SOL National/BAL Captures Carpenter Cup Title

The SOL National-BAL defeated Jersey Shore 12-6 to capture the Carpenter Cup title on Tuesday at Citizen’s Bank Park. Check the Photo Gallery from Monday’s action at Citizen’s Bank Park at the following link:  http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/g/2014-15b

By Scott Huff

Philadelphia – When Suburban One League National Conference/Bicentennial League co-head coaches Dave Torresani (Abington) and Joe Pesci (Pennsbury) waded into the 30^th Annual Carpenter Cup tournament, they knew that their talent pool was deep.  After all there were four PIAA District One title teams represented on the SOL National/BAL squad – Council Rock North (AAAA), Holy Ghost Prep (AAA), Devon Prep (AA) and Christopher Dock (A).

The brilliant SOL National/BAL roster of 25 players added a 2015 Carpenter Cup Championship to its collective resume with a much tougher-than-it looked 12-6 victory over Jersey Shore at Citizen’s Bank Park.

“Both Joe and I knew that we had a lot of talent on this team,” said Torresani – who has coached in this tournament for the last nine years and was part of the coaching staff that last won the Cup in 2008.  “These kids came from programs that had a lot of pride and accept challenges. 

“It was a team that really fed off each other when things were going well,” added Torresani.  “And it was a team that never got down on each other when things weren’t going well.”

Things went very well for the SOLN/BAL in the second inning as the winners exploded for seven runs in the frame to take a commanding 7-0 lead.  But things weren’t going so well as Jersey Shore closed to within 8-6 in the eighth inning and had the bases loaded with two outs.

“Everyone told me – and they were right – was that Jersey Shore can hit-hit-hit,” said Torresani of the defending 2014 Carpenter Cup champions.  “We knew that they were going to come back.”

In the bases loaded situation, the SOL National/BAL went to its new-found closer in junior T.J. Arnao (Neshaminy).  Arnao – who recorded a clutch save in Monday’s 6-5 semifinal win over Berks County with the tying run on second base and two outs. Arnao once again delivered, bursting the Jersey Shore bubble in the eighth inning by pitching out of the inning.

Arnao – who watched his SOL National/BAL teammates score four runs in the top of the ninth inning to relieve the pressure – pitched a one, two, three ninth inning to earn his second save in as many chances.

“I like the pressure,” said Arnao – who was primarily a starter this season for the Redskins.  “I try not to think too much – just throw to the glove.”

“T.J. did what he has done all year – he competes and isn’t afraid of anything,” said Chris Tenaglia (Neshaminy) who was Arnao’s head coach this year and an assistant coach for the SOL National/BAL.  “Today was typical of him – nothing really seems to bother him.”

“Both Joe and I decided that T.J. was going to be our closer,” said Torresani.  “You have to have a certain mentality to be a good closer – and T.J. has that mentality.  With the game on the line – we decided we were just going to give him the ball.”

At that outset it didn’t appear that there was going to be any late game heroics needed as the SOL National/BAL pounded out seven runs in the second inning.

Jack Larini (Abington) reached first base on an error to open the inning.  One out later, Connor Macaulay (Council Rock South) singled as Larini moved to second base.  Brendan Gallagher (Abington) beat out an infield single to load the bases.

Ryan Malloy (Holy Ghost Prep) collected an RBI single that plated Larini.  Zach Szumigala (Pennsbury) delivered a key blow with a double that scored both Macaulay and Gallagher.  Spencer Tinkel (New Hope Solebury) had an RBI single and scored moments later on a blistering RBI triple off the bat of D.J. Endler (Pennsbury).  Endler scored the final run of the inning as Jared Schram (Council Rock North) collected an RBI single.

Jersey Shore scored a single run in the second inning, but the SOL/BAL added a solo run in the third inning to extend the lead to 8-1.

Szumigala walked with two outs – stole second base – and scored on a ringing RBI double off the bat of Tinkel.

Jersey Shore, though, would not go away.  Jersey Shore scored four runs in the fifth inning to close to within 8-5 and added another run in the eighth to make it an 8-6 game before Arnao closed the door for the SOL National/BAL.

The winners would complete the scorebook with a four-run ninth inning.

Tim Brodhag (William Tennent) walked to open the inning, and Bryan Kaelin (MaST Charter) followed with a single.  The key hits in the inning were a two-run double off the bat of Luke Duris (Holy Ghost Prep) and an RBI single by Shaun Stackhouse (Council Rock South).  Julian Turner (Holy Ghost Prep) hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI.

“This was a really great experience for me,” said Brodhag, who will play his baseball at Philadelphia University next year.  “To be able to compete with players at this level – and on this field – was exciting.”

“This was an incredible win,” said Szumigala – who played for those SOL champion Pennsbury Falcons this season.  “We didn’t go as far as we would liked to have gone in high school, but this more than makes up for it.

“I got a chance to go out a winner and play and meet with some pretty nice guys,” smiled Szumigala, who will play his baseball at Chestnut Hill next year.  “Even the (unspeakable high school rival) Neshaminy guys seemed like good guys.”

Especially that brand new closer - T.J Arnao.

Carpenter Cup Extra Innings – Zach Conley (Pennsbury) was the winning pitcher throwing three effective innings…it was the second win of the tournament for the Falcon ace…Andrew Alvino (Neshaminy) pitched 2.1 innings of important shutout relief after Jersey Shore closed the gap to 8-5…Endler and Macaulay each had two hits to help pace the 17-hit attack…Tinkel led the SOL National/BAL with three hits and two RBIs and was in this reporter’s opinion the MVP of the tournament…Greg Troyer (Abington), Nick Mulvey (Bensalem), Aaron Wolf (Truman), Josh Kim (Council Rock South) and Matt Hand (Council Rock North) all represented the SOL and earned championships watches along with Alvino, Arnao, Brodhag, Conley, Endler, Gallagher, Larini, Macaulay, Schram, and Stackhouse.

SOL National/BAL     071 000 004   12-17-3
Jersey Shore              010 040 010   6-14-4

E-SOL Nat/BAL 3, Jersey Shore 4, LOB-SOL Nat/BAL 7, Jersey Shore 15. 2B-Szumigala, Tinkel, Duris, Markmann, Silvestrone, Bartolomei. 3B-Endler. SB-Szumigala.