Jarrad Saffren recaps all of Tuesday’s SOL baseball action that saw the National and Continental Conferences crown champions.
By Jarrad Saffren
Spoilers spoiled, champions clinched, and playoff contenders strengthened their positions.
There was a little bit of everything on Tuesday.
We are in the 11th hour of the Suburban One League baseball season, and there is not much drama left, other than Thursday’s seeding meeting.
Which is open to the public, by the way. So let’s all put on our foam fingers, blow our vuvuzelas, and go.
I am extremely kidding, by the way.
If you go, you will be the only one, and you will look super weird. Just follow my Twitter account (@JarradSaff, Shameless plug) if you really want to learn the seeds that night.
I will have more on that subject later. For now, Tuesday’s results and recaps are below.
SOL National
Council Rock North 12, Bensalem 2
Council Rock North led the SOL National for all but the last four days.
Last Thursday, North lost its second straight league game and Pennsbury won its eighth straight. The Falcons pulled into a tie with the Indians for the first time all season.
But on Tuesday, William Tennent upset Pennsbury, and North rocked Bensalem, clinching the league title outright. The Indians had not won the league since 2011. They finished second the last three seasons.
“It felt good. Clinching the title wasn’t as much of a priority as winning the baseball game. We needed one after dropping a few last week,” North coach Matt Schram said. “We were off on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. That was a long four days. It felt like 25. We did not want to back into the playoffs.”
Very few coaches admit to caring about what other teams do. “We control what we can control. We don’t worry about anybody else,” they lie.
Schram does not hide his human nature. He was texting William Tennent assistant Evan Horn throughout the afternoon.
“I just knew the score. When I first talked to him, it was 8-1 Tennent,” Schram said. “At the time we won, we knew we had at least a share of the title. It was nice to see our boys from William Tennent finish their season on a good note by beating the boys from Pennsbury.”
Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci had been talking for weeks about catching North. Schram read Pesci’s quotes.
“People write about Joe talking about how they wanted to defend their league title. About us losing games, Pennsbury getting some help. So it was nice to win outright,” Schram said. “Our league is tough. Look at Tennent beating Pennsbury today. Tennent’s a really good baseball team. To make it to the top in our league is a great accomplishment.”
North scored five runs in the first, two in the second, and five in the third.
“Our goal was to get back to the way we played all season,” Schram said. “Jump out early. Play with a lead. That’s been our recipe. Up until these last couple games. But every team goes through a stretch like that.”
North leadoff man Cavan Tully scored three runs. Jared Schram belted two hits and four RBIs. Matt Hand walked three times and drove in two runs. Chase D’Arcangelo had three RBIs. Jackson Parker scored two runs.
And, of course, Matt Hand was pretty Matt Hand-like on the mound. The righty fanned nine in four innings. Hand finished the regular season with an 8-0 record and 0.96 ERA. He also struck out 76 batters in 47 innings.
All eight wins were league wins. The Indians went 11-3 in league play. Eight divided by 11 is 0.727. Since we always round up, because rounding down is a sign of weakness, Hand won 73 percent of North’s league games. In other, more English words, one pitcher won 73 percent of his team’s league wins. And his team is the outright league champion.
North has produced a lot of quality pitchers over the years, including Jake Drossner, who pitches in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization.
“I’m not sure if we’ve seen another pitcher have that type of season,” Schram said of Hand. “I’m not sure if we’ll ever see it again. I’m reluctant to say he’s the best. But he’s right up there with all those who went to Council Rock North.”
Hand will start North’s district playoff opener next week. I did not even ask Schram to confirm that. I do not need to.
North ends the regular season 16-3 overall. Bensalem (10-8, 5-8 SOL) closes its season against Council Rock South Wednesday.
Council Rock North 5-2-5-0 12
Bensalem 0-2-0-0 2
William Tennent 9, Pennsbury 2
The stars, or clouds on this day, were aligned for Pennsbury to clinch at least a share of the SOL National title.
The Falcons entered on an eight-game league winning streak. Ace Zach Conley was 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his last four starts.
On Tuesday, Conley came out and whistled fastballs by William Tennent hitters. He struck out four in the first two innings, all on heaters.
In the third, Pennsbury took a 1-0 lead on a throwing error. Tennent’s shortstop sailed the ball over the first baseman’s head. Vaughn Ward raced home from second.
Pennsbury had a leadoff baserunner in the first three innings. In the second, the Falcons loaded the bases with one out. Josh Tesarck smoked the ball to short. Cole Browne scooped the short-hop and flipped to second for one. Matt Johnson turned and fired to first for the second out.
But Pennsbury hitters were getting on base and hitting the ball hard. Between that and Conley, the Falcons looked ready to blow out another league rival.
Then Tennent plated eight runs in the bottom of the third. With one out, Browne reached on an error, Christian Mendez walked, and Paul McElroy belted a single to left, loading the bases.
Greg Delgado walked. Then Nick Cataldi laced a single to right center, putting Tennent up 3-1.
“I got up there, it was 2-0, I’m looking for one right down the middle,” Cataldi said. “He battled back and I fouled balls off. I was thinking, ‘Foul one off until you get that right pitch.’ And that one pitch I saw all the way through to my bat. Then I blinked and it was in the outfield.”
Two batters later, with the bases loaded again, Matt Johnson walked. Pesci pulled Conley for Alec Wilson.
Wilson walked Sean Jeffries. Browne came up again and hit the ball to short. Pennsbury’s first baseman dropped a low throw and two more runs scored.
So what happened to Conley that inning?
“He was cruising and I don’t know,” Pesci said. “It is what it is. He’s still a phenomenal pitcher and we expect him to come out and perform well in districts.”
Speaking of phenomenal pitchers, Tennent starter Ryan Lucas gave up one unearned run in five innings. Pennsbury was 0-for-8 with men on base. The senior righty improved to 6-1 with a 0.75 ERA. He will pitch for Philadelphia University next season.
“I just came in and tried to throw strikes and let them hit it,” Lucas said.
McElroy will join him at Philly U in 2017. The senior went 3-for-4 on Tuesday, in his last high school game.
“I was just seeing the ball well today,” McElroy said.
“They are studs. They’ve carried us most of the season,” Tennent coach Rick Penecale said. “Today, Ryan came out in rainy conditions and matched Conley pitch for pitch.”
William Tennent finished 9-10 overall and 7-7 in league play. “
We had a good season. Unfortunately, a couple big games we just came up short,” Penecale said. “I wanted to go out on a good note and beat a good team. We beat a really good team and pitcher.”
Pennsbury closed at 14-6 and 10-4.
Pesci, Mr. Confident, is still puffy-chested going into the playoffs.
“We won the league last year. North won the district. North won the league this year. Hopefully we can make a run at the district title,” Pesci said. “We hit the ball hard today. You got to be happy about the way we hit today. We had a chance to score some runs and they made some good defensive plays.”
William Tennent 0-0-8-0-0-1 9
Pennsbury 0-0-1-0-0-1-0 2
Neshaminy 6, Council Rock South 2
In the top of the seventh, Neshaminy scored four runs to take the 6-2 lead you see above.
Bill Ritchey doubled to start the rally. Ed Parry ripped an infield single to second. Then Brian Nicolas doubled to left. 3-2 Redskins.
Two more runs scored on an error by the first baseman. Then Josh Lehman singled to center to make it 6-2, the score you see above. See it? Good.
In the bottom of the seventh, Billy Meyer walked the first two batters. But the next bounced into a 4-6-3 double play. Meyer fanned 11 and gave up four hits in seven innings.
The horse/bulldog/Bunyan threw 124 pitches. He went 4-2 with a 1.37 ERA in the regular season. He also struck out 61 in 46 innings. 
Two of Neshaminy’s projected starters—Zach Boop and TJ Arnao—have not pitched this season because of injuries. If Meyer had not transferred from Conwell-Egan, the Redskins would not be a district playoff team.
Western cultural pundits call that an MVP.
“Billy’s had a very good year. He’s been huge, gigantic,” Neshaminy coach Chris Tenaglia said. “He’s put us on his back, especially with the injuries we’ve had on the mound.”
Neshaminy has won three straight games and outscored opponents 27-6. The Redskins lost two straight league games before the winning streak.
“We had two tough home losses to two very good teams (CR North and Pennsbury) and pitchers (Matt Hand and Zach Conley). It was nice to see our guys be resilient and bounce back,” Tenaglia said. “It’s been a matter of getting base runners and moving them around. The offense has really stepped up.”
At 9-5 in league play, the Redskins should get into the district playoffs. “We are where we want to be. That’s the goal every team sets at the beginning of the year. To earn berth into the playoffs,” Tenaglia said. “We are looking forward to going on a run.”
Meyer will start Neshaminy’s playoff opener.
Council Rock South (4-14, 2-11 SOL) plays Bensalem Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Neshaminy 0-0-2-0-0-0-4 6
Council Rock South 0-0-1-0-1-0-0 2
Abington 11, Harry S. Truman 9 (8 innings)
In the top of the eighth, Bing-town scored two runs to take the 11-9 lead you see above.
JP Nolan collected an RBI on a successful suicide squeeze. Matt Horn singled to left, scoring Paul Poppert.
Nolan pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth.
Harry S. Truman rallied twice to tie the game. In the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers scored two runs to make it 5-5. Then, in the seventh, they scored four to make it 9-9.
Abington’s Matt Close had three walks and two RBIs. Aidan Coyle had two hits and an RBI. Poppert had a hit, two runs scored, two RBIs, and two walks.
Horn scored three runs and ripped two hits.
Truman’s Romeo Sturkey and TJ Brasier combined for five hits, four RBIs, and three walks.
The Galloping Ghosts finish the season 12-6 overall and 8-6 in league play. Now they wait for their fate (Rhyme).
Truman went 6-13 and 3-11.
Abington 3-1-0-0-0-1-4-2 11
Harry S. Truman 2-0-1-0-0-2-4-0 9
SOL Continental
Central Bucks South 6, Central Bucks West 0
How else would Central Bucks South clinch the SOL Continental title?
Klepchick (One-name club).
The righty gave up four hits and no runs in seven innings. He fanned nine and walked two. But here’s the most impressive stat: 88 pitches in seven innings, and 63 were strikes.
In the first, Klepchick loaded the bases with one out, then retired the last two batters. He rolled from there.
“He had his usual struggle in the first. Then he turned into Klep again,” CB South coach Brian Klumpp said. “He was pumping tonight, throwing really hard. His slider was up early but he got it down.”
Klepchick finished the season 7-0 with a 0.42 ERA. He fanned 50 in 50 innings. Klumpp has been coaching high school baseball for six years. He was the pitching coach at Archbishop Wood for the last five.
“Klepchick is definitely up there among the guys I’ve seen,” Klumpp said. “He’s a perfectionist. He’s been ridiculous this year.”
The Titans’ other star Tuesday has not generated a headline all season. Brendan Crabtree started because Tuesday was senior day.
Of course, since real life is better, Crabtree bopped a three-run bomb in the bottom of the fourth, breaking a scoreless tie.
“That was great to see,” Klumpp said. “He’s one of the best teammates. I’m so happy he stepped up in that spot.”
Crabtree backs up catcher Eric Gross.
“Eric is one of the best defensive catchers in the league. It’s hard to get in with him there,” Klumpp said. “But Brendan has done a great job backing him up.”
After Crabtree jumped on a first pitch fastball, he jogged around the bases and rounded third. His teammates were waiting near home plate.
“He had a huge smile on his face. He was pumped. It was awesome,” Klumpp said.
Tommy Dugan and Mike Goldsworthy belted two hits each for the Titans.
CB South’s league title is its first since 2010. Klumpp won perhaps the toughest league in District One in his first season as a head coach.
“It felt great, especially in my first year,” Klumpp said. “I met with the kids in September and established three goals: Win the league, then districts, then obviously the big one is states. This is just step one of three.”
“I’ve gained so much respect for Suburban One,” Klumpp said. “I didn’t know much about it coming in. It’s so deep and there’s so much good pitching. You can’t play anything other than your best.”
CB South (12-4, 10-3 SOL) plays Central Bucks East Wednesday at 6 p.m. Central Bucks West finishes the regular season 8-10 overall and 7-7 in league play. The Bucks probably will not get into the district playoffs.
Central Bucks South 0-0-0-4-2-0 6
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks East 4, Souderton 0
Andrew Collins hit a three-run triple in the top of the third.
“That really broke the game open,” Central Bucks East coach Kyle Dennis said.
Collins has had a great season. He is hitting .319 with a .484 on-base percentage, 16 RBIs, and 10 runs scored. The senior has not struck out in 65 plate appearances.
“Which is pretty incredible,” Dennis said. “Offensively, he’s been great all year.”
Patriots’ starter Tyler Quinlan struck out seven and gave up four hits in seven innings.
“Everything was working,” Dennis said. “He had pop on his fastball and spotted it on both sides of the plate. He had a little bit of a changeup too.”
Quinlan broke his ankle in the offseason and didn’t pitch a lot in the winter. So he mainly came out of the bullpen for the Pats. He is 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA in 25 innings.
“He’s been very, very effective,” Dennis said. “Today he was phenomenal.”
CB East has a team ERA of 2.80.
“The pitching has been there,” Dennis said. “It’s just been the hitting and the defense.”
The Patriots have allowed 74 runs, 51 earned.
Collins will graduate but most of the other Patriots will return.
“We are fortunate in that we’ll return a lot of arms and position players,” Dennis said. “We started predominantly juniors and sophomores. So we are in a good spot. I would have liked more success for the seniors. But they competed and did a great job.”
CB East (7-11, 2-11 SOL) plays CB South Wednesday.
Souderton (10-9, 7-7 SOL) lost five of six league games to end the season. The Indians probably slipped out of a playoff spot. They play one more game Wednesday, against Archbishop Ryan.
Central Bucks East 0-0-4-0-0-0-0 4
Souderton 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Hatboro-Horsham 3, North Penn 2
Hatboro-Horsham won its last game in the SOL Continental and may have kept North Penn out of the playoffs.
“For us, it was more a matter of, this is our last game in the SOL Continental,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Pete Moore said. “We’ve taken pride the last couple years of being a small school and competing with the big schools in this league. We wanted to bring the energy one more time.”
The Hatters will move to the SOL American next season.
On Tuesday, Colin Kennedy gave up five hits and no earned runs in seven innings. He fanned six and walked one.
“He was outstanding,” Moore said. “He threw his fastball and curve for strikes and made big pitches with guys on base.”
In the top of the seventh, North Penn took a 2-1 lead on an error and a Zack Miles single.
In the bottom, Kyle Katz led off and singled to center. Eddie Schultz sacrifice-bunted him to second. Then Drew Margerum singled to second.
Billy Carr drove in Katz and Margerum with a single to center.
Hatboro-Horsham ends the season at 8-10 overall and 6-8 in SOL Continental play. North Penn finishes 12-7 and 8-6. The Knights will hold their gallant breath until Thursday night.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-0-0-0-1-2 3
North Penn 0-0-0-0-0-0-2 2
Pennridge 12, Quakertown 5 (11 innings)
Pennridge trailed 5-0 going into the third. But the Rams scored five runs in the next five innings to send the game to extras.
Let’s pick up the action in the top of the 11th.
Pennridge loads the bases for Riley Hager, who singles to left. 6-5 Rams. Kolby Rush walks to force in another run. 7-5. Mitch McLeod walks to force in another. After a pop out, Andrew Fantaskey doubles to right, plating Hager, Rush, and McLeod. 11-5. Then, finally, Joe Robinson singles to right, scoring Fantaskey.
Seven is your crooked number of the day.
Pennridge’s three relief pitchers made it possible. Ian Kacergis, Dan Long, and Nate Coyle tossed 9.2 scoreless innings. They gave up one hit, or 0.33 per pitcher. They also struck out 13 and walked one.
Offensively, Robinson had four hits and three RBIs. Kyle Yoder scored two runs and belted two hits. Andrew Horne had three hits, an RBI, and a run scored.
Aaron Besch and Jake Wooden each drove in two runs for Quakertown.
Pennridge finished 13-7 overall and 9-5 in league play. The Rams have a 97.862 percent chance of making the district playoffs. They were No. 17 in the last power rankings and 26 teams make the AAAA field.
Quakertown ends at 8-12 and 6-8.
Pennridge 0-0-3-1-0-0-1-0-0-0-7 12
Quakertown 4-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 5
SOL American
Upper Moreland 9, Upper Merion 0
Upper Moreland coach Ken Irwin declared a second senior day on Tuesday, because he can, he’s in charge.
“We made it like a senior night,” Irwin said. “We had a few that didn’t get to play against Cheltenham. They were the stars of the game.”
This is becoming a Disney Movie on loop.
Dennis Kelley, Ryan Cavanaugh, and Kevin O’Donnell are not regular starters for Upper Moreland. The seniors who shine on senior day never are.
But, on Tuesday, in their first starts of 2016, all three hit a double and knocked in two runs.
I think coaches should keep a whole lineup of seniors who deserve to play but don’t, just to break it out on senior day and win 28-0.
“They come every day and work hard. They deserved to start,” Irwin said. “I said in the beginning of the season we have a lot of depth.”
Kelley and O’Donnell are stuck behind Randy Meehl, Nick DeLucas, and Tommy Jacob in the outfield. Cavanaugh sits behind Jon Searles at first base.
“Searles is one of the best hitters in the league,” Irwin said. “And our outfielders, Randy Meehl, Nick DeLucas, and Tommy Jacob, have been phenomenal.”
Another senior, pitcher Sean O’Connor, the same Sean O’Connor who won on the first senior day, his only start of the season, got the last three outs on Tuesday. He also earned his second water cooler shower of the season.
“The great thing is these kids really root for each other, no matter who’s playing,” Irwin said. “These kids will remain friends for a long time. They are a very close group.”
A non-senior, Brandon Kohn, started on Tuesday and gave up two hits in six innings. He also struck out 10. Kohn improved to 6-1 with a 0.87 ERA. Joey Bates is also 6-1.
“I’m hoping they get league honors,” Irwin said.
Upper Moreland closes the regular season at 14-4 overall and 11-3 in league play. The Golden Bears are No. 2 in the District One Class AAA Power Rankings. Irwin does not think they can leapfrog No. 1 Holy Ghost Prep.
“The chance we had was to beat Upper Dublin,” Irwin said. “So we know we’ll be the two.”
Irwin expects to play No. 7 Upper Perkiomen in the first round. An Upper Perk coach scouted UM on Monday.
“The good thing is we played the worst game of our season yesterday,” Irwin said. “So they are probably not too afraid of us.”
Upper Dublin beat Upper Moreland 6-2 on Monday.
Upper Merion (4-14, 4-9 SOL) ends its season against Norristown Thursday.
Upper Dublin 7, Springfield 0
Upper Dublin’s Connor McFadden gave up one hit in seven innings. He also had two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
“He did a great job,” Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall said. “He was able to spot his fastball nicely. There were a lot of swings and misses on his curveball. He threw it for a strike. He did all that in some unfavorable weather conditions.”
Cole Swiger scored three runs and slammed two hits for the Flying Cardinals.
“It was good to see those two guys, Connor and Cole, get going,” Wall said. “They’ve had some tough luck lately. Seeing them hit the ball hard was fun to watch.”
JT Breslin had two hits and an RBI for the Cardinals.
Upper Dublin (13-3, 12-1 SOL) resumes its game against Cheltenham Wednesday. The Cardinals are No. 3 in the AAAA power rankings.
“The power rankings are whatever they are. We are just trying to win games,” Wall said. “Hopefully we get a first round bye out of it.”
Springfield (5-10, 4-9 SOL) plays its season finale against Cheltenham Thursday.
Wissahickon 3, Cheltenham 1
Yup. Logan Willans again.
Wissahickon’s ace gave up five hits and one run in seven innings. He improved to 6-2 with an 0.95 ERA in league play.
Wissahickon finishes 10-8 overall and 10-4 in league play. The Trojans are No. 14 in the power rankings. They need to move up to host a first round game.
Cheltenham (6-9, 5-7 SOL) will resume its game against Upper Dublin Wednesday. The teams are tied at one after two innings.
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