By Scott Huff
Take a deep breath.
Let it out slowly.
The following is the PIAA District One Quad-A playoff possibilities.
The 12-team North bracket of the 24-team overall field will involve the three Suburban One League Conferences and the Pioneer Athletic Conference. The SOL National Conference has two automatic berths – as does the SOL Continental Conference. The SOL American Conference and the PAC each received one automatic slot. There are six at-large selections.
Got it?
Council Rock North (11-1) and Council Rock South (10-2) are ‘in’ from the SOL National – unless Rock South loses its last three games and Truman (8-5) wins its last two games. Very unlikely, so you can write Rock North in with pen – please use a pencil for Rock South.
That wasn’t too hard to figure out.
Pennridge (12-2) is the SOL Continental champion as the #1 team from that conference. The second place team is still up in the air with North Penn (8-5), Central Bucks South (7-6), and Central Bucks East (7-6) still mathematically alive. If North Penn wins Monday against Hatboro-Horsham (6-7) the second selection belongs to the Knights. A NP loss – along with wins by either or both CB South and CB East creates some head scratching.
Getting a little harder.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-8) has the inside track to gain the automatic Quad-A SOL American bid. The Colonials – who trail Class AAA first place Upper Moreland (13-3) in the standings – can gain the berth with a win on Monday against Norristown (7-9). The Eagles must defeat both PW on Monday and Upper Moreland on Tuesday to tie the Colonials for the best Quad-A conference.
Next …
The Pioneer Athletic Conference #1 will be Spring-Ford. The Rams clinched the 18-game conference title and is currently14-3.
Simple …
There are six at-large selections – and now here is where it gets tricky.
Boyertown (12-5) and Owen J Roberts (12-5) are locked in from the PAC – six minus two is four.
Those four will come from among Truman (8-5), North Penn (8-5), Methacton (11-7), Central Bucks East (7-6), Central Bucks South (7-6), Hatboro-Horsham (6-7), Central Bucks West (6-7), or Norristown (7-9).
Well – not really.
One of the following will earn second place in the Continental – North Penn, CB East, or CB South – and will be eliminated from the at-large selection pool.
Got it? Sure you do.
The games that will have huge PIAA District One Quad-A North playoff implications on Monday will be Abington (5-8) @ Truman (8-5); North Penn (8-5) @ Hatboro-Horsham (6-7); Central Bucks South (7-6) @ Central Bucks West (6-7); Central Bucks East (7-6) at Souderton (4-9); and Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-8) @ Norristown (7-9).
###Note: Both SOL American Conference champion Upper Moreland and Upper Merion will make the PIAA District One Class AAA playoffs. More to come…
‘Bottoms Up’ in the SOL National Conference
William Tennent (2-11)
The Panthers struggled significantly at the beginning of the season with a 10-game losing streak. However, William Tennent has won three of its last five games – including conference wins over Bensalem (4-2) and Neshaminy (7-6) – and an 8-3 non-league win over SOL American Conference champion Upper Moreland.
The best of the youthful Black Cats has been a sophomore class that includes Brandon DiBona, Mike Wesserleben, and Chuck Delagol.
“We didn’t win a game in the months of March and April,” said William Tennent head coach Chris Marchok. “But the players worked very hard all season, and it is nice to be able to win some games.”
William Tennent will host Pennsbury (5-8) to close out its conference schedule on Monday.
Pennsbury (5-8)
The Falcons suffered through a four-game losing streak mid-year, but played solid baseball to close out the season. The highlight of the season had to be its recent 9-2 victory over Truman.
Sophomore Brandon Garrett has been outstanding all season and should develop into a blue-chip pitcher next season. Zack Yencha has been the mainstay on the mound this season for the Falcons. Chris Romano, Phil Herring and Paul Gosselin have also had nice seasons for Pennsbury.
“Brandon has pitched in some very tough luck for us this season,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci. “His turn always seemed to come against the best teams, and we didn’t really score him a lot of runs.”
Pennsbury will close out its conference season with an away game against William Tennent (2-11) on Monday.
Neshaminy (5-8)
The Redskins opened the conference schedule with three wins in their first four games – but followed that with a diasterous seven-game losing skid. A nice win for the Skins was a 9-4 win against Truman that stopped the losing streak.
The young Redskins featured a pair of talented underclassmen on their pitching staff. Both sophomore Justin Andrews and freshman Cole Creighton received valuable varsity experience this season. Darren Heisse and Tim Reardon had solid seasons for the Skins.
“I knew coming into this season that we were very young,” said veteran Neshaminy head coach Dennis Cox. “Some of the losses were tough to watch, but we gained a lot of experience and it should pay off for us next year.”
Neshaminy will play at first place Council Rock North (11-1) to close its regular season schedule.
Bensalem (5-8)
The Owls have played very good baseball in the second half of the season and were very competitive with the top half of the conference standings. Bensalem had a stretch of games where it won five of six games.
The hooters showcased the talents of Frank Primavera – who never seemed to have a bad game – along with Jesse Dannin and Anthony Micalizzi.
“It wasn’t until the second half of the year that we really felt that we could play and beat everyone in our league,” said Bensalem head coach Rick Lee. “We still we inconsistent in some games, but we feel that we are going the right direction in terms of competing with the best teams in our league.”
Bensalem will be on the road for its final conference game of the season as the Owls play at Council Rock South (10-2).
Abington (5-8)
The Ghosts had huge problems keeping their best two pitchers healthy during the season as both juniors Greg Mugnier and Jesse Leary missed huge chunks of the season. Abington won four in a row – followed with seven losses in a row – and currently is on a two-game winning streak.
The offense has featured junior Chris Ruhl, Dale Hoover, junior Mike Collins, and sophomore shortstop/closer Eric Tidwell.
“We had a lot of bright spots with our underclassmen,” said Abington head coach Dave Torresani. “We want to close out the season winning some games, and that should hopefully carry over to next season.”
Abington will be on the road in its final conference game as the Ghosts travel to Truman (8-5).
‘Bottoms Up’ in the SOL Continental Conference
Quakertown (3-10)
The Panthers proved all season that they could hit the ball, but Quakertown struggled in one-run games and took quite a few close losses. Q-town did have a strong say in who gets to the postseason with a thrilling come-from-behind 8-7 victory over Central Bucks East knocking the Patriots out of second place.
Sophomore pitcher Cody Stoneback battled injury all season and should come back as one of the better pitchers in the conference next season. Colin Utterback, Doug Barndt, and Eric Sloss fueled the offense this season.
“We were not a bad baseball team,” said Quakertown head coach Steve Cherrybon. “We played close games with almost everyone in the league. It just seemed that when we hit the ball hard – it was caught. And when the other team hit the ball hard – it fell.”
Quakertown will host conference champion Pennridge (12-2) in the conference finale on Monday.
Souderton (4-9)
The Big Red blasted conference champion Pennridge 10-0, and it appeared that Souderton would make a serious run at a conference title. However, the Big Red struggled to win conference games down the stretch and will finish out of the district playoffs.
Souderton featured a pair of good pitchers this season in Jake Ebersole and Ozzie Moyer.
“Our goal was to turn things around after not making the playoffs last year,” said Souderton head coach Mike Childs. “But that isn’t going to happen.”
Souderton will have a big game this Monday when the Indians host Central Bucks East (7-6) in a game with playoff implications.
‘Bottoms Up’ in the SOL American Conference
Upper Dublin (7-10)
The Flying Cardinals stumbled out of the gate with a 1-9 record but had a terrific second half of the season, winning five of six during one stretch. Upper Dublin dashed the district playoff hopes of rival Wissahickon with a pair of late-season victories.
Andrew Carber, Jared Zarwin, and Ethan Gregg turned in fine seasons.
“These players could have easily quit with the start that we had,” said Upper Dublin head coach Ed Wall. “We knew we were a better baseball team, and I think we showed that in the second half of the season.”
Upper Dublin will close out its conference schedule with an away game at Upper Merion (9-8).
Wissahickon (7-10)
The Trojans made a frantic run for the district playoffs last season, but history did not repeat itself this time around. Wissy got off to a 5-2 conference start, but the Trojans lost eight of ten down the stretch.
Wissahickon featured the talents of Greg Neducsin, Mike Kropnick, and Nick Sunderland this season.
“We lost a lot of close games, and we couldn’t come up with the wins we needed to have at the end of the season,” said Wissahickon head coach Shannon Gunby. “It was a tough season.”
Wissahickon will close out the conference schedule with an away contest at Upper Moreland.
Cheltenham (7-11)
The Panthers finished their season out of the playoffs. Cheltenham could never recover fully from a four-game losing skid early in the season.
Matt Brown, Danny Marsden, and Matt Lawlor all had fine seasons for the Panthers.
“This was a really competitive league, and one or two games usually decides who finishes in and out of the playoffs,” said Cheltenham head coach Frank Decembrino. “I thought that all the teams competed well from the top of the league to the bottom.”
The Panthers season is entirely over – no conference games – no non-league games.
Suburban One Sports.com
‘Great Eight’
1. Council Rock North Indians
2. Pennridge Rams
3. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
4. North Penn Knights
5. Truman Tigers
6. Upper Moreland Golden Bears
7. Central Bucks South Titans
8. Central Bucks East Patriots
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