Neshaminy, CB South & Souderton were winners in Thursday’s PIAA 6A quarterfinals. Souderton/PW photos courtesy of Kim Supko. Neshaminy/Downingtown West photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison. Check back for a gallery of photos from both games.
Class 6A
#1-1 NESHAMINY 3, #1-4 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 1
The streaking Redskins won their ninth in a row to earn a spot in Monday’s PIAA 6A state semifinals. Ask Cory Joyce about the Redskins’ resurgence since a slump that saw them lose five of six during one stretch, and the senior captain has an immediate answer.
“It’s really about persistence with these guys,” Joyce said. “We stuck with each other through it all.
“Being 9-0, you’re on top of the world, and then we lose five of our next six. From then, you don’t know where to go, but we stuck together. We started to focus on the little things more, and we got back on track.”
Max Temple and Jake Fehrle proved to be a winning combination on the mound Thursday. Temple, who earned the win, allowed six hits and one run while striking out seven and walking one in five strong innings. Fehrle closed it out with two shutout innings to earn the save, allowing one hit while striking out one.
“Jake and Max kind of switched roles from what they had earlier,” coach Dan Toner said. “They were both equally as good. We go with who has the hot hand for the longer period of time.
“Max has been doing a little bit better going longer innings, and Jake’s been doing a fantastic job coming in and closing out the game.”
While standout pitching certainly has played a role in the Redskins’ success, all but lost in the shuffle has been the stellar defensive play of the ‘Skins.
“Throughout the district playoffs, our pitchers have been very good, but our defense has been even better,” Toner said. “When anybody gets anything going, it seems like they automatically hit into a double play next.
“(Shortstop) Cory Joyce and (second baseman) Matt Yauger are doing an absolutely fantastic job of getting balls and turning double plays. Where most teams would only get one out, we’re getting two, and Tyler Jones at third base is playing absolutely incredible – laying out for balls and everything.”
While Joyce has been a fixture in the infield for four years, Yauger – who played behind now Bryant freshman Brian Nicolas last year – is in his first year at second.
“Yaug got his reps in practice, and he’s a real hard worker,” Joyce said. “He’s been real easy to work with.
“Our defense has really been lights out since I don’t know when. Our pitching has been great. They’ve let us make plays behind them, for the most part throwing strikes and keeping us in the game and letting us do our thing.”
The Redskins scored all the runs they would need in the first inning. Matt Yauger drew a leadoff walk, and Joyce, Joe Kaleck (2 RBIs) and Dalton Turner followed with back-to-back-to-back singles. The third run scored on a fielder’s choice by Tyler Jones.
“Getting three runs in the first inning – that’s huge in any game,” Joyce said. “Especially with that pitcher, he really did a nice job.
“After the first inning he really settled in and kept us off-balance from there. With our pitchers having let up five runs in six games, we’re definitely comfortable with three runs. We’d like to have more, but we trust our pitching and we trust our defense that we’re going to hold them to less than three.”
The Redskins managed just one hit after the first inning, but Temple and Fehrle made that early 3-0 lead stand. The Cougars scored their only run in the fifth.
“Their pitcher was really good,” Toner said. “He struggled a little bit early, and luckily, we were able to take advantage of that because after that inning, it became a straight pitcher’s duel.”
The Redskins, according to Toner, entered the season with high expectations.
“We went 9-0 to start, and we were beating some of the top teams in the league,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Then we had that slump, and we had to find a way to get out of it. The captains took over, and we definitely got out of it.”
Fresh off their program’s first district crown since 1992, the Redskins continue to make history, advancing further in the state playoffs – as a result of Thursday’s win – than any baseball team before it.
“It’s so much fun,” Toner said. “We had our banquet last night and had a real good chance to recognize all of our seniors, all of our captains and all of our team members.
“That really explained why we are where we are right now is because of our team family type of feel.”
The Redskins, who had 10 seniors on their roster, are led by captains Joyce, Joe Kalack and Gus Natelli.
“Between Joe, Cory and Gus, they’ve made this year fun and very easy on me,” Toner said. “I’ve talked to other coaches that have won – it has that kind of feel to it, and I get what they’re talking about.”
For Joyce, a four-year varsity player for a perennial SOL power in football, this year’s postseason run has been especially significant.
“A lot of the success in my career has been with football and the league championships,” he said. “With baseball, to finally be doing something in my main sport, it’s unreal. It’s a fun ride to be on. I’m hoping we can finish it off strong.”
Neshaminy (18-6, 7-5 SOL) will face a familiar foe in Monday’s state semifinal contest. The Redskins will take on a Souderton squad it played twice during the regular season. Both were Neshaminy wins.
“We’ve developed a nice little rivalry between ourselves and Souderton,” Toner said. “When I started coaching my very first year, we beat them in the second round of playoffs, and last year, they beat us in the first round.
“This year they’re our cross-over game, and we played them twice. I think they’re an awesome program, and I really like that (Jordan) Morales. He’s a good player. It’s going to be a really good intense game. We beat them twice earlier in the season, but it’s two completely different teams that are going to play now. We both are just better than we were. It’s going to be fun.”
Downingtown West 000 010 0 1-7-1
Neshaminy 300-000 x 3-4-0
Multiple hits: DW-Connor Lynch 2-3; N-Dalton Turner 2-3. 2B-Michael Defant (DW), Dalton Turner (N); WP-Max Temple (5 IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 7K, 1BB); LP-David Owsik (6 IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 6SO, 1BB).
#1-2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, #3-1 WILSON WEST LAWN 1
Their season was supposed to be over weeks ago.
But, instead, they are now just one win away from playing for their first PIAA Class 6A state championship.
“It’s been unbelievable,” Central Bucks South senior pitcher Ryan Rieber said. “We’ve been playing really well for a long time, but to still be going and having a chance to maybe playing for a state championship is unreal.”
On Thursday, the Titans took a huge step toward reaching that state title game by edging Wilson-West Lawn 2-1 in a PIAA state quarterfinal at Boyertown High. The loss ended the season for the Bulldogs.
“These guys have just kept it going,” Central Bucks South coach Brian Klumpp said. “They’ve been playing solid baseball and are playing with a lot of confidence.”
The victory moved the Titans into Monday’s semifinals against District Seven-runner-up North Allegheny at Chambersburg Area High School at a time to be determined.
“We’ll be ready to go,” Central Bucks South senior left fielder Zach Steinberg said. “Every team you play at this point is really good and you have to play your best in order to win.”
North Allegheny defeated District Seven-champion Pine-Richland 4-1 in another quarterfinal on Thursday.
And speaking of districts and district tournaments, the Titans entered the 20-team District One tournament as the 17th seed and needed to finish in the top five to qualify for the PIAA state tournament – a tall task they accomplished in style by reaching the championship game before falling to Neshaminy.
“We played well in that game, too,” Rieber said. “It was just that Neshaminy played a little better than we did. But we’ve bounced back from that loss and are still going.”
The Titans are still going in large part thanks to Reiber.
He was masterful against Wilson-West Lawn, the District Three champs, as he yielded just four hits (with only one of them coming after the second inning) and did not walk a batter.
“Ryan did what he does,” Klumpp said. “He threw strikes and hit his spots. When he does that, and we play good defense behind him like we did today, we’re a pretty good team.”
The Bulldogs (19-8-1) picked up their lone run in the top of the first inning after starting the game with two hits followed by a sacrifice fly.
From there, though, Rieber simply shut the Wilson-West Lawn bats down for good. All told, the Bulldogs’ three through nine hitters went a combined 1-for-16 with the one hit being a second-inning single.
“I felt really good warming up before the game,” said Rieber, who struck out seven and walked none. “And the defense behind me was great.
“The team has been playing great defense all season and we’ve kept doing that now.”
The Titans notched all the offense they would need in the second inning by scoring two runs thanks, in large part, to three Wilson-West Lawn errors and a huge two-out RBI single by Steinberg that scored Rieber with the second run.
“I was ready to hit,” Steinberg said. “It was a 3-2 count and I was just glad I was able to get a hit and help the team. We’ve been rolling and want to keep it going.”
Wilson-West Lawn 100 000 0 1-4-2
Central Bucks South 020 000 x 2-4-0
Multiple Hits: W-Rodriguez 2-3. WP – Ryan Rieber (7 IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 7K, 0BB), LP-Holman (6 IP, 4H 2R, 0ER, 6K, 2BB).
#1-5 SOUDERTON 11, #1-3 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (6 innings)
Luke Taylor had a little score to settle with PW.
In the last meeting between the two teams, the Indians’ senior hurler took a no-hitter and a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning of his team’s District 1 6A semifinal game against PW. The Colonials knotted the score in the sixth and went on to win it 6-3.
“I pitched the last game, and it didn’t go as planned,” Taylor said. “I had a no-hitter going into the sixth and gave up a big home run in that inning to tie it, and after that, they kept scoring.
“I definitely wanted revenge on them and to just go out and do the best I could. Luckily, this game was different. We were able to 10-run them, so that was huge.”
While the Indians’ bats came alive, pounding out 15 hits off a trio of PW hurlers, Taylor was on top of his game on the mound, allowing just four hits in the complete game win while striking out eight and walking one.
“The last time I just started getting tired,” Taylor said. “The one kid hit a double, and I had the kid that hit the home run in a full count. My pitch count was up, so I decided to throw a fastball because I didn’t want to walk him with a curve. I left it right down the middle, so he just put a good swing on it and hit it out.
“I felt good today. I was hitting my spots really good, I was painting the black, and I was hitting the corners. My off-speed was working pretty well.”
Taylor’s superb performance was no surprise to his coach.
“He’s been stellar all year,” coach Mike Childs said. “He’s had games – I don’t want to call them revenge games but games that have left a bad taste in his mouth. Last year we lost to North Penn 10-0 when he pitched, so he asked me this year, ‘Coach, do I get a shot at North Penn?’ I said, ‘Yes, you do.’ He ended up stepping up and beating them, and they didn’t score any runs against him.
“He knew he was next in line after Jordan (Morales) pitched against La Salle. He knew it was PW, and he said, ‘Coach, I need a payback.’ It’s not negative – it’s just his competitive drive to redeem himself to his teammates. At the plate, he had two hits again today. He’s just doing it all over the place for us.”
Morales and Taylor have been effective in starting roles all season for the Indians.
“We have two number ones and really good pitchers in the wings,” Childs said. “When these guys are running seven, seven, seven, some of the other guys don’t get a chance to pitch.
“We’re definitely blessed with pitching, and two pitchers who are both number ones, who can play positions, and they both can hit.”
The Indians put a run on the board in the second when Moses Clemens, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored on a sacrifice fly by Morales. They added three more in a third inning that included doubles by Taylor, Clemens and Dylan Kummery (2 RBIs) as well as an RBI single by Jake Horton.
In the top of the fourth, the Colonials got on the scoreboard when Kevin Reilly, who doubled, scored on a fielder’s choice by Jesse Jaconski.
In the bottom of the fifth, Clemens smashed a no-doubt-about-it two-run home run to straightaway center field, putting the Indians on top 6-1.
“He’s a kid that doesn’t say much – he steps up to the plate and shows it with his actions,” Childs said of Clemens. “He’s a big kid, he’s a strong kid. To see him show emotion – he hit the home run today, he rounds first base and he looks back at his bench, rounds second and is waving his arms in the air.
“For a kid that is usually a quiet kid – he was just so pumped up and happy that he’s succeeding and helping his team, it’s awesome. And the home run he hit – they have a fence at Methacton that’s probably eight feet with another 12-foot netting over top of that, and he hit it dead center field in the middle of our freshman team that was out there watching.”
The Indians brought an early end to the game with five runs in the sixth. Conlan Wall and Taylor (RBI) opened the inning with back-to-back doubles. Frank Pollock, Morales (2 RBIs) and Hogan Despain (2 RBIs) added singles.
“The past three or four games we’ve been putting up hits,” Taylor said. “It’s like it’s contagious. I think we’re all just super confident. We’re seeing the ball well. We’re hitting one through nine in the lineup, and when you’re doing that, it comes easy.”
Clemens led the Indians’ 15-hit attack with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate that included a double, home run, 2 RBIs and three runs scored. Wall (2-for-4), Pollock (2-or-4), Taylor (2-for-4) and Kummery (2-for-4) also had multi-hit days for the Indians, who have outscored their opponents 35-4 in four games since falling to PW in the district semifinals.
“The boys are seeing the ball well, they feel confident, they’re having fun, and they’re playing loose,” Childs said. “They’re peaking at the right time, and I’m hoping it continues on Monday.”
“It’s been awesome,” Taylor said. “We’re having so much fun. We just want to keep winning. We’re super hungry.”
Souderton (22-4, 12-0 SOL) and Neshaminy will do battle for the third time this season in Monday’s PIAA 6A semifinal. The Redskins won both regular season meetings with the Indians (4-2, 4-3).
“Our team is really hyped up to play them,” Taylor said. “The last game was 4-3. We wanted to play them since the beginning of the playoffs. That’s going to be a big game. It should be fun.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-3) closed out its season with a 16-9 record and sole possession of the SOL American title.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 100 x 1-4-0
Souderton 013 025 x 11-15-1
Multiple hits: S – Conlan Wall 2-4, Luke Taylor 2-4, Frank Pollock 2-4, Moses Clemens 3-3, Dylan Kummery 2-4. 2B – PW-Kevin Reilly, S-Moses Clemens, Dylan Kummery 2, Luke Taylor 2, Conlan Wall 2. HR – S – Moses Clemens. WP-Luke Taylor (6 IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 8K, 1BB), LP-Brett Botttinger (4 IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, 2K, 2BB).
Class 4A
#4-1 SELINSGROVE 6, #1-1 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 3
Things looked promising for the Spartans when they opened up a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first, but it wasn’t an omen of things to come. Selinsgrove made it a 3-2 game with a run in the second and then all but won it with a four-run outburst in the third. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
“It was a winnable game,” coach Dennis Primavera said. “But it was a good year.”
The Spartans’ coach credited a strong senior class for its role in the team’s success, which included capturing the District 1 4A title.
“Our seniors led the way for the entire year,” Primavera said. “It had an impact on our younger players.
“We played a competitive brand of baseball all year. I told them today that they did not play their best game, and that’s baseball. In a short season having a sub par game will inevitably happen, and that’s the game of baseball, and that’s what makes it great. We had a stellar year, and they should be proud, especially our seniors who led the way.”
Seniors on the roster were Sean Cornely, Max Perry, Brian Murphy, Kevin Keown, Tyler Borowiec, Mitchell McCann, Jake Trader, Joey McLaughlin, Morgan D’Amico and Max Doll. Of the team’s 10 seniors, eight were starters, but the cupboard is hardy bare.
Primavera returns his number one and two pitchers – Ethan Hamilton and Jackson Campbell – as well as his starting shortstop and a large class of promising sophomores.
Springfield Township (6-8 SOL) closed out its successful season with a 10-12 record.
Selinsgrove 114 000 0 6
Springfield Township 300 000 0 3
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