TOWAMENCIN- Following an emotional 22-5 Senior Day victory the day before, the North Penn Knights Softball team (11-3) came out slow against the Lady Panthers of William Tennent (7-7). After letting up back to back solo home runs in the first inning, freshman pitcher Mady Volpe allowed only three hits and no runs. The Knight’s bats came alive early and took the win 6-2 over William Tennant.

In the bottom of the first inning the Knights took back the two runs the Lady Panthers stole in the top of the inning. After senior Emily Groarke and sophomore Victoria Juckniewitz got on base with solid hits, junior Elia Namey hit a two run double to bring the game to 2-2.

“This is the type of team so far that when we get behind, they can come right back, and that’s what they’ve been doing. They knew it was early, it was the first inning, and they know they can hit. So it just didn’t faze them,” said head coach Rick Torresani.

Volpe had two of her 11 strikeouts in the top of the 2nd inning, shutting down the Tennent offense that was so hot in the first.

It was not until the bottom of the 3rd inning when junior Jordan Pietrzykowski hit a shot to left field that scored Groarke from second base to take the lead 3-2.

Volpe shut down the Lady Panthers again in the 4th inning with two more strikeouts added to her total.

“I felt really great. You know, it’s like the same thing I’ve been doing since I was basically 8 years old, and it’s just really fluent. I’m going up there now with a clear mind, which is really helpful because you can’t get a good hit if you are too much in your head,” said senior captain Courtney Neal.

The North Penn bats went to work again in the 4th after senior Courtney Neal hit a double that led to sophomore Paige Paciolla hitting an RBI single right up the middle of the field.

“I wanted to make sure my mentality stayed the same throughout the whole game and I knew my team had my back no matter what,” explained Volpe.

The freshman phenom did it again in the 5th inning allowing only one hit and having three strikeouts to retire the side. And again, North Penn bats returned the favor to Volpe in the bottom of the fifth adding two more runs off a double to left center field by Neal, finally bringing the Knights to a comfortable lead of 6-2.

Mady Volpe and the Knight’s fielders were able to hold off William Tennent for 6 more outs, two of which were strikeouts, and win the Suburban One match up cleanly.

The Knights travel to Lansdale Catholic to play their cross town rival on Wednesday.

Emily Groarke 3-4, 1 double, SB

Courtney Neal 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 doubles

Mady Volpe 7 IP 5 H 11 K