By Scott Huff
Defending District One Class AAA champion Upper Merion (1-1, 1-0) leaps into the deep end of its Suburban One American Conference schedule, as the Vikings will play three conference games in three days this week.
Upper Merion will visit Cheltenham Tuesday and will host Norristown on Wednesday and host Upper Moreland on Thursday.
“Everybody is ready to go,” said Upper Merion head coach Jason Darnell. “Three games in three days is tough on any baseball team, but I feel that I have three strong pitchers that can handle it.“I am real high on our pitching, and we’re going to need to get innings out of them,” added Darnell. “We have 12 seniors back from last year’s team, and they know how to win.”
The Vikings will hand the baseball to senior Greg McCuch, junior Ray Gambone, and junior Justin Cunnane for starters this week. Senior Ben Dworecki should be a force out of the bullpen.
The hitting attack will feature McCuch, Dworecki, designated hitter Tom Foy, and center fielder Matt Shannon.
“We should be able to score runs, and I think we are going to be a good defensive team,” said Darnell. “This is a team that grew up in the playoffs last year, and this should make us competitive again this year.
“I think the allure of this league is the parity,” added Darnell. “Last year we ended up in a huge pile at the top of the standings, and this could be another year like last year.
“All I know is that you can never relax,” continued Darnell. “But at the same time, I believe that we can win. And so do the players.”
At least for the next 72 hours.
Around the SOL Horn …
Springfield (2-0, 2-0) won its second Suburban One League American Conference game in as many starts as the Spartans stunned Upper Dublin (3-2, 1-1) – 10-7.
Kyle Goscminski - who socked both a triple and a double - sparked the Springfield hitting attack. Adam McGinty and Corey Bird also delivered extra base hits for the winners.
The winning pitcher for the Spartans was Mark Trainor.
Central Bucks West (3-2, 2-1) lost its first SOL Continental Conference game as the young Bucks dropped a 5-4 contest to host Quakertown (2-1, 1-1).
West had scored 10+ runs in each of its first four games and led 3-0 early behind a pair of hits by Matt Hanson, who drove home three West runs.
Central Bucks South (3-1) had an excellent outing turned in by senior Dan Happ as the Titans defeated host Wissahickon (0-4) – 7-2.
Happ threw a complete game for CB South and was one out away from a shutout. He limited the Trojans to just six hits over seven innings.
The Titans had nine hits on the day with key hits coming from both A.J. Trunk and Joe Mullin.
Pennsbury (2-4) won its second game in a row as the Falcons flew by Conwell Egan – 15-11 – in a non-league contest.
Paul Gosselin highlighted a six-run third inning for Pennsbury with a grand slam homerun. Tim Schaeffer also hit a two-run first inning homer for the Falcons.
Chris Wirtz, Zach Saibel, Ken McCormick, and Jordan Ciaola each had two hits for the winners. Pennsbury collected 12 hits in the win.
Zack Yencha – who hurled the first four innings – registered the win for the Falcons.
North Penn (2-1) went on a road trip to Parkland High School and lost to the Trojans – 9-5 in a non-league contest.
On Tap Today …
SOL American Conference
Upper Merion @ Cheltenham
Norristown @ Springfield
Wissahickon @ Upper Dublin
SOL National Conference
Pennsbury @ Abington
Truman @ Neshaminy
Bensalem @ Council Rock North
SOL Continental Conference
Pennridge @ Central Bucks East
Central Bucks South @ Hatboro-Horsham
Suburban One Sports.com Super Seven
1. Council Rock North Indians
2. North Penn Knights
3. Neshaminy Redskins
4. Pennridge Rams
5. Upper Moreland Golden Bears
6. Central Buck West Bucks
7. Truman Tigers
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