SOL Baseball District Preview (5-22-19)

Seven SOL baseball teams will be in action in the second round of the District 1 6A Tournament on Wednesday. Check out the preview capsules.

Class 6A
#17 Central Bucks South at #1 Pennsbury

Pennsbury

16-4 overall
11-1 SOL National Conference champion
Five senior starters, only one player remains from 2017 state championship team
Won last six SOL National games to claim conference title outright
Notable wins over North Penn (4-0, 5-1), #9 Bensalem (14-4, 3-1), #20 Council Rock South (15-2, 4-3), #7 Neshaminy (6-5)
Top hitters include senior SS Justin Massielo (.429, 14 runs, 13 RBIs, 7 doubles), junior 3B Sam Ruta (.393, 14 runs, 15 RBIs, 7 doubles, 1 HR), senior DH Justin Fogel (.382, 11 runs, 16 RBIs, 6 doubles)
Starting pitchers are senior left-handers Christian Buchler (4-0, 2.38 ERA) and Shane Ostrowsky (5-1, 2.60 ERA). Senior right-hander Sean Hochhausler (4-1, 0.86 ERA), 24 1/3 IP, 32 K, 3 BB) has been outstanding out of the bullpen

How they got here: Open round bye

Central Bucks South

13-6 overall
7-5 SOL Continental Conference, tied for second place
Notable wins over #19 Quakertown (10-3, 11-1), #1 Pennsbury (6-3), #10 Hatboro-Horsham (7-5)
Top hitters include senior DH Jake Trachtenberg (.473, 9 runs, 17 RBIs, 7 doubles), senior OF/P Brock Veit (.377, 18 runs, 9 RBIs), senior OF Jake McKeown (.375, 19 runs, 9 RBIs), senior SS Joey Loynd (.308, 3 runs, 6 RBIs)
Senior left-hander Ryan Rieber (4-2, 1.74 ERA, 40 1/3 IP, 42 H, 10 ER, 10 BB, 39 K) has been the workhorse of the pitching staff. Brock Veit (2-1, 3.50), Owen Petrich (1-3, 2.54) and Joe Martino (2-0, 0.96) could all play an important role in the Titans are to go deep in the playoffs.

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Central Bucks South traveled to #17 Coatesville and earned a 5-3 win. Ryan Rieber earned the win in relief. Jake Trachtenberg was 2-for-3 with a triple, and Connor McKeown was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Steinberg was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Rieber was 1-for-2 with three RBIs.

Winner will face: Winner of No. 9 Bensalem at No. 8 Downingtown West game.

#14 Spring-Ford at #2 Souderton, Wednesday, 4 p.m.

17-3 overall
12-0 SOL Continental Conference champion
First baseball team in school history to complete regular-season unbeaten; allowed just 15 runs in 12 league games with seven league shutouts
Notable wins over #19 Quakertown (7-2, 2-1), #18 Central Bucks South (3-0, 2-0), North Penn (3-0, 2-0), #6 Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-5)
Top hitters include senior 1B Luke Taylor (.354, 10 runs, 5 RBIs), junior SS Conlan Wall (.347, 14 runs, 4 RBIs), junior 3B Jake Horton (.240, 13 runs, 20 RBIs, 4 HR), senior OF/OP Jordan Morales (.293, 5 runs, 14 RBIs)
Starting pitchers are senior left-hander Jordan Morales (6-1, 0.37 ERA, 38 1/3 IP, 19 H, 2 ER, 8 BB, 53 K) and senior right-hander Luke Taylor (5-1, 0.95 ERA, 37 IP, 28 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 50 K). Andrew Curran (3-0, 0.58) and Eric Ritchie (1-0, 0.60) come out of the bullpen

How they got here: Opening round bye

Spring-Ford

14-7 overall
11-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference, lost in conference title game to Phoenixville
Notable wins over #4 Methacton (9-2), #13 Boyertown (5-4), #12 Owen J. Roberts (3-1), #18 Perkiomen Valley (12-5, 2-1)
Top hitters include OF Ben Wilchacky (.355, 14 runs, 6 RBIs, 4 doubles), OF Chase Simmons (.318. 16 runs, 13 RBIs, 4 triples), SS Mark McNelly (.344, 17 runs, 12 RBIs, 8 doubles), OF David McCurry (.324, 12 runs, 12 RBIs, 4 doubles)
Top pitchers for a deep Rams’ pitching staff include Zach Male (3-1, 0.63 ERA, 33 2/3 IP, 18 H, 3 ER, 10 BB, 39 K), Cooper Webb (4-1, 1.86) and Jake Skrocki (2-1, 1.24 ERA)

How they got here: In Monday’s opening round, Spring-Ford defeated #19 Quakertown 8-7. Leadoff batter Ben Wilchacky was 3-for-3 with two triples, three RBIs and two runs scored. He also threw two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.

Winner will face: Winner of No. 11 Avon Grove at No. 6 Plymouth Wthiemarsh game.

# 6 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. #11 Avon Grove, Wednesday, 4 p.m.

Plymouth Whitemarsh

12-7 overall
11-3 SOL American Conference champions
Notable wins include #10 Hatboro-Horsham (6-0), Upper Dublin (10-0), Springfield (4-0, 9-7)
Top hitters include sophomore SS Joe Jaconski (.351, 18 runs, 6 RBIs, 7 doubles), junior C Kevin Reilly (.404, 11 RBIs), senior OF Mike Orensky (.354, 11 runs, 11 RBIs, 6 doubles)
Junior Ben Mascio (6-2, 1.16 ERA, 54 1/3 IP, 38 H, 9 ER, 13 BB, 70 K) was one of the SOL’s top pitchers and a workhorse for the Colonials. Senior Brett Bottinger (3-2, 2.39 ERA) has been a solid No. 2 starter.

How they got here: Opening round bye

Avon Grove

13-7 overall
12-6 Ches-Mont League
Notable wins include # 8 Downingtown West (4-2 and 8-4), # 5 Downingtown East (6-2)
Top hitters include Bryce Porter (.404, 16 runs, 15 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 HR), Riley Davis (.345, 11 runs)
Top pitchers are Drew Iaia (6-1, 1.17 ERA), Karl Schmidt (2-5, 2.25 ERA)

How they got here: Opening round bye

Winner will face: Winner of No. 14 Spring-Ford at No. 3 Souderton contest.

#10 Hatboro-Horsham at #7 Neshaminy, Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Hatboro-Horsham

14-7 overall
10-4 SOL American Conference, second place
Went 2-3 in league games down the stretch, including 6-0 loss winner-take-all season-finale against Plymouth Whitemarsh
Only 2 senior starters
Notable wins over #6 Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-2), Upper Dublin (8-1), Springfield (6-1)
Top hitters include junior C Anthony Bruno (.404, 12 RBIs), junior 2B Bradan Mallon (.302, 9 runs, 10 RBIs, 7 extra base hits), junior OF Jimmy Tooley (.305, 16 runs, 12 RBIs)
Starting pitchers are sophomore right-hander Benny Wilson (6-2, 1.40 ERA, 45 IP, 21 H, 9 ER, 16 BB, 62 K) and junior left-hander Jackson Treski (4-1, 1.93 ERA, 29 IP, 15 H, 8 ER, 21 BB, 35 K). Relievers include junior left-hander Jimmy Tooley (1-1, 3.77) and junior right-hander Ram Krishnamoorthy (0-2, 1.91 ERA)

How they got here: Opening round bye

Neshaminy

12-6 overall
7-5 SOL National Conference, tied for 3^rd
After going 6-0 through the first half of league schedule, went 1-5 over the second half
Six senior starters
Notable wins over #1 Pennsbury (7-4), #2 Souderton (4-3, 4-2), #9 Bensalem (5-2), #19 Council Rock South (14-2)
Top hitters include senior C Joe Kaleck (.440, 12 RBIs, 4 doubles), senior SS Cory Joyce (.364, 19 runs, 15 RBIs, 5 doubles), junior 2B Matt Yauger (.319, 10 runs), junior 1B Dalton Turner (.310, 10 runs, 15 RBIs, 2 HR)
Starting pitchers include senior right-hander Jake Fehrle (3-2, 1.93 ERA), 29 IP, 34 H, 8 ER, 7 BB, 19 K), junior right-hander Dan Errigo (4-1, 3.89 ERA, 27 IP, 23 H, 15 ER, 18 BB, 31 K). Junior Max Temple (3-1, 2.83 ERA, 34 2/3 IP, 32 H, 14 ER, 14 BB, 20 K) has been used out of the bullpen and late in the season as a starter.

How they got here: Opening round bye

Winner will face: Winner of No. 15 Ridley at No. 2 Garnet Valley game.

# 9 Bensalem at #8 Downingtown West, Wednesday, 4 p.m.

Bensalem

15-3 overall
9-3 SOL National Conference, second place
Defending District One Class 6A champion and state runner-up, three returning starters from 2018 team
Notable wins over #7 Neshaminy (5-4), #19 Council Rock South (10-3 and 4-1), Central Bucks East (5-0 and 10-5)
Top hitters include senior 2B Nick Dean (.524, 20 runs, 28 RBIs, 10 extra base hits), junior 1B Damon Lavender (.311, 16 RBIs), senior OF Austin Shay (.367, 15 runs, 11 RBIs), junior SS Matt Silano (.321, 18 runs, 12 RBIs).
Senior Dom Grady (5-1, 3.01 ERA) has been the team’s No. 1 starter and he’s got the postseason experience from a year ago. Sophomore Ryan McLaughlin (5-0, 2.30 ERA) and junior Logan Young (3-2, 3.34 ERA) have also been key for the Owls on the mound. Watch out for Dean, who has pitched sparingly to play a bigger role in the postseason.

How they got here: Opening round bye

Downingtown West

13-5
12-5 Ches-Mont League
Notable wins over #16 Coatesville (4-3), #5 Downingtown East (7-1)
Players to watch include senior pitcher Adam Grintz, who went 7-0 on the season, has 25 career wins. Offensively, look out for 3B Evan Williams, C Eric Grintz, SS Tommy Eliason and 2B Stephen Posner.

How they got here: Opening round bye.