Check out of the results for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday. To view photos of the North Penn/Wissahickon game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
NORTH PENN 9, WISSAHICKON 5
Chris Kersey had a big day out of the leadoff spot for the Knights in Thursday’s win, collecting three hits, driving in two runs and scoring three runs to lead the Knights offensively.
“We count on the top of the order to set the table for some of the middle guys, and from an offensive standpoint, that’s the ingredients to run production,” coach Kevin Manero said. “We put together some good at-bats.”
The tone for the game might well have been set in the first inning after Kersey and Mason Nadeau both reached base.
“Jared Melone came up in his first at-bat with men on second and third, and first pitch delivered a perfectly-executed sacrifice fly to right field,” Manero said. “Little things like that – we did a good job of getting on base and really just executing situational hitting for the most part.”
By the time the first inning was over, the Knights led 2-1. The Trojans came back to knot the score with a single run in the second, but the Knights began to take control of the game with a four-run fourth. The two teams exchanged runs in the fifth as the Knights went on to earn the win.
Bobby Scott was 1-for-2 with three RBIs, and Doug Apple drove in a pair of runs.
“I was very happy today with the way we swung the bat and got the bat head through in some key spots,” Manero said. “We put together a couple of big innings, and especially in high school ball, that’s what you want.
“You want the big inning, and you want to try and avoid giving up the big inning, and for the most part, we won that battle today.”
Colin Healy, who entered the game in the third, earned the win, allowing two hits and three runs in 4.2 innings of work.
The Trojans, who benefitted from seven free passes, collected just three hits. William Brownlove drove in a pair of runs to lead the Trojans.
The Knights collected eight hits off a trio of Trojan hurlers.
“There were a couple of innings today when we weren’t very aggressive, and I think that’s the biggest difference between our good innings and our not-so-good innings is how aggressive we are,” Manero said. “The times we’ve struggled have been times when we maybe aren’t swinging at good pitches to hit or maybe were not attacking the zone on the mound and being a little passive and not trying to make a mistake. Part of that is getting a little rhythm on the field and getting comfortable and also getting comfortable in new roles this year.”
Wissahickon 110 030 0-5
North Penn 200 430 x-9
QUAKERTOWN 12, NORRISTOWN 3
The Panthers are trying to establish a new culture this season, and if Thursday’s come-from-behind win is any indication, they’re well on their way. The Panthers trailed 3-1 heading into the top of the seventh when they exploded for 11 runs.
“I’ve coached the kids for a while, and they’re played for me for a while, so I know what they’re capable of,” coach Jon Pallone said. “I didn’t think we were playing our best in the beginning.
“It got to a point in the game where it almost became a ‘here we go again,’ and in years prior, that became the beginning of the end. I remember a preseason write-up it said Quakertown lost 12 games last year by 10 runs or more.
“We went back and looked at it, and we were in almost every game until the fifth or sixth inning. I told them I know what we’re capable of – we just need somebody to crack the door open for us.”
Sophomore Kyle Baskin had a pair of big hits for the Panthers, including the first RBI of the game – which also was the first of his varsity career – and the second to give the Panthers a lead with two outs.
“I almost didn’t bring him up today – he was kind of a jayvee guy, but I was going to rotate some guys up and decided to give him a shot today,” Pallone said. “His first at-bat he hits a double and his second he hits a stand-up triple. I told him he’ll be coming up tomorrow too.”
Cam Delisle was 3-for-4 with a walk. Jake Perrine was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, and Torin Martutartus was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Vinny LaCava also had a pair of RBIs.
On the mound, LaCava pitched the first three innings, Zack Metz the next three and Mark Repsher closed it out with a scoreless seventh.
“This was a big stepping stone to kind of get the piano off our backs,” Pallone said.
Quakertown 000 001 11-12
Norristown 001 011 0-3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 10, WILLIAM TENNENT 4
The Patriots trailed 3-2 heading into the third inning when they exploded for six runs to seize control of the game. Pat Reilly sparked the offense, driving in four runs and collecting three of his team’s six hits.
“Pat Reilly had a monster day at the plate from the leadoff spot,” East coach Kyle Dennis said. “We got quality at bats up and down our lineup, working nine walks and four hit batters.
“We had 10 strikeouts, which is higher than I would like, but these were some of the first live at-bats these guys have gotten against varsity-caliber pitchers. Overall, we were pleased with our performance since both of our scrimmages were rained out, and we have only spent three to four hours total on a field since the start of the season.”
Brandon Birkhead delivered a solo home run and Thomas Prato had a double to account for East’s only extra base hits.
Dan Morrin earned the win on the mound, working 3.1 innings. He allowed six hits and four runs. Dalton Smoot threw 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, fanning five and walking two while not allowing a hit.
“We were pleased with our pitchers’ first outing outdoors on a real mound,” Dennis said. “Once they settled in, they peppered the strike zone.”
Jeremy Hefele led the Panthers with a pair of hits.
Central Bucks East 026 200 0-10
William Tennent 300 100 0-4
UPPER MERION 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 5
The Vikings trailed 5-0 after five innings but exploded for seven runs over the final two innings – three in the sixth and four in the seventh – to earn the come-from-behind win.
“It was nice to get out and see another team and some live pitching,” Upper Merion coach Matthew Mitchell said. “We didn’t play the cleanest of games defensively, but we were clutch when we needed to be in the sixth and seventh.
“We really persevered, which is something we had a tough time doing last year.”
Troy Thomas collected a two-run double in the sixth, and Alex DelGiudice delivered the big blow in the four-run seventh, a three-run double.
“We finished the year on a positive note last year with a couple of wins at the end of the year,” Mitchell said. “It’s been kind of a confirmation that we’re heading in the right direction. It’s a good way to start off on a positive note.”
Thomas, Jon Glenn and Carmen Fortino paced the Vikings with two hits each. Jarrett Quinn earned the win on the mound, fanning six in three innings of work.
Upper Merion000 003 4-7
Harry S Truman 101 120 0-5
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