Check out the recaps of SOL baseball teams in action on Thursday.
ABINGTON 8, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 6
The Ghosts scored five runs in the top of the sixth to go on top 8-0, but if they thought this one was going to be easy, they were wrong. The Bucks exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to make things interesting, but the Ghosts held on for the win.
“We had some great pitching, we had some huge hitting from some key players – it was a great game,” Abington coach Jon Morrissette said.
JP Nolan earned the win on the mound, allowing just one hit in 3.1 scoreless innings. He fanned seven and walked only one.
“JP had another great game,” Morrissette said. “He wanted to keep going, but he hasn’t thrown a lot yet, so we had to keep a short leash on him.”
Jamie Burkhart threw a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
“He did a great job closing the game out, and he also started the game off with a double,” Morrissette said of his leadoff batter.
Burkhart finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Stephen Vogl, who saw limited varsity playing time last year, had a huge game at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
“We had a senior catcher last year, so Stephen got some spot playing time,” Morrissette said. “We knew he had tremendous potential. He’s a real hard worker in the weight room especially, and the dividends paid off today for sure.”
Nolan was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
The Bucks collected six hits. Luke Nitschke was 1-for-2 with a double and RBI. Also contributing RBIs were Ryan Rudek, Trevor D’Arcy, Matt Cooper, Tyler Dalzell, Josh Hannon and Blaise Heacox. Nitschke also threw a scoreless inning in relief.
Abington (1-1) will host Council Rock South in its SOL opener on Tuesday, and Central Bucks West (0-2) will host William Tennent on Tuesday.
Abington 001 115 0 8-9-1
Central Bucks West 000 006 0 6-6-1
NORTH PENN 6, BUTLER 3
The Knights are in baseball heaven. At least that’s the way coach Kevin Manero tells it.
“Yesterday and today it was sunny and 75,” the Knights’ coach said of his team’s spring break trip to Myrtle Beach. “We’re right on the beach. The fields are artificial turf – they’re beautiful. It’s baseball heaven.
“Meanwhile, it’s miserable at home. Even if it does get nice like I heard it did today, the fields are still a mess. This is the way to go.”
The trip certainly got off to a good start on the diamond for the Knights, who scored three runs in the pivotal fourth to break a 3-3 tie.
Danny Kirwin had the starting nod and allowed four hits and three runs in three innings.
“He was a little inconsistent with his command,” Manero said. “He did have some stretches where he was really working quick and filling up the zone with strikes, but he was a little inconsistent. His pitch count was getting a little high, so we took him out after three.
“Mason Blankenburg came in and restored order to what was a back and forth game for the first three innings.”
Blankenburg, a senior, allowed just one hit in four solid innings of relief, fanning three and walking one.
“He did a great job,” Manero said. “He came in, threw a ton of strikes. For him to go four innings like that – that’s the most innings he’s ever thrown consecutively for us during his career at North Penn, but he’s got good stuff. His ball moves a lot. He had a lot of bad swings against him, and he just went out there and took care of business. We have three games in a row, and we didn’t want to have to use three pitchers in the first game, so he really saved us there.”
After both teams plated single runs in each of the first three innings, the Knights won it with a three-run fourth inning. Leadoff batter Tyler Siddal doubled to lead off the inning, and Joe Picozzi legged out an infield single, setting the stage for a two-run triple by Billy Collins.
The Knights had a lead they would not lose.
Siddal was 3-for-4 and scored a pair of runs, and Collins was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. AJ Patterson had a double and RBI, and Jake Drelick also had a double. Joe Picozzi had an RBI.
“Tyler Siddal was 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot, which was really big, and Billy Collins – who looked uncomfortable in our first couple of scrimmages – had a big day,” Manero said.
North Penn is back in action Friday when the Knights will face Dublin Scioto at 8:30 p.m.
North Penn 111 300 0 6-10-0
Butler (Pa.) 111 000 0 3-5-1
NESHAMINY 7, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3
The Redskins managed just four hits but made those hits count, capitalizing also on several Patriot miscues to earn their second win in as many days.
After the Patriots scored a run in the top of the second, the Redskins erupted for five in the bottom of the inning. East got two of those back in the top of the third, but the Redskins made it a 7-3 game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Cory Joyce was 1-for-3 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Brian Nicholas was 1-for-2 with a triple, RBI and run scored. Gus Natelli was 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored.
For the Patriots, Will Masterson was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Colin Weber was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI.
Dan Fus earned the win, allowing three hits and three runs in four innings. He struck out two and walked four. Dan Errigo threw a perfect inning in relief, fanning a pair, and Jake Hardnock allowed one hit and struck out five in two scoreless innings to close it out.
Neshaminy (2-0) will host Pennridge on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (2-1) will host North Penn Tuesday in its SOL opener.
Central Bucks East 012 000 0 3-4-4
Neshaminy 050 200 x 7-4-1
CHELTENHAM 7, TOLEDO CHRISTIAN (OH) 1
Alex Bugg was in command on the mound in Thursday’s convincing win, allowing three hits and one run (unearned) in six strong innings. He fanned four and walked three. Adam Turk-Karen threw a scoreless seventh to seal the win.
The Panthers scored three runs in the first and that would be more than enough, but they added a single run in the second and three more in the third to win going away.
Leadoff batter David Katzenberg was a catalyst, finishing the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. He also had a stolen base. Turk-Karen also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Lukas Nakkula was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored, Brennon Paik was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Eddie Kelly was 1-for-3 with a double and run scored.
Toledo Christian 000 001 0 1-3-2
Cheltenham 313 000 x 7-8-1
Wednesday, March 28
CHELTENHAM 12, KENSTON (OH) 10
The Panthers won a wild one in Wednesday’s opener. They scored eight runs in the first only to watch Kenston rally to go on top by one in the fifth inning, 9-8. The Panthers won it with a four-run sixth.
Dale Jacobs had a big bat for the Panthers, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Alex Bugg was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Garrett Schmidt was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Adam Turk-Karen was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Eric Asta did not have a hit but drove in a pair of runs. David Katzenberg and Ben Kaplan each added a single and RBI.
Katzenberg earned the win on the mound, allowing two hits and one run in two innings of relief. Lukas Nakkula threw the first five, allowing three hits and nine runs – none earned.
Kenston 114 210 1 10-5-3
Cheltenham 8-00 004 x 12-7-9
Tuesday, March 27
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 10, WESTERVILLE NORTH 0
Jared Ennis earned the win with an impressive outing to close out the Golden Hawks’ spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, scattering five hits while fanning four and walking none in six shutout innings. Zach Ramirez allowed one hit in a scoreless inning in relief.
The Golden Hawks scored all the runs Ennis would need in a three-run third.
Rich Dembowski was a tough out at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Evan Fisher was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and one run. Nick Gallo was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Luke Gregory was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Jack O’Neill doubled and drove in a run
Council Rock South (1-2) will be on the road at Abington for Tuesday’s SOL opener.
Council Rock South 003 023 2 10-10-0
Westerville North 000 000 0 0-6-1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9, JEB STUART 0
The Indians capped a successful trip to Myrtle Beach with a shutout win. Eric Hoefer was in complete command on the mound, allowing just two hits while striking out eight and walking none in five shutout innings. Ivan Lee scattered three hits in two scoreless innings in relief.
Pat Kusters carried a big bat for the Hawks with a 3-for-5 effort that included an RBI and run scored. Ryan Stalker was 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Cavan Tully was 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot with one run scored. CJ Donofry was 2-for-2 with one RBI. Matt Shenot, Matt Kinney, Andrew Mancini and Pete Sodano each drove in a run on a day that saw the Indians pound out 14 hits.
Council Rock North (2-1) will host Harry S Truman in Tuesday’s SOL opener.
Council Rock North 302 011 2 9-14-0
Jeb Stuart 000 000 0 0-5-2
Monday, March 26
WHEATON NORTH (IL) 7, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 6 (8 innings)
Wheaton broke a 6-6 tie with a run in the top of the eighth. The Golden Hawks had no answer and absorbed the extra-inning loss.
Nick Gallo (2-for-5, 2 runs) and Kevin Jurewicz (2-for-3, RBI) had multiple hit games to lead the Hawks. Shane Walter was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Jared Ennis also had an RBI.
The Hawks used five pitchers in the contest. Brendon Carter tossed three scoreless innings in relief of starter Jake Barder, allowing two hits while striking out four and walking none.
Wheaton North 000 042 01 7-9-4
Council Rock South 200 022 00 6-9-3
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