2013 SOL District Baseball Preview (Second Round)

Scott Huff previews Wednesday’s district baseball games and recaps Upper Moreland’s big win.

#3 UPPER MORELAND 12, #6 MARPLE NEWTOWN 0 (5 innings)
Any thoughts that Marple Newtown might be able to hang with the American Conference champion Golden Bears were put to rest early in Tuesday’s district opener. Upper Moreland scored three runs in the first inning and put the game completely out of reach with a nine-run second inning. Everybody in Upper Moreland’s lineup reached base over the course of the abbreviated contest that saw the Golden Bears – who were without Robert Knox (illness) - pound out 11 hits.
Nick Corbett led the Golden Bears with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the play that included a run scored and one RBI. Charlie Hooker was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Kyle Irwin was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, and Mike Cavanaugh was 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Upper Moreland’s lone extra base hit was an important RBI double by Pat Driscoll.
“Nothing surprises me with these guys,” coach Ernie Rehr said. “They’re playing with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder.
“The guys got up. They executed exactly the way we hoped. I could not have asked for any better from our guys. They were fantastic.”
Charlie Hooker earned the win on the mound, allowing two hits in four shutout innings while striking out one and walking three. Tommy Robinson closed it out with a scoreless inning of relief. He did not allow a hit and fanned two.
The Golden Bears will face seventh-seeded Pottstown in a semifinal game Thursday. Pottstown upset seconded-seeded Pottstown 7-1.
Marple Newtown000 00   0-2-2
Upper Moreland  390 0x   12-11-0

By Scott Huff

The second round of the PIAA District One Quad-A baseball playoffs – the Sweet 16 - will take place Wednesday.  And out of the field of nine Suburban One League teams that began the quest for a district championship – six remain.

The three SOL teams that were shown the exit door all had their hearts shattered in the games that eliminated them.  Council Rock South [N-9] lost a heartbreaking 1-0 contest to Garnet Valley [S-8], Cheltenham [N-8] lost a heartbreaking 8-7 contest to Radnor [S-9], and Wissahickon [N-11] lost a heartbreaking 2-0 contest to Downingtown West [S-6].

The SOL teams that survived the first round and advanced to the Sweet 16 included Council Rock North [N-7], North Penn [N-12], Pennridge [N-10], andCentral Bucks South [N-5].  Game snapshots of those wins can be seen below.

Central Bucks East [N-1] andNeshaminy [N-2] received first round byes and will open district playoff action with home games.

District One will send four teams to the PIAA Quad-A state tournament.

P.S. – Springfield [2] will also play on Wednesday as the Spartans host New Hope-Solebury [3] in a first round PIAA District One Class AA game.

Next …..

PIAA Quad-A District One Second Round Games
Wednesday – May 22, 2013

[S-8] Garnet Valley Jaguars @ [N-1] Central Bucks East Patriots

• Winner Gets:  the winner of this game will play the winner of the [S-4] Coatesville – [N-5] Central Bucks South game on Friday (5/24) at the site of the higher seed.
• Season Resume:  Garnet Valley finished in 4^th place in the Central League with a league record of 10-6, while Central Bucks East finished in 1^st place in the Suburban One League Continental Conference with a conference record of 12-2.
• Playoff Resume:  Garnet Valley opened the playoffs with a 1-0 victory over Council Rock South [N-9], while Central Bucks East received a first round bye.
• Patriot head coach Kyle Dennis says:  “Garnet Valley has a great shortstop in Andrew Bechtel.  Dalton Mayberry is their ace (who pitched against Council Rock South) but is not eligible to throw against us.  They lost some close games this year but also beat some quality teams and made the playoffs.  They like to play small ball.  The keys to the game for us to win are to throw strikes, make routine plays, and get quality at-bats.”

[N-5] Central Bucks South Titans @ [S-4] Coatesville Red Raiders

• Winner Gets:  the winner of this game will play the winner of the [S-8] Garnet Valley – [N-1] Central Bucks East game on Friday (5/24) at the site of the higher seed.
• Season Resume:  Central Bucks South finished in 2^nd place in the SOL Continental Conference with a conference record of 9-5, while Coatesville finished the season in 1^st place in the Ches-Mont National Conference with a conference record of 14-5.
• Playoff Resume:  Central Bucks South opened the playoffs with a 7-4 victory over [S-12] West Chester Rustin.  Bobby Wittemann picked up the win with a complete game effort and had eight strikeouts.  Mike Kuypers supplied the big hit to spark the Titan offense.  Coatesville received a first round bye.
• Titan head coach Mike Schaefer says:  “Ricky Dennis will be on the hill for us.  He has been great for us all season, and I am happy to give him the ball.  I know Coatesville has a lefty going to Duke, and I assume we will see him.  They were a 12-seed like us last year and got to the second round in states.  If we get solid pitching, run the bases well, and take care of the ball on defense  - I like our chances.  If we do all those things and lose – I can still sleep soundly.”

[N-7] Council Rock North Indians @ [S-2] Unionville Indians

• Winner Gets:  the winner of this game will play the winner of the [S-6] Downingtown West – [N-3] Methacton game on Friday (5/24) at the site of the higher seed.
• Season Resume:  Council Rock North finished the season in 2^nd place in the SOL National Conference with a conference record of 9-5, while Unionville finished the season in 1^st place in the Ches-Mont American Conference with a conference record of 17-2.
• Playoff Resume:  Council Rock North opened the playoffs with a thrilling 9-8 victory over [S-10] Penncrest in a game that lasted nine innings.  The Indians scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings.  Brett Newman delivered the game-tying hit in the seventh inning with two outs, and Brandon McIlwaine delivered the game winner in the bottom of the ninth.  Unionville received a first round bye.
• Indian head coach Matt Schram says:  “Unionville is 17-2 and has some big time players on their team – three or four guys hitting over .400.  If we want to beat them, we are going to have to take advantage of all opportunities, and against a team like this, there is no room for mistakes.  We can’t have walks or errors – we can’t give a good team extra chances.  Matt Renck will get the start for us, and he has been great for us every since we made him a starting pitcher late in the year.”

[N-12] North Penn Knights @ [N-4] Perkiomen Valley Vikings

• Winner Gets:  the winner of this game will play the winner of the [S-9] Radnor – [S-1] Strath Haven game on Friday (5/24) at the site of the higher seed.
• Season Resume:  North Penn finished the season in 3^rd place in the SOL Continental Conference with a conference record of 9-5, while Perkiomen Valley finished in 2^nd place in the Pioneer Athletic Conference with a conference record of 12-6.
• Playoff Resume:  North Penn opened the playoffs with an impressive 9-3 victory over [S-5] Conestoga.  Bobby Scott blasted a three-run homer, and Brady West collected 3 hits to highlight the offense.  Brian Maher picked up the win, throwing the first five innings, while Dylan Borawski closed out the game for the save.  Perkiomen Valley received a first round bye.
• Knights’ head coach Kevin Manero says:  “Our keys to the game are really no different than any other game. We have to make them earn whatever they get and we have create as many opportunities for ourselves offensively as we can. Perk Valley has no shortage of good arms, so good at bats, and smart approaches at the plate and on the bases will be important. On the other side of the ball - the equation is standard - pound the zone with strikes and be aggressive to the ball in the field.”

[N-10] Pennridge Rams @ [N-2] Neshaminy Redskins

• Winner Gets:  the winner of this game will play the winner of the [N-6] Boyertown – [S-3] West Chester Henderson game on Friday (5/24) at the site of the higher seed.
• Season Resume:  Pennridge finished the season in 3^rd place in the SOL Continental Conference with a conference record of 9-5, while Neshaminy finished the season in 1^st place in the SOL National Conference with a conference record of 11-3.
• Playoff Resume:  Pennridge opened the playoffs with a 7-3 ‘upset’ victory over [S-7] Great Valley.  Evan Myers picked up the win for the Rams with five-plus innings, and David Totoian recorded the save.  Danny Shane had four hits for the Green and White that included two doubles.  Neshaminy received a first round bye.
• Ram head coach Tom Nuneviller says:  “Neshaminy is an impressive team that earned a first round bye and a #2 seed.  Justin Andrews is both a great athlete and one of the best pitchers around.  We need to continue to play with the confidence we have played with the last few weeks.  Keys for us winning include to pitch efficiently – not give extra outs defensively – and get good swings at the plate.”
• Redskin head coach Chris Tenaglia says:  “Justin Andrews will be throwing for us and has been great all season.  Every team in the District One tournament is well coached and knows how to play the game, and that includes Pennridge.  We need to focus on the things that are under our control, and hopefully that will provide a positive outcome.”

PIAA Class AA Opening Round Game
Wednesday –May 22, 2013

[3] New Hope-Solebury Lions @ [2] Springfield (Montco) Spartans

• Winner Gets:  the winner of this game will play [1] Bristol on Friday (5/24) at Temple-Ambler
• Season Resume:  New Hope-Solebury finished the season in 9^th place in the 14-team Bicentennial-Constitution League with a 6-7 record, while Springfield finished the season in 4^th place in the SOL American Conference with a conference record of 7-7.