By Scott Huff
With apologies to the David Letterman Show, here is the Suburban One Sports.com Top Ten List.
Top Ten Reasons Why Suburban One League Teams Are Scoring So Many Runs.
# 10 – Early in the season, hitters are always ahead of the pitchers.
“I know that most of the pitchers on our team haven’t hit their stride yet,” said North Penn head coach Bob McCreary. “Once we get into the season, the pitching all around should improve.”
# 9 – The hitters have improved.
“The approach to hitting for the most part is better,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr. “Speaking for us, this is one of the best hitting teams that I have had in recent years.”
# 8 – The pitchers don’t have the right stuff.
“Honestly, there are really no dominant pitchers with overpowering stuff,” said Harry S Truman head coach Jeff Vitale. “There are some really good pitchers, but there isn’t a pitcher with great stuff.”
# 7 – Something that deviates from the norm or from expectations.
“This year hitting has been an anomaly (see above),” said Council Rock head coach Dan Kusters. “We have two pitchers in Jared Weed (Indiana of University) and Nick Donofry (Bloomsburg University), and South has Greg Welsh (Penn State), but overall the pitching may not be as strong as in previous years.”
# 6 - Hitters are improved – Part Two
“We have had players that have worked on their hitting all season long,” said Springfield head coach Troy Jenkins. “We have volunteer workouts in the off season at an indoor cage, and it has made us a much better hitting team.”
# 5 – Bad Weather
“Early in the season we spent a lot of time indoors because of the weather,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “You can get a lot of hitting done indoors, and that carries over to the beginning of the season.”
# 4 – The Ambler Sports Authority
“We have been able to have kids hit off pitching machines that simulate pitchers and different pitches,” said Wissahickon head coach Shannon Gunby – who is also the Director of Instruction at the Ambler Sports Authority. “Cheltenham, Germantown Academy, La Salle, Wissahickon, and Springfield have all been here in the last year.”
# 3 – No scholarship pitchers.
“This is the first time I can remember not seeing a real scholarship pitcher,” said Central Buck West head coach Jim Ertel. “There are some good pitchers out there, but surely not as many great ones.”
# 2 – League games.
“Teams don’t want to pitch their best pitchers in non-league games,” said Abington head coach Dave Torresani. “The games should get tighter as the league schedule begins.”
# 1 – Aluminum bats
I tossed that one in there on my own.
Numbers don’t lie
Central Bucks West has scored in double figures in five of its seven games played this season.
Central Bucks East scored 18 runs – and lost – to North Penn, 20-18.
How about these season high scores?
SOL Continental Conference –
North Penn 20 runs in 20-18 win over CB East.
CB East 18 runs in 20-18 loss to North Penn.
Pennridge 17 runs in 17-1 win over Palisades.
CB West 16 runs in 16-8 win over Souderton.
CB South 13 runs in 13-7 win over Quakertown.
Quakertown 13 runs in 13-1 win over Palisades.
Hatboro-Horsham 13 runs in 13-3 win over Upper Dublin.
Souderton 8 runs in 8-7 win over CB East.
SOL National Conference-
Truman 17 runs in 17-4 win over Bensalem
Pennsbury 15 in 15-11 win over Egan.
William Tennent 14 in 14-4 win over Norristown
Neshaminy 13 in 13-2 win over William Tennent
Council Rock North 12 in 12-7 win over Truman.
Council Rock South 11 in 11-0 win over Bensalem.
Abington 7 in 7-4 win over Bellbrook.
Bensalem 7 in 7-6 win over William Tennent
SOL American Conference –
Upper Moreland 16 in 16-6 win over Upper Dublin.
Wissahickon 16 in 16-5 win over Norristown
Upper Merion 16 in 16-6 win over Penncrest
Springfield 11 in 11-5 win over Lower Moreland
Plymouth Whitemarsh 11 in 11-10 win over Norristown
Upper Dublin 11 in 11-10 win over CB West.
Norristown 11 in 11-8 win over Springfield.
Cheltenham 6 in 7-6 loss to Springfield.
North Penn baseball does not strike out.
The North Penn teachers are still on strike, but the baseball team will continue to play games.
“All sports teams will continue – and that includes baseball,” said North Penn head coach Bob McCreary – a social studies teacher at the high school. “Right now we are planning on playing.”
The Knights beat Quakertown 2-0 on Monday – the first day of the strike. North Penn will host Central Bucks South Wednesday and will play at Pennridge on Friday.
“Hopefully this will all be worked out,” said McCreary. “This situation isn’t easy for anyone.”
Spartans are early surprise
Springfield has gotten off to its best start in recent memory as the Spartans (3-2 conference) are right in the middle of the first place hunt in the Suburban One League American Conference.
“Last year we were in a lot of games, but we never came up with the key plays to win them,” said Springfield head coach Troy Jenkins. “But this year we feel that we can compete with anyone.
“Ninety to ninety-five per cent of baseball is being fundamental,” added Jenkins. “These players have a new attitude and they know how to play the game the right way.”
The Spartan honor roll includes Mark Trainor, Corey Bird, Bobby Andris, Jake Yannessa, and Matt Vido.
“Our success this season has been a team effort,” said Jenkins. “If we can make plays, we are going to continue to win some games.”
Suburban One Sports.com Super Seven
1. Council Rock North Indians
2. North Penn Knights
3. Neshaminy Redskins
4. Pennridge Rams
5. Upper Merion Vikings
6. Central Bucks West Bucks
7. Truman Tigers
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