Scott Huff picks his ‘favorites’ to capture the titles in each of the three SOL conferences.
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League will open its baseball season this week after a ‘Spring Training’ that was anything but ‘spring training’ for the 24 members of the SOL.
“You can spend all the time you want in a batting cage hitting the baseball or spend all the time you want on the parking lot fielding ground balls, but you still have to play baseball on the field,” said Council Rock North head coach Matt Schram. “The sound of the bat in the gym, the lighting in the gym, and the way the ball comes to you on a parking lot is just not the same. You can work on mechanics – but you need the get on the field and play.”
“We took a lot of swings in the batting cage, but pitchers are going to look a lot different,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nunneviller. “We were on the field for just three practice days all spring – and then the field was anything but dry. I can’t remember anything like this in my years of coaching baseball at Pennridge.”
“In a way, it plays to our advantage,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr. “We have a good number of players back from last year, and we don’t have to reteach them the way that we want to do things. Still hitting in a cage and taking ground balls on a parking lot is not how we wanted to get ready for the season.”
The baseball season always begins with ‘on paper’ favorites. And this 2014 SOL season is no different as Upper Moreland (SOL American Conference), Pennridge (SOL Continental Conference), and Council Rock North (SOL National Conference) all return veteran teams that experienced postseason success last year.
And the beat goes on…
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Upper Moreland Golden Bears
Upper Moreland is the favorite to win the SOL American Conference. The Golden Bears return a wonderful nucleus of players from a 2013 championship team that finished 21-5 overall – 13-1 in the SOL American Conference – and was a PIAA Class AAA District One runner-up and a PIAA Class AAA state tournament runner-up.
“That was all last year – we have to focus on the first pitch, the first inning, and the first game this year,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr. “We can’t forget to focus on the task right in front of us. And I don’t think this team will look ahead.
“We have had individual conversation with each player about the upcoming season,” added Rehr. “Every single game we play is important – and we respect every single team in our league.”
The Golden Bears will feature a veteran pitching staff that showcases the returning talents of Charlie Hooker, Eddie Decker, Tommy Robinson, and Dennis Long.
“We really like the depth of our pitching,” said Rehr. “We have four guys that we can count on to pitch and be effective. Pitching is often the key to winning at this level, and we have some really good arms.”
Upper Moreland will generate offense from the likes of Mike Cavanaugh, Kyle Irwin, Pat Driscoll, and Colton Hooker. Nick Parker, Paul Ciampoli, and Connor Casey will also add punch to the lineup.
“I know that everyone is looking at us as the team to beat in league,” said Rehr. “But we realize that nobody is going to give us anything. This league is far too good for that.”
‘On Deck’ in the SOL American Conference
Tuesday – 4/1/14
Wissahickon Trojans @ Upper Dublin Cardinals
Springfield Spartans @ Cheltenham Panthers
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Norristown Eagles @ Upper Merion Vikings
Thursday – 4/3/14
Springfield Spartans @ Wissahickon Trojans
Upper Dublin Cardinals @ Norristown Eagles
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Cheltenham Panthers
Upper Merion Vikings @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Pennridge Rams
Pennridge is the favorite to win the SOL Continental Conference. The Rams return an excellent nucleus from a 2013 team that finished 20-8 overall – 9-5 in the SOL Continental – and was PIAA Quad-A District One runner-up and PIAA Quad state semifinalist.
“We had a fun run in the playoffs last year, and we have quite a few of those players back again this year,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “And what I like best about this group is that it is a team that likes to win and hates to lose.
“But we need to stay focused and work toward one goal – winning,” added Nuneviller. “This is a team that has competed at a high level, and competition always brings out the best in a player.”
The Rams feature a strong – deep – pitching staff that showcases the talents of Eric Weslowski, Tyler Shoultes, Joey Molettiere, and Ryan Denner.
“We have 14 players on our roster – and 10 of them have the ability to pitch,” said Nuneviller. “We feel that we have good pitching, and if we can field behind them and hit the ball, we should do well.”
Pennridge will generate offense from Danny Shane, David Tatioan, Dan Long, Joe Unangst, Jeff Roedell, Brad Misialek, Evan Tice, Zach Muredda, Sam Suder, and Tommy Nunneviller.
“We should be able to hit the ball from 1-9 in the lineup,” said Nuneviller. “We have the talent to be successful, but we have to do it on the field. This league is one of the best in the state – North Penn is the defending state champion and will be very good again, and we’re going to have to be ready to play every single game.”
‘On Deck’ in the SOL Continental Conference
Tuesday – 4/1/14
Central Bucks South Titans @ Pennridge Rams
Central Bucks East Patriots @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
North Penn Knights @ Souderton Indians
Thursday – 4/3/14
Pennridge Rams @ Quakertown Panthers
North Penn Knights @ Central Bucks South Titans
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ Souderton Indians
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Council Rock North Indians
Council Rock North is the favoriteto win the SOL National Conference. The Indians return a terrific nucleus of players from the 2013 team that finished 16-8 overall – 9-5 in the SOL National – and was a #3 seed in the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs.
“A lot of these players played baseball in June, and that is a great thing because you are playing playoff baseball,” said Council Rock North head coach Matt Schram. “You are still practicing, still playing, and you need to be both physically and mentally prepared to play playoff baseball.
“We are very experienced, but we are still very young,” added Schram. “We have a team full of competitors, and we are anxious to compete this season.”
The Indians feature a strong – deep – pitching staff that showcases the talents of Matt Renck, Matt Weir, and Brandon McIlwain.
“Really, any one of those three pitchers could be considered a # 1,” said Schram. “Matt Renck has great command, Matt Weir has a variety of pitches that can get you out, and Brandon obviously has a great arm. And we actually have eight pitchers on our staff, and with the weather being what is can be in the spring, we might need all eight.”
Council Rock North will generate offense from Tyler Callender, Aden Tully, Danny Whitney, Cole German, and JR Hicks.
“Pennsbury, Neshaminy, William Tennent, and of course, Council Rock South are all going to be good teams this year,” said Schram. “Teams are pointing to us as the favorites – and I’m pointing right back at them.”
‘On Deck’ in the SOL National Conference
Tuesday – 4/1/14
Abington Ghosts @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks
Bensalem Owls @ Pennsbury Falcons
Truman Tigers @ Neshaminy Redskins
William Tennent Panthers @ Council Rock North Indians
Thursday – 4/3/14
Council Rock North Indians @ Abington Ghosts
Council Rock South Golden Hawks @ Truman Tigers
Pennsbury Falcons @ William Tennent Panthers
Neshaminy Redskins @ Bensalem Owls
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