Check out the results for SOL baseball teams in action Monday.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, PENNSBURY 1
Talk about being thrown into the heat of battle.
With field time nonexistent for just about everyone, teams find themselves playing meaningful games without the benefit of scrimmages or non-league games. That was the case when Pennsbury and CR South met for Monday’s SOL opener.
“This was actually our second time outside,” Rock South coach Ted Kirner said. “We had one outdoor practice and then we played a league game (today).”
It was the defending conference champion Golden Hawks – behind the standout pitching performance of Jordan Silverman – earning the win over the Falcons.
“He was very impressive,” Kirner said. “With the other teams not really having many game at-bats, we just told him to pound the zone, and he did.
“He got ahead in the counts early and battled and pounded the zone and really relied on his defense. It’s the first time we saw balls on a field, and our guys reacted very, very well.”
The senior southpaw, a Rider recruit, was one strike away from a complete game no-hitter when DJ Endler – on a fullcount pitch – stroked a double into the gap. After issuing a walk to the next batter he faced, Silverman was relieved by Dean Obarowski.
Pat Lawrence broke up the Hawks’ shutout bid with an RBI single that plated Endler, but Obarowski coaxed a ground ball out of the next batter he faced for the game’s final out.
The Golden Hawks got on the scoreboard in the second. Nick Fabiano, who singled and stole second, moved up to third on Sean Lowney’s sacrifice bunt. He scored on Josh Kim’s sacrifice fly, and the Hawks led 1-0.
In the sixth inning, the Hawks staged a two-out rally that began innocently enough with a walk to Cody Kutler that set the stage for a two-run blast by Connor Macaulay.
“That was nice,” Kirner said. “It was definitely breathing room for Jordan. He was zoned in today.”
The Hawks took that 3-0 lead into the seventh when the Falcons scored their lone run.
Brady McFadden, who threw well enough to win on most days, absorbed the loss, allowing six hits while walking two and striking out three.
Rock South’s Shaun Stackhouse was the only player with multiple hits, finishing the day 2-for-2.
“It’s tough, and you have to get creative,” Kirner said. “They have to get mentally prepared.
“We were just anxious and relieved we could finally play a game. The win just makes it much more sweet. It’s just one step. We’re going to celebrate today, and we’re supposed to play Truman tomorrow if the rain holds off.”
Pennsbury’s game originally schedule to be played at Abington on Tuesday will be played on the Falcons’ home field instead.
“Hats off to Pennsbury – I know they put a lot of time and effort into getting the field ready,” Kirner said.
Council Rock South 010 002 0 3-6-2
Pennsbury 000 000 1 1-2-0
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 8, QUAKERTOWN 3
CB West – like many area teams – saw four non-league games and two scrimmages wiped off its schedule because of the weather.
“We’ve practiced in our outfield a couple of times,” CB West coach Brad Tracy said. “We had an opportunity to throw to ourselves in an inter-squad scrimmage, but even that was after we had to work on the field just to get it ready to play for a half hour before it got dark.
“We keep on telling ourselves – everyone is in the same boat. Quakertown said the same thing – it was the first they were on the field. People just haven’t been able to get outside. It’s been really difficult.”
When the Bucks took the field for their first live game action of the season, they were ready. Sparked by the impressive performances of Luke Irons and Thomas Spratt on the mound, they earned the win in their season opener.
Irons threw the first four innings, allowing six hits and three runs while walking none and striking out nine. Spratt threw three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit while walking one and striking out one.
“Our two pitchers today were fantastic,” Tracy said. “We struck out 10 and only walked one.
“(Irons) has really been working hard. He came out late because of basketball, but since he’s been out, he’s been the first one there and the last one to leave, taking extra swings in the cage and trying to get his arm strength up. He’s been working real hard to get in baseball shape. His strike percentage was something like 70 percent.
“We’re really stressing for all of our pitchers this year – location, movement, multiple pitches for strikes, and he’s really embraced that. Today he was hitting his spots with a lot of movement, throwing fastball, curveball, changeup. His curveball is his out pitch, and he was able to throw it pretty much where he wanted today, which was nice.”
The two teams exchanged runs in the first inning, and the Bucks went on top 2-1 in the third only to watch the Panthers answer with two in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. West won it with a five-run outburst in the fifth and added a single run in the sixth for the 8-3 final.
“The kids’ attitudes have been great,” Tracy said. “They’ve really been working hard. We had a real serious offseason program where we had them in conditioning a lot.
“They sure were sick of looking at the inside of a gym. They were just happy to get outside.”
The Bucks were led by the 2-for-3 effort of junior Matt Peralta, who tripled, drove in a run and scored a pair. Irons and sophomore Thomas Philips both had a pair of RBIs. TJ Rakowsky also had an RBI.
“The kids were in a difficult spot,” Brady said. “Being a new coach, they don’t know much about me, and I’m learning about them. We’re all getting to know each other on the fly, but they’ve really been embracing a lot of things our coaching staff has been pushing this year. We’re off to a positive start.”
For the Panthers, Alec Vera and Tyler Guidos each had one RBI.
Quakertown 100 200 0 3-5-7
Central Bucks West 101 051 x 8-5-4
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 8, NESHAMINY 2
The Redskins took a 1-0 lead in the first only to watch the visiting Titans put five runs in the board in the second. Highlighting the five-run uprising was Daniel McCartin’s three-run home run. The ‘Skins scored a single run in the fourth to make it a 5-2 game, but the Titans tacked on three runs in the top of the seventh to seal Neshaminy’s fate.
The Titans held a 10-5 advantage in hits. Seven of those were for extra bases, including McCartin’s second inning blast. Mike Anastasia, who doubled and scored a run, finished the day 2-for-3, and he was the only Titan with multiple hits. Adding doubles were Alex Bendziowicz (RBI), Leo D’Agostino (RBI), Kyle Rossi (RBI), Tyler Rossi and Tyler Watson.
Neshaminy was led by the 2-for-3 effort of senior Kyle Skeels, who doubled and scored a run.
McCartin started on the mound for the Titans and threw three innings, allowing two hits and one run (unearned) while striking out one and walking none. David Drea, who earned the win, threw the next three, allowing three hits and one run while walking three and fanning five. Zach Dennis threw a scoreless seven, walking one and striking out one.
Five pitchers saw time on the mound for the Redskins.
Central Bucks South 050 000 3 8-10-1
Neshaminy 100 100 0 2-5-2
HARRY S TRUMAN 14, HATBORO-HORSHAM 4 (6 innings)
The Tigers exploded for six runs in the third inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into an 8-3 lead. They never looked back on their way to the win in the abbreviated six-inning contest.
Jared McBride and Chris Mangold led the Tigers 10-hit attack. McBride was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored while Mangold was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Matt Walczak, who was 1-for-2 with a run scored, had a game-high three RBIs.
The Tigers benefitted from 12 walks, a hit batter and five Hatter errors. The two teams combined to use nine pitchers with the Hatters using five. The bright spot on the mound for the Hatters, according to coach Pete Moore, was once again senior reliever Erik Kleidon, who came into the game with runners on first and second in the third and got out of the inning without allowing another run. He followed that with a perfect fourth inning.
For Truman, Matt Walczak (1 IP), Brian Alcher (1 IP), Chris Mangold (2 IP) and Mark Lopez (2 IP) combined to allow just six hits. None of the Hatters runs were earned.
The Hatters were led offensively by senior catcher Joe Simmons, who was 2-for-2 with two doubles. Ryan Murphy also had a double for the Hatters.
Hatboro-Horsham 003 100 4-6-5
Harry S Truman 206 042 14-8-3
NORTH PENN 6, WISSAHICKON 2
Kellen Williamson was impressive in his 2015 debut on the mound, throwing just 49 pitches in five shutout innings. He allowed just one hit while striking out four and walking one.
The Knights put three runs on the board in the fourth inning. Jake Schuster delivered the big blow, a two-run home run. Mike Christy had an RBI single. That lead grew to 5-0 in the fifth, thanks to another RBI single by Christy and a sacrifice fly by Jared Melone.
Christy (2-for-2) turned in the only multi-hit performance for the Knights while William Brownlowe led the Trojans, collecting two of his team’s three hits – including a double.
Logan Williams absorbed the loss. In five innings of work, he allowed five hits and five runs (two earns) while fanning six and walking two.
Wissahickon 000 002 0 2-3-2
North Penn 000 321 x 6-6-1
PENNRIDGE 13, PALISADES 3 (5 innings)
The Rams scored seven runs in the fifth inning to bring an early end to Tuesday’s season opener.
Offensively, Joe Unangst was 2-for-3 and also reached base on a walk. Dave Tatoian was 2-for-4 while Caleb Hand was 2-for-3. All nine of Pennridge’s hits were singles. Tatoian and Hand both drove in three runs in productive days at the plate while Unangst, Tom Nuneviller, Riley Hager and Mitch McLeod each had one RBI.
The Rams played flawless defense behind winning pitcher Austin Rodenberger. Jeff Morgan earned the save. The duo allowed just four hits combined.
Palisades 010 20 3-4-3
Pennridge 500 17 13-9-0
SPRING-FORD 11, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1 (6 innings)
The Indians managed just one hit in Monday’s non-league contest – a double by Brandon McIlwain. They scored their only run in the top of the first on Jared Schram’s sacrifice fly.
The Rams answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning and took that 2-1 lead into the fourth inning when they plated three runs. A six-run sixth brought an early end to the contest.
Winning pitcher Mike Fuhrmeister did not allow a hit in five innings on the mound, walking three and fanning four.
Noah Hartwell absorbed the loss, allowing two runs (both unearned) in three innings. Five pitchers saw action for the Indians (0-1, 0-0 SOL).
Council Rock North 100 000 1-1-2
Spring-Ford 200 306 11-7-2
Sunday, March 30
HATBORO-HORSHAM 15, ARCHBISHOP RYAN 9
The Hatters – on a baseball field for the first time in 2015 – rallied from a 7-0 deficit to earn a wild non-league win on Sunday. Ryan plated three runs in the first and added four more in the second to go on top 7-0. The Hatters made it a 7-3 game after three innings, but they were still staring at a 9-6 deficit after five innings before scoring nine runs in the top of the sixth inning to earn the win.
The two biggest outs of the game, according to coach Pete Moore, were registered by senior reliever Erik Kleidon. He entered the game with the Hatters trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the second with one out and runners on second and third. He escaped further damage by retiring the next two batters he faced on a groundout and pop out.
The Hatters made it a 7-6 game in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Eric Lane, a sacrifice fly from Joe Simmons and a double steal that saw Colin Kennedy score.
After allowing two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Hatters entered the sixth – which would be the final inning due to darkness – trailing 9-6. On the strength four hit batters, four walks and three hits, the Hatters plated nine runs to go on top 15-9. Senior Ryan Murphy delivered the big hit – a two-run single that gave HH an 11-9 lead.
Murphy threw a perfect bottom of the sixth to nail down the win for the Hatters. He struck out a pair.
The offense was led by seniors Kevin Barron (2-for-4, 3 RBIs, 2 runs, 1 BB), Ryan Murphy (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) and sophomore Colin Kennedy (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs, 1 BB).
Erik Kleidon (0.2 IP), Colin Kennedy (1 IP, 2 Ks), Eric Lane (1 IP, 2 Ks) and Ryan Murphy (1 IP, 2 Ks) all had scoreless outings.
Hatboro-Horsham 003 039 15-10-5
Archbishop Ryan 340 020 9-8-3
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