Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Saturday.
Non-league
NORTH PENN 8, HAZLETON 7
The Knights played their annual non-league game against Hazleton – this year at Hazleton, and they needed a six-run run sixth to knot the score.
Mason Coyne’s RBI double in the top of the eighth plated the game-winner. Hazleton put a pair of runners on board in the bottom of the inning, but with runners on the corners, Caleb Price collected the last out on a popup to first base to earn the save. Troy Brennan earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.
According to Hazleton’s Standard Speaker, the Knights have defeated Hazleton Area five times since 2021, including twice in the opening round of the PIAA 6A Tournament and three more times at the start of recent seasons.
By the numbers: Joshua Martinell (2-for-4, 2B, RBI, R), Kevin Brace (1-for-3, 2RBI, R), Mason Coyne (1-for-4, 2B, 2RBIs).
Trey Brennan (W) (2.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 3BB 2K), Caleb Price (S) (1 IP, 2H, 0R)
Key innings: Top of fifth: Chase Jones hit a one-out single, and Logan Waynick deliverd a sac fly to put the Knights on board. (1-7)
Top of sixth: Trailing 7-1, Christian Barnes draws one-out walk, Ben Grattan followed with an RBI double, Matt Pownell walked to load bases and Kyle Bonner drew an RBI walk. An error allowed one run to score, Martinell RBI single, Coyne hit by pitch (RBI), Brace 2-run single. (7-7).
Top of eighth: Logan Waynick safe at first on leadoff walk, Coyne one-out RBI double. (8-7)
North Penn coach Kevin Manero: “Overall, a good early season character win for us, but we play these good teams early for a reason, and one of those reasons is we know if we aren’t playing our best baseball they will make us pay, and that did happen for much of this game.”
–Props: “Trevor (Lugara) pitched better than his line score would suggest. His stuff looks very good right now, and his command of the game is as good as it gets.
“Mason Coyne came up big with the hit that gave us our first lead of the day in the eighth. And we got some very gutsy work from the back end of our pen with Brennen and Price.”
Up next: North Penn (3-0) will travel to Spring-Ford for a non-league game Monday.
North Penn 000 016 01 8-9-2
Hazleton 300 040 00 7-8-3
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 8, BRISTOL 1
The visiting Lions broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run fifth and put the game out of reach with three more runs in the sixth inning that was highlighted by Blake McCagg’s two-run home run.
By the numbers: “Blake McCagg (2-for-4, HR, 2RBI, 2R), Lucas Kevorkian (2-for-4, 2B, RBI), Joel Carmenini (1-for-4, 2RBI)
Anthony Whelan (2.0 IP 2H, 1R 1ER, 3BB, 2K), John Whelan (W) (5.0 IP, 4H, 0R, 2BB, 5K)
Key innings: Top of fifth: With the score deadlocked 1-1, McCagg and Joe Rickard opened the inning with back-to-back singles. McCagg scored on a steal of home on a double steal, and a single by Sam Morrin plated a run. Carmenini grounded a two-run single up the middle. (5-1)
Top of sixth: Kieran Patel was safe on an error to open the inning, and he scored on a double to left by JT Bach. McCagg followed with a two-run home run to left field. (8-1)
New Hope-Solebury coach Tony Vlahovic: “Today we renewed a backyard battle with Bristol. The Whelan brothers combined on the mound for the win. Anthony Whelan started and didn’t have his A stuff. It was his first varsity start, and I am proud of how he competed. Brother John got the nod out of the pen and gave up four hits over five innings for the win.
“Defensively our gloves and head were on for the entire game. No errors and great communication helped us battle today and support our pitchers.
“Offensively, we hit the ball hard, but Bristol played well on defense. Joel Carmenini had 2 RBIs along with Blake McCagg who has been barreling up the ball through our first three games. Lucas Kevorkian got his first hit and RBI as a varsity player.
“Overall, a competitive game, Milton Padilla and his staff are building a solid program at Bristol.”
Up next: New Hope-Solebury (3-0) will begin league play with a three-game series against Lower Moreland, beginning at Upper Moreland on Monday, March 31.
New Hope-Solebury 010 043 0 8-10-0
Bristol 010 000 0. 1-6-2
PENNSBURY 10, ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE (S.C.) 0 (6 innings)
The Falcons closed out a successful spring break trip to The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with their second win of the day – this one an abbreviated mercy rule win.
Eight different players contributed one hit each, and Keller Bradley, Owen Hawkes and Quinton Shaffer combined for the 2-hit shutout in the abbreviated contest. Bradley notched the win with four shutout innings, striking out nine and walking three.
Offensively, the Falcons sent 17 different players to the plate with 13 reaching base successfully and different players with hits. Brendan Zuckerman and Dylan Hirsh both provided RBI doubles. Pierce Perry and Ryan Webber both added RBI singles. Michael Sogness, Trip Hansbury, Ty Lee and Zach McLean all provided hits.”
By the numbers: Keller Bradley (W) (4.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, 9K), Owen Hawkes (1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 1K) Quinton Shaffer (1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 1K)
Key innings: Bottom of first: Dylan Hirsh RBI double to left after a leadoff walk to Carlton Crane (1-0)
Bottom of third: The Falcons capitalized on three walks and singles by Ryan Webber (RBI) and Pierce Perry. (4-0)
Bottom of fourth: Brendon Zuckerman leadoff double, moved up to third on passed ball and scored on RBI single from Michael Sogness. Evan Hawkes hit a sac fly in an inning that included a costly error. (7-0)
Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci:
–Falcon pitchers dominate: “Another fantastic pitching performance. Keller Bradley earns his first win of the young season. Sophomores Owen Hawkes and Quinton Shaffer both came in and continued the pitching dominance with a K in one inning of work each.
“Keller Bradley was electric today. I chose to pit him against Atlantic Collegiate (Conway, SC) because I knew they had a handful of games under their belt and use Ripken for most of their home games. My dad, who used to be on my staff but moved to SC this summer, scouted a few games for me last weekend. We had⁶ good feeling about our plan against them.”
–The game: “We jumped on them right away in the first, but we left more runs out there. We kept the pressure on all game and put good barrels on the ball consistently. Scoring seven in the third and fourth took the starch out of the other team. I challenge the kids every game with these offensive goals: 1. Score first. 2. Score in four of the innings. 3. Score multiple runs in at least one of those innings, 4. If they score, we answer. Our guys did a great job hitting those goals.”
Up next: Pennsbury (2-0) will travel to Souderton for a non-league game Thursday.
Atlantic Collegiate 000 000 0-2-2
Pennsbury 103 400 10-8-1
PENNSBURY 2, HAMPTON 1
Strong pitching and clutch hitting propelled the Falcons to a win in Saturday’s non-league opener.
Mason Keith, Aidan Kenney, Joe Beitler and Connor O’Brien combined for one run on four hits with five strikeouts and two walks to lead the Falcons to the win.
Brendan Zuckerman provided the game’s big blow in the top of the fourth with an RBI triple. He scored a run that stood as the game-winner on a groundout by Michael Sogness.
By the numbers: Brendan Zuckerman (2-for-3, 3B, RBI, R), Evan Hawkes (2-for-4), Ryan Webber (2-for-4, 2B)
Mason Keith (W) (4.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 3K), Connor O’Brien (1 IP, 1H, 0E, 1K), Aidan Kenney (S) (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1K).
Key innings: Top of fourth: Perry led off the inning with a single and scored when Zuckerman ripped a one-out triple to center. Zuckerman scored on a groundout by Sogness. (2-0)
Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci: “It feels good to be in a tight game like this early. Gives you pressure situations and intensity that is important for us to feel before we start the league season.”
–Pitching sets the tone: “Mason Keith, Aidan Kenney, Joe Beitler and Connor O’Brien combined for one run on four hits. All four of these guys were important contributors on the mound last year, mostly in relief with maybe one start. Keith was excellent earning his first W with an over 72 percent strike percentage and the whole staff was 70 percent. Kenney returned to his closer role from last season, earning his first save of the season. These – as well as Beitler and O’Brien -go out and compete every pitch. We know we are going to get a really solid outing from any of these guys with no drop-off from the previous guy. We were making good contact all game but just not converting that into runs. So, it was great to have these four come in and shut the other team down.”
–Cluth hitting: “Brendan Zuckerman’s RBI triple and Michael Sogness’ RBI gave Pennsbury the lead in the fourth, and that proved to be enough for the win.
“Zuckerman is a big sophomore first baseman and is quickly making his presence known. He had great at-bats for our whole trip and is showing the ability to make adjustments mid at-bat and hit the ball really hard with two strikes.”
Pennsbury 000 200 0 2-8-1
Hampton 000 010 0 1-4-0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, THOMAS JEFFERSON 3
The Titans struck early in Saturday’s contest, opening up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first when – with two outs – Blake Bell (who also earned the save) hit a three-run home run to left field. The Titans added a run in the fourth when Luke Poley delivered a one-out RBI single to put the Titans on top 4-0.
That run loomed large when Thomas Jefferson scored three in the sixth inning (only one earned).
Luke Hillegass earned the win on the mound, allowing two hits and one run in five strong innings. He struck out seven and walked three. Bell earned the save with a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh.
By the numbers: Jake Yang (2-for-3, R), Blake Bell (1-for-3, HR, 3RBI, 1R)
Luke Hillegass (W) (5.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 7K), Blake Bell (S) (1.0 IP, 1H 0R, 1K)
Key innings: Bottom of first: Connor Thompson drew a leadoff walk, and Jake Yang followed with a line single to left. Two outs later, Bell hit a three-run home run. (3-0).
Bottom of fourth: Jake Ruddell lined a single to center to lead off inning and was replace by courtesy runner Nick Zakrzewski, who advanced to second on an error. Poley followed with a single that plated a run that turned out to be the game-winner (4-0).
Up next: Central Bucks South (1-1) will host Central Bucks West Monday in the first game of a three-game series.
Thomas Jefferson 000 003 0 3-4-2
Central Bucks South 300 100 x 4-7-1
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