By Scott Huff
It may not be Thanksgiving morning, but the intensity and passion can still be seen on the faces of the players.
Pennridge (8-3) rejoined Central Bucks South at the top of the Suburban One League Continental Conference standings on Monday with a misleading 10-2 victory over rival Quakertown (5-5).
“Hitting a homerun in my last at-bat against Quakertown is something I will always cherish,” said Pennridge senior Ray Puskar who belted a monster four-bagger in the sixth inning to break open a tight game. “Beating Quakertown really does mean more to us than winning some other game.
“Some of us play them in football or basketball, and we really want to do well against them,” added Puskar. “Especially after what they did to us last week.”
Last week Quakertown knocked the Rams out of first place in the conference with a 7-6 victory.
“We felt that we needed to beat them since we lost to them last week,” said Pennridge senior Pete Leatherman, who blasted a homerun in the early innings for the Rams. “Quakertown brings out some of the fire that goes along with a rivalry game.
“I’m really happy that we get to play some of the teams again that are 15 minutes away from us,” added Leatherman in reference to the realignment of the conference two years ago. “We love playing both Quakertown and Souderton again. We know a lot of those kids – and that is a good thing.”
“Quakertown-Pennridge is always a healthy rivalry,” said Quakertown head coach Steve Cherrybon. “There is no negative carryover, and the competition is great.
“But right now, we have to worry about ourselves and our chance at making the playoffs,” added Cherrybon. “Right now we feel that we almost have to win out.”
Quakertown finishes the conference season with games against North Penn (Tuesday), Hatboro-Horsham (Thursday), Souderton (next Monday), and CB East (next Tuesday).
Pennridge also feels the need to ‘win out’.
“We can’t focus on the big picture, we just have to go out and try and win every game,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “We can’t relax – not for one single pitch, inning, or game.”
Pennridge closes its season with Hatboro-Horsham (Tuesday), Souderton (Thursday), and North Penn (next Monday).
Central Bucks South (8-3) has been the hottest of the hot teams in the conference with six consecutive conference wins.
The Titans began the conference season with a 2-3 record, but have risen to the top of the conference standings with the victory streak.
South last lost to Central Bucks West (6-5) by an 8-2 score in the fifth conference game of the season.
The two teams will have a pivotal rematch Tuesday at CB West. It is the SOL National Conference Game of the Day.
West has also been on a nice roll with three straight conference wins to get over .500 in the conference standings. The young Bucks have beaten Souderton, Quakertown, and North Penn in succession.
The defending PIAA Quad-A state champion North Penn Knights have struggled recently in conference play, losing five of their last seven conference games.
Suburban One Continental Conference Standings
1. Central Bucks South Titans [8-3]
2. Pennridge Rams [8-3]
3. Central Bucks West Bucks [6-5]
4. North Penn Knights [6-5]
5. Quakertown Panthers [5-5]
6. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters [5-6]
7. Central Bucks East Patriots [4-6]
8. Souderton Indians [1-10]
SOL American Conference
Upper Moreland (6-5) plays a huge game today as the Golden Bears travel to meet first place Upper Dublin (7-3).
It is the SOL American Conference Game of the Day.
“We definitely can help our chances with a win over Upper Dublin,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr. “The coach in me thinks that if we can win our last three conference games – finish 9-5 – we might have a chance for a piece of a championship.”
That road would also include not only a win over Upper Dublin, but wins over Springfield (3-8) and Wissahickon (7-4) as well.
“The competitor in me would love to have the Wissahickon game be meaningful,” said Rehr. “That would be a blast, and hopefully we both can get to that point.
“I have a lot of respect for (Wissahickon head coach) Shannon Gunby,” added Rehr. “We have been friends for years, and we have a lot of mutual respect for each other and our programs. It would be a fantastic way to end the season.”
The jam at the top of the conference standings will make it difficult for anyone to walk away with a title.
“Really, anyone can beat anyone else in our league,” said Rehr. “That’s just the way we have been the last couple of years.”
Upper Dublin enters the Upper Moreland game on a four-game win streak. The Flying Cardinals have beaten Cheltenham (9-1), Springfield (12-7), Wissahickon, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-5) in succession.
Norristown (5-5) has won four of its last five and is the longest shot to make the playoffs. The Eagles suffered an 8-1 loss to Wissahickon in their last game.
Upper Merion (6-5) has lost four straight – three by a single run and the fourth by two runs. The Vikings lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-3), Norristown (11-10), and Upper Moreland (2-10 by one run, and to Cheltenham (4-2) by a two run margin.
Suburban One American Conference Standings
1. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals [7-3]
2. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials [7-4]
3. Wissahickon Trojans [7-4]
4. Upper Merion Vikings [6-5]
5. Upper Moreland Golden Bears [6-5]
6. Norristown Eagles [5-5]
7. Springfield Spartans [3-8]
8. Cheltenham Panthers [2-9]
SOL National Conference
Abington (3-8) is feared when senior Jake Ruch is on the mound. The fire-balling southpaw has earned his reputation as one of the finest pitchers in the entire Suburban One League.
But the Ghosts also feature one of the premier freshmen hurlers in the SOL in Jake Ferrante. Ferrrante has garnered a ‘rep’ of his own, and the future is promising for this young right-hander.
“Jake is an extremely interesting kid,” said Abington head coach Dave Torresani. “He is very dedicated to becoming a good pitcher, and he is a natural talent.
“He throws hard, and he is working very hard on his secondary pitches,” added Torresani. “And he has great love of the game.”
Ferrante was at his very best when he pitched the Ghosts to a 5-4 win over Upper Dublin recently. The youngster had 10 strikeouts and threw a complete game against the Flying Cardinals.
“Jake threw a great game against them,” said Torresani. “And he seemed to get stronger as the game went on.”
Council Rock South (7-4) has put itself back into contention for a conference title. The Golden Hawks are on a four-game conference win streak that has included wins over Truman (7-2), Neshaminy (2-1), Bensalem (18-4), and Abington (9-0).
Greg Welsh – who has committed to Penn State University – was wonderful in the victories over both first place Neshaminy and Abington. Welsh had 16 strikeouts in his win over the Ghosts.
Pennsbury (7-4) has also put itself back in contention for a conference title. The Falcons are also on a four-game conference winning streak that includes wins over first place CR North (7-0), Bensalem (11-5), Abington (9-8), and William Tennent (17-5).
Truman (7-4) has also put itself back into contention for a conference title. The Tigers are on a three-game conference win streak with wins over first place Neshaminy (7-2), William Tennent (14-3), and Bensalem (11-1).
In the SOL National Conference Game of the Day - Pennsbury will be on the road versus Council Rock South.
Suburban One National Conference Standings
1. Council Rock North Indians [8-2]
2. Neshaminy Redskins [8-2]
3. Council Rock Golden Hawks [7-4]
4. Pennsbury Falcons [7-4]
5. Truman Tigers [7-4]
6. Abington Ghosts [3-8]
7. Bensalem Owls [2-9]
8. William Tennent Panthers [1-10]
Suburban One League Baseball – On Deck – Tuesday
National Conference
Truman @ Abington
Pennsbury @ CR South *
Bensalem @ CR North
William Tennent @ Neshaminy
Continental Conference
Pennridge @ Hatboro-Horsham
CB South @ CB West *
Quakertown @ North Penn
Souderton @ CB East
American Conference
Wissahickon @ Cheltenham
Upper Merion @ Springfield
Upper Moreland @ Upper Dublin*
Norristown @ Plymouth Whitemarsh
Conference Game of the Day *
Suburban One Sports.Com Top Ten
1. Council Rock North Indians
2. Neshaminy Redskins
3. Central Bucks South Titans
4. Pennridge Rams
5. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
6. Pennsbury Falcons
7. Truman Tigers
8. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
9. Wissahickon Trojans
10. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
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