutztown. Like her older brothers and father, Steve, the 18-year-old from Langhorne is a bowler. She had a 175 average for Neshaminy last season.

Neshaminy001 100 0 - 2 7 0

Bristol 000 000 0 - 0 1 3

WP: Samantha Bender. LP: Shawna Wolp. 2B: N–Samantha Creamer, Brianne Birtell.