Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action in the District One 6A Tournament. Hatboro-Horsham/PV photos provided courtesy of Richard Vernick. To view game photos, please click on the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p846033498
District One 6A semifinal
#1 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 4, #5 PENNSBURY 3
Things looked promising for the visiting Falcons when they broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the fourth inning only to lose a heartbreaker when the Warriors broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off win.
“We scored three runs in the fourth but left a couple more out on the bases that should’ve scored,” Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci said. “We had the momentum in that inning but just couldn’t push any more runs across.
“We gave up two in the bottom of that inning and gave the momentum back. We had an error on a bunt two innings later that tied the game.”
Ryan Zuckerman gave the Falcons momentum when he lined a solo home run to right field to lead off the fourth inning. Justin Mitrovich drew a walk, and Joe Tiroly followed with a double to center, putting Falcon runners on second and third. Reese Hirsch brought a run across when he lined a double to right. Jackson Freeman drew a walk, and with one out, James Schaffer pushed the third run across when he drew a bases-loaded walk.”
The Warriors answered with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning and knotted the score in the fifth. The Falcons went down in order in the sixth and seventh, setting the stage for Henderson’s game-winner in the bottom of the seventh.
Mitrovich threw six innings and was not involved in the decision. He allowed eight hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out nine and walking none.
“Mitrovich had nine Ks through six innings, and the top of the order – who had five hits at that point – was coming up again,” Pesci said. “You could see he was fatigued.”
The Warriors greeted reliever Kayden Faulcon, who absorbed the loss, with back-to-back singles and then loaded the bases on an intentional walk, setting the stage for Edwin Smink’s game-winner.
“We have stressed to the guys that we need to take care of the little things,” Pesci said. “Little things become big things when you don’t execute. A base running miscue, not getting a bunt down, not defending the bunt, all became big moments that resulted in us not scoring runs or giving up free bases and runs.
“We had the chance to win that game and gave it away. WC Henderson took advantage of a few mistakes, but they also hit the ball well today. Once they got guys on, they were able to move them.
“Of course, we are incredibly disappointed because we had the lead and felt confident we could win that game and the district. Now we have to set our sights on winning Thursday and winning states.”
The Falcons managed just five hits off a pair of Henderson pitchers. Zuckerman was 2-for-3 with a home run, run scored and RBI.
Pennsbury (19-4, 13-3 SOL) will host #7 Coatesville in Thursday’s third place game.
Pennsbury 000 300 0 3-5-2
West Chester Henderson 000 210 1 4-11-1
District One 6A playbacks
#2 HATBORO-HORSHAM 8, #9 PERKIOMEN VALLEY 3
The Hatters opened up a 6-0 lead after three innings and rolled to the no-doubt-about-it win that kept their season alive.
“It was a big win for our program, and I’m just proud of the guys for the way they bounced back from last week,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Pete Moore said. “It’s not surprising because of the character kids that we have, but I’m just happy that we get to come together for practice again tomorrow and play again on Thursday.”
The Hatters set the tone for the game with two runs in the bottom of the first. Trey Porter drew a leadoff walk and stole second. He scored when Jack Elwell lined a double to center. One out later, Nick Katherine’s bunt single plated Elwell from third.
In the bottom of the third, Porter led off with a line single to left, and Elwell legged out a bunt single. Both runners advanced on Cole Fisher’s sacrifice bunt. Porter stole home as part of a successful double steal with Elwell, and Elwell scored when Will Bruner hit a sacrifice fly to right field. The Hatters led 6-0 after Logan Fischer delivered a two-run home run to left field.
“On a holiday weekend, people are different places, but everybody found a way to get work in,” Moore said. “Logan Fischer, in particular, I know he put extra time in. He met with Bill DeBoer, who is our jayvee coach, and got some swings with him and a couple of other guys on our team. He swung on his own a little bit and then came out with us last night and got more swings. It paid off for him. He got a big two-run home run today.”
The Vikings put a run on the board in the fifth inning, but the Hatters got that back in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Toporowski singled with one out, and he scored when Noah Schlosser homered to left field to put the Hatters on top 8-1.
In the top of the seventh, the Vikings scored a pair, but they never seriously threatened.
Trey Porter earned the win, allowing five hits and one run (unearned) in 5 ½ innings. He struck out two and walked three.
“This is our third playoff game, and we used three different starters in those games,” Moore said. “Trey was absolutely outstanding on the mound.
“He went five-plus innings and only gave up one run. It was everything that we could have asked for and more from Trey. He was tremendous.”
Toporowski closed it out, allowing one hit and two runs while striking out one and walking one in 1 2/3 innings.
Elwell (2-for-4, 2B, 2R, RBI) and Toporowski (2-for-2) led the Hatters’ nine-hit attack.
Hatboro-Horsham (18-4, 15-1 SOL) will face #4 Souderton in a playback game for the fifth and final state berth on Thursday at Methacton High School at 3:30 p.m.
“We’re just going to tell them to relax and be themselves,” Moore said. “Souderton is an outstanding program, Mike Childs is an outstanding coach, but we believe in ourselves, and they don’t need to do anything more than what they’re capable of and what they’ve done all year.
“I think sometimes in these big games when you try to do too much – you do less than you’re capable of. Our message to our guys today was – just come out and play your game. Look at each other, look at the guy standing next to you, and tell each other you’ve got each other’s back. Pick each other up when needed. That’s the same mantra we’re going to have when we go out there on Thursday.”
Perkiomen Valley 000 010 2 3-6-0
Hatboro-Horsham 204 002 x 8-9-1
#4 SOUDERTON 6, #6 GARNET VALLEY 2
The Indians broke open a pitcher’s duel with five runs in the bottom of the fifth, turning a 1-1 tie into a 6-1 advantage on their way to the important win. Will McCausland turned in another complete game masterpiece for the Indians.
“Will McCausland was doing his thing in 90-degree heat, super humid, and he rolls out there and strikes out 14 guys,” Souderton coach Mike Childs said. “He’s unbelievable.
“I gave a talk at the end of the game of how impressive it is. I said, ‘Guys, think about when you were playing summer travel baseball, and you played in tournaments, and those tournaments were steamy hot where you were asking your parents for Gatorade. That’s what today felt like, but then imagine throwing 101 pitches on top of that.’
“I knew he struck out some guys, but I didn’t know it was 14. Then I go back and see – it was 14, which even made it more impressive, giving up two runs and only walking two guys. In today’s heat, it was super, super, super impressive in a game we knew we needed to win. He’s been our ace all year, he’s stepping up in playoffs – calm, cool, collected, and he just does his thing. He doesn’t get rattled at all. It’s definitely fun to watch.”
Igniting Souderton’s five-run fifth was a solo home run by Shanley Wall to lead off the inning.
“I was talking to him the whole time – ‘Listen, this is what the guy’s throwing. You’ve got to make your adjustments,’” Childs said. “In the first inning, we scored a run, and then we let them hang around and settle in. They were keeping it close.
“We were hitting balls, but it wasn’t anything crazy, so we go the second time through, and at the top of the fifth, the guys said, ‘It’s time. This is our third time through, it’s time. Let’s fire up, let’s get this done.’ Shanley Wall comes out the first batter and hits a home run, a blast to right center field.
“He’s been our spark all year. He’s gone a little cold over the last two games, but you know he’s going to bounce back sometime. At the right time, at the right moment, he steps up and does his thing again, hitting a home run with an exclamation point. That put us ahead 2-1, and then you have Chris McKenna coming up.”
McKenna lined a double to left field for his second hit of the game.
“You’re looking at a sophomore who actually got slid into early in the game,” Childs said. “He’s laying there, and we’re surrounding him, and he pops up and said, ‘Coach, you know I’m not coming out of this game, right?’
“That’s the mentality he has. His face is covered with dirt, his uniform is covered with dirt. That one and two of Shanley and Chris – I’d put them against anybody from any team, and I’m glad they’re on our team.”
Luke Pollack was safe on and error, and Carter Jagiela followed with a single that plated McKenna. One out later, Justin Dicesare singled to load the bases, and a run crossed the plate when Craig Pierce drew a walk. Andrew Schatz lined a single to left to plate a run, and the fourth run of the inning crossed the plate on a ground out.
The Jaguars scored a run in the top of the sixth but never seriously threatened.
McKenna (2-for-3, 2B, 2R) and Decesare (2-for-3, R) led the Indians’ eight-hit attack.
“We had guys stepping up all the time,” Childs said. “Justin Dicesare had two hits today out of the six hole. At any time, it could be anybody, and that’s what’s great to watch.
“We had Hunter Weitzel get hurt, we bring in another kid to give him an opportunity, and he gets on base. There are guys that we’re giving opportunities to that are stepping up and performing, and we have a bunch of guys on the bench just waiting for their number to get called. They know they can do it too, so that’s the whole team aspect – ‘Hey, I’m ready for my shot, give it to me.’ The bench guys are big supporters, and that’s what makes teams great.”
Souderton (19-4, 14-2 SOL) will face #2 Hatboro-Horsham in a playback game for the fifth and final state berth at Methacton High School on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Childs’ message to his team entering the must-win game is remarkably similar to his opponent’s.
“Hey, have fun – you’ve got to play relaxed,” the Indians’ manager said. “They know we’re one-and-done. You just have to go out, do your thing, do what you’ve done all year.
“They’ve done it too. Their record is good also. We just have to outplay them on that one day to give ourselves a shot to get into states. You sit there at the beginning of the season and write all our goals on the white board. Obviously, the goal is league, and everyone has individual goals. You always throw state championship up there. If we don’t win that game Thursday, that’s one of the goals that won’t get accomplished. All you have to do is get in. It’s two great teams who have had a great season, and it comes down to battling it out on the field and seeing what happens. Unfortunately, one goes home.”
Garnet Valley 010 001 0 2-2-2
Souderton 100 050 x 6-8-3
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