Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in Thursday’s District 1 6A playback games. Abington/Avon Grove photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f12122253
District 1 6A third place
#2 NORTH PENN 6, #5 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5
The Knights took a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning only to see the visiting Colonials rally to knot the score.
North Penn won it in the bottom of seventh when Brady Dolder delivered a one-out single that plated Joe Picozzi, who singled to lead off the inning.
“It wasn’t the cleanest game of the year,” said NP coach Kevin Manero, who found himself pitted against his twin brother, PW coach Chris Manero. “We gave some, we took some, we executed, we didn’t. But in the end, a sophomore came up with a game winning hit, and we got a little momentum back headed into the most fun and electric part of a high school baseball season.”
The Knights scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Henry Wetzel led off the inning with a double, and one out later Ben Farley singled to put runners on second and third for Chase Jones, whose single plated a pair.
A solo home run by Lincoln Sharpe in the top of the second made it a 2-1 game, but the Knights answered with two runs in the second. Dolder and Mario Sgro singled, and Wetzel drove in a run with a sac fly, and a second run crossed the plate on James Mangine’s single that put the Knights on top 4-1.
Back-to-back singles by Gabe Caucci and Luke Gartland in the top of the third as well as a walk to Chase Olszyk loaded the bases. Caucci scored on a wild pitch to make it a 4-2 game. Nick DeLucca’s two-out double drove in a run in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Wetzel, who singled, stole second and advanced to third on an error, scored on Mangine’s sacrifice fly. The Colonials had just one hit in the top of the seventh – a one-out single by Luke Hildebrand – but scored a pair to even the score 5-5, setting the stage for Dolder’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the inning.
“The three or four seed is really not something to over analyze,” Kevin Manero said. “But getting a win heading into states always feels good for momentum. For us, we got thumped in the semifinal, so coming back and getting a win was important for our psyche as much as anything else.”
For the Knights, Wetzel (2-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 2R), Farley (2-for-3, 1R) and Dolder (2-for-4, RBI, 1R) led the way at the plate.
Wetzel earned the win in relief, allowing one hit and one earned run while striking out six and walking one in 1 2/3 innings on the mound.
North Penn (19-5, 13-3 SOL) will travel to District 2/4 Subregional Champion Hazleton for Monday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A Tournament. Plymouth Whitemarsh (16-8, 12-4) will be on the road at District XII champion Father Judge on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 011 100 2 5-7-1
North Penn 220 001 1 6-10-2
District 1 6A fifth place
#8 AVON GROVE 13, #4 ABINGTON 7
Abington coach Bill Degen used Thursday’s fifth place game to go deep down his bench. Fourteen different players had plate appearances, and five pitchers saw game action.
The Ghosts took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Chase Goodson hit a two-run home run to left field. Avon Grove answered with four runs in the top of the second.
Abington went on top 5-4 in the third inning, capitalizing on a hit batter and a costly Avon Grove error as well as singles by Matt Worek and Goodson (RBI). Avon Grove opened up a 9-5 lead in the top of the sixth before the Ghosts put a pair on the board in the bottom of the inning. Highlights of the inning were singles by Nate Harley and Jake Kaplan.
Avon Grove added to its lead with four runs in the top of the seventh.
Goodson’s 2-for-4 day at the plate included a home run, three RBIs and one run scored to lead the Owls.
Abington (15-8, 12-4 SOL) will travel to District 11 champion Liberty High School for Monday’s PIAA 6A game.
Avon Grove 040 122 4 13-10-2
Abington 203 002 0 7-5-2
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