Dan Dunkin takes a look at the playoff picture and some of the key games heading into the final week of the regular season.
By DAN DUNKIN
What happened to spring? It’s already the last week of the baseball regular season, and for a few teams, the fun is just beginning.
And for some, the anxiety is as well.
The District One seeding meeting is this Thursday, and the Suburban One League has some teams seated on the bubble. Twenty-six teams comprise the Class AAAA District One dance. It’s possible that seven, eight or nine teams from the SOL’s three conferences could make it, and a handful of big games this week pitting the playoff-chasers could determine some survivors and bubble bursts. With the District One playoff point system counting only league games, it’s coming down to some pivotal matchups this week in each of the three conferences to determine fates and seedings.
Here’s a look at those in the hunt in the three conferences.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Pennsbury has clinched a tie for the league title. An upset delivered by Neshaminy last week prevented the Falcons from clinching the crown outright.
Of considerable interest is the three-team jumble behind the Falcons, with perhaps only one or two of them making the District One playoffs.
Council Rock North and Abington are both 8-4 in the National, tied for second. Monday’s meeting between the second-place teams at the Indians’ field is massive. The Ghosts won the first meeting 3-2.
Abington is going for its first district playoff berth since 1988. The Ghosts finish their league schedule Wednesday with tough-out Truman. CR North closes at Bensalem.
Abington coach Dave Torresani is pleased with what his club has accomplished thus far.
“This group has really done a great job, right from the beginning of the year,” Torresani said. “With two games to go, if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, which is basically having really good pitching, we’ll be fine.
“We’ve been keeping the ball down, getting a lot of ground-outs, making all the plays.”
And the Abington offense hasn’t been bad, either. Says Torresani: “This is my ninth year as head coach, and this is by far the best hitting team I’ve had.”
Abington’s pitching has seen numerous hurlers come through. Senior Conor Breslin was expected to be the ace but got hurt. Greg Troyer, a junior righthander, was elevated to the No. 1 rotation spot, and oh how he’s delivered – a 1.85 era and and 4-1 record.
Breslin is back and has looked good since his return. In seven innings of spot work he has yet to allow a run.
We’re glad to have him back – especially as we go into this important week,” Torresani says.
Abington’s hitting is keyed by senior catcher Nick Bein, a three-hole hitter and three-year starter who leads the team in hits and RBIs. Torresani says the offensive catalyst has been leadoff hitter Brendan Gallagher, a senior outfielder.
“It just seems like he’s always on base,” Torresani says, “and that really sets us up.”
A critical win for CR North over rival CR South Thursday may have sent the teams in opposite directions regarding the postseason. CR South is now 7-5 behind North and Abington.
“We’ve stumbled a few times, but here we are,” said CR North coach Matt Schram, adding that the winner of that game came close to solidifying a playoff spot, while “the loser is going to have to win two games and probably get a little help.”
CR South’s previous win over Pennsbury is big in the points formula, but it’s a tough task to beat them again; the Hawks host the Falcons Monday. Wednesday they’re at Neshaminy.
Schram says pitching depth has kept the Indians in every game. Matt Hand and Brandon McIlwain have delivered on the mound. Schram hopes the team can find more offensive consistency; it has several dangerous weapons who, when all are in sync, can make CR North a team not many would want to play in districts.
In the Rearview Mirror in the National Conference
Abington put itself in the middle of the hunt for a district playoff berth, moving into a second place tie with a 3-0 week that included wins over Truman (6-2), Bensalem (3-0) and William Tennent (14-4). Highlighting the week was Greg Troyer’s complete game two-hitter in a shutout win over Bensalem. In the win over Tennent, Jack Larini and Aiden Coyle each had four hits.
Bensalem was 1-1 in conference play, defeating Harry S Truman (11-10) and falling to Abington (3-0). In the win over Truman, Nick Mulvey led the Owls’ offensive attack with three hits, including a triple, with two RBIs and a run scored. Brandon Wermuth and Chris Reyes both added two hits.
Council Rock North moved into a second place tie with Abington after picking up SOL wins over Neshaminy (15-2) and Council Rock South (6-2). Jared Schram’s grand slam in a six-run first highlighted the Indians’ win over Neshaminy. In the win over Rock South, Brandon McIlwain starred both at the plate and on the mound, limiting the Hawks to two runs on three hits in five-plus innings. At the plate, he was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Council Rock South dropped a pair of games, falling to William Tennent 13-7 and then dropping a contest to archrival Council Rock North 6-2. In the loss to Tennent, Shaun Stackhouse (triple) and Cody Kutler (double) both had a pair of hits.
Truman lost a pair of one-run heartbreakers, falling to conference leader Pennsbury (5-4) and archrival Bensalem (11-10). In the Tigers’ loss to Bensalem, Mark Lopez, Matt Shea and Jon Matthews all had two hits.
Neshaminy split its two SOL games, falling to Council Rock North (15-2) and then defeating conference leader Pennsbury (6-3). In a win that prevented the Falcons from clinching sole possession of the conference crown, Zach Boop earned the win on the mound. Kyle Skeels led the offense with two hits, including a home run, two RBIs and three runs. Mike Burns went 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
Pennsbury split its SOL games last week, upending Truman 5-4 before falling to Neshaminy 6-3. In the win over the Tigers, Brody McFadden was 2-for-4 and delivered the game-tying RBI double with two outs in the seventh to erase a 4-3 deficit. Logan Buell had the game-winning single. McFadden picked up the win in relief.
William Tennent defeated Council Rock South (13-7) but fell to Abington (14-4). In the Panthers’ win, John Lucas led the 16-hit attack with three hits, including a double. Paul McElroy (home run), Tim Brodhag (two doubles), Greg Delgado (two doubles) and Cole Browne each had two hits.
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
North Penn (10-2 in the conference) is in position to win the Continental, but Hatboro-Horsham and Central Bucks East still may have something to say about that.
The Knights hold a one-game lead over CB East and Hatboro Horsham – each 9-3 in the conference – with two league games remaining for each. Pennridge (8-4), which got 10-runned by North Penn Thursday, slipped to third and may be in a precarious spot concerning playoff qualification.
The Hatters have a huge week ahead as the regular season winds down. They have the toughest remaining schedule of the Continental postseason hopefuls, playing both Pennridge (Monday) and North Penn (Wednesday) on the road. Hatboro-Hatboro features 15 seniors and last week that experience and poise were crucial. The Hatters came back to beat Central Bucks West with the winning run in the top of the seventh Thursday.
It’s an even bigger week for Pennridge, which probably needs two league wins this week to make the playoffs.
Pennridge coach Tom Nuneviller hopes his squad can bounce back.
“We took it on the chin against North Penn – that was a tough one to swallow,” he said. “We get a win there and we’re tied for first place with three other teams. That was really a step backward for us.”
It surely won’t be easy for the Rams against Hatboro-Horsham, which won the first meeting, 3-1.
“We weren’t ready to play; they scored three in the first inning,” Nuneviller said. “They always have a good pitcher on the mound. and they’re fundamentally sound. We’ll have to match their intensity.”
Andrew Mayhew and Dave Tatoian have been among the big keys to the solid pitching for Pennridge, which Nuneviller says has been hurt by inconsistent offense.
“We hope to get it rolling starting Monday,” Nuneviller said, “but that’s a tall task when you’re going against Hatboro-Horsham.”
North Penn can clinch a tie for the conference title with a win over Souderton Monday.
CB East finishes with CB West and Souderton. Pennridge, after facing the Hatters Monday, closes with Quakertown Wed.
In the Rearview Mirror in the Continental Conference
Central Bucks East was 1-1 In SOL play during a week that saw the Patriots defeat Quakertown 5-1 but fall to Central Bucks South 5-4. In the win over the Panthers, Michael Broderick limited the Panthers to one run on three hits. Tom Prato led the offense with two hits and three RBIs. Nick Chimera also had a pair of hits.
Central Bucks South had a good week, winning both of its SOL contests. The Titans upended archrival CB East 5-4 with Kyle Strahan and Tyler Rossi collecting two hits each to lead the attack. They followed that with a 4-3 win over Souderton. Daniel McCartin picked up the win in relief while Kyle Rossi (double) and Eric Gross led the attack with two hits each.
Central Bucks West dropped both of its SOL contests, falling to North Penn (7-3) and Hatboro-Horsham (6-5). Ron Phillips had a pair of hits in both contests.
Hatboro-Horsham was 2-0 in SOL play last week, earning a 6-5 win over Central Bucks West and downing Quakertown 5-0. Alec Blyler singled home the winning run in the seventh inning of the Hatters’ win over CB West. Blyler, Joe Simmons, Justin Gregorio and Shaun Thomas each had two hits. In the win over the Panthers, Alex Kleidon (3-for-4) was just a homer short of the cycle while Eric Lane threw a complete game shutout.
North Penn maintained its stronghold on first place in the standings with conference wins over Central Bucks West (7-3) and Pennridge (10-0). In the Knights’ win over CB West, Douglas Apple had three hits and three RBIs while Kellen Williamson earned the win on the mound. James Witner allowed four hits in five shutout innings in the win over Pennridge. Jared Melone and Apple each had two hits.
Pennridge split its conference games last week, defeating Souderton 3-2 in nine innings and then falling to North Penn 10-0. In the win over the Indians, five Pennridge pitchers saw action with Dan Shane earning the win. The Rams erased a 2-0 deficit in the seventh when David Tatoian delivered a two-run single. Dan Long won the game in the ninth with a walk-off single. Long, Tatoian and Andrew Mayhew each had two hits for the Rams.
Quakertown struggled to score runs, dropping its SOL games against Hatboro-Horsham (5-0) and Central Bucks East (5-1). Cooper Johnson and Matt Bukavich both had a pair of hits to account for four of the Panthers’ six hits in their loss to Hatboro-Horsham.
Souderton had the corner of the market in heartbreaking losses in the Continental Conference, falling in a pair of one-run games to Pennridge (3-2) and Central Bucks South (4-3). The Indians took a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning of their game against the Rams. Dylan Morrissette had a pair of hits. In Thursday’s loss to the Titans, Tyler Mathe and Nate Luscombe (double) each had a pair of hits.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
A showdown is at hand Monday with Upper Dublin and Wissahickon, both 11-1 in the American Conference, meeting at Wissahickon, with the winner likely securing the outright conference title.
Upper Dublin saw the door to the championship open with Norristown’s 5-4 upset of Wissahickon last Thursday. The Cardinals finish the regular season against Cheltenham Wednesday while Wissahickon closes with Springfield.
The Cardinals, who last won the American title in 2012, seem to be finding their groove at exactly the right time.
“I really like how our team’s been playing,” said Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall. “The guys are really working well together.”
With two four-game weeks in a row, Wall has had the opportunity to get numerous pitchers work – certainly a plus for playoff readiness. Senior Christian Huckfeldt has come up big on the mound and at the plate lately, delivering some key RBIs down the stretch. Junior Cole Swiger has solidified the second spot in the pitching rotation and also hit well. Junior Conor McFadden has made a major impact on the offense all season; he’s a consistent run producer. Leadoff man John Lee, a senior, has really come on down the stretch. Junior Steve Bell, Wall says, “has had a great season for us. He came up from the jayvee program last year ready to play and has been producing since day one.”
In the Rearview Mirror in the American Conference
Cheltenham dropped both of its SOL contests, falling to Norristown (9-6) and Upper Moreland (7-1). Jack Gordon and Hugh Sharkey each had a pair of hits in the Panthers’ loss to the Eagles.
Norristown had a week to remember in SOL action, defeating Cheltenham 9-6 and then handing Wissahickon its first conference loss with a 5-4 win. Leading the Eagles’ attack in their win over the Trojans were Joseph Cooke (2-for-3, 2 RBIs), Gavin Leary (double, two RBIs) and Tom Piccari (two hits). In the Eagles’ win over the Panthers, Anthony Wayne and Robert Collins each had three hits.
Plymouth Whitemarsh scored just four runs during an 0-3 week in SOL play. The Colonials dropped games to Norristown (3-1), Upper Dublin (2-1) and Springfield (5-2). Evan Bischoff pitched well enough to win in the loss to Upper Dublin and also had a pair of hits. In the loss to Springfield, Brett Highland had two of PW’s four hits, including a double.
Springfield rebounded from a 12-6 loss to Upper Moreland to defeat Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-2). Julian Salzer scattered five hits and allowed two runs (both unearned) to earn the win over PW. He also had a pair of hits and an RBI. Chris Binet had a triple and two RBIs.
Upper Dublin picked up a pair of SOL wins to set up a showdown for the conference crown, defeating PW 2-1 and shutting out Upper Merion 9-0. Christian Huckfeldt went the distance and allowed just four hits and one unearned run in the win over PW. John Lee had a pair of hits. Two days later, Cole Swiger allowed just two hits in a complete game shutout win over the Vikings. Lee (double) and Christian Huckfeldt both had two hits.
Upper Merion dropped its three league games last week, falling to Wissahickon (4-2), Upper Dublin (9-0) and Upper Moreland (13-5). In the loss to the Trojans, freshman Mike Hutchinson had a pair of hits. Hutchinson (2-for-3) and Alex Del Guidice (2-for-3, triple, RBI, two runs) led the Vikings’ attack against Upper Moreland.
Upper Moreland scored 32 runs in its 3-0 sweep of conference opponents last week. The week included wins over Springfield (12-6), Cheltenham (7-1) and Upper Merion (13-5). In their win over the Spartans, Ryan Lowery was 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Christian Leighton and Paul Ciampoli both had three hits and two RBIs while Nick Delucas had two hits and three RBIs and Connor Casey had a pair of hits. In the win over Cheltenham, Jaryd Goldstein (double), Casey and Ciampoli each had two hits. Goldstein also earned the win on the mound.
Wissahickon dropped its first conference game of the season, falling to Norristown 5-4 on Thursday after defeating Upper Merion 4-2 two days earlier. Logan Willans earned the win over the Vikings while Alex Tappen (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Ryan Becker (two hits) led the attack.
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