Jarrad Saffren recaps Monday’s SOL baseball action. Photos of the Upper Dublin/Upper Moreland game are provided courtesy of Kathy Leister Photography. Check back for a gallery of the game.
By Jarrad Saffren
The Suburban One League American Conference became the first league to crown a champion Monday.
Two SOL Continental teams—North Penn and Central Bucks South—continued to ensure that their league will never crown one.
Two bubble playoff teams—Abington and Central Bucks West—controlled what they could control.
Another—Springfield—continued its surprising late season push for the District One Class AA playoffs.
Well, that’s everything. Why even read on?
Because this isn’t a BuzzFeed article. There is more to it. You can’t sum up an SOL baseball night in 71 words.
So much else happened. So beat on, boats against the current. You can pay attention to something for longer than eight seconds. I believe in you, generation of mine.
Three non-league games happened too.
SOL American
Upper Dublin 6, Upper Moreland 2
What a school year for Upper Dublin sports.
(Pages is green-lining me. It wants me to use a question mark instead of a period here. But this is a statement, not a question. Computer programs have no souls. Especially Pages, which is no Microsoft Word 2003. ’03 Word was the greatest word processor of all-time.)
The Flying Cardinals won SOL American titles in soccer, football, lacrosse and baseball.
There has never been a better time to be a Cardinal.
The baseball Cardinals won their second straight league title. Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall, how do you feel? “I’m going to Disney World!” Wall shouted at the top of his lungs. Just kidding. Wall didn’t say that.
Here’s what he said: “It felt great. The boys really deserve it. They worked really hard. To have one loss at this point is quite an accomplishment.”
Before the season, Wall knew his team could repeat.
“I knew we would be solid at the plate and have decent defense,” Wall said. “But I was unsure about pitching. We didn’t have that dominant guy who could come in and throw really hard.”
Christian Huckfeldt was that guy last season. Huckfeldt was the winning pitcher in seven of UD’s 12 league wins.
Cole Swiger won three league games and had a 0.96 ERA in league play.
“He pitched around Christian,” Wall said.
But in 2016, Swiger became Christian: A number one, once-a-week league starter.
Swiger pitched a complete game and struck out three on Monday. He improved to 5-0 with a 0.91 ERA.
Connor McFadden, at 3-0 with a 0.58 ERA, has developed into Swiger’s Swiger. In 2014 and ‘15, McFadden pitched 9.1 innings and went 0-2 in league play.
“That’s an impressive turnaround,” Wall said. “They have really stepped it up in conference.”
Jason Greene has two league wins for UD. Tommy Reilly has the other.
“The pitching has exceeded expectations,” Wall said.
He also praised his team’s defense.
“That was a big part of today. When we play defense well, we win games,” Wall said. “We tracked down balls in the outfield and turned a couple double plays.”
“Last week, we were off defensively,” Wall said. “We gave UM a lot of runs last week when we played. This game was a flip flop. They gave us a couple extra chances.”
All six UD runs were unearned. Swiger scored two. JT Breslin drove in one.
In the first, Upper Moreland took a 1-0 lead on Jon Searles’ double. Connor Casey scored the run. Upper Dublin scored two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Upper Dublin (12-3, 11-1 SOL) plays Springfield Tuesday. Upper Moreland (13-4, 10-3 SOL) takes on Upper Merion at 7 p.m.
Upper Dublin 0-0-0-2-4-0-0 6
Upper Moreland 1-0-0-0-1-0-0 2
Springfield 10, Norristown 0
Springfield won its third straight league game. The Spartans are feeling confident after moving up to the fourth and final AA playoff spot in the latest power rankings.
“The confidence started before the games we won,” Springfield coach Dennis Primavera said. “It started the last game before the streak.”
On May 9, Springfield blew a 3-1 lead and lost to Cheltenham 4-3. The Panthers scored two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh.
“So it should be four in a row,” Primavera said.
The Spartans are surrounded by Bicentennial Athletic League schools in the AA rankings. The three teams in front of them—Devon Prep, New Hope-Solebury, and Bristol—and the one behind—Valley Forge Military Academy—are all BAL schools.
“What bothers me is I don’t think there’s any consideration for the fact that most teams in our league are AAAA with a few AAA. You’d think that would come into play,” Primavera said. “If these teams in the BAL were to play in this league, you wouldn’t see the records that they have. Or if Springfield were back in the BAL like they were years ago, you’d see a much better record.”
With less than 800 students, Springfield is the smallest school in the SOL American. The baseball team has a light bench, which contributes to annual slow starts.
“It happens every year. But the program seems to fall in place the last two weeks. Kids start to jell as a team,” Primavera said. “I guess that happens with a smaller school. I don’t want to harp on that. But we’d have more guys to plug in if we were larger. There is a limited number of talented players. Even if they struggle, you have to stay with them. We don’t have three third basemen.”
“Some of these teams have pitching staffs,” Primavera said. “I have three guys.”
Two—Matt Gauss and Nick Pave—are enough right now. Gauss and Pave have pitched four straight complete games.
“That’s big,” Primavera said.
Gauss has not walked a batter in his last two starts. He gave up three hits on Monday.
Offensively, Springfield’s Jack Cornely went 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Jackson Pauwels hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Will Jamison was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. All three doubled.
Springfield (5-9, 4-8 SOL) plays Upper Dublin Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. Norristown (3-11, 2-10 SOL) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh Wednesday.
SOL Continental
North Penn 7, Central Bucks East 0
Sports cliche alert: North Penn is the hottest team in the SOL right now.
The Knights have won four straight games by a combined score of 35-7.
“Every game has been different in how we scored,” North Penn coach Kevin Manero said. “I wouldn’t say we are knocking the cover off the ball. But we are being more aggressive.”
Two new bats—Corey Stouffer and Ryan Bealer—have sparked the Knights. Bealer is 6-for-11 with three RBIs during the streak. Stouffer has four hits, four RBIs, and four runs scored.
“The other guys deserved their turn. They had earned the right to win the every day job. But some guys struggled,” Manero said. “The guys who didn’t get the opportunities before are taking advantage.”
Bealer had two hits and an RBI Monday. Nate O’Donnell had two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored.
North Penn’s pitching has also been stellar. On Monday, Jared Gorman gave up four hits in seven innings. He improved to 5-0, lowered his ERA to 0.36, and raised his scoreless innings streak to 20. Opponents are hitting .140 against Gorman.
“He throws three pitches for strikes and has good command of both sides of the plate,” Manero said.
The senior will pitch for Gwynedd-Mercy next season. He was not in North Penn’s rotation last season.
“I knew he had ability,” Manero said. “But it’s not uncommon at North Penn to never get a shot at being a once-a-week starter until your senior year. With the size of our school, it’s tough to crack the rotation until you’re a senior.”
That is one amazing problem for Manero.
North Penn is No. 25 in the AAAA power rankings. Twenty-six teams make the district playoffs. The Knights did not appear in the top 26 in the first two editions. Either way, Manero has never heard of these “power rankings.”
“We haven’t mentioned it. If the players know, they found out on their own,” Manero said. “It’s all paper, speculating, looking ahead. You just have to win. That’s our approach.”
North Penn (12-6, 8-5 SOL) buses to Hatboro-Horsham Tuesday for a 3:45 p.m. start. Central Bucks East (6-11, 1-11 SOL) plays Souderton on the same day and time.
North Penn 0-0-7-0-0-0 7
Central Bucks East 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks South 8, Hatboro-Horsham 4
Central Bucks South trailed 4-1 when rain postponed this game on April 28.
Almost three weeks later, the Titans scored four runs between the third and fifth.
“It was exciting. We jumped on them when the game resumed,” CB South coach Brian Klumpp said. “We got baserunners all day long. It was nice to see.”
In the bottom of the third, Tommy Dugan doubled to center to cut Hatboro-Horsham’s lead to 4-2. One inning later, Kyle Rossi grounded out to short, scoring Casey Sloms.
In the fifth, the Titans plated three runs to take a 6-4 lead. Eric Gross’s single tied the game. Mike Goldsworthy’s double to left scored Sloms and Andrew Dietz.
In the sixth, CB South added two more runs on hits by Dugan and Dietz.
“The guys are getting into a nice groove,” Klumpp said. “Tommy Dugan is smoking the ball right now. Dietz has been constantly hitting too.”
Dugan is hitting .469 with eight runs scored in 2016. Dietz is batting .364 with 16 RBIs.
Eight and nine hitters Gross and Goldsworthy combined for three hits and three RBIs. “Getting RBIs from the eight and nine hitters always helps,” Klumpp said.
CB South’s Alex Bendzlowicz gave up no runs and two hits in five innings.
“He was locating in the lower half of the zone. He made big pitches to get out of a few jams. He got them to swing under fastballs,” Klumpp said. “His fastball had pop and he was mixing in the curve.”
CB South (11-4, 9-3 SOL) plays Central Bucks West Tuesday. Hatboro-Horsham (7-10, 5-8 SOL) takes on North Penn at 3:45 p.m.
Central Bucks South 1-0-1-1-3-2 8
Hatboro-Horsham 2-2-0-0-0-0-0 4
Central Bucks West 1, Souderton 0
So Brad, another one-run win?
“I said to someone earlier, ‘That’s what Jarrad is going to say when he calls,’” Central Bucks West coach Brad Tracy said. “It’s how we start every conversation.
“But like I always say, if you are winning by one or five, they all count. We’ll take it.”
All eight of the Bucks’ wins have been by one run.
At 7-6 in league play, and No. 29 in the power rankings, CB West needs to beat CB South on Tuesday.
“South is a huge game for us and our program,” Tracy said. “We’ve worked so hard.”
West last made the playoffs in 2012. The current seniors were in eighth grade.
“We are excited about it. This group has been together a long time,” Tracy said. “They are very close and really do play for each other. I know that’s a cliche. But most have played together since they were nine or 10 years old.”
Look at that. We are training coaches to point out their own cliches. But Tracy’s, like most, makes perfect sense. These Bucks have come together. They have won seven of 10 after an 0-3 start in league play.
One senior, Luke Irons, gave up five hits in seven innings Monday.
“He would admit he didn’t have his best stuff. He was working behind hitters. He did not throw a whole lot of strikes with his off-speed pitches,” Tracy said. “But he’s a competitor. He’d get behind, make a pitch, and throw a ground ball.”
In the bottom of the fifth, Steven Gebre singled home Kai Masters. Gebre stroked two hits.
CB West (8-9, 7-6 SOL) will likely start Jake Manca on the hill Tuesday. Souderton (10-8, 7-6 SOL) plays Central Bucks East on Tuesday. The Indians probably need to win to hold on to their district playoff spot. They are No. 20 in the power rankings.
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-0-1-0-0 1
Souderton 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
SOL National
Abington 4, Council Rock South 1
Abington needed to win Monday and needs to win Tuesday. Uno down, uno to go.
“Then we’ll let the computer do its job,” Ghosts coach Dave Torresani said. “With this system, there’s nothing else you can do.”
If Abington beats Harry S. Truman Tuesday, it will finish 8-6 in league play. But the Ghosts entered the week at No. 27 in the power rankings, one spot below the last playoff seed.
The power points system favors wins against good teams. Council Rock South and Truman have five league wins combined. It’s a less than ideal, entirely uncontrollable scenario for the Ghosts.
“There is nothing you can do about who you’re playing,” Torresani said. “You just have to wait and see.”
Torresani said his players will not scoreboard-watch until they win on Tuesday, if they win. Truman has won three of four.
“The kids are focused on tomorrow’s game,” Torresani said. “After that, we’ll start looking around.”
On Monday, Abington’s Paul Poppert gave up one unearned in seven innings. He also hit a two-run double in the third.
“Yeah he did a lot,” Torresani said, laughing. “He had a really good fastball. And his secondary pitches have improved, the curve and change. He mixed those in and located his fastball, which was key.
“He’s gaining more confidence in his curve and change. He was a hard thrower growing up and was able to get away with a lot of fastballs. So he sort of came to rely on that.”
Chris Clewell and Matt Horn had one RBI each for Abington. Clewell’s RBI came on a squeeze bunt, Horn’s on an infield chopper.
Greg Troyer will start for Abington (11-6, 7-6 SOL) on Tuesday. Council Rock South (4-13, 2-10 SOL) plays Neshaminy Tuesday.
Abington 0-1-2-0-1-0-0 4
Council Rock South 0-0-1-0-0-0-0 1
Non-League
Pennsbury 5, Plymouth Whitemarsh 3
Pennsbury may never lose again, league or non-league.
The Falcons have won nine straight and 11 of 12.
On Monday, Pennsbury’s Nate Derry struck out nine in 5.1 innings. Vaughn Ward picked up the save. Justin Massielo smoked two hits and an RBI. Josh Tesarck had one hit and two RBIs.
In the fourth, Pennsbury took a 4-0 lead on singles by David Murphy, Massielo, and Tesarck.
Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Dutch Reardon had two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored.
Pennsbury (14-5, 10-3 SOL) battles William Tennent on Tuesday. The Falcons can clinch at least a share of the SOL National title with a win.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-12, 4-9 SOL) hosts Norristown on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Pennsbury 0-0-0-4-0-1-0 5
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0-0-1-0-2-0 3
Harry S. Truman 8, Quakertown 2
Harry S. Truman won for the third time in four games.
In the second, the Tigers plated five runs and put Quakertown to bed.
It was a drama in five parts…
JD Matthews scored the first run on a wild pitch.
TJ Brasier scored the second on an equally wild pitch.
Kyle Goodwin raced home with the third on, you guessed it, a wild pitch.
Cameron Culver touched home with his cleated foot as the ball bounced to the backstop.
Then, finally, Matt Olsen dashed home as the ball skipped away from the most sympathetic character in this tragicomedy: The catcher.
Four Truman pitchers—Mike White, Tyler Pool, Brian Aicher, and JD Matthews—gave up five hits and one earned run.
Truman’s Nate Erhard had a hit and an RBI. Olsen scored two runs. Mikey McCormick knocked in a run. Goodwin walked twice.
Aaron Besch and Gunnar Horst drove in Quakertown’s runs.
Harry S. Truman (5-12, 3-10 SOL) plays Abington Tuesday. Quakertown (8-10, 6-7 SOL) hosts Pennridge at 3:30 p.m.
Harry S. Truman 0-5-0-1-0-0-2 8
Quakertown 0-1-1-0-0-0-0 2
Pope John Paul II 3, Upper Merion 0
Upper Merion’s Jarrett Quinn struck out 10 in seven innings. But he gave up one run in the second and two in the fifth.
The Vikings left seven men on base.
Upper Merion has lost 11 of 12.
The Vikings (4-12, 4-8 SOL) take on Upper Moreland Tuesday.
Pope John Paul II 0-1-0-0-2-0-0 3
Upper Merion 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
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