Council Rock North advanced to the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals, thanks to its 11-1 win over Frankford. CR North/Frankford photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#1-2 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 11, #12-2 FRANKFORD 1 (5 innings)
The Indians, according to their coach, were chomping at the bit to play their opening round state game. The 24-hour delay after the field was deemed unplayable on Monday only made them more eager.
“We’ve been preparing, and our guys were itchy today, they were antsy,” coach Matt Schram said. “Missing yesterday probably did us a favor because the hungry got even hungrier.
“Everybody played yesterday, and we had to play tennis baseball on our turf field yesterday. It was just silly to practice anymore, and we needed to be together anyway. We played a tennis baseball game and had a lot of fun.”
The Indians had a lot of fun at Frankford’s expense in Tuesday’s rout, pounding out 11 hits in four innings off of Frankford junior ace Luis Ramos, the same Luis Ramos who defeated Neshaminy in last year’s opening round state game (5-2).
While some squads might not have a whole lot of respect for the Philadelphia Public League, Rock North is not in that number.
“We went into this game looking to face a team that knocked out Neshaminy last year,” Schram said. “I know – Public League, Public League, but we were focused at the task at hand. We weren’t looking ahead. I am pleased.
“We faced one of the better pitchers in the Public League. He was a good pitcher, but those guys were really hungry. Not that I would ever predict a win against many teams, but I had a good feeling they were going to come out and show their hunger to whoever we were facing.”
After Frankford scored a run in the top of the first, the Indians answered with two in the bottom of the inning. CJ Donofry was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and then Matt Shenot singled. A Jason Walter double to right plated Donofory with the tying run, and they added a second run to take a lead they would not lose.
Jason Walter led the Indians’ hit parade with a perfect 3-for-3 effort that included two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Matt Shenot also was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Cavan Tully (2-for-4, RBI) also had a multi-hit performance for the Indians.
“The big boppers in the lineup showed why they’re all first team players,” Schram said. “Those guys did a good job, and they hit a good pitcher.
“They were very patient. All of them had great approaches at the plate against a real good pitcher. I’m proud of those guys.”
Eric Hoefer earned the win, allowing one run and one hit while striking out five and walking none in 3.2 innings. Matt Roda closed it out.
“We kept (Hoefer) at 50 pitches, and once we got a decent lead, we felt comfortable pulling him out. We wanted to keep him within the pitching range in case we need him again Thursday. He did a great job, and he needed to have a game like this as well. He didn’t have a great day against Bensalem in the district championship, so this was a good rebound for him. He threw real well.
“We played a clean game. There were no errors on the mound, there were no errors at the plate, and there were no errors out on the field.”
Council Rock North (16-7, 8-4 SOL) will face District 3 champion Cumberland Valley in a quarterfinal game at Muhlenberg High School on Thursday (7 p.m.).
“Everybody’s a champion (in states), and if you’re not a champion, you’re a runner up,” Schram said. “Everybody has a really good record. Cumberland Valley has an identical record to us.
“Now it comes down to executing the small things. The team that makes the least amount of mistakes usually is going to be successful. Mistakes can be errors, mistakes could be walks, mistakes can be leaving runners on base – I call all of those errors. They don’t get listed as errors, but they’re all errors. You’ve got to play clean.
“We been impressing that into our guys’ heads for the last month and a half of staying clean on the bases, in the field and at the plate.
“This isn’t my first rodeo. This is the third time in four years being the quarterfinals. I’m tired of getting here and going home after this game. I now know what we have to prepare, how we have to prepare. There are no secrets in baseball. If you play the game the way you’re supposed to play it, you’re probably going to win or you’re going to be very successful. That’s what we’re hoping for, but you have to get that first win.
“That first playoff game in districts is the hardest game, the first game in states is the hardest game. Otherwise, before you know it, you’re going home.”
Frankford 100 00 1-1-1
Council Rock North 260 3x 11-11-0
Frankford (1) – Richard Lugo 2-1-1-0, Jason Dejesus 2-0-0-1, Dioanny Mejia 2-0-0-0, Tyler Montilla 2-0-0-0, Luis Ramos 1-0-0-0, Walter Pommer 2-0-0-0, Jose Camilo 1-0-0-0, Aristides Bejaran 1-0-0-0, Kashene Colson 1-0-0-0, Christian Santos 2-0-0-0, Dariel Rivera 0-0-0-0, TOTALS 16-1-1-1.
Council Rock North (11) – Cavan Tully 4-1-2-0, CJ Donofry 2-1-0-0, Matt Shenot 3-3-3-1, Jason Walter 3-2-3-3, Griffin Peterson 3-1-1-2, Ryan Stalker 2-1-1-1, Carson Shane 2-0-1-2, Tyler Rushing 1-1-0-0, Alexio Troia 0-0-0-0, Nolan Hartwell 3-0-0-1, Matt Kinney 0-1-0-0, Eric Hoefer 0-0-0-0, Matt Roda 0-0-0-0, TOTALS 23-11-10-2.
2B-Jason Walter 2, 3B-Richard Lugo, Griffin Peterson.
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