Scott Huff previews the games featuring the four SOL baseball teams in action in the District One Tournament on Friday.
By Scott Huff
Sometimes being second best just ain’t all that darn bad.
There are four surviving teams from the Suburban One League competing for a coveted invitation to the PIAA state playoffs in District One – and three of those teams finished the regular SOL conference season in second place.
Wissahickon finished second in the Suburban One League American Conference behind Quakertown. The champion Panthers were shown the PIAA District One 6 A tournament exit door in a 4-2 loss to Souderton.
Wissahickon was a # 7 seed and has advanced to the PIAA District One 5A semifinals with wins over both # 10 Harriton and # 2 Interboro.
The Trojans will now take that next step toward a district title with a semifinal game today against # 3 Marple-Newtown. And win or lose, Wissahickon will make an appearance in the state 5A tournament as District One will send four teams to states.
“We began the season with the idea that we were going to try and win our conference,” said first-year Wissahickon head coach Andy Noga. “Quakertown had a really good team, but we realized that we still had a good shot at a place in districts.
“As a first-year head coach we had a lot of new faces,” added Noga. “But when I saw them in winter workouts – I knew that we had a talented squad.
“Marple Newtown is a talented team that has great pitching, can hit the baseball, and plays solid defense,” continued Noga. “We will most likely get their ace (Luke Zimmerman), but that’s what playoff baseball is all about.
“We can check getting to states off our list,” added Noga. “But we are here to win baseball games. The goal right now is to get to a district final.”
Souderton finished the season in the Suburban One League behind North Penn. The champion Knights were shown the PIAA District One 6 A tournament exit door in a 2-1 loss to Conestoga in the second round.
Souderton was a # 13 seed and has advanced to the PIAA District One 6A quarterfinals as the Indians collected wins over both Neshaminy and Quakertown.
Souderton will play its third straight SOL team in the playoffs when the Big Red will travel to # 5 Bensalem. A win puts the Indians into the state playoffs and moves them into the semifinals – a loss sends Souderton into the dreaded playback bracket with the losers of the other three quarterfinal games. District One 6A sends five teams to states.
“We knew at the beginning of the year that we had some talented pitchers,” said Souderton head coach Michael Childs. “We had three D-1 starters in Blaise (Sclafani – University of Massachusetts-Lowell), Aaron (Groller-Seton Hall), and Jordan (Morales-La Salle). And David (Gulibon) is a fourth pitcher that is getting looks from West Chester.
“High school baseball can make you very humble,” added Childs. “You can’t take anything for granted – the first couple of rounds in districts show you that.
“The team that makes the least number of mistakes usually wins,” continued Childs. “We made some mistakes against Quakertown – but their mistakes hurt them more than our mistakes hurt us.
“Bensalem is very impressive,” added Childs of the next Indian opponent. “(Nick)Dean is going to the University of Maryland and can throw over 90 (mph).”
Council Rock Northfinished the regular season in the Suburban One National Conference behind Bensalem. The champion Owls, unlike both North Penn and Quakertown, are still competing for a district title.
Council Rock North was a # 11 seed and advanced to the PIAA District One 6A quarterfinals as the Indians defeated # 6 Oxford.
Council Rock North will play Ches-Mont National champion # 3 Downingtown West in a quarterfinal contest. A win puts the Indians into the state playoffs and moves them to the semifinals – a loss sends CR North into the dreaded playback bracket with the losers of the other three semifinal games. District One 6 A sends five teams to states.
“Any time you are one game away from getting into states you have to feel good,” said Council Rock North head coach Matt Schram. “We don’t really talk about it, but the kids know what we are playing for right now.
“This has been a great group of kids, a lot of depth, but no superstars,” added Schram. “At this time of year, it comes down to execution – doing the right thing at the right time.
“We challenge the kids to play their best every day,” continued Schram. “You jump in the ring and know that you are going to have a fight on your hand.
“Downingtown West is a program that is used to winning,” added Schram. “We know exactly what we’re going to see – a good team that is very well coached.”
PIAA District One 5 A Playoffs
Semifinal Game
# 7 Wissahickon @ # 3 Marple-Newtown
Season Resume:
Wissahickon finished the regular season as the second-place finisher in the Suburban One League American Conference.
Marple Newtown finished the regular season as the Central League champion.
Playoff Resume:
Wissahickon advanced to the semifinal game with a 5-2 victory over # 10 Interboro. The Trojans showcased an impressive pitching tandem of Mike Gorman and Brian Hynes in the victory. Gorman earned the win without walking a hitter, striking out four batters, and allowing just two runs. Hynes earned the save with 0.2 scoreless innings. Bobby McFarland, Steve Loden, and Eddie Fortescue each had RBI doubles to fuel the offense.
Marple Newtown advanced to the semifinals with a 9-8 victory in eight innings over # 11 Kennett. The Lions showcased an explosive offense that featured a walk-off homerun by Luke Zimmerman. Andrew Cantwell homered for the winners, while Kevin Merrone tripled. Steve Morrison earned the win for Marple Newtown with 2.1 innings of shutout relief.
Player To Watch:
Wissahickon – Quinn Rovner, Mike Gorman, Steve Lodon, Michael Steitz, Brian Menhardt. Andrew Booth, and Brian Hynes.
Marple Newtown – Luke Zimmerman, Andrew Cantwell, Kevin Merrone, and Steve Morrison.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Wissahickon/Marple Newtown game will play the winner of the game between # 8 West Chester Henderson and # 12 West Chester Rustin on Tuesday (5/19/18) for the PIAA District One 5 A title.
PIAA District One 6 A District One Playoffs
Quarterfinal Games
Friday – May 25, 2018
# 13 Souderton Indians @ # 5 Bensalem Owls
Season Resume:
Souderton finished the regular season as the second-place finisher in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
Bensalem finished the regular season as the champion of the Suburban One League National Conference.
Playoff Resume:
Souderton advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-2 victory over # 2 Quakertown. The Indians showcased an impressive pitcher tandem of Blaise Sclafani and David Gulibon in the victory. Sclafani was the winning pitcher, striking out 12 Panther hitters over his 5.1 innings, while Gulibon earned the save with 1.2 scoreless innings that included two key strikeouts with the bases loaded. Sclafani also had an RBI single, while Gulibon had two hits with a run scored.
Bensalem advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-3 victory over # 12 Central Bucks South. The Owls showcased an impressive pitcher tandem of Stephen Aldrich and Nick Fossile. Aldrich earned the win, striking out eight Titan hitters over 4.2 innings, while Fossile earned the save with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. Keith Parrish fueled the offense a perfect 2-2 at the plate with a double, RBI, and a run scored.
Players To Watch:
Souderton – Blaise Sclafani, Jordan Morales, Luke Barnum, Aaron Groller, and David Gulibon.
Bensalem – Stephen Aldrich, Keith Parrish, Nick Dean, and Jon Revell.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Souderton/Bensalem game will play the winner of the game between # 16 Conestoga and # 8 Boyertown in the PIAA District One 6 A semifinals.
# 11 Council Rock North Indians @ # 3 Downingtown West
Season Resume:
Council Rock North finished the regular season as the second-place finisher in the Suburban One League National Conference.
Downingtown West finished the regular season as the champion of the Ches-Mont National Conference.
Playoff Resume:
Council Rock North advanced to the quarterfinals with a 5-1 victory over # 6 Oxford. The Indians showcased an impressive outing from starter-winner Ryan Stalker who allowed just two hits and one run with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Eric Hoefer closed out the game with 1.1 innings of hitless relief. Jason Walter blasted a two-run homer to spark the offense and also delivered an RBI sacrifice fly. Stalker and Jared Leuz also had RBIs for the winners.
Downingtown West advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 victory over # 14 Perkiomen Valley. The Whippets received an outstanding pitching performance from Drew Britt to secure the win. Britt had eight strikeouts over 6.2 innings to earn the win, while Andrew Gratz earned the save. The Downingtown West offense was sparked by Andrew Cilberto, who slugged a solo homerun.
Players To Watch:
Council Rock North – Cavan Tully, Eric Hoefer, Ryan Stalker, and Carson Shane.
Downingtown West – Drew Britt, Andrew Gratz, and Andrew Ciliberto.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the CR North/Downingtown West game will play the winner of the game between # 15 Avon Grove and # 7 Downingtown East in a PIAA District One 6 A semifinal game.
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