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By Scott Huff
The 2011 PIAA District One playoffs began last week, and the results were not to the enjoyment of most Suburban One League followers.
The good news was that both Council Rock North and Council Rock South have already earned PIAA Quad-A state tournament slots with wins in both the second round and quarterfinals. More info on the Council Rocks later.
The bad news was that the remaining Quad-A teams from the SOL were eliminated in either first or second round games. No playbacks for Pennridge, North Penn, Truman, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks South, and Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Upper Moreland has gained a berth in the PIAA Class AAA District One finals. The Golden Bears – who jettisoned Upper Merion from the tournament – must win the district final against Pope John Paul II on Wednesday to punch its ticket to the state tournament.
PIAA District One Quad-A Semifinals
Tuesday – May 30, 2011
[N-3] Spring-Ford Rams versus [N-1] Council Rock North Indians
@ Upper Dublin High School – 3:15 pm
Council Rock North opened the playoffs with a 3-0 victory over West Chester Rustin. Rock North received a complete game from ace pitcher Darren Lauer who had seven strikeouts. Ryan Hartley had two hits and an RBI, while Benn Parker also drove home a run for the winners.
CR North followed with a hard-fought 4-3 quarterfinal win over Owen J Roberts. Tim O’Leary picked up the win in relief of starter Jake Drossner. The RBI were delivered by Dan Denton and David Pine, while Mike Tentilucci drove home two runs for the Indians.Spring-Ford opened the playoffs with an 11-1 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh. The Rams – who won on the mercy-rule in the fifth inning – scored seven runs in the fourth inning. Mike Oczypok – regarded as one of the premier pitchers in the area – picked up the win, and Cody Clarke fueled the offense with two hits and four RBI.
Spring-Ford followed with a 6-3 quarterfinal win over Phoenixville. The Rams pounded out 13 hits and were led offensively by Patrick Medley (homerun) and Tom Grablewski (three hits and two runs scored). Sean Larkin recorded the win for Spring-Ford – the Rams have not lost a game since May 6, 2011.
Council Rock North head coach Matt Schram says:
“Spring-Ford is a program that is used to playing in very big games,” said Schram. “But the players on my team are used to playing in very big games as well, and the result should be a very good baseball game.”
Prediction: The game should feature a wonderful pitching matchup between Council Rock North’s Darren Lauer and Spring-Ford’s Mike Oczypok. Look for the experience of Rock North to provide the difference – CR North 3 – Spring Ford 1.
[N-4] Council Rock South Golden Hawks versus [S-3] Conestoga Pioneers
@ Great Valley High School – 4 pm
Council Rock South opened the playoffs with a 6-5 victory over Downingtown East. The Golden Hawks scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to capture the win. Kane Price – who socked a homerun early in the game – stroked the walk-off two-run single. Brian Donnelly notched the win in relief for the Hawks.
CR South followed with a thrilling 7-6 victory over Marple-Newtown in its quarterfinal game that took 14 innings and two days to complete. Ryan Downs earned the victory in relief. Bill Fleming hit a pair of homeruns – one in the first inning to lead off the game – and the other the game winner in the 14th. Jeff Miller also blasted a homerun for Rock South.Conestoga opened the playoffs with a 10-4 victory over Boyertown. Austin Little threw the first six innings to record the win for the Pioneers. Jake Carr had four hits and two RBI for the winners, while Brendan O’Reilly jolted a home run. Luke Magle and Tom Richter each had two hits for Conestoga.
Conestoga followed with a 5-4 victory over Methacton in its quarterfinal game. Scott Williams was the winning pitcher. Ryan Richter hit a single with two strikes and two outs to score O’Reilly with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Council Rock South head coach Greg Young says:
“The wins the last two games show that we can perform under pressure,” said Young. “Conestoga has an excellent baseball program, and we will have to be at our best.”
Prediction: The game should showcase a little more hitting than the CR North vs. Spring-Ford contest. The guess here is that Rock South will win yet another nail biter and defeat the Pioneers – 5-4.
PIAA District One Class AAA Final
Wednesday – May 31, 2011
[#5] Pope John Paul II Golden Panthers versus [#2] Upper Moreland Golden Bears
@ West Chester East High School – 4 pm
Upper Moreland opened the playoffs with a 6-5 victory over Upper Merion. The Bears won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Ryan Snyder singled home Robert Knox with the walk-off game winner. Knox 
– who pitched just one third of an inning – earned the win in relief of starter Kyle Walder. Sean Valenza was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI.
– who pitched just one third of an inning – earned the win in relief of starter Kyle Walder. Sean Valenza was a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI.UMHS followed with another one-run win – a 5-4 eight-inning win over Octorara in its district semifinal game. The Golden Bears scored the game winner on a single by Kyle Lockhard who drove home Matt Kohn. Kohn doubled to lead off the inning. Mike Janas threw a complete game and recorded the win.
Pope John Paul II opened the playoffs with an 8-0 victory over Lower Moreland. The Panthers scored seven runs in the sixth inning to break open a tight game with the Lions.
Pope John Paul followed with a 3-2 victory over Phoenixville. It was the third time this year that the Golden Panthers defeated the Phoenix. Tom Fazzini picked up the win in relief of Rob Barth. AC Carr fueled the offense for the winners.
Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr says:
“Our goal at the beginning of the season was to win a conference championship – and we did that,” said Rehr. “Our next goal is to be district champions and advance to states – and that challenge is right in front of us.”
Prediction: Again, experience is the best teacher – and Upper Moreland has perhaps the best bat in the area in senior catcher David McInerney. The Golden Bears have won two one-run games – why not another. Upper Moreland 6 – Pope John Paul II - 5.
SOL Notebook
The surprise exit of Pennridge in the second round to Methacton (7-5) was a shocker. The Rams – the SOL Continental Conference champions – were not expected to lose at home.
The loss ended the careers of a special group of seniors – Jared Schaffer, Kyle Peters, Rocky Ferrier, Andrew Decew, and Mike Guldin – all who played on the Rams basketball team over the winter.
“It is really hard to watch them walk off this field for the last time,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “But they have won three straight conference championships – and not too many players can say that.”
Schaffer, Peters, Ferrier, Decew, and Guldin all were huge parts of the Rams first-ever school basketball championship.
“Those kids won one game as sophomores, and to win a championship says a great deal about them,” said Pennridge head coach Dean Behrens. “They have an awful lot to be proud of.”
Carpenter Cup 2011
The opening round of the Carpenter Cup for the Suburban One National/Bicentennial League team will be played on June 14, 2011 at Ashburn Field in FDR Park – game time 12:30 pm. The opponent will be Delaware South.
The opening round of the Carpenter Cup for the Suburban One Continental/American Conference team will also be played on June 14, 2011 at Ashburn Field in FDR Park – game time 4 pm. The opponent will be Burlington County – New Jersey.
The second round game between the winners of above will be played at Coca-Cola Park – home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs – on June 18, 2011 at 10:30.
The semifinal games and final game will be played at Citizen Bank Park on 6/20/11 and 6/21/11.
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1. Council Rock North Indians
2. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
3. Pennridge Rams
4. North Penn Knights
5. Upper Moreland Golden Bears
6. Truman Tigers
7. Central Bucks East Patriots
8. Central Bucks South Titans
9. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
10. Upper Merion Vikings
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