Scott Huff takes a look at the upcoming playoff picture in this week’s baseball notebook and also recaps Monday’s games. To view photos of the CB East/Pennridge and Truman/Tennent games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
The beast that is the PIAA District One Quad-A baseball playoffs is a tough one to tame.
The nature of the tournament dictates that a total of 24 teams qualify from the district – 12 from the ‘North’ and 12 from the ‘South’ from the district. The Suburban One League and the Pioneer Athletic Conference are the leagues that comprise the ‘North’. The top two teams from the SOL National and SOL Continental Conference are assured berths, while the top teams in the SOL American Conference and PAC are awarded a single berth in the tournament. That puts six ‘at-large’ berths into play to round out the playoff field.
The top four seeded teams are awarded a coveted bye in the first round. The first round begins on May 21st (Monday), the second rounds follows on May 23rd (Wednesday), with the district quarterfinals on May 25th (Friday).
The only thing certain right now is that nothing is certain. But here are the teams that are currently in the battle for district playoff spots from the Suburban One League. Remember, only conference games count in the scheme of things – non-league games are not factored into seeding.
Suburban One League National Conference
There are three teams that are currently in the struggle for the top two seeds – Council Rock South (10-1), Council Rock North (9-2), and Bensalem (8-2). The ‘odd team out’ of that group is almost a lock for one of the six ‘at-large’ slots, while Neshaminy (6-4) is a longer shot for a playoff slot. The SOL National Conference plays a 14-game schedule with no conference playoffs.
Suburban One League Continental Conference
The two top teams in the conference – Central Bucks West (8-2) and Hatboro-Horsham (8-2) – are clear favorites for the two guaranteed slots in the playoffs. Mathematics has not eliminated North Penn (6-4), Souderton (5-4), and Central Bucks South (6-5) from the playoff mix. The SOL Continental Conference also plays a 14-game schedule with no conference playoffs.
Suburban One League American Conference
The SOL American consists of five Quad-A teams and a pair of Class AAA teams – Upper Moreland and Upper Merion. Upper Moreland (10-3) is a lock for the playoffs – Upper Merion (5-11, 4-10) is on that bubble.
The Quad-A guaranteed representative will be contested by Upper Dublin (10-4), Wissahickon (10-6), and Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-6). The ‘other’ two from that group will be strong contenders for ‘at-large’ spots. The SOL American Conference plays an 18-game schedule with no conference playoffs.
Pioneer Athletic Conference
The PAC-10 is a ten-team conference that has one guaranteed spot in the postseason and plays an 18-game league schedule. The PAC-10 will showcase a ‘Final Four’ playoff for the conference title with Boyertown (12-4), Methacton (11-5), Spring-Ford (11-5), and Phoenixville (10-6). Boyertown, Methacton, and Spring-Ford are Quad-A teams, while Phoenixville is a Class AAA team.
Suburban One League Monday Rundown
SOL American Conference
Upper Dublin (10-4) put itself ½ game behind Upper Moreland (10-3) in the SOL American Conference standingsas the Flying Cardinals flew to an 8-5 win over the Golden Bears. It is the third time this season that Upper Dublin has beaten Upper Moreland.
“We felt like we had something to prove today coming off our loss in our last game,” said Upper Dublin head coach Ed Wall. “Our one goal for the season was to win a championship, and if we wanted to do that we had to play well against Upper Moreland.”
The Flying Cardinals scored six runs in the fifth inning to secure the win. Jared Zarwin crushed a bases-loaded double to plate three runs in that inning, while Jesse Kohler, Brent A’Andrea, and Andrew Carber also collected RBIs in that frame.
Kohler was awarded the win for the Cardinals.
“Jesse did a great job,” said Wall. “He was in command the whole game, and Upper Moreland has some players that can hit.”
Upper Moreland has two conference games this week as the Golden Bears host both Cheltenham on Wednesday and Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday. Upper Dublin has just one conference game this week as the Cardinals play at Norristown on Friday.
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 000 004 1 - 5 8 2
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 000 260 x - 8 7 2
Wissahickon (10-6) kept itself in both the championship and playoff conversation as the Trojans marched to a 4-2 victory over visiting Cheltenham (5-10).
Billy McFarland came up huge on the mound for Wissahickon with a complete game effort. Brennan Weiss, Randy Frankenfield, Greg McDonough, and Michael Marcantonini collected RBI for the Trojans.
Cheltenham Panthers 001 100 0 - 2 8 2
Wissahickon Trojans 102 100 x - 4 5 3
Norristown (3-12) pounded out 15 hits as the Eagles soared to a 12-7 victory over host Upper Merion (4-10).
Norristown had doubles stroked by Kevin Belskie (2), Pat Campion, and Kevin McGinley. Vinny Catagnus was the winning pitcher for the Eagles.
Norristown Eagles 403 003 2 - 12 15 1
Upper Merion Vikings 030 300 1 - 7 5 1
SOL Continental Conference
Pennridge (4-7) scored three runs in the first inning and made that number stand up as the Rams gouged host Central Bucks East (3-8) – 3-2.
Trevor Dalton was the winning pitcher for Pennridge with a complete game effort, while Blair Killough was the tough luck loser for the Patriots.
Pennridge Rams 300 000 0 - 3 6 0
Central Bucks East Patriots 010 010 0 - 2 6 4
Central Bucks South (6-5) fanned its faint playoff hopes as the Titans collected a 6-3 victory over host Quakertown (1-9).
Will Sasser earned the win for South by throwing the first five innings, while TJ Ohntrup threw two shutout innings to record the save.
Brian Happ had a huge day at the plate for the Titans with a double and a homerun and four RBI. Will Foy had three hits for the winners, while Chris Coia was on base all four times for the Titans with two hits and a pair of walks.
Central Bucks South Titans 231 000 0 - 6 9 1
Quakertown Panthers 020 010 0 - 3 3 3
SOL National Conference
William Tennent (3-9) scored five runs in the fourth inning as the Panthers clawed host Truman (2-10) – 9-1.
Vinnie Case was the winner for Tennent. Brandon DiBona, Michael Wasserleben, and Case fueled the 17-hit Panther attack with three hits each.
William Tennent Panthers 012 501 0 - 9 17 1
Truman Tigers 000 100 0 - 1 4 1
Suburban One League Showdowns
The schedule for Tuesday, May 8, 2012 has a pair of conference showdowns in the SOL National and SOL Continental Conferences with first place on the line as Council Rock North (9-2) hosts Council Rock South (10-1) in National Conference action and Hatboro-Horsham (8-2) hosts Central Bucks West (8-2) in Continental Conference play.
Council Rock Northlost its head-to-head meeting with CR South in the first half of the season – 3-2. In that game, Brian Donnelly threw a strong game for the Golden Hawks with a six and one-third inning performance. Nate English was the tough luck loser for the Indians.
The only conference losses this season for Rock North came against Rock South and a 4-3 early season loss to Abington (2-9).
Council Rock Southhas just a single conference loss this season. The Hawks were shot down by Bensalem (8-2) – 5-1.
The pitching match up in this critical contest should feature a couple of aces – Jake Drossner for Rock North and Bret DeStefano for Rock South.
Central Bucks West won its head-to-head meeting with Hatboro-Horsham in the first half of the season – 4-3. In that game, CB West scored a run in the seventh inning of a single off the bat of Marty Martens. The Hatters led 3-0 early in the game before West completed its comeback victory.
The only conference losses this season for the Bucks came against North Penn (6-4) by a 6-5 score and Central Bucks East (3-7) by a 6-2 final.
Hatboro-Horsham also has two conferences setbacks – one to CB West – and the other to Souderton (5-4) – 9-6.
The pitching match up in this critical contest should be a couple of aces – Marty Martens for the Bucks and Zach Prendergast for the Hatters.
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
2. Central Bucks West Bucks
3. Council Rock North Indians
4. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
5. Bensalem Owls
6. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
7. North Penn Knights
8. Upper Moreland Golden Bears
9. Wissahickon Trojans
10. Souderton Indians
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