Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Friday. PW/Wissahickon photos provided courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography. CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos.
SOL Freedom Division
New Hope-Solebury 7, Upper Moreland 4 (8 innings)
Josh Shiller singled to drive in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, and then New Hope tacked on two more thanks to an error and Liam Griffith’s sacrifice fly to get past Upper Moreland in extra innings.
“(It was) our second extra inning win this season with excellent baserunning and tight defense,” NHS coach Tony Vlahovic said.
Shiller went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead a 10-hit attack for the Lions. Justin Lehman and Griffith also had two hits each.
Griffith also pitched the first five innings for New Hope, striking out 10. Saul Carmenini came out of the bullpen and shut UM down with three scoreless innings to pick up the win. He scattered four hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.
“Liam Griffith grinded out five innings and Saul threw three shutout innings – great pitching performance with web gems on both sides of the field,” said New Hope coach Tony Vlahovic.
Lehman and Griffith had RBI singles to give NH-S the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. But Upper Moreland answered with one in the bottom of the inning on a wild pitch and then tied it at 2 with another run in the third, as Kevin Davis had an RBI single.
Mason Scall’s sac fly gave New Hope a one-run lead in the top of the fifth, only to see the Golden Bears score two in the bottom half of the inning to take their first lead at 4-3. Greg Wiley had an RBI double in the inning, and later scored himself on a wild pitch.
But the Lions had another answer, as a Brooks Saft RBI single scored Kyle Campbell, tying the game and forcing extra innings.
Davis went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for UM, while Charles Jones went 2-for-3.
New Hope (5-2, 3-1 SOL) hosts William Tennent on Monday. Upper Moreland (2-5, 2-3 SOL) looks to bounce back at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
New Hope-Solebury 200 011 03 – 7 10 3
Upper Moreland 101 020 00 – 4 8 1
Springfield 11, Cheltenham 1 (5 innings)
Andrew Kennedy went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and three RBIs, as Springfield rolled past Cheltenham for the mercy-rule win on Friday.
His solo home run to center field in Springfield’s five-run second inning was the first home run on the team’s new field, traveling an estimated 355 feet.
“It was a nice shot for a high school kid,” said coach Dennis Primavera. “He’s been one of our better hitters.”
Also for the Spartans, Nathan Dennis had two doubles and Brett Smith added a double.
Tyler Whatley threw four innings on the mound to pick up the win for Springfield, allowing one run on three hits. Nick Kirby pitched a scoreless fifth inning.
“I told the team before the game and all week, ‘We have to beat the teams we should beat because you shoot yourself in the foot if you don’t,’” Primavera said. “We hit the ball, but their pitchers only walked two.”
Springfield (4-2, 4-1 SOL) remains in a logjam atop the SOL Freedom Division standings. It hosts Upper Dublin on Tuesday. Cheltenham (0-4, 0-4 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland on Monday.
Cheltenham 000 10 – 1 3 4
Springfield 250 13 – 11 12 1
William Tennent 14, Lower Moreland 13
Kevin Ralston’s bases-loaded, two-run single was the key hit in William Tennent’s three-run bottom of the sixth, as the Panthers pulled out a wild one against visiting Lower Moreland on Friday.
The two-teams combined for 27 runs, 24 hits, 19 walks and seven errors in this one, while both teams had big innings and chances to claim the victory.
Max Elliot went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and four RBIs for Tennent, while DJ Dickson was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Jordani Tiburcio was 2-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.
Lower Moreland was led by Donato Incollingo, who went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs, while Matt Haggerty was 2-for-2 with a double, two runs and three RBIs.
The game was actually scoreless through two innings, but in the third both teams heated up, as Lower Moreland put up a four-spot as Haggerty had an RBI single, Incollingo drove in two with a single and Kenny Wieczorek had an RBI single. Tennent answered right back with four of its own as Dickson had a double, Ralston drove in one with an RBI groundout, Elliot an RBI single and then a bases loaded walk tied it up.
The fourth saw the Lions retake the lead at 6-4 as Haggerty drew a bases loaded walk and Mason Tammaro had an RBI single. Tennent then scored five runs on six hits, including Tiburcio’s two-run triple, to seemingly take control.
But that control was short-lived, as LM scored six in the fifth on four walks, two errors and a Incollingo two-RBI single, to make it a 12-9 game.
Tennent would counter with two in the bottom half of the inning and then the three in the sixth, before holding off a LM rally in the seventh that saw reliever Josh Nydick end the game with a strikeout and two runners on base.
Tennent (3-2-1, 3-1 SOL) remained in a first-place tie with Springfield and New Hope-Solebury with the win. It plays at Wissahickon on Tuesday. LM (2-3, 1-3) plays at Cheltenham on Monday.
Lower Moreland 004 260 1 – 13 9 3
William Tennent 004 523 x – 14 15 4
SOL Liberty Division
Hatboro-Horsham 10, Upper Dublin 9
Logan Fischer had a big hit in a five-run sixth inning and he recorded the final outs on the mound as the Hatters snapped a three-game losing streak in a wild game at home on Friday.
“Logan Fischer came up huge for us at the end of the game,” said Hatboro-Horsham coach Pete Moore. “He came in to get us out of a jam by getting the last out of the top of the sixth inning. Then, with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, he hit a two-out double to deep left center that scored two runs to put us up 10-8. Then, he shut the door in the seventh as a pitcher to close the game out.
“He pitched the last (1 1/3 innings), got the win, struck out two and allowed just one unearned run. I was hesitant to go to him because he hadn’t had a chance to throw in the bullpen, but he is that type of competitor that likes being in the spotlight. The team has confidence in him both on the mound and at the plate.”
The teams combined for 19 runs on 21 hits, and combined for 11 runs in the critical sixth inning.
H-H led 5-2 and was cruising behind the pitching of Cole Fisher heading into the sixth. There, Upper Dublin put up a six-spot to seemingly take command of the game.
Tyler Lizell and David Sharp had back-to-back RBI doubles in the innings for the Flying Cardinals, Kyle Rizzo tied with a RBI single and Ethan Madnick tripled with two outs to score two runs to make it 7-5. Another run scored on a bases loaded walk before Fisher came in to get the final out of the inning.
In the H-H sixth, an error and a hit batter put the first two runners on, and later Jack Elwell scored one with an RBI single, two scored on an error to tie it at 8, and then Fischer’s double gave the Hatters the 10-8 lead.
Elwell went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs, while Trey Porter and Cole Fisher had two hits each for the Hatters.
“The top of our order was outstanding today,” Moore said. “Sophomore Trey Porter was 2-3 with a walk and two runs scored. He also made an unbelievable catch against the fence in left field. Jack Elwell is a kid who can hit in any spot in our order and we know we are going to get quality at bats out of him. He is a fierce competitor and the type of teammate you want to go to battle with.”
It was also important to end a rough week with a win.
“Our team has shown grit the past two games in the way that we have battled back from deficits and we have shown the ability to fight through adversity and to play the game with trust in our teammates,” Moore said. “I am proud of the growth that we are showing. We have a ways to go to get where we want to be at the end of the year, but today was a good step forward.”
Upper Dublin was led by Rizzo, Tristan Cairnes and Lizell with two hits ech.
The Hatters (3-5, 2-3 SOL) are now off until Tuesday when they host Upper Moreland. Upper Dublin (0-7, 0-5 SOL) plays at Springfield on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 011 006 1 – 9 10 3
Hatboro-Horsham 030 025 x – 10 11 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 8,Wissahickon 2
Not even a slow start could deter unbeaten PW, which maintained its firm grasp atop the SOL Liberty Division standings with a convincing win over the visiting Trojans on Friday.
The Colonials were held to six hits on the day, but they had timely hits in big spots and pitchers Alex Wilkie-Viscio and Ray Tomassetti were both solid on the mound to eventually put away Wissahickon, which entered the day just one back of PW in the SOL Liberty standings.
The Trojans hung tough in the early innings and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third as Jackson Tappan drove in one with a two-out RBI single.
PW’s bats awoke with two in the bottom of the third, however, and it ended up scoring one in the fourth, one in the fifth and four in the sixth to take command.
Joe Jaconski had an RBI single in the third, and Mike Miller drove in one on a groundout. Anthony Viola picked up an RBI on a groundout in the fourth, while the fifth-inning run came on an error. Jesse Jaconski was hit by a pitch to drive in a run in the sixth and Jack Hildebrand scored one with a sac fly.
On the mound, Wilkie-Viscio allowed just one earned run in five innings to pick up the win. He scattered three hits and a walk, and struck out three.
The win improved PW to 7-0 (5-0 SOL) on the season, with a cross-over game at Cheltenham on Tuesday. Wissahickon (4-4, 3-2 SOL) hosts William Tennent on Tuesday.
Wissahickon 001 001 0 – 2 4 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 002 114 x – 8 6 0
Abington 5, Quakertown 2
Anthony Ehly shook off a rough first inning and ended up striking out 10, as the Galloping Ghosts got past visiting Quakertown.
Ehly allowed two first inning runs, but then dominated the Panthers over the next five innings. He ended up allowing the two earned runs on four hits and one walk.
After a two-run home run by Quakertown’s Justin Butler in the top of the first, Ehly retired 14 of the next 16 hitters he faced. He was pulled after 80 pitches, giving way to reliever Jameson Giannattasio, who pitched a scoreless seventh innings.
Offensively, Ehly was also almost as dominant, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. The Ghosts scored one in the bottom of the first on an Ehly RBI single and then took the lead for good with three in the third. Ehly had a two-run double to put his team up, and Matt Worek made it 4-2 with a RBI single. Alex Dardaris had an RBI single in the fifth to round out the scoring.
Abington (3-4, 3-2 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland on Tuesday, while Quakertown (2-5, 2-3 SOL) plays at New Hope-Solebury.
Quakertown 200 000 0 – 2 5 0
Abington 103 010 x – 5 7 0
SOL Colonial Division
Central Bucks East 4, North Penn 2 (9 innings)
Coming off of its first loss of the season, Central Bucks East bounced back in a big way, as Jack Nugent’s two-run home run in the top of the ninth gave the Patriots the extra-inning win on the road at North Penn.
“He’s been our hottest hitter,” said East coach Kyle Dennis. “He just has a great approach at the plate. He was hitting in the middle of the lineup, but we had an injury and moved him up to the leadoff spot and hasn’t missed a beat.”
The Patriots out-hit the Knights 13-1, but that wasn’t necessarily reflected on the scoreboard, as North Penn led 1-0 going into the sixth and then after Joey Wilga hit a two-run home run to give East the 2-1 lead in the sixth, the home team answered with a run to tie it in the bottom of the sixth.
“We came out on the right side of it, but it was probably one of best high school games I’ve seen in a while,” Dennis said. “Tremendous pitching, tremendous defense – (North Penn’s) second baseman (Sam Cohen) had a tremendous day.
“We had 13 hits and only two (the Wilga and Nugent homers) ended up counting on the scoreboard. Their defense was spectacular today and their pitchers threw well too. But we had good swings on the two pitches and those were the ones that mattered.”
Nugent went 3-for-5 on the day to lead the East hitting attack, and Andrew Whinney, David Bound and Ryan Moody finished with two hits each.
North Penn’s Evin Sullivan had his team’s only hit.
On the mound, Gabe Marshall allowed two runs (both unearned) on one hit and three walks, while striking out six for East. Xavier Sjostedt threw 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen and did not allow a run to pick up the win.
“Gabe Marshall was phenomenal today,” Dennis said. “We had him at one hit through his innings pitched. He just does a phenomenal job of competing. His pitch count elevated – I don’t normally like to have a kid throw as many pitches (100) as he threw today this early but he wasn’t faltering. Xavier came out of the bullpen, and he’s been lights out for us.”
Mike Lennon allowed just two earned runs over seven innings for North Penn
CB East (5-1, 3-1 SOL) hosts Council Rock South on Tuesday. North Penn (4-3, 2-3 SOL) looks to bounce back at home against Pennsbury.
CB East 000 002 002 – 4 13 4
North Penn 000 101 000 – 2 1 1
Central Bucks South 10, Pennridge 0
Carter Hinds and Owen Petrich bashed the ball in the middle of the lineup leading Central Bucks South to the dominant win at Pennridge on Friday night at James Memorial Park.
Petrich, the Titans’ senior third baseman, went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Shortstop Hinds was 2-for-2 with three runs scored.
CB South pounded out 10 runs on 10 hits – Eric Damico and Tyler Robinson both had doubles – scored eight runs in the first three innings, and put this one away in a mercy-rule shortened six innings.
Petrich’s three-run blast to left field in the top of the first gave the visiting Titans a 3-0 lead. They never looked back.
Titans starter Alex Balint was sharp on the mound too, allowing just one hit in five shutout innings, walking two and striking out seven. Joe Rooney ended the game with three strikeouts in in the sixth.
Aidan Fretz and Brayden Ruth had Pennridge’s hits.
CB South (4-1, 3-1 SOL) remained in a first-place tie with the win. It will play at SOL National-leading Bensalem on Tuesday. Pennridge (2-4, 1-4 SOL) looks to shake off an 0-3 week Tuesday at Harry S. Truman.
CB South 314 002 – 10 10 0
Pennridge 000 000 – 0 2 1
Central Bucks West 11, Souderton 2
CB West capped a huge 3-0 week in which it resuscitated its season with a convincing 11-2 win over Souderton Friday, as the Bucks scored six runs in the first two innings and never looked back.
On the day, coach Brian Weaver’s squad scored 11 runs on 16 hits, including four extra-base hits.
The Bucks also had another strong pitching outing, as Connor Dobos threw four shutout innings to pick up the win, striking out nine, before giving way to Michael Boyle and Jeremy Tuz to close things out.
“Three games in four days is rough on everybody in the league, and everybody is deep down the ladder on pitching,” said CB West coach Brian Weaver. “We were blessed to have (Julio) Ermigiotti and (Cole) Fehrman twirl a pair of gems, and that let us hold Connor Dobos for today. And he delivered. He worked out of a handful of jams and had his fastball hopping. He’s worked as hard as anybody through the COVID shutdown. Starts like this, with nine Ks through four innings, show how far he’s come.”
Three straight walks to open the game, a hit batter and then a two-run single by Damian Thomas put the Bucks up 3-0 after one. Then in the second, James Carbone had a two-run double and Mike Bukowski followed with an RBI double to make it 6-0.
For the game, Carbone went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, while Aidan Quinn went 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs scored. Michael Boyle, Andrew Kohl, Bukowski and Thomas had two hits each.
“The top of our lineup had a big week,” Weaver said. “Today was no exception. James Carbone had four RBIs, and has come through in the clutch every time we’ve called on him. The top five guys in our lineup had 12 hits between them. When all of those pistons are firing, it takes the pressure off any individual and lets the team work as a unit to manufacture runs.
“Our guys played good defense today to top it off. Carbone pulled in a foul ball and doubled up a kid trying to tag to kill one rally. Roman Berretta had a diving catch to put out a fire in the sixth. And Aidan Quinn continued to play a strong third base, starting a double play on a line in the seventh.”
Closing out a big week was vital for the Bucks, who entered Monday with an 0-4 record.
“Overall, the week put us back in the pack, but with the talent and coaching in this league on any given day, it’ll take a lot of hard work to stay there,” Weaver said. “So, our guys are already locked in on next week, getting ready for a few crossover games against tough, well-coached teams.”
CB West (3-4, 3-2 SOL) hosts Neshaminy on Tuesday. Souderton (3-3, 2-3 SOL) plays at Council Rock North.
CB West 330 001 4 – 11 16 0
Souderton 000 002 0 – 2 4 3
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock South 3, Harry S Truman 2 (8 innings)
CR South scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie, and then in the eighth, Ben Haines won the game with a walk-off RBI single.
“Huge win,” said Golden Hawks coach Greg Paprocki. “The guys started off slow but picked it up towards the end of the game. Ryan Wheet saved the game by hitting a solo (home run) to tie the game at 2 in the seventh.”
Trey Sajeski, who picked up the win with three scoreless innings after coming in relief of starter Matt Camp, retired six in a row in the seventh and eighth innings on the mound.
“Matt Camp started the game off well and gave us five solid innings with five Ks,” Paprocki said. “When the team needed it most Trey Sajeski came in and dominated to give the team some life. Trey stuck to his plan and executed each pitch well.
“I’m proud of the way the guys battled, this was a must win for us and we got it done.”
Truman knocked off Pennsbury for its first win of the season on Wednesday and was in good position for another ‘W’ on Friday.
Tigers starter Ryan Bailey allowed only one run through the first six innings, and offensively, runs in the fourth and fifth innings had the team up 2-1 heading into the seventh.
George Cairns singled and later stole home for Truman’s run in the fourth, and then in the fifth, Mike Burns had a two-out RBI single.
Wheet’s home run against a tiring Bailey forced extra innings, and the Hawks took advantage. Joey Purcell and Sajeski each had one-out singles and Haines followed with a single to right field to plate the game-winner.
Purcell was 3-for-4 to lead the CR South offense, while Wheet had two hits.
Cairns went 2-for-3 for Truman, while Makai Jackson had a double.
CR South (3-2, 2-2 SOL) plays at Central Bucks East on Tuesday. Truman (1-7, 1-4 SOL) hosts Archbishop Wood in a nonleague game on Saturday.
Harry S. Truman 000 110 00 – 2 7 0
CR South 010 000 11 – 3 9 0
Pennsbury 5, Council Rock North 5 (suspended darkness after 9 innings)
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