Check out the results for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday. Photos of the Souderton/CR South game provided by Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for a gallery of action photos…CLICK HERE to go directly to the baseball gallery.
NESHAMINY 8, PENNRIDGE 0
The Redskins continued their torrid offensive production, taking control of a scoreless game with four runs in the third off Pennridge ace Andrew Mayhew.
“We started playing really good small ball,” coach Dan Toner said. “We were laying down bunts, we were getting guys over, we were stealing bases.
“They had a really, really good pitcher, and he was striking us out, getting us out, and we started playing small ball and started hitting him a little bit.”
The Redskins also got a gem out of their ace, Zach Boop, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning when he allowed his only hit. In five strong innings, Boop struck out six and walked one. Jerry Scavone allowed here hits in two scoreless innings of relief.
Sophomore shortstop Corey Joyce – a captain this year – made his 2017 debut an impressive one, finishing the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Senior Evan Matthews also was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored. Anthony Rapposelli was 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
Also contributing RBIs were Brian Nicholas, Scavone, Ed Parry and Eric Gale.
“The past two games against Upper Dublin and Pennridge we’ve let our guys really go, and they were playing the whole game,” Toner said. “Yesterday we had 16 hits and 17 runs, and today we got (nine) hits.”
Neshaminy (2-0) will host Central Bucks South on Monday, and Pennridge (1-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Pennridge 000 000 0 0-4-2
Neshaminy 004 013 x 8-9-2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, WISSAHICKON 2
In their first game action of the season, the Patriots scored single runs in four straight innings to earn the non-league win.
“We got out for a scrimmage against Pennsbury, but we haven’t seen our field since tryouts except for one Saturday practice,” Dennis said. “We’ve been itching to get out.
“We kind of just pieced things together, strung a couple hits together here and there.”
The Patriots got on the scoreboard with a run in the third and took a 2-0 lead with another run in the fourth. Jimmy Wiegers’ RBI single in the fourth plated Dan Schick.
“Dan scored from first base on basically a ground ball to right field,” Dennis said. “He really ran the bases well, and that was a big hit for Jimmy, a senior in his first varsity start. That was pretty awesome.”
The Trojans answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the visiting Patriots got that back in the top of the fifth. CJ Gillmer’s line drive single to center plated Cam Komonchak from second.
“Our guys got a couple of timely hits, which was nice to see,” Dennis said. “We were lacking in those last year, so it was nice to get a couple of hits.
“Our guys ran the bases really well. We have some speed we’re going to use.”
Another Trojan run in the bottom of the fifth made it a 3-2 game, but the Patriots tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
“Overall, we defended the ball pretty well,” Dennis said. “Matt Ernst, our second-year shortstop, made two incredible backhand plays. One saved us a run back when it was a one-run game, and the second was to end the game.
“He threw a guy out on a bang-bang play at first base. They were two big-time plays for him. Being our returning shortstop, it’s nice to have that solidarity there.”
The Patriots received solid outings from four different pitchers. Senior Tyler Quinlin, who earned the win, allowed four hits and one run in three innings. Ari Silverstein threw one scoreless frame. He did not allow a hit and struck out a pair. Zach Millar allowed two hits and one run in two innings of work, and Kyle Feasby closed it out with a scoreless seventh.
“We only had the one scrimmage, and we were in line to play a couple of other games,” Dennis said. “We were supposed to play three times this week and only got this one in.
“Three of the four guys that pitched – Ari Silverstein, Tyler Quinlin and Zach Millar – are slated to be our starters this year. Those are our three workhorses. We didn’t pitch them against Pennsbury thinking they would pitch Monday and Tuesday, but those games got washed out so we threw them all today.
“They did a really nice job – first time being on a dirt mound, away against a really good hitting team like Wissahickon. I was really pleased. We had one walk and only had four (strikeouts), but they threw very well. They got ahead of hitters, threw a ton of first-pitch strikes. We expect those guys to lead us.”
Central Bucks East (1-0) will travel to North Penn on Tuesday, and Wissahickon (2-1) will host Quakertown on Wednesday.
Central Bucks East 001 111 0 4-7-1
Wissahickon 000 110 0 2-6-1
UPPER MORELAND 5, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
The Golden Bears erupted for five runs in the first two innings, and that was more than enough to earn a win in their non-league opener.
“I’m very pleased with the way we came out,” coach Dan Heiland said. “We got an early jump.
“Against good teams or bad teams, it always puts pressure on them to get ahead early. It was nice to get ahead.”
Kevin Walder’s two-run double spotted the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and in the second inning, Brandon Kohn delivered a single that plated a pair. John Searles also picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
“We had guys with good at-bats, making their pitchers work deep in their count,” Heiland said. “We had eight guys walk, and we had a lot of base runners.
“We got a couple of key hits – our three hits all drove in runs.”
Three UM pitchers combined for the win with Tommy Jacob and Dawson Ruggles each throwing three innings. Brandon Kohn closed it out with a scoreless seventh. The Bucks only run off Jacob was unearned.
“We were in Florida for five days, and we were out every day, practicing and getting a couple of scrimmages in,” Heiland said. “Then we come home, and we’re limited to the gym, and you can only do so much in the gym, not that everybody else doesn’t have the same problem.
“To come out on the field for the first time in over a week and have our pitchers throw this well – they threw strikes, got ahead in the count, allowed the fielders to make plays.”
Upper Moreland (1-0) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday, and Central Bucks West (0-1) will travel to Emmaus on Saturday.
Central Bucks West 001 000 0 1
Upper Moreland 230 000 x 5
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 6, SOUDERTON 3
Council Rock South traveled to Souderton for its season opener Thursday and came away with the non-league win, opening up a 6-0 lead before the Indians scored three late runs.
The Golden Hawks scored three runs in the third and added three more in the fifth and then withstood a rally by the Indians, who plated all of their runs in the seventh.
Trey Obarowski led the Golden Hawks at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Nick Gallo was 2-for-3.
For the Indians, Dave Guilbon, Jake Morgan and Dan Knechel contributed RBIs.
Zach Mayer picked up the win for the Hawks, scattering three hits in four scoreless innings. He did not walk a batter and fanned one. Blaise Sclafani absorbed the loss for the Indians.
Council Rock South (1-0) will host William Tennent on Tuesday, and Souderton (1-2) will host Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
Council Rock South 003 030 0 6-6-3
Souderton 000 000 3 3-4-4
HATBORO-HORSHAM 7, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The Hatters were led by a pair of seniors in Thursday’s win.
Senior pitcher Brian Edgington threw a complete game, allowing just five hits while walking none and striking out 10. He threw 94 pitches – 69 of them were for strikes.
Senior center fielder Eddie Schultz led the Hatters at the plate, finishing the day 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Freshman shortstop Jake Bianchini recorded his first varsity hit, his first varsity stolen base and his first varsity RBI in the win. Also for the Hatters, Colin Kennedy had one hit and drove in a pair of runs. Edgington, Mayson and Ryan O’Donnell each had an RBI.
Dillon Famous had the Colonials’ only RBI, and Kevin Reilly had PW’s lone extra base hit, a double.
The Hatters, who scored single runs in the first and second, went on top 5-0 after a three-run fourth.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-0 SOL) is scheduled to host Quakertown on Friday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-2, 0-1 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Thursday.
Hatboro-Horsham 110 311 0 7-7-1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 100 0 1-5-2
ABINGTON 7, CHELTENHAM 0 (8 innings)
The Ghosts exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to break open a scoreless ball game. Matt Horn – who also won the game in relief – had the game-winning RBI when he singled in the seven-run uprising.
“Our pitchers did a great job the whole game,” Abington coach Jon Morrissette said. “Our defense was amazing as well, but we just couldn’t seem to get that big hit to crack it open.
“We had a lot of very good hits, but we just couldn’t get the timely hit. The kids have been pressing. They’ve been playing great defense, and their pitching has been amazing, but we have not gotten key hits all year. Hopefully, this gets us going.”
Sophomore Joey DiMaria was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. He had a two-run single in the eighth. Nick McClay, who also had a pair of hits and scored a run, had a pair of RBIs in the eighth. Colin Kelly had a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot and scored a run. Paul Poppert added two hits and scored a run, and Adkins also had a pair of hits out of the nine hole and scored a run.
The Ghosts held a 13-3 advantage in hits. Kieran Versaw-Barnes had two of the Panthers’ hits, including a double.
Poppert, who had the starting nod, threw 6.1 shutout innings, allowing two hits while striking out six and walking two. Horn closed it out with 1.2 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
For the Panthers, Jacob Petrisko scattered seven hits in six shutouts innings, fanning four and walking one. Alex Haasz was charged with the loss.
Abington (1-2) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and Cheltenham (0-2) will host Lincoln on Monday.
Abington 000 000 7 7-13-1
Cheltenham 000 000 0 0-3-1
PENNSBURY 5, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 4
The Falcons evened their early season record at 1-1 with Thursday’s non-league win over the Vikings.
Justin Ward took a perfect game into the fourth inning and a no-hitter into the fifth. Nick Price earned the win in relief. Alec Wilson was credited with the save.
Justin Massielo was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Falcons.
Pennsbury (1-1) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in a non-league contest on Saturday at 11 a.m.
ST. JOSEPH’S PREP 7, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
The Prep scored a pair of runs in the first, and the Indians answered with one in the bottom of the inning. It was their last hurrah as their visitors scored four runs in the fifth on their way to the non-league win.
Cole Olshavsky singled and scored a run, and Joe Preciado had the Indians’ other hit. Jason Walter accounted for his team’s only RBI.
Preciado absorbed the loss on the mound.
Council Rock North (1-1) will travel to Neumann-Goretti for a non-league game on Saturday.
St. Joseph’s Prep 200 040 1 7-9-1
Council Rock North 100 000 0 1-2-4
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