Brian Good recaps all of Friday’s SOL baseball action. CR North/Truman photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of action photos.
By Brian Good
SOL National
Council Rock South 5, Abington 2
Timely hitting has been a problem for Abington this season and this one was no different.
Joe Dimaria started the scoring with a one out single to give the Ghost’s a 1-0 lead in the second.
Abington starter Paul Poppert took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but a single from Bryan Rieser and a two-run triple from Josh Kim gave Council Rock South a 2-1 lead.
In the sixth, Council Rock South added three more runs for insurance on RBIs from Nick Gallo and Eric Jeronis to close it out.
In five out of the seven innings, the Ghosts managed to get their leadoff batter on base, but it only led to two runs for the game.
“We’ve had great pitching and great defense all season long but we get guys on base and just cant seem to get them home,” said Abington head coach Jon Morrissette, whose team held a 7-5 advantage in hits. “It’s just too many guys on the team coming up thinking they have to do it all themselves, and we need to just focus on putting the ball in play and moving runners.”
Council Rock South starter Zach Mayer earned the win, allowing six hits, one run, and striking out four in five innings.
Council Rock South (6-5, 4-3 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks East for a non-league game on Monday, and Abington (3-10, 1-6) will travel to Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Council Rock South 0-0-0-0-2-3-0 5
Abington 0-1-0-0-0-1-0 2
Bensalem 1, Pennsbury 0
The Owls’ offense only managed three hits off of Pennsbury starter Nick Price, but with their own staff pitching lights out, it would be all they would need.
Starter Nicholoas Dean went 4.1 innings and gave up just three hits and no runs while striking out one batter.
When Dean got in some trouble in the fifth inning, coach Harry Daut called on Stephen Aldrich, and he came through in the clutch.
“He (Aldrich) has been really good all year long,” Daut said. “He came in with runners on second and third and one out. We brought the infield in – he got a strikeout, and he got another out, and he was really good after that.”
After that bit of drama, there weren’t many tense moments until Bensalem came to bat in the bottom of the seventh with the two teams locked in a scoreless tie.
An error on a ball hit by leadoff batter Scott Rooney gave Bensalem a runner on first with nobody out. Anthony Robinson, Rooney’s courtesy runner, advanced to second following an errant pick-off attempt. A sacrifice bunt moved Robinson to third where he scored on a walk-off safety squeeze from Jon Revell.
“Once the ball was out of the pitcher’s hands, he just started running, Revell got it down, and we scored,” Daut said.
The Owls broke a two-game losing streak they had been on this week with a win against a team that not many people expected them to beat.
“We’re really excited about this win,” Daut said. “I think we shocked a couple of people with it.
“Pennsbury is one of the top teams in the league, and it’s a confidence builder for our team. We’ll come back next week and see if we can get a couple more wins."
Bensalem (6-5, 3-4 SOL) will travel to Coatesville on Monday for a non-league game, and Pennsbury (8-5, 5-2) will host Abington on Tuesday.
Pennsbury 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Bensalem 0-0-0-0-0-0-1 1
Council Rock North 8, Harry S. Truman 1
Council Rock North jumped out to an early lead Friday and never looked back.
The scoring started with CR North putting up three runs in the first. Cole Olshavsky reached on an error that brought home Cavan Tully, who led off the inning with a double. Kellen Pecuch followed with an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball.
CR North wasn’t done yet. The Indians added two more in the second off a sacrifice from Tully and a double from Olshavsky.
They brought three more runs home in the third courtesy of a Carl Nowmos RBI single. A Zach Deegan double that scored two more.
The eight runs on the board were more than enough support for starter Joe Preciado, who notched the win. He finished the game allowing just one hit in five innings of work while striking out eight. Nolan Hartwell allowed one hit in two scoreless inning in relief.
Pecuch was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. Ryan Stalker was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Council Rock South (8-4, 6-2 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (1-8, 0-7) will host Wissahickon in a non-league game on Monday.
Harry S. Truman 0-0-0-1-0-0-0 1
Council Rock North 3-2-3-0-0-0-X 8
SOL Continental
Central Bucks East 6, North Penn 1
The Patriots – ignited by Jimmy Wiegers’ grand slam – exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie, propelling East to the big win over the first place Knights.
North Penn was first to strike after an RBI single from John Lester brought home a run in the first inning.
Then, Gilmer, who has been a rock for the Patriots all season long, started the scoring for East with an RBI double in the third that scored Matt Bound. Bound led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt.
“He’s been our real workhorse,” said CB East head coach Kyle Dennis of Gilmer. “He’s been phenomenal all year.’
Gilmer’s afternoon wasn’t done either.
With the game still tied 1-1, he led off the sixth inning with another double. Collin Sheehan followed with a single that put runners on first and third. A strikeout for the inning’s first out was followed by a walk to Grant Meiers that loaded the bases, setting the stage for a grand slam from Wiegers that busted the game wide open.
Wiegers fell behind 0-2 in the count and needed to put a ball in play. He got a ball up in the zone and unloaded on it to give his team the 5-1 lead.
“He (Wiegers) has hit a few balls out in batting practice, but he lives on the line drives in the gaps,” Dennis said. “It was really cool to see him hit that ball.”
CB East was aided by a great performance from their pitching staff as well.
Starter Zach Millar went six innings and gave up just one run on four hits. He also struck out three. After his day was done, Jared Thompson came in for the seventh inning and closed it down for the Patriots.
“Our pitchers have been phenomenal,” said Dennis. “They’ve really carried us, and today it was Zach’s day to carry us.
“He (Millar) pitched out of a couple of tough spots. They had a bases loaded situation earlier in the game, and he pitched his way out of it without giving up a run. When your pitchers throw six innings, throw over 50 percent strikes and only allow four hits, it’s a good day.”
This was CB East’s fourth win this week, making them one of the hottest teams in the conference after a somewhat slow start as they look to make a push up the standings.
“It was a real turnaround week,” said Dennis. “We had our eyes opened a little bit, struggling a little bit early. We didn’t change a whole lot. We just talked about our approach at the plate and talked about how we were going to handle things and just be in the moment and take the best approach you can and compete against the game. Guys are really executing. It’s been fun to watch."
Corey Stouffer accounted for two of the Knights’ four hits. Cameron Komonchak, Gillmer and Bound each had two hits for the Patriots.
Central Bucks East (6-5, 3-3 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Monday in a non-league game, and North Penn (10-2, 4-2 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
North Penn 1-0-0-0-0-0-0 1
Central Bucks East 0-0-1-0-0-5-X 6
Souderton 2, Central Bucks South 1 (10 Innings)
Just a day after losing in extra innings, the Indians found themselves once again extending their game past the seventh.
However, unlike the preceding day’s game against William Tennent, the Indians would end up on the winning side of this contest.
Souderton starter Dan Knechel was fantastic, lasting 6.2 innings and allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out four batters.
The Titans’ only run came on a misplayed a ball in the outfield off the bat of Eric Gross that allowed a run to come across the plate with two outs in the second.
“That one run comes on the one mistake we make defensively, which was really unfortunate,” said Souderton head coach Michael Childs. “He just got a bad turn on the ball and the grass grabbed him and he misplayed it, but this team – they’re always ready to battle back and they did just that.”
Souderton would answer with a run in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1. An error put Greg Gallagher on board to start the inning, and after a sacrifice bunt to moved him over to second, the Indians got a clutch hit from Brendan Kreig to bring the run home.
After that, the scoring was pretty much done.
Both the Souderton and CB South pitching staffs were impressive all afternoon and seemed poised to keep this one going.
While Knechel was doing his thing on the mound, Titans’ starter Andrew Dietz was having himself an impressive afternoon as well.
Dietz allowed one run on four hits though six innings while striking out three batters.
As the game kept going, both teams knew it was just a matter of time before one of them broke through, and that moment came in the 10th off the bat of Thylar Summarell.
With one out and nobody on, he turned on a pitch and sent it flying over the fence in right field for a mammoth shot that would end up being the deciding factor in the game.
“That fence in right field is 305 fee, and I have parents that were out there saying it cleared it by 80-90 feet – that could have been a 400-foot bomb,” said Childs of Summarell’s moonshot. “It was absolutely tattooed, and it was one of those where right off the bat you knew.”
From there, it was up to Jordan Morales to close the door on the mound for the Indians and he did just that, pitching a perfect bottom of the 10th and clinching the victory.
Luke Barnum was 2-for-5, the lone Indian with more than one hit. Tyler Watson was 4-for-4 to lead the Titans.
Souderton (7-5, 4-2 SOL) will be on the road at Dock Mennonite Academy for a non-league game on Monday, and Central Bucks South (6-5, 2-5) will be on the road at Pennridge on Tuesday.
Souderton 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 2
Central Bucks South 0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 3
Central Bucks West 3, William Tennent 1
Tennent came into this one riding a hot streak and looking to go make it three straight wins for the week.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, they didn’t have the bats to keep up with the Bucks as CB West’s pitchers combined to allow just one run on six hits.
Aaron Worthington got the start for the Bucks and went 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits and striking out three. Steven Gebre allowed one hit in 2.1 innings of relief.
Tennent starter, Chris Sliwka, allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings, but it wasn’t enough.
Tennent jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, thanks to an RBI single from Greg Delgado that brought home Cole Browne, who was hit by a pitch and then stole second.
In the bottom of the fourth, West tied it at 1-1 on a Matt Cooper single that scored Thomas Philipps, who beat out an infield hit and then scored all the way from first on Cooper's long single to right center. In the bottom of the sixth with the game still tied, Cooper came to the plate and belted a towering home run to left center field, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving his team the lead for good. Later in the inning, Dom DiCicco singled, stole second and then scored on a two-out double to right by Rhys Nicholas to give the Bucks a much needed insurance run.
Cooper finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Bucks. Nicholas was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI while Daniel Clayton and Trevor D'Arcy added hits for West.
For the Panthers, Cole Browne was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored out of the leadoff spot, and Carl ‘CJ’ Goodz had a double.
Central Bucks West (4-6, 2-4 SOL) will host Methacton in a non-league game on Saturday, and William Tennent (5-5, 4-3) will be on the road at Harry S Truman for a non-league contest.
William Tennent 1-0-0-0-0-0-0 1
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-1-0-2-X 3
SOL American
Cheltenham 7, Upper Dublin 3
Coming into Friday’s SOL American matchup, the Flying Cardinals had dropped five of their last six games and were looking for a win, but the Panthers were on their “A“ game, breaking a three-game losing streak of their own.
Jack McHugh finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the Panthers and was the difference maker in the game as the only Cheltenham player to register multiple hits.
It started in the bottom of the first, as McHugh drove in a run on a two-out single to right.
Dale Jacobs tripled in the bottom of the second to drive in another run and came home to score just one batter later, thanks to a sac fly that gave the Panthers a 4-0 lead.
The Cardinals would eventually bring some runs of their own across, but it wasn’t enough. Both Jason and Ryan O’Gara would register RBIs in a two-run fourth, but a strikeout with two men on put an end to the potential rally.
McHugh continued to show his hot bat later in the game. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, he stepped to the plate and roped a double, bringing home two more runs for the Panthers.
Matt Hebling’s 3-for-4 day at the plate led the Flying Cardinals.
Cheltenham starter Joel White when 6.1 innings allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out two. Alex Haasz collected the final two outs for the Panthers.
Cheltenham (2-10, 2-6 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Tuesday, and Upper Dublin (3-7, 2-6) will host Avon Grove in a non-league game on Monday.
Upper Dublin 0-0-0-2-0-0-1 3
Cheltenham 1-3-0-2-1-0-0 7
Upper Moreland 4, Plymouth Whitemarsh 2
Tom Jacob was outstanding Friday afternoon as he willed Upper Moreland to a 4-2 win over the Colonials.
Jacob went seven innings, allowing just two runs on five hits. He struck out nine batters and did not allow a single extra base hit.
The scoring started in the fourth when Brandon Kohn doubled to right to score a run that gave the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, Randy Meehl’s single drove in a run to make it 2-0, and Ryan Lowry followed with a sac fly to extend the lead to 3-0.
An RBI single from Shawn Casey in the sixth would make it 4-0 and brought an end to starter Dillon Famous’ afternoon.
Famous pitched well, going 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on five hits, but the patience of the Upper Moreland hitters made him go deep in counts.
Back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly from Kevin Reilly put the Colonials on the board in the sixth, but they didn’t have the offensive firepower to get to Jacob.
For the Golden Bears, Meehl was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Casey was 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Jack Mangan’s 2-for-3 effort led the Colonials.
Upper Moreland 0-0-0-1-2-1-0 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0-0-0-0-1-1 2
Quakertown 2, Wissahickon 1
Quakertown won an SOL American pitcher’s duel as they bested Wissahickon 2-1 under the lights at Quakertown’s Memorial Park.
Justin Guidos got the win for the Panthers, throwing six innings and allowing just one run on four hits and striking out six.
Quinn Rovner pitched well for the Trojans, but it wasn’t enough to counter Guidos. Rovner went six innings and allowed two runs while striking out two batters.
Matt Shilling had two hits for Wissahickon and scored the team’s only run on a Trey France double in the third.
Brian Robinson (2-for-2) was the only Quakertown hitter with multiple hits, and he also scored both of his team’s run. After a third inning triple, Robinson was knocked in with a sac fly. Then again in the fifth he came in to score on a sacrifice.
Quakertown (9-1, 7-0 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday, and Wissahickon (5-7, 3-4) will travel to Harry S Truman.
Wissahickon 0-0-1-0-0-0-0 1
Quakertown 0-0-1-0-1-0-X 2
Non-League
Neshaminy 13, Pennridge 5
Six Neshaminy hitters finished with multiple hits as they took care of Pennridge in an out of conference matchup.
Zach Tredway (3-for-5, run) and Anthony Rapposelli (3-for-5, RBI, 2 runs) led the hit parade. Eric Gale (2-for-4, double, 3 RBIs), Brian Nicolas (2-for-4, double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs), Corey Joyce (2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 runs) and Eddie Parry (2-for-5, RBI, 2 runs) also had multi-hit games.
The Redskins wasted no time getting on the board, scoring two runs in the top of the first off a Brian Nicolas double.
Pennridge was quick to respond in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Yoder brought a run across the plate with a groundout, then Jacob Siwert singled home another.
The Redskins scored three runs in the third, with two of them crossing the plate on an Eric Gale single, and they were just getting started.
Three extra base hits in the fourth, including RBI doubles from Eric Gale and Corey Joyce, brought home six more runs for the ‘Skins and broke the game open.
This is the fourth straight win for the Redskins and their ninth victory out of their last 10 contests.
Joe Robinson (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) and Jake Siwert (2-for-3, triple, RBI) led the Rams.
This is the Rams’ fourth loss in their last five games and they’ll look to right the ship next week.
Neshaminy (11-2, 6-1 SOL) will host Bensalem on Tuesday, and Pennridge (5-8, 3-3) will host Central Bucks South on Tuesday.
Neshaminy 2-0-3-6-0-0-2 13
Pennridge 2-0-1-2-0-0-0 5
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