Pa. Girls: Thurs. Pa. girls: Nazareth takes Academies crown

Before the season, Nazareth Academy's softball players told coach Bob Keating that they wanted a certain message on the back of their navy blue practice T-shirts.

"Tradition never graduates," they said.

Keating made it happen, in yellow print, to match the school colors.

Thursday afternoon, the Pandas defined that message as they clinched their seventh straight Catholic Academies crown with an 11-1 win at Merion Mercy.

Junior righthander Taylor Lichtenhahn battled a wet pitching circle to strike out four in five innings for the win. Brittany Colombo, a junior third baseman, had a homer and five RBIs. Jill Bobitt, a junior shortstop, hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs.

"We're a little school from the Northeast with a great softball program," Keating said. "It's pretty cool."

Also in the league, Cailee Gordinier hit a game-winning homer to center field as host Villa Maria secured second place with a 5-4 victory over Villa Joseph Marie. Maddy Abbot pitched seven innings and struck out four for the win.

Suburban One. Sarah Snider-Leonhauser hit a two-run homer in the fifth to put Neshaminy ahead, and the host Redskins went on to edge Council Rock North, 9-7. She had two hits and four RBIs.

Maria Sinni, Amy Iorio, and Allison Taylor drove in two runs each as Norristown topped host Wissahickon, 10-6.

Pioneer. Freshman righthander Emily Oltman struck out nine and allowed just two hits as Perkiomen Valley blanked host Pottsgrove, 3-0.

Sarah Rambo drove in three runs, scored twice, and had a pair of hits as Methacton rolled over visiting Upper Perkiomen, 8-0. Jordan Prutzer struck out five and allowed one hit in five innings for the win.

Bicentennial. Olivia D'Emidio's double in the fourth led Bristol past host Christopher Dock, 2-1.

Taryn Gallagher and Alexandra Silvera scored three times each as Episcopal Academy downed host Penn Charter, 14-10, in an Inter-Ac game.

Kelly Kubach and Avery Shoemaker led Penn Charter with three goals each.

Nonleague. Tori Contoudis and Emma Dillon scored five times each as Jenkintown dropped host Lansdale Catholic, 18-12. Contoudis, a senior attack, added two assists along with her season-high goal total.

Liz Brennan scored seven goals as visiting Ridley dropped Methacton, 15-13.

Jess Breuning and Marissa Fassnacht had five goals each to help host St. Hubert roll past St. Basil, 18-11.