Jarrad Saffren recaps Thursday’s SOL baseball action, which included Hatboro-Horsham defeating Quakertown to set up a tie atop the standings.
By Jarrad Saffren
Eighteen Suburban One League baseball teams played league games Thursday. Two—Souderton and Pennsbury—met in a non-league crossover game.
Upsets and close, dramatic finishes highlighted the day.
All 10 results and recaps are below.
SOL American
Hatboro-Horsham 2, Quakertown 0
Hatboro-Horsham pulled into a first-place tie with Quakertown in the Suburban One League American Conference. Both teams are now 8-2 in league play.
“The kids came out fired up,” Hatters coach Pete Moore said. “It was nice to score in the first to give us confidence.”
In the first, Drew Passerini singled to right, scoring Jake Mayson, putting the Hatters up 1-0. They doubled the lead in the top of the fifth. Eddie Schultz raced home on a passed ball.
Two runs was all Brian Edgington needed. Hatboro-Horsham’s starter gave up two hits in his complete game shutout. He also struck out eight.
Edgington walked two and hit a batter in the first. The second walk loaded the bases with two outs. But Edgington got Jake Wooden to ground out to third, ending the inning, the threat and Quakertown’s best chance to score.
Edge threw close to 30 pitches in that inning. He threw 95 in the game, meaning he threw about 11 per inning for the last six innings.
“You doubt you’ll get a complete game at that point. He turned it around, dialed in and started pumping the zone after that. It was Edge being Edge,” Moore said. “After a couple innings, I said to (pitching coach) Andy Noga, ‘We have to attack hitters to keep his pitch count down.’ Kennedy and Crim were not available because they threw so much against Upper Moreland. Edge spotted fastballs and worked his way through the order rather quickly.”
Lake Friday and Viktor Morelock got Quakertown’s two hits. Quakertown starter Justin Guidos allowed one earned run in seven innings.
Hatboro-Horsham (10-4, 8-2 SOL) hosts Wissahickon Monday at 3:45. Quakertown (10-3, 8-2 SOL) plays Southern Lehigh Saturday night at seven.
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0-0-0-1-0-0 2
Quakertown 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Springfield Township 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
Springfield pitchers Kevin Keown and Tim Dahme shut out the Colonials. Keown pitched the first 3.2 innings. Dahme went the last 3.1.
Keown had to leave the game because he threw 88 pitches. He struck out six and walked four, so he ran a lot of deep counts. He also allowed four hits.
Plymouth Whitemarsh left a runner at third in the first. Keown got out of a first and third, no-out jam in the second. Then he got out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the third.
Dahme entered with two outs and the bases loaded in the fourth. He got the next batter to pop out to right. Dahme gave up three hits and no walks in 3.1 innings.
Springfield took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Dahme hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Jackson Pauwels. The Spartans added two more in the third. Pauwels doubled home Macleod Farley. Then Noel Franczyk scored on a passed ball.
PW’s John Pecharo and Brad Krenicky had three and two hits, respectively. PW starter Dillon Famous allowed two earned runs in seven innings. He also fanned four and walked none.
Springfield (7-6, 4-6 SOL) hosts Upper Moreland Monday at 3:45. PW (3-11, 2-8 SOL) plays Abington Saturday at 11 a.m.
Springfield Township 1-0-2-0-0-0-0 3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Wissahickon 1, Upper Dublin 0
Wissahickon starter Quinn Rovner pitched a three-hit, complete game shutout. He struck out five. On his 101st pitch, he got Michael Zicchinolfi to pop out to center, ending the game.
Upper Dublin starter Justin Horn pitched almost as well, allowing one run in seven innings. But in the top of the fourth, Wissahickon’s Matt Shilling bunt singled down the first base line. Then he advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then Trey France grounded out to first, moving Shilling to third.
Steven Loden hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Shilling, putting Wissahickon up 1-0.
Max Weinberg led Upper Dublin with two hits. Joey Monaghan walked twice. UD starter Justin Horn allowed one run in seven innings.
Wissahickon (9-7, 6-4 SOL) battles Hatboro-Horsham Monday at 3:30. Upper Dublin (4-9, 2-8 SOL) plays Council Rock South Friday at 3:45.
Wissahickon 0-0-0-1-0-0-0 1
Upper Dublin 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
SOL National
Harry S. Truman 6, Council Rock South 5 (9 innings)
Harry S. Truman earned its first league win of 2017.
In the top of the ninth, in a 5-5 game, RJ Snyder got hit by a pitch. Then he broke for second. Cam Culver bunted down the third base line. Snyder ran all the way to third on the sacrifice.
On the next pitch, Dylan Vanhorn attempted a suicide squeeze. On the pitch after that, he showed bunt and pulled back. Then the pitcher threw the ball up and in. He was expecting a bunt attempt and wanted to make it difficult.
The ball sailed over the catcher’s glove and bounced to the backstop. Snyder charged home and scored the go-ahead run. It became the winning run.
Council Rock South put two on with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. But Snyder struck out John Crane to end the game.
“We finally found a way to come out on top. It’s been a tough season,” Truman coach Tim Monaghan said. “We put in a lot of hard work and we haven’t been able to reap a lot of rewards. The guys were excited to finally be able to do that.”
Snyder pitched the last 2.2 innings and did not allow a run.
CR South took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Kyle Fleming hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Joe Shragher. Then Crane scored on a passed ball.
Truman scored three runs in the next inning to take a 3-2 lead. Snyder’s double put the Tigers in front.
South tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Evan Fisher doubled to right, scoring Trey Obarowski. Shragher put the Golden Hawks back up, 4-3, in the sixth.
Snyder’s RBI double and Vanhorn’s RBI single put the Tigers back in front one inning later. Fisher’s RBI triple, which scored Josh Kim, tied the game at six in the home seventh.
Truman (2-10, 1-8 SOL) hosts Conwell-Egan Sunday at 3:30. CR South (7-7, 5-4 SOL) plays Upper Dublin Friday at 3:45.
Harry S. Truman 0-0-0-0-3-0-2-0-1 6
Council Rock South 0-0-0-2-1-1-1-0-0 5
Bensalem 3, Council Rock North 2
Bensalem trailed 2-0 going into the top of the fourth. Then the Owls scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead.
Nicholas Dean scored on a passed ball. Then Shay singled to third, plating Anthony Robinson and Greg Janowski, putting Bensalem ahead.
“We got our bats on the ball a little better,” Bensalem coach Harry Daut said. “We took more pitches and got the key hits.”
Once Bensalem had the 3-2 lead, Stephen Aldrich held it. He pitched the last three innings, allowing no runs and three hits. He struck out six and walked none.
“He’s just been our ace. He comes in and throws his curveball over the plate and his fastball over the plate and he really goes right at you. There’s no nit-picking. That’s how he’s been all year,” Daut said. “Last year I had high expectations and he did a pretty good job. Nothing like this year, though. He’s one of the top pitchers in the league. His focus is unbelievable. I can’t say enough about the kid.”
Council Rock North reliever Eric Hoefer did not allow a run in 3.1 innings. He also fanned six. Kellen Pecuch had an RBI and a run scored for North. Cavan Tully also scored a run.
Bensalem (8-6, 5-5 SOL) plays Coatesville Saturday night at 6:45. CR North (9-7, 6-4 SOL) takes on CR South Saturday night at 7:30.
Bensalem 0-0-0-3-0-0-0 3
Council Rock North 2-0-0-0-0-0-0 2
Neshaminy 1, Abington 0
Neshaminy starter Evan Matthews pitched a three-hit, complete game shutout without striking a batter out. He pitches to contact, and it works for him. Thursday was not even his best outing of the season.
“The no-hitter against Truman (on April 24) was his best. But he was locked in today. He located well and the defense made plays behind him,” Neshaminy coach Dan Toner said. “It’s almost become an expectation with these guys (Zach Boop and Matthews), with how dominant they’ve been.”
Neshaminy gave Matthews the one run he needed in the top of the fourth. Jerry Scavone bolted home on an error by the first baseman.
Abington starter Paul Poppert surrendered one hit and one walk in seven innings.
Neshaminy (13-2, 8-1 SOL) hosts Pennsbury Monday at 3:45. Abington (3-13, 1-9 SOL) plays PW Saturday at 11 a.m.
Neshaminy 0-0-0-1-0-0-0 1
Abington 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
SOL Continental
Central Bucks South 5, Central Bucks West 4
Central Bucks South walked off in the bottom of the seventh. Devin Farrell sprinted home on a passed ball.
“With their backstop, we knew you can score pretty easily. The fastball handcuffed the catcher. Devin took off and they had no chance to get him,” CB South coach Brian Klumpp said. “There was a huge celebration at home because we came back from down 4-0.”
The Titans trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the sixth. First, Joey Loynd singled to right, scoring Ben Berger. Then Andrew Dietz singled to center, plating Chris Farrell. Tyler Watson followed with a single to right. Loynd raced home.
Finally, Eric Gross lined a single to center. Jack McKeown charged home with the tying run.
CB South’s Dan Klepchick pitched a scoreless top of the seventh, setting up the dramatic conclusion.
Earlier, Aaron Worthington and Andrew Dietz locked up in a pitcher’s duel with West holding a 1-0 lead after five innings, thanks to a two-out RBI single by Trevor D’Arcy in the top of the fourth. West added three runs in the sixth when Daniel Clayton’s leadoff double was followed by RBI singles by Matt Cooper, Dom DiCicco and Josh Crecca.
Worthington took a no hitter into the sixth and retired the first batter before Berger delivered South’s first hit, setting the stage for a four-run Titan uprising that knotted the score.
The Titans threatened in the top of the seventh, but right fielder Devin Farrell caught a fly ball and cut down the runner at the plate for an inning-ending double play.
For the Bucks, Thomas Philipps (2-for-4, run) and Trevor D’Arcy (2-for-3, RBI run) led the way.
CB South (8-5, 4-5 SOL) plays William Tennent Monday at 3:30. CB West (4-8, 2-6 SOL) battles Central Bucks East Monday at 3:45.
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-1-0-3-0 4
Central Bucks South 0-0-0-0-0-4-1 5
Central Bucks East 12, Pennridge 2
Central Bucks East played a great all-around game. Starting pitcher Zach Millar gave up one earned run and three hits in six innings. He got through six innings in just 74 pitches.
“We don’t have a staff that’s going to blow the doors off. We emphasize first-pitch strikes,” CB East coach Kyle Dennis said. “And Zach did exactly that. He forced Pennridge to hit his pitch.”
The Patriots scored five runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 5-1 lead. They scored four in the sixth to end the game by 10-run rule. CB East scored in every inning besides the fourth.
Every CB East player got on base. Every player but one got a hit. Seven players scored runs.
Cameron Komonchak, Jimmy Wiegers and CJ Gillmer all scored two runs. Collin Sheehan, Grant Meiers and PJ Harris all had two RBIs. Matt Bound and Matt Ernst both had one RBI.
“Meiers has a great eye. He leads the team in walks. He’s very selective. He forces pitchers to work around the plate. Today he turned it loose and started swinging a little more,” Dennis said. “Sheehan is seeing the ball well and hitting it hard.”
Pennridge’s Brendan Knouse knocked in a run. Luke Nuneviller and Andrew Fantaskey scored Pennridge’s runs.
CB East (9-6, 5-4 SOL) plays CB West Monday night at six. Pennridge (5-10, 3-5 SOL) hosts Souderton Monday at 3:30.
Pennridge 1-0-0-0-0-1-X 2
Central Bucks East 5-1-1-0-1-4-X 12
North Penn 6, William Tennent 1
North Penn starter Matt Stevenson gave up one run in seven innings. He kept the ball down, pounded the zone with fastballs and never allowed hits to turn into jams or rallies.
William Tennent went 1-for-10 with men on base, stranding five.
“We talked about working quicker with men on, not letting that disrupt your focus,” North Penn coach Kevin Manero said. “He did a good job continuing to pound the zone.”
“He threw mostly fastballs and located,” said Stevenson’s catcher, Matt Marino. “That’s all he needs to do because he throws hard. Even when he leaves it up, he can get pop-ups and fly-outs because of his velocity and downward motion.”
“It helped having an ump with a low zone, especially outside,” Stevenson said. “I could just throw it outside and get ground balls the other way.”
North Penn broke a 1-1 tie with four runs in the bottom of the third. The first two runs scored on errors. The third scored on Atlee Hasson’s sacrifice fly to left. The fourth scored on Rob Weiss’s single to right.
North Penn added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Billy Collins roped an RBI single to center.
Joey Shannon knocked in Tennent’s only run. Cole Browne scored it.
North Penn (12-2, 6-2 SOL) plays CR South Monday at 3:45. Tennent (6-6, 5-4 SOL) hosts Reading Friday at 3:45.
William Tennent 0-0-1-0-0-0-0 1
North Penn 0-1-4-0-0-1-X 6
Non-League Crossover
Souderton 3, Pennsbury 2
Souderton trailed 2-0 going into the sixth. The Indians scored two in the sixth to tie the game. Luke Barnum singled to right, plating Jack Despain. Then Brendan Kreag scored on an error.
One inning later, with two outs, Despain singled to center, scoring Derek Freed, the winning run.
“He had a strike on him. They fed him a fastball down the middle and he just ripped the ball between third and short. He did what I needed him to do as a leadoff hitter,” Souderton coach Michael Childs said. “He’s not flashy but he’s been doing his job. We ran three guys through that leadoff spot. Barnum is more of an RBI guy. Jack won the job over Kyle. Both have speed and can put the ball in play.”
Reliever Dan Knechel put Souderton in position to win. He tossed three scoreless innings.
“He just throws strikes and gets guys out. It’s nothing overpowering. He has a really good slider when he’s on and it stays down. He stepped up last year. And now this year he’s coming in in relief. He’s done the job we asked,” Childs said. “He hasn’t said one time, ‘Hey coach can I start.’ Blaise Sclafani came out of nowhere. He bumped Dan to a reliever but then we had Summarell and Morales, too. Those four have been the guys we’ve been using.”
Ryan McCarty and Billy Bethel scored Pennsbury’s runs. Vaughn Ward had an RBI. Pennsbury starter Nick Price allowed one earned run in 5.2 innings.
Souderton (10-6, 5-3 SOL) plays Pennridge Monday at 3:30. Pennsbury (9-6, 6-2 SOL) plays Holy Ghost Prep Saturday at 3:30.
Souderton 0-0-0-0-0-2-1 3
Pennsbury 0-2-0-0-0-0-0 2
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