Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Saturday. New Hope-Solebury/Hunterdon photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f12122253 (Pennsbury photos provided courtesy of Pennsbury baseball)
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
HARRY S TRUMAN 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
The week had been a rough one for the Tigers.
Until Saturday.
Just when they needed it most, Andrew Armstrong tossed a gem in the Tigers’ crossover game at CB South, and when he had reached his maximum pitch count with one out in the sixth, Luke Olivero stepped in and picked up where Armstrong left off. The duo combined for eight shutout innings, and Caleb Wright made sure they’d be rewarded, smashing a two-run home run in the top of the eighth for the game-winner that snapped a four-game skid.
“I said to the guys after the game – every single start we’ve gotten from Andrew, he’s given us a quality start,” Truman coach Kevin Sinkiewicz said. “He’s kept us in games when our offense was struggling a little bit. Today was one of those games – whatever team made the first mistake was going to end up losing the game.
“Their pitcher – Logan Hinds – was awesome today. He pitched his butt off for CB South but just ended up on the wrong side of it today, but Andrew Armstrong was absolutely unbelievable today.”
The week just completed has been anything but typical for the Tigers.
“Last week, all of our games were rained out – the only night we played was the non-league against Neshaminy for Senior Night (at Arm and Hammer Park), so all of our games were moved to this week,” Sinkiewicz said. “We had five league games this week. It was a very long week, and our kids just battled.
“We had North Penn on Monday (a 5-0 loss), then we had Pennsbury on Tuesday (a 5-2 loss), we had to finish up a game with Council Rock North on Wednesday (a 4-3 loss), and we played Neshaminy Thursday (a 4-3 loss). The games were all close games that didn’t go our way. Our kids just battled.
“I told them after the game – today was an easy day to just say, ‘It was a rough week. We’ll just mail it in.’ Our kids came out and battled and got a huge win to cap off the week.”
For Wright, the two-run blast capped a very good day at the plate as he finished 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBIS and a run scored.
“He hit a ball to the gap to the exact same spot he hit the home run earlier in the game, and I told him, ‘Man, your swing’s right there. I thought it was out.’ He said, ‘Ah, I don’t have the power to get it over.’ I’m like, ‘Yes, you do.’
“He hit his home run in the same exact spot, but it cleared the fence. He was just locked in today.”
Olivero retired the Titans in order in the bottom of the eighth to notch the win. Armstrong allowed just three hits in 6.1 innings on the mound, striking out eight and walking two. He was not involved in the decision.
“It’s kind of been the narrative – our pitchers keep us in games, and we win games late,” Sinkiewicz said. “Usually, the second pitcher picks up the win.
“Luke Olivero hasn’t pitched since Pennridge, which was April 19 – 2 ½ weeks ago. He came in, and he had to get the middle of the order out against CB South today, and those guys can hit the ball.”
Hinds matched Armstrong pitch for pitch, allowing four hits in six shutout innings, striking out 10 and walking two. Owen Wheeler absorbed the loss.
For the Titans, Tommy Donnelly accounted for two of his team’s four hits.
In addition to Wright, Jayden Gaines was 2-for-4 with a double.
“It was a full team effort today from top to bottom for Truman,” Sinkiewicz said. “Our guys battled all week. It was hot this week. We were doing well but we just ran into a spot where the weather didn’t allow us to play, and we had basically a week off. Me and the coaching staff are so proud of our guys this week.”
Harry S Truman (9-8, 7-7 SOL) will host Bensalem on Monday, and Central Bucks South (10-8, 7-7) will host North Penn on Monday. Truman is 20th in the latest District 1 6A power rankings, and CB South is 18th.
Harry S Truman 000 000 02 2-7-1
Central Bucks South 000 000 00 0-4-2
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
HATBORO-HORSHAM 6, WILLIAM TENNENT 1
It’s crunch time for teams with their sights set on a postseason berth.
Every league game escalates in importance, and every league win is big. The Hatters trailed the Panthers 1-0 after three innings but put a pair on the board in the fourth on their way to the important win in crossover play.
“This was a game we absolutely needed for our playoff push, and we played with good energy and the guys played for each other,” said Hatters’ coach Pete Moore, whose team is eighth in the latest District 1 5A power rankings.
Trey Porter and Chase Canney combined on a one-hitter. Porter did not allow a hit in two shutout innings. Canney gave up one hit and one run (unearned), striking out seven and walking three.
“We got a huge effort from freshman Chase Canney,” Moore said. “He came in in relief in the third inning and threw five great innings for us. To see his poise and ability in such a big game was awesome. Not only did he deal on the mound, but he also smoked a ground rule double to centerfield and scored a run.”
The Panthers capitalized on a pair of walks – one intentional – and a two-out error to plate an unearned run in the bottom of the third.
The Hatters scored two runs in the top of the fourth. Kyle Dittus led off the inning with a single to left field and advanced to second on a miscue. He scored on a fielder’s choice by Jaxson Bumpus. Pinch runner Adriel Tiburcio, who entered the game for Bumpus, stole second, advanced to third on a line drive out, and scored on a wild pitch.
In the fifth inning, Canney doubled with two outs and scored on a Tennent error, giving the Hatters a 3-1 lead. They added three runs in the top of the seventh. Highlights included an RBI double by Noah Schlosser as well as RBI singles by Dittus and Tiburcio. Canney closed it out with a one-two-three seventh.
Dittus led the Hatters’ seven-hit attack, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
“Senior Kyle Dittus came back from a significant finger injury last week and has been outstanding. He is really locked in right now.,” Moore said. Senior “Adriel Tiburcio played a great game for us, stealing a couple bases, and he smoked an RBI single to left to get us an insurance run.
“I am looking forward to our two games this week.”
Hatboro-Horsham (11-7, 8-6 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Monday, and William Tennent (5-13, 3-11) will host New Hope-Solebury on Monday.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 210 3 6-7-1
William Tennent 001 000 0 1-1-5
Non-league
BENSALEM 5, SPRINGFIELD TWP 1
The Owls managed just three hits – while the Spartans had six, but they found a way to win Saturday’s Senior Day non-league game.
“It was great to get a win on Senior Day,” Bensalem coach Kurt Sowa said. “This group of guys has worked hard the last four years and has dedicated a lot of time to the program, and it was nice for them to get a W being it was the last time they will play on our home field.”
Bensalem broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third inning. Mike Kramer and Anthony Labate were both hit by pitches, and a run crossed the plate on Yahil Almovodar’s groundout. After Preston Stracci drew a walk, Nate Rubin delivered an RBI single, and the third run crossed the plate on Kyle Rubin’s sacrifice fly.
In the fourth inning, Almovodar lined a two-out double to center field, plating a pair and giving the Owls a 5-0 lead.
Matthew Caruso’s RBI single in the fifth accounted for the Spartans’ only run.
Stracci earned the win on the mound, allowing five hits and one run (unearned) in five solid innings. He struck out four and walked two. Jimmy Ridge allowed one hit in two scoreless innings in relief.
“Preston Stracci had a nice performance in his last career start for us,” Sowa said. “He didn’t allow an (earned) run in his five innings of work. He’s a player who always competes day in and day out and for him to end with a strong pitching performance was awesome to see.
“Yahil Almovodar had a big 2-RBI double. He is one of our most improved players and has been a huge offensive contributor for us all year.”
The Owls’ coach bids farewell to seven seniors.
“The seniors – Kyle Rubin, Nate Rubin, Yahil Almovodar, Nick Kelly, Jack Petrasso, Dan McShane and Preston Stracci -will all be missed next year,” Sowa said. “These guys have one more high school game left, and I know they look forward to competing on Monday.”
Bensalem (6-13, 3-12 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Monday, and Springfield Twp (5-13, 5-9) will be on the road at Lower Moreland on Monday.
Springfield Twp 000 010 0 1-6-3
Bensalem 003 200 x 5-3-3
PENNSBURY 10, HOPEWELL VALLEY (NJ) 3
Arm and Hammer Park, home of the Trenton Thunder, was home for the Falcons on Saturday, and they celebrated Senior Night with a convincing win over Hopewell Valley in a non-league contest. Everyone had a piece of the action.
“It was a special night for our seniors and their families,” Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci said. “It was a special night for our team and our community. We were able to get 23 players in the game tonight on a really cool stage in front of a lot of fans, family, and friends. A night like tonight is huge for the program.”
The SOL Patriot champions used the game to showcase their talents, taking control with a seven run second inning.
After LJ Nelson was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Kayden Faulcon singled, and Tyler Boraski’s single plated the game’s first run. A walk to Jackson Freeman was followed by a two-run double to left by Sam Labrecque. A groundout resulted in another run, and then Ryan Zuckerman lined an RBI triple to center, and he scored when Joe Tiroly ripped a two-run home run to left, giving the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
Four pitchers saw action for the Falcons. Faulcon started and did not allow a hit in two shutout innings. He fanned three and walked one. Derek Dilorenzo followed with two innings. He allowed two hits and one run, striking out three and walking one. Isaac Galarza did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings. He struck out three. Ian Pollack closed it out.
Zuckerman led the Falcons’ nine-hit attack, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, triple, RBI and run scored. Tiroly was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and one run scored.
Pennsbury (15-3, 11-3 SOL) – sixth in the latest District 1 6A power rankings, will travel to Council Rock South on Monday.
Hopewell Valley 000 100 2 3-3-3
Pennsbury 070 021 x 10-9-2
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 8, SOUTH HUNTERDON (NJ) 2
The Lions opened up a 3-0 lead after four innings only to watch South Hunterdon pull to within one. The Lions put five runs on the board in the seventh to put the finishing touches on the win.
“Today New Hope-Solebury won the Battle of the Bridge over South Hunterdon,” NH-S coach Tony Vlahovic said. “Tyler Corino was not feeling great prior to the start of our game but still insisted he wanted the ball. I love that gritty attitude.
“Ty worked ahead on the hitters and kept South off balance. His numbers for six innings were five hits, one walk, five K’s and no earned runs. Saul Carmenini threw the seventh and struck out two to preserve the win.”
Corino earned the win, and Carmenini was credited with a save.
“It was a great team win over a rival,” Vlahovic said. “Loved the effort of everyone in the lineup, and we overcame a few miscues in the field in the fifth inning. Our goal is to improve each game.”
The Lions led 1-0 after Corino hit an RBI double in the second and later scored on an error. The Lions added two runs in the fourth, and Saft delivered the inning’s big blow with a two-run triple.
The five-run seventh was highlighted by Saft’s two-run double and Corino’s RBI single.
” Our bats were back on track with Tyler Corino’s RBI double,” Vlahovic said. “Brooks Saft also had two RBIs with a triple and a double. Loved how the lineup barreled up on the ball and put the ball in play. Our run game was on with six stolen bases.”
Saft (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBIs, 1R) and Cornio (2-for-3, 2B, 2RBIs, 1R) led the Lions. Matt Rickert doubled and scored a run.
New Hope-Solebury (6-12, 3-11 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Monday.
New Hope-Solebury 010 200 5 8-5-2
South Hunterdon (NJ) 000 020 0 2-5-4
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4, ARCHBISHOP RYAN 3
Chase Ennis stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and none out in a tie ball game and drew a five-pitch walk, giving the Golden Hawks the walk-off non-league win. It might not have been the most dramatic finish, but the Hawks will happily take it.
“Our guys did a great job today,” Greg Paprocki said. “A lot of young guys saw action and really seized the opportunity to be out there.”
Reed Curtier drew a free pass to open the bottom of the seventh and moved up to second on an error. He advanced to third when Mikhail Korbich laid down a sacrifice bunt. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Ennis.
“Senior Mikhail Korbich did a great job in his first varsity start,” Paprocki said. “He played solid defense for us and laid down a crucial sacrifice bunt to help us get the winning run across home plate.”
Both teams managed just four hits, and both scored three runs in the first inning. Neither squad scored again until Rock South’s game-winner in the seventh inning. The Golden Hawks did not collect a hit in the three-run first, benefitting from walks and several Ryan miscues.
Five pitchers saw action in Saturday’s win. Jack Albright, Jake Wilkinson, Billy O’Neill and Curtier each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Connor Cody started and threw three innings but was not involved in the decision.
Council Rock South (9-8, 7-7 SOL) – 21st in the District 1 6A power rankings – will host Pennsbury on Monday.
Archbishop Ryan 300 000 0 3-4-2
Council Rock South 300 000 1 4-4-2
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