SOL Baseball Wrap (4-22-14)

Check out the results for SOL baseball teams in action.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Abington 7, Bensalem 6
The host Ghosts (4-6) pulled their record above .500 (4-3) in the league after surviving a late rally by the Owls that was aided by some uncharacteristic defensive miscues and seeing-eye base hits.
“Did we help them out? I would say so,” said Abington coach Dave Torresani of Bensalem’s five-run comeback charge to knot the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh. “We had been playing wonderful defense all year. But give Bensalem a lot of credit. They found the holes. Besides some bad plays, they found the holes and tied it up.”
The Owls’ surge ended a run short when sophomore Chris Clewell came on to close the door in what the venerable skipper described as “an important out for a sophomore to get.”
Clewell relieved Matt McDonough, who had given up just one run before the seventh. Undaunted, McDonough doubled in the bottom of the seventh and scored the winning run on a Jack Lanni single. It was the second double of the game for McDonough, who drove in two runs.
Catcher Nick Bein continued his strong season, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. He scored two runs and drove in two.
The Owls were paced by Bill Uphoff (2-for-3), Andy Moser (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Ben Anderson (2 RBI). Bensalem is 2-4 in league play (5-5 overall).
Bensalem 000 001 5 – 6
Abington 221 010 1 – 7

Council Rock South 3, Council Rock North 2
The Golden Hawks (6-1 overall) remained atop the division, improving to 4-1 in league play after building a 3-0 lead and fending off a late rally from their crosstown rival Tuesday.
“Enough said,” said South coach Ted Kirner. “The guys get juiced up for these games. It’s always a battle, and today was no different.
“It’s a great win for us.”
The path to victory was largely on the pitching arm of La Salle-bound Greg Paprocki, who had what Kirner termed an “outstanding performance,” allowing four hits and striking out five while keeping the Indians off the board through six innings.
Meanwhile, Kirner’s scrappy bunch was able to create three runs on three hits against Indian ace Brandon McIlwain.
“We grunged it out, that’s what we do,” he said. “We put pressure on the defense, and threatened in every inning.”
Jake Nevin ignited the two-run third by driving in a run with a single and scoring himself on a passed ball. In the fourth, Nick Ponente drove in what would be the winning run with what Kirner called “a fantastic at-bat.” His hit scored Nick Fabiano, who had worked McIlwain for a walk.
“He got down, 0-2, in the count,” said Kirner. “He battled and battled and stroked a single.
“A win is a win, man, especially that one today.  We have more games to go (in the season) than what we have won, so we can’t let our heads get too big.”
Council Rock North 000 000 2 – 2
Council Rock South 002 100 X -3

Pennsbury 5, Neshaminy 2
The Falcons were facing a tall order Tuesday, going on the road against Neshaminy and dominant southpaw Cole Creighton.
While Creighton still had his moments, striking out eight, the Falcons benefitted from their preparation enough to emerge with a crucial league win Tuesday.
It was not only big for the standings, but also for confidence.
“Going to them, and coming up with a game like this was huge, especially since we battled (against Creighton),” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci, whose squad is 5-4 overall and 5-2 in the league.
Brendan Campbell led the way, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. He scored three runs, drove in three and threw in a stolen base in his spare time. The supporting cast included Justin Jacko (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
“We changed our approach to the plate,” said Pesci. “Last year, (Creighton) shut us down. We were working against lefties in practice, and they really bought into it.”
Taking advantage of the run support was winning pitcher Connor Ward, who only surrendered one earned run and was an out shy of a complete game.
The Redskins are 4-3 in league play (5-4 overall).
Pennsbury 002 010 2 – 5
Neshaminy 100 010 0 -2

William Tennent 8, Harry S Truman 7
Tim Brodhag’s RBI-single, sandwiched around a walk and some errors, sparked a two-run rally in the top of the seventh that proved to be the difference in Tuesday’s seesaw battle.
Stephen Hatala earned the win in relief of Jeremy Hefele, who had five strikeouts in five innings while adding a double and two RBI.
Turning in two-hit games for Tennent were Vinny Case (3 runs, RBI), Ben Zeitz (double, run, RBI) and Paul McElroy (double, 2 runs, RBI).
For Truman, Evan Miller (3 RBI) and Zach Demeglio (double) each had two hits while Brett Kozlowski scored twice.
Matt Walczak took the loss in relief.
While the Tigers fell to 1-6 in league play (1-10 overall), the Panthers are 2-4 in the league (3-5 overall).
Tennent 102 300 2 – 8
Truman 120 013 X - 7

CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE

Hatboro-Horsham 3, CB West 0
The red-hot Hatters rode the right arm of senior David Brown to a win over the visiting Bucks.
Brown threw six innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out four. Junior Eric Lane earned the save, pitching a scoreless seventh frame.
Lane also led the Hatters offense going 2-3 with a double and a run scored. Alex Kleidon was 1-2 with 2 RBI. Kevin Barron was 1-3 with a run. Catcher Eric Thomas was 1-3 with an RBI. Thomas also threw 2 runners out attempting to steal.
The Hatters (7-2) have now won five in a row to move to 5-2 in the SOL Continental and share first place with North Penn and CB East. During those five games, the Hatters have allowed just two runs (one earned) in 41 innings pitched.
The Hatters will visit CB East on Thursday.
The Bucks (7-4, 3-4 SOL) wasted a solid outing from starter John Fitz, who threw 82 pitches – 58 for strikes. The Bucks stranded nine base runners while the Hatters left just two.
Central Bucks West         000 000 0-1
Hatboro-Horsham            000 300 x-3

CB East 3, CB South 1
Brandon Birkhead outdueled South ace Matt Radwanski and helped himself by driving in a run, allowing the Patriots eke past the visiting Titans in a taut league battle Tuesday.
Birkhead went the distance, allowing four hits and fanning four while fanning seven. Radwanski threw six innings, allowing six hits but no earned runs. He walked five, struck out three.
For the Patriots, Tom Prato was 2-for-3 with a run scored. David Yanni doubled and scored.
CB South 010 000 0 – 1
CB East 001 200 X – 3

Souderton 10, Quakertown 2
There were many contributors for the Indians, who scored in every inning but the sixth – and posted three runs in the second frame and four in the fifth – en route to a home win Tuesday.
Jason Smith, Micah Plank, Zane Moyer and Blake Gular all had two-hit games. Smith and Plank drove in three runs each while Moyer and Gular each plated two.
On the mound, Luke Caviston and Brandon Giampi spilt the game, each fanning four.
For Quakertown, Vinny LaCava remained hot, going 2-for-3.
The Indians are 4-3 in conference play after one go-round (5-5 overall) while the Panthers are 0-7 in the league (1-7 overall).
Quakertown 100 100 0 – 2
Souderton 131 140 X – 10

North Penn 5, Pennridge 3
The Knights built a 5-1 lead after two innings and rode the arm of Colin Healy the rest of the way to knock off the visiting Rams Tuesday. Healy went the distance, allowing seven hits while walking one and striking out one.
Chris Kersey wielded the heaviest bat for the defending state champs, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run. He also scored twice. Brandon Heggan also finished the day 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
For the Rams, Evan Tice (RBI) and Danny Shane (run scored) each had two hits while Dave Tatoian doubled, scored and drove in a run.
The Knights (6-3, 5-2 SOL) held a 10-7 edge in hits over the Rams, who fell to 3-4 in league play (4-4 overall).
Pennridge 100 001 1 – 3
North Penn 320 000 X - 5

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Plymouth Whitemarsh 3, Springfield 2
The Colonials needed a late rally to force extra innings, where a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dylan Ennslin plated Matt Nardo and provided the narrow margin over victory over the upset-minded Spartans (2-5, 1-5 SOL).
PW coach Chris Manero credited sophomore reliever Connor Kissane, who threw three scoreless innings in relief to get the win.
“He shut them down,” said Manero, whose team improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the league. “That was the key for us, in terms of being able to get back into this game.”
Manero added that Springfield pitcher Julian Salzer “threw really well” and kept PW off the board until Zach Metz delivered a bases-loaded single to drive in the proximity run and Will Kane added an infield single to bring in the tying run.
Metz and Evan Bischoff each had two-hit games for the Colonials, who improved to 6-1 in league play (8-1 overall).
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 000 2 1 – 3
Springfield 001 010 00 – 2

Upper Moreland 10, Wissahickon 4
Winning pitcher Charlie Hooker gave himself plenty of breathing with a big day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI, as the Golden Bears moved over .500 overall (5-4) and the league (4-3).
While Colton Hooker helped his brother with a double, others keying the bat attack included Connor Casey (2-for-2, two doubles) and Mike Cavanagh (2-for-3). Eddie Decker’s bases-loaded double keyed a six-run fourth inning that put the Bears in front after finding themselves in a 4-4 deadlock after two innings.
Blake Rappaport delivered an RBI-triple for the Trojans, who fell to 3-4 in league play (3-5 overall).
Alex Tappen was the losing pitcher.
Upper Moreland 220 600 0 – 10
Wissahickon 130 00 0 - 4

Upper Dublin 10, Upper Merion 8
The visiting Vikings built an 8-0 lead before the Cardinals awakened with six runs in the bottom of the third, three in the fourth to pull in front and an insurance run in the sixth.
Winning pitcher Christian Huckfeldt helped himself with two RBI. Dane Nealis (RBI) and John Lee each had a pair of hits for the Cardinals while Harrison Guber drove in a run.
For the Vikings, Carmen Fortino (run, RBI) and Troy Thomas (2 runs, RBI) each had multiple-hit games while John Glenn scored twice.
The Cardinals are 5-2 in league play (7-3 overall) while the Vikings are 0-5 in the league (2-6 overall).
Upper Merion 512 000 0 – 8
Upper Dublin 006 301 X -10

Cheltenham 15, Norristown 0
In a game shortened to four innings, winning pitcher Calvin Salazar allowed just one hit and fanned three while helping his own cause with two RBI.
The Panthers, who broke the game wide open with nine runs in the home third, received big games from the usual cast – Kevin Graham (2-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI), Max Perilstein (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and Mark Heimann (two RBI) – while Wes Tarver (2 hits, 3 RBI) and Gilbert Owens (2-for-2, runs) also lit up the scorecard.
The Panthers are 7-0 in league play (8-3 overall) while the Eagles fell to 0-6 in the league (0-8 overall).
Norristown 000 0 – 0
Cheltenham 139 2 – 15

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