Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday. Pennsbury/CR North photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL Continental
Central Bucks West 12, Central Bucks East 8
Offensive fireworks gave Central Bucks West the early lead and then it held off rival Central Bucks East late for a 12-8 win, the first victory of the season for the Bucks under new coach Brian Weaver.
“It was a wild one,” Weaver said. “They always are when it’s East-West. Any time you play them, no lead is safe. The kids get really amped up.”
CB West pounded eight hits in the game, led by Mike Bukowski, Matt McCarthy and Tommy Comes with two hits each.
And it started in the bottom of the first, as the Bucks jumped out with eight early runs, thanks to RBI singles by Tyler Dalzell, Bukowski and Comes, while a groundout by Ryan Rudek scored another. They were also aided by three errors in the inning.
Trailing 9-1 going into the fifth, CB East rallied with seven runs to cut the deficit to one run. Sophomore Nick Bitsko started it with a solo home run, and Colin Weber and Tommy Webb had RBI singles. Allen and Bitsko later drew bases loaded walks, and a Tyler Young ground out plated another to make it 9-8.
From that point on, however, reliever Danny Miller shut the door for the Bucks, as he did not allow an earned run over 2 2/3 innings, and struck out five.
“We brought in Danny Miller, who played basketball and they were in the playoffs, so he was late getting out,” Weaver said. “It was the first time getting out where he could cut loose and throw. We brought him in a bad situation, with men on base in the middle of East’s rally and he was just lights out.”
CB West put the game away with three in the bottom of the fifth, including a RBI double by Comes.
CB West (1-1, 1-0 SOL)) next plays Friday in a nonleague game at Abington. CB East (also 1-1, 0-1) plays at CB South on Tuesday.
CB East 000 170 0-8 5 3
CB West 801 030 x-12 8 1
Central Bucks South 11, Quakertown 1 (5 innings)
The top of the Central Bucks South lineup was lethal on Thursday, as the Titans shook off a slow start to finish off Quakertown 11-1 in five innings in the SOL Continental opener.
Leadoff hitter Brock Veit, Jake McKeown, Jake Trachtenberg and Bryan Rossi had two hits each and combined to go 8-for-12 on the day with eight RBIs.
“We put the ball in play and made things happen,” said CB South coach Brian Klumpp. “And we put up a couple of big innings, which was key for us.”
After Quakertown went up 1-0 on a Mason Hicks RBI single in the top of the first, the Titans went to work in the bottom of the first.
Veit drew a hit-by-pitch to start the inning, and then after an error, scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by McKeown. An Owen Petrich RBI single made it 2-1.
CB South added three more in the second, thanks to a RBI triple by Viet and a two-run double by Trachtenberg. Another hit-batter and an error, and then a two-run double by Trachtenberg led to three more runs and blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, CB South scored three more times, with the 11th run scoring on a Veit hit, which ended the game because of the 10-run mercy rule.
On the mound, the Titans’ Ryan Rieber allowed just the one run on three hits and three walks, while striking out four. Defensively, Klumpp credited sophomore Carter Hinds making his first varsity start with solid play in the field.
“We’re pretty deep,” Klumpp said. “If one guy is down, for whatever reason, I think we have guys on the bench that can definitely step up and make plays.”
CB South (2-0, 1-0 SOL) hosts CB East on Tuesday, while Quakertown (2-1, 0-1) looks to rebound at rival Pennridge on Tuesday.
Quakertown 100 00-1 3 4
CB South 230 33-11 11 0
SOL American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh 7, Wissahickon 2 (8 innings)
It took extra innings, but with a five-run eighth, Plymouth Whitemarsh opened its SOL American Conference season with a 7-2 win over Wissahickon on Thursday.
“Our guys did a nice job all day of picking each other up,” said PW coach Chris Manero. “We had a few real big hits when we needed them the most.”
Trailing 2-0, Wissahickon rallied to send the game into extra innings with one in the fourth and one in the sixth. Bobby McFarland, who also drove in the Trojans’ first run, singled home Eddie Fortescue to tie it at 2.
Both starting pitchers were strong throughout. PW’s Ben Mascio allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, while striking out 11. Wissahickon’s Quinn Rovner allowed two runs on five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out 11.
“Ben Mascio set the tone for us on the mound,” Manero said. “But (he) also had a great day at the plate and I think the rest of the team fed off of him.”
Steve Gallagher recorded two big outs for the Colonials in the seventh to get out of a jam, sending the game to extra innings.
“His six pitches were some of the most important of the game,” Manero added.
In the eighth, a double by Drew Kliesch, a sac fly by Mascio and a bases clearing double by Mike Orensky broke the game open for PW.
PW (1-2, 1-0 SOL) has another league game Friday at Cheltenham. Wissahickon (0-1) hosts Lansdale Catholic in a nonleague game.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 200 05-7 8 0
Wissahickon 000 101 00-2 8 2
Upper Dublin 4, Hatboro-Horsham 2
Sean Curran allowed one earned run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, and then Karan Acharya closed it out with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and Upper Dublin edged Hatboro-Horsham 4-2 in the SOL American opener for both teams.
“I was really proud that Sean Curran pitched such a fantastic game today,” said UD coach Ed Wall. “And Karan Acharya came in and took care of business to finish what he started against a tough lineup.”
Upper Dublin took the lead early with two runs in the bottom of the first, one on an error and the other on a RBI single by Jarrod Matz. It then went up 3-0 in the fifth on an error.
Hatboro-Horsham plated two runs in the top of the sixth to make it interesting on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Bruno and then an error, but that’s where the Hatters’ rally would end.
Benny Wilson took the loss for the Hatters, allowing just one earned run over five innings.
Both team managed three hits on the game.
“Offensively, our bats are still improving and we had a tough time against Wilson,” Wall said. “We made the most of our opportunities though and we couldn’t have done it without Matz and (Brian) McPeak’s gloves either.
“That is a huge win for us against a very good team.”
Upper Dublin (2-0, 1-0 SOL) is at Cheltenham on Tuesday, while Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 0-1) comes back Tuesday at home against Wissahickon.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 002 0-2 3 5
Upper Dublin 200 011 x-4 3 1
Springfield 10, Abington 2
With five runs in the top of the fifth, Springfield broke open a close game and blew past Abington 10-2 in both team’s conference openers.
Catcher Brian Murphy went 3-for-5 with three RBIs including a key triple in the fifth inning. Ryan Deal was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, while Mitchell McCann and Ethan Hamilton had two hits each.
“The kids hit well today,” said Springfield coach Dennis Primavera. “We started out well. We’ll see what happens.”
On the mound, Hamilton pitched six innings for Springfield, allowing just two earned run and five hits in seven innings. Morgan D’Amico threw scoreless seventh to close out the game.
The highlight of the game for Abington was a two-run third inning that tied the game at 2-2 on a two-RBI double by Joey DiMaria to score Angelo Pearson and Jordan Grimaldi.
Springfield countered with one in the fourth, five in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The Spartans finished with 12 hits for the game.
“The biggest thing for me is not the hits,” Primavera added. “I was really impressed with our defense. Abington put the ball in play, and we made the plays. You don’t win games if you don’t make the routine plays, and we did. For the most part, they did too.”
Springfield is playing the early part of its schedule on the road because of construction at the school. The Spartans took their annual spring training trip to Florida March 20-24.
“We do it every year, but this year it was almost a must because of all the construction that’s going on at Springfield High School,” Primavera said. “I don’t have a field. I’m all away next week, I may be away the following week. I’m going to be away until our field is ready.
“We got away for five days which really helped us, but we’ve been in the gym.”
The Spartans (1-0 SOL) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday, and Abington (1-1, 0-1) hosts Central Bucks West on Friday.
Springfield 200 152 0-10 12 1
Abington 002 000 0-2 5 4
Cheltenham 5, Upper Moreland 3
With three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, Cheltenham edged Upper Moreland 5-3 in the conference opener for both teams.
The pitchers’ duel between Cheltenham’s Alex Bugg and UM’s Colin Bates was scoreless into the fifth, when the Golden Bears went up 1-0 as Ryan Gibbs scored on a double-play ground out.
Cheltenham scored three in the sixth, thanks to an error, and then a double steal as Lukas Nakkula and Garrett Schmidt both came home. The Panthers made it 5-1 in the seventh on a sac fly by Nakkula and a RBI single by Schmidt.
Upper Moreland made it interesting with two in the seventh on RBI doubles by Gibbs and Tyler Ibbotson, but Cheltenham reliever Brennon Palk was able to get out of further trouble and secure the win.
Cheltenham (1-1, 1-0 SOL) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday. Upper Moreland (0-1) looks to pick up its first win Tuesday at Abington.
Cheltenham 000 003 2-5 4 2
Upper Moreland 000 010 2-3 6 2
SOL National
Pennsbury 6, Council Rock North 1
Shortstop Justin Massielo went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs as Pennsbury opened its SOL National Conference schedule in style with a 6-1 win over visiting Council Rock North on Thursday.
The Falcons managed 10 hits, breaking open a scoreless game with three in the third and two in the fourth.
“We came out and (CR North’s Ryan) Stalker pitched well for the first two innings,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “We were able to jump on him in the third. We had some two-strike hits. Tuesday, we played CB South (a 6-3 loss) and had eight hits but couldn’t piece anything together. We had nice hits in clusters today.”
Sam Ruta’s RBI single scored Sean Doherty for the game’s first run in the third. After an error scored the second run, Massielo added a RBI single.
In the fourth, Ruta scored one with a sacrifice fly and Massielo made it 5-0 with a RBI double.
“Massielo was big time today,” Pesci said. “He’s always been a solid hitter. Today, he was really comfortable up there and was able to barrel balls up.”
Shayne Ostrowsky pitched six shutout innings to get the win for the Falcons. He allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out seven, before giving way to reliever Devin Sweeney in the seventh.
CR North was led by Pat Kusters, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the seventh.
The Indians (1-1, 0-1 SOL) are back in action Monday at home against Harry S. Truman. Pennsbury (3-1, 1-0) has a cross-over game at North Penn on Tuesday.
CR North 000 000 1-1 5 3
Pennsbury 003 201 x-6 10 1
Neshaminy 5, Bensalem 2
Dalton Turner went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and four RBIs, as Neshaminy opened its conference season with a 5-2 win over defending National Conference and District One champion Bensalem.
Turner’s two-run HR to left broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth. In the sixth, he scored Cory Joyce and Joe Kaleck with a two-RBI double for key insurance runs to seal the victory.
“Dalton Turner had a nice day at the plate and stepped up when we needed him,” said Neshaminy coach Dan Toner. “The entire offense did a good job battling against a very good Bensalem pitching staff. We had a good day today in all aspects of the game.”
Also for Neshaminy, Kaleck went 2-for-2, and leadoff hitter Gus Natelli was 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, including one of home in the first inning.
Jake Fehrle and Max Temple combined on the mound for Neshaminy, with Fehrle not allowing an earned run over 4 1/3 innings, giving up just four hits and no walks, while striking out four.
“He had very good command of all his pitches and did not allow any walks,” Toner said of Fehrle. “Jake wants the ball in big games and big situations. He is an absolute competitor and it showed today.”
Bensalem managed seven hits on the day, including two each by Damon Lavender and Matt Silano.
The Owls (0-1 SOL) are back in action Tuesday at home against William Tennent. Neshaminy (2-0, 1-0) plays at Council Rock South on Monday.
Bensalem 000 100 1-2 7 1
Neshaminy 100 202 x-5 6 1
Nonleague
Souderton 6, Perkiomen Valley 4
With six runs in the first four innings, Souderton jumped ahead and was able to hold off Perkiomen Valley 6-4 in a nonleague game on Thursday.
“Overall, we hit the ball hard and were sound defensively,” said Souderton coach Mike Childs. “Seven different players had hits in the game.”
Dylan Kummery’s single in the second drove in Dean Shaw and Hogan Despain to give the Indians the early lead. Despain added an RBI single in the third, and then in the fourth after an error scored two, Frank Pollock had a RBI single to make it a 6-0 game.
Perk Valley made things interesting with two in the fifth and two in the sixth, but reliever Jake Horton was able to close out the game with a scoreless seventh to clinch the victory.
The combination of Jordan Morales, Andrew Curran and Horton did not allow an earned run.
“It was a good team win against one of the better (Pioneer Athletic Conference) teams,” Childs said.
Souderton (3-1) opens its SOL Continental schedule Tuesday at Central Bucks West.
Souderton 021 300 0-6 7 2
Perkiomen Valley 000 022 0-4 4 3
William Tennent 12, Pennridge 9
Xavier Delgado went 3-for-3 with a double and a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored as William Tennent out-slugged Pennridge 12-9 in a cross-over game on Thursday.
Delgado also pitched 2 1/3 innings and was credited with the win, allowing only one earned run.
As a team, the Panthers pounded out 12 hits, scoring two or more runs in the first five innings in a wild offensive slugfest.
After three innings, the Panthers led 7-1, only to see Pennridge answer with four in the fourth. After Tennent answered with two in the bottom of the fourth, the Rams cut it to 9-8 with three in the top of the fifth. Tennent then scored three more in the bottom of the fifth.
Alex Tuburcio, Kip Mooney and D.J. Dickson had two hits each for Tennent.
Pennridge, which had nine hits on the day, was led by Sean Clayton, Jon Nase, Ray Knight and Jason Petrick with two hits each. Clayton had three RBIs.
Pennridge (1-1) hosts rival Quakertown on Tuesday. Tennent (1-0) opens its league schedule on Tuesday at Bensalem.
Pennridge 010 431 0-9 9 2
William Tennent 232 230 x-12 12 2
Wednesday, March 27
Neshaminy 17, Conwell-Egan 2 (3 innings)
The Redskins needed just three innings to do away with Conwell-Egan in Wednesday’s non-league opener. They scored six runs in the first and added eight more in the second on their way to the mercy rule win.
Cory Joyce and Tyler Jones led the Redskins’ 10-hit attack. Joyce was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Jones was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Contributing two RBIs each were Gus Natelli, Joe Kaleck, Dalton Turner, RJ Christie and Josh Martoccio. Tommy Pease and Matt Yauger each contributed a double while RJ Christie had a home run.
Dan Errigo earned the win, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out two and walking three in three innings.
Conwell-Egan 020 2-4-3
Neshaminy 683 17-10-0
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