Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Tuesday. (North Penn/Pennridge photos courtesy of Cindy Manero/NP Baseball)
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock South 9, Bensalem 1
Senior Trey Sajeski threw a complete-game no-hitter to highlight CR South’s SOL Patriot Division opening win on Tuesday as it took out Bensalem.
Sajeski was dominant on the mound, scattering three walks and finishing with 14 strikeouts. He threw 99 pitches over seven innings.
“Trey Sajeski had one of the best high school performances I have ever seen,” said Golden Hawks coach Greg Paprocki. “He was dominant from start to finish. Complete-game, no-hitter. Extremely happy for him and the rest of the players, who were able to be a part of such a great accomplishment.”
At the plate, Sajeski did his part too, going 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs for the Golden Hawks, which collected nine runs on eight hits.
Billy O’Neill was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and three RBIs.
“Great team win for us today,” Paprocki said. “Our guys did a great job at the plate. Mason Curtier, Sam Serpiello and Tyler Harper all had timely hits for us. Overall, we had a great day as an offense.”
Zach Lentchner had Bensalem’s only RBI, driving in a run in the top of the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly.
Council Rock South (2-1, 1-0 SOL) will be on the road at Neshaminy Thursday, and Bensalem (0-1, 0-1 SOL) hosts Council Rock North on Thursday.
Bensalem 000 000 1 – 1 1 2
CR South 301 032 x – 9 8 1
Pennsbury 8, Neshaminy 1
Early runs and excellent pitching were the difference for the visiting Falcons on Tuesday, as they blew out rival Neshaminy thanks to a 15-hit performance.
Joe Tiroly was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Jordan Czerniak was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. LJ Nelson was 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs, and Sam Labrecque finished 2-for-4 with one RBI.
“We were thrown into the fire right away,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “We had a really good trip down South (to Myrtle Beach, SC). We played five games on turf, and then we came to Neshaminy and played on turf. We just jumped on them early, we were able to take advantage of miscues. Our guys were ready to go.”
A fielder’s choice grounder by Nelson scored Czerniak, who doubled to lead off the second, for the game’s first run. Nelson later scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
In the third, Tiroly led off with a solo homer to center field, and Jackson Freeman, who doubled, scored on a wild pitch.
A Tiroly sac fly and a Labrecque single made it 6-0 to blow it open in the sixth, and in the seventh, Nelson had an RBI double and James Schaffer singled to score Nelson for the final runs of the game.
“What’s actually great is our whole lineup hit,” Pesci said. “You expect our (top four guys) to hit. Schaffer, (Ryan) Zuckerman, Tiroly are all committed kids. Our top five guys all started for us in most of our games last year.
“Today, Jordan Czerniak, a junior, had three hits and two doubles. LJ Nelson, a senior who barely played for us, but has a great arm and great speed; he had three hits today. The bottom of our lineup was real consistent.”
On the mound, Kayden Faulcon went six innings, allowing just one earned run on one hit, scattering four walks and striking out six to pick up the win.
“He didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning,” Pesci said. “It’s tough when you lose two starters and your first reliever – all three Division I guys. Kayden was our No. 3 because of the other guys. He would have been any other team’s No. 1. His confidence level is through the roof. Sure, he’ll go through rough patches like everybody does, but he was great down in Myrtle and came out today and was great day thru five and change.”
Connor McCloskey pitched a scoreless seventh inning, with three strikeouts to finish off the victory.
Neshaminy managed just three hits on the day and scored its lone run on a sacrifice fly by Stone Powell in the sixth.
Pennsbury (4-0, 1-0 SOL) plays at Harry S. Truman on Thursday. Neshaminy (2-1, 0-1 SOL) looks to bounce back at home Thursday against Council Rock South.
Pennsbury 022 002 2 – 8 15 1
Neshaminy 000 001 0 – 1 3 3
SOL Colonial Division
Central Bucks South 4, Souderton 0
Owen Wheeler pitched five shutout innings and also had a double and an RBI at the plate, as CB South went on the road and blanked Souderton in the Colonial Division opener for both squads.
Wheeler, a Maine commit, struck out seven and walked three, allowing just two hits in five innings, before giving way to teammate Logan Hinds. Hinds struck out three with just one walk in two innings of relief.
“Owen was as advertised,” said Titans coach Kevin Bray. “We know he’s going to be a top-end starter for us, and he didn’t disappoint. He was super efficient with his pitches, getting ahead and keeping hitters off balance. He threw 80 pitches in five innings of work. I’m super happy he took the reins and ran with it today.
“Last year, he was predominantly our right fielder. We used him more in a closer-type role. Going into the fall this year, we knew Owen was going to need to be a more stable arm for us as a starter for us to be successful. And he knew that too.”
Offensively, the Titans made the most of their chances against Souderton pitching. They scored three runs in the top of the third on Wheeler’s RBI double and a two-run single by Jack Carver that scored Hinds and Wheeler.
In the fourth, Hinds’ two-out single scored Jordan Chui to make it a 4-0 game, plenty of support for Wheeler.
“We knew this was going to be a tight game,” Bray said. “It usually is with Souderton. They’re really well coached by Mike (Childs). In the first inning, we had the bases loaded and couldn’t execute, and then we cashed in in the third and another in the fourth. Jack Carver’s two-RBI single was huge for us.”
CB South (1-0, 1-0 SOL) plays at rival CB East on Thursday. Souderton (0-2, 0-1 SOL) plays at Pennridge on Thursday.
CB South 003 100 0 – 4 4 2
Souderton 000 000 0 – 0 2 0
North Penn 8, Pennridge 1
Justin Egner, Chase Jones and Ben Farley had three hits each, as North Penn scored five runs early and never looked back on the way to the road win over Pennridge at James Memorial Park.
The first five batters in the top of the first reached for the Knights, including singles by Egner, Kevin Brace, and then a two-run single by Jones. Farley then singled, and with one out, Brady Dolder roped a two-run double to make it 4-0. Mario Sgro’s RBI single made it a 5-0 game before the host Rams even had a chance to come to the plate.
Will Chiappa and Egner had RBI singles in the third to up the lead to 7-0.
“It was great seeing our leadoff guy, Justin Egner, on base a lot,” said North Penn coach Kevin Manero. “I think that’s a big key for any lineup. But for us, especially, we have some young guys in key spots in the order, so it really takes the pressure off of them when a senior like Justin can set the table.
“Dolder, Jones and Brace all had some big hits today. That’s a trio of sophomores who are going to see a lot of at-bats over the next three years. We know they’ll have some ups and downs, but they’re fun to coach and they’re true ball players.”
Pennridge scored its only run on a sac fly by Aiden McCloskey in the bottom of the third.
North Penn concluded the scoring with an RBI single by Jones in the top of the sixth.
Jones had three RBIs, while Dolder had two doubles and two RBIs.
Jack Picozzi started on the mound for North Penn, going 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one run, before giving way to Nick Palovich, who struck out six, allowing just one hit and no runs over 3 1/3 to pick up the win.
“Conditions weren’t ideal today – windy, cold and wet – but I thought getting out to a fast starter in the top of the first was really key,” Manero said. “We were able to get a bunch and then our pitchers, Picozzi and Palovich, did a nice job not giving any back.”
The Knights (3-0, 1-0 SOL) play at CB West on Thursday. Pennridge (0-4, 0-1 SOL) is back at it at home again Thursday against Souderton.
North Penn 402 001 0 – 8 14 1
Pennridge 001 000 0 – 1 4 1
SOL Liberty Division
Wissahickon 9, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Josh Palutis and Jack O’Donnell, the No. 1 and 2 hitters in the Wissahickon batting orders got the Trojans started in the top of the first on the way to an impressive shutout of host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Palutis led off the game with a single to center and then O’Donnell followed with a double to make it 1-0 just like that.
The first five Wissahickon hitters reached base in the second inning – singles by Finn Olszewski and Blake McClintic, a pair of walks, and an error and by the time the inning was over, it was 4-0.
After scoring on a wild pitch in the third, the Trojans then blew it wide open with two in the fifth and two in the sixth.
For the game, O’Donnell led the way with two RBIs for Wissahickon, which had six hits by six different players.
“We have a ton of respect for Pete Moore and the H-H baseball program,” said Trojans coach Andy Noga. “Josh Palutis got things started for us right away with the single to start the game and Jack O’Donnell hunted a fastball up and got the double in the gap to drive in the run.
“Going up 1-0 in the first inning was huge. Even more important was keeping Hatboro-Horsham from responding in the first inning.”
On the mound, three pitchers combined for the shutout, led by starter Adam Hajdak, who pitched five shutout innings, scattering two hits and four walks, while striking out six. Jake Fuhrmeister and Gavin Malloy pitched one inning each to close out the game.
“(H-H leadoff hitter) Trey Porter was going to find his way on base and be active trying to steal,” Noga said. “Our pitchers did a great job varying their picks and holds with runners on.
“Adam Hajdak did a great job making pressure pitches early in the game. We don’t think Adam had his best stuff today, but it showed a lot about him as a competitor to go out there and get a lot of outs without his best stuff.”
Wissahickon (3-0, 1-0 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin on Thursday. H-H (3-1, 0-1 SOL) looks to bounce back Thursday at Abington.
Wissahickon 131 022 0 – 9 6 2
Hatboro-Horsham 000 000 0 – 0 5 3
Upper Dublin 4, Quakertown 1
Three pitchers combined to allow just one run on five hits, and Upper Dublin scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break open a tie game on the way to the 4-1 win over Quakertown in the SOL Liberty opener for both squads.
Chase Sunday picked up the win with three shutout innings out of the blocks, scattering two hits and four walks, while striking out two.
Westley Gill also went three innings, allowing just an unearned run on three hits, and then Jacob Cornbluth closed it out with a scoreless seventh.
“Our boys’ hard work showed through today,” said Flying Cardinals coach Ed Wall. “Chase Sunday, Wes Gill and Jacob Cornbluth came in and dealt, working out of a few jams (and) they used our defense, who turned three double plays.”
Brendan O’Brien drove in UD’s first run with an RBI single in the third, and then after Quakertown tied it with a run in the fourth, the Cardinals cashed in as Paul Stoffel had an RBI single after two walks and Jared Levis and O’Brien forced in runs with bases loaded walks.
Cooper Natisin’s RBI single accounted for Quakertown’s lone run.
Upper Dublin (1-0, 1-0 SOL) plays at Wissahickon on Thursday. Quakertown (1-1, 0-1 SOL) has a scheduled nonleague game on Wednesday at Perkiomen School.
Quakertown 000 100 0 – 1 5 0
Upper Dublin 001 300 x – 4 6 3
SOL Freedom Division
Upper Moreland 6, Lower Moreland 0
Upper Moreland jumped out quick with four runs in the first three innings and then rode the pitching of Jimmy Torpey to post the impressive shutout win in the Freedom Division opener on Tuesday afternoon.
Torpey went the distance for the Golden Bears, allowing just six hits and not walking a batter in an 85-pitch outing that saw him strike out nine. He retired the first eight batters of the game and even worked out of trouble in the seventh after a pair of leadoff singles.
“Jimmy Torpey was outstanding today,” said UM coach Jim Fasano. “He threw a complete-game shutout with no walks and nine Ks. Most impressive was his 63:20 ball to strike ratio.”
Offensively, freshman Jackson Townsend singled home senior Shawn Townsend got the Bears on the board in the first, and then had an RBI double in the second, followed by a Patrick Kilgus RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.
Leadoff hitter Shawn Townsend was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Kilgus and Jackson Townsend were both 2-for-4 with RBIs.
“It was a good win for us after a couple of difficult performances, but showed our heart and potential,” Fasano said.
Matt Dymowski was 2-for-4 to lead Lower Moreland’s offensive attack.
UM (2-1, 1-0 SOL) next plays at William Tennent on Thursday. Lower Moreland (1-1, 0-1 SOL) looks to bounce back Thursday against Cheltenham.
Lower Moreland 000 000 0 – 0 6 3
Upper Moreland 121 020 x – 6 7 3
Springfield Twp 12, William Tennent 2
Ten runs in the top of the fifth broke a 2-2 tie and lifted Springfield to the season-opening win on the road at Tennent on Tuesday.
“We’re pleased,” said Springfield coach Dennis Primavera, whose team went 2-14 a year ago. “It’s a good start for us after a season like last year, but everything is different.
“We’re very young and even younger on our JV team. All of the players at the JV level are athletes, they all have skills, so for the next three or four years, Springfield should be in good shape quality-wise as players come up.
“Pitching-wise, I have eight pitchers, all of whom can throw strikes at a given time. We knew we were going to be young, and I’m hoping the older players – the seniors and the juniors – will pick up the slack, bring them along and meld. It’s going to be a learning process for everybody, but it’s going to be interesting.”
Tuesday, Ryan Marcino had a double and four RBIs for the Spartans, while Jim Haligan was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs and Brett Smith was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs.
Overall, Springfield scored 12 runs on 11 hits.
Will Hastings pitched the first four innings to pick up the win, allowing just the two runs on two hits, while also striking out three. Sophomore Nolan Kidwell struck out three in a scoreless fifth to close out the game with the 10-run mercy rule.
“I went with a senior pitcher today,” Primavera said. “He’s actually pitching to his brother, Owen. I went that way because I wanted to have some command on the mound, not get flustered by the opening day game situations. He ended up pitching well. I thought he got a little tired because this is his first outing.
“Before I was going to take him out, we ended up exploding in the top of the fifth. That was a combination of some timely hits, bunts, errors by the other team, unfortunately. We took advantage of everything. We didn’t plan on scoring 10 runs, but that’s what we did.”
Springfield is without its top returning pitcher from last year, Tim Saiber, due to a knee injury suffered in the football season.
“We have a senior outfield, a freshman at third base, sophomore at short, junior at second and a junior at first and a sophomore catcher, so we’re kind of young,” Primavera said. “Of all the nine players that play and even the ones on the bench, this is the fastest team I’ve had in 10 years. Every one of them can fly, so there’s no qualms about stealing a base or bunting in a situation.
But they have to learn. Speed is one thing, but we’re in this whole learning process.”
Julio Ybarra had an RBI double for Tennent, while Jackson Archibald drove in the other run for the Panthers in the fourth.
Springfield (1-0, 1-0 SOL) hosts New Hope-Solebury on Thursday. Tennent (0-2, 0-1 SOL) is off until it plays a nonleague game at MaST Charter on Saturday.
Springfield 200 0(10) – 12 11 0
Tennent 000 20 – 2 2 1
New Hope-Solebury 7, Cheltenham 0
Tyler Corino pitched a complete-game shutout for the Lions, who opened up SOL Freedom play on the road with a win over Cheltenham.
Corino threw 82 pitches and faced just 25 batters, allowing just three hits and one walk, while striking out eight.
“Tyler pitched ahead throughout the game and did not allow a hit until a fifth inning single,” New Hope coach Tony Vlahovic said. “He demonstrated great poise on the mound and was effective with all four of his pitches.
“Tyler helped his cause at the plate with a single and two-RBI double in the sixth inning.”
Corino finished the day 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Offensively, New Hope broke the scoreless tie with two in the top of the third, as one run scored on an error and Joel Carmenini drove in the other with an RBI single.
In the fourth, Nathan Klossner led off with a single and came around to score on an error. Matt Rickert had an RBI sac fly in the fifth. In the seventh, New Hope scored three times, with a two-run double by Corino and an RBI single by Klossner, who had a pair of hits.
“Our team totaled 15 quality at-bats and was perfect in the field with zero errors,” Vlahovic said. “Coach (Kevin) Hite has done a great job building the size and quality of the program in Cheltenham.”
New Hope (1-1, 1-0 SOL) is on the road Thursday at Springfield. Cheltenham (0-1, 0-1 SOL) next plays at Lower Moreland on Thursday.
New Hope 002 110 3 – 7 10 0
Cheltenham 000 000 0 – 0 3 0
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