By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
X @tortreports
AUDUBON — Dating back to April 15, the Pennsville Memorial high softball team found itself trailing in just two total innings across a 15-game span heading into the South Jersey Group 1 semifinal tilt with Audubon on Thursday.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, they quickly fell behind for the entirety of five innings as their 15-game winning streak was snapped in a 12-0 loss to Audubon. The Green Wave are set to host Haddon Township — a 9-1 winner over Buena in the other semifinal — in the sectional championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Audubon’s “Green Wave” was simply too strong to handle — both at the plate and around the circle. Catcher Abigail Tole, who has struggled to get hot at the bat for the majority of the season, swiftly came alive in the first inning. Already up a run early after a Peyton Marrone RBI, Tole doubled on a fly ball to center field to give the Green Wave a commanding 3-0 lead after the first inning.
“I’m really excited,” Tole said. “I’m super proud of my team, and I’m super proud of the performance we just put on. I’m excited because I just got out of my slump and I’ve been struggling a lot this year, so it’s really great that I’m finally performing for my team. They have my back, and I love them all so much.”
The junior finished the game with an impressive stat line, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs.
“Abby (Tole) has come along in the last part of the season,” said coach Erin Small. “She has struggled at the plate much of the season, and she has been really working hard to get back to where she was last year. If somebody’s going to get hot, the playoffs are the best time for it to happen.”
Emma Speyerer , a sophomore, dominated at the plate. She went 3-for-3 with two RBIs while rounding the bases three times.
“Everyone hit well today, and everyone showed up at the plate,” Speyerer said. “This (performance) is something that I hold myself to. I don’t expect anything less from myself.”
While it was quite the masterful performance at the plate for the Green Wave, the lop-sided mercy rule wouldn’t have come to fruition without the outstanding pitching in the circle. Pennsville’s ability to hit for power has been demonstrated throughout the season, but Emily Bobo’s strikes were sharper.
“I really just had to spin the ball,” said Bobo. “All I was focused on today was spinning the ball and throwing my pitches how they should be thrown. Working on what I need to work on. I got them swinging on a few, which was good. I had to keep them off balance a bit, throwing inside and outside.”
The senior was relieved in the final inning by sophomore Alaina Copsetta, but by then the job was already finished. Bobo ended with eight strikeouts, allowing just three hits in four innings of action. Bobo and Copsetta have a nearly identical stat line this season, with Bobo compiling 107 strikeouts with a 1.24 ERA in 62 innings pitched while Copsetta has a 1.22 ERA with 120 Ks through 80 innings of her sophomore campaign.
Having two underclassmen combine for a perfect 6-for-6 and six RBIs certainly thrills coach Small, but when asked about the win, she immediately — and rightfully — gave Bobo credit.
“I’m very happy with our pitching performance, Emily Bobo did an amazing job,” Small said. “They are a very high-scoring, power-hitting team and to limit them to three hits was a huge performance by Emily, and Alaina coming in the last inning. We played Haddon Township earlier in the season. I know they’re going to bring their ‘A’ game on Saturday, and they’re a very good team. They’re well coached, and they have a very good pitcher. So, we need to bring our ‘A’ game as well.”
Audubon (18-5, 8-2 Colonial Liberty) handled Haddon Township (19-6, 8-0 Colonial Patriot) back on April 30, winning 6-1. A lot has changed since then, as the Hawks are on a 10-game winning streak behind brilliant outings from pitcher Jordan Strauss, who’s allowed just two runs in three games so far this postseason.
Confidence is key for the Green Wave — who look to hit the Hawks with a tsunami on Saturday morning.
Said Tole: “I don’t want to jinx it (by predicting a score.) We’re going to win, we’re going to win,” she repeated. “We’re going to do our work, do our best and we are going to win.”
Despite the loss, Pennsville (18-5, 9-1 Tri-County Classic) enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent memory.
“They couldn’t tell me the last time we lost, which I think was awesome,” Eagles coach Beth Jackson said. “I think it was the best year, record-wise, I’ve had in my 15 years. It’s the first time we shared the division since 2016. You can’t make mistakes against a team like this; they are a very good team.”
