Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Monday. Pennsbury/New Hope-Solebury photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Non-league
NORTH PENN 9, UPPER DUBLIN 3
A failed bunt attempt paid big dividends for the Knights.
With a pair of runners on board in the fifth inning and the score deadlocked 3-3, Sam Cohen twice got the bunt sign.
“He bunts through the first pitch, he bunts the second pitch foul – I have a scowl under my mask, and then he proceeds to hit a two-strike bomb over the left field fence,” NP coach Kevin Manerso said. “Then he proceeds to hit a bomb the next at-bat, and we’re all left wondering what the heck am I giving him the bunt sign for. The kid had a great game.”
The Knights had a lead they would not lose, and it all added up to quite a day for Cohen, who finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs.
Early on, the Cardinals put a run on the board in the top of the first and added a pair in the second, using singles by Tristan Cairnes and Ethan Madnick and benefitting from a bases-loaded walk to Karan Acharya as well as a Knight miscue.
A solo home run by RJ Agriss to lead off the fourth put the Knights on the scoreboard and gave them some much-needed life.
“I really believe the RJ Agriss home run was kind of the spark that got everything going because we were pretty anemic at the plate in the first three innings until he came up with that big home run in the fourth,” Manero said. “That charged us up a little bit. Hitting can be contagious and that one set the fire for us.”
By the time the inning was over, the Knights – who received an RBI double from Ethan Cohen – had knotted the score 3-3. They went on top 6-3 in the fifth and put the game away with a three-run sixth that included an RBI triple to center by Pat Breen, who scored on a passed ball. Sam Cohen’s solo home run made it a 9-3 game and put an exclamation point on a big offensive performance for the Knights.
In addition to Sam Cohen, Agriss was 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three runs scored. Breen had a pair of extra-base hits, a double and triple. Ethan Cohen also had two hits, including a double.
Eric Hamilton earned the win with three shutout innings of relief. He allowed a pair of hits, fanned four and walked one.
“Eric Hamilton had a very strong performance,” Manero said.
Nick Lombardo led the Cardinals with two hits, including a double.
North Penn (1-0) will host Springfield Township on Tuesday in a non-league game, and Upper Dublin (0-2) is off until next Wednesday, April 7, when the Cardinals will travel to Abington for their SOL opener.
Upper Dublin 100 200 0 3-8-3
North Penn 000 333 x 9-12-3
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, HARRY S TRUMAN 2
The Hatters rode a brilliant pitching performance by freshman Stephen Plefka to a win over the visiting Tigers. Plefka needed only a remarkable 63 pitches in his complete game effort. The young lefty struck out two while walking only one and allowed just three hits on the day.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the second. The Hatters answered in the bottom of the inning when Logan Fischer hit a towering home run to left field to knot the score 1-1.
After the Tigers went on top 2-1 in the top of the fourth, the Hatters answered with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Toporowski worked a one-out walk. Sophomore left fielder Trey Porter also walked. With two outs, Toporowski scored on an errant throw when the Tigers tried to back pick Porter at first base. Toporowski raced home from second, sliding into home to beat the throw and give the Hatters their first win of the season.
Toporowski was 1-for-2 with a stolen base and scored the game-winning run. Junior right fielder Jack Elwell was 1-3 with his second double of the season.
Truman junior third baseman Wil Brennan was impressive on the day, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. According to HH coach Pete Moore, Brennan also made a few nice plays at third, showing range and a strong arm. Truman’s junior catcher, Mike Burns, threw out 2 of 5 base stealers.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-1) will host Central Bucks South in a non-league game Tuesday at 3:45 p.m., and Harry S Truman (0-1) will host Conwell-Egan on Tuesday in a non-league game.
Harry S Truman 010 100 0 2-3-5
Hatboro-Horsham 010 100 1 3-4-0
PENNSBURY 17, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 1 (3 innings)
The visiting Lions took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. It turned out to be short-lived as the Falcons answered with 13 runs in the bottom of the inning on their way to the mercy rule win.
Leadoff batter Charlie Evans was 2-for-2 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Jake Schilling was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs, and Alex Martin was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base. Joe Limongelli (2-for-2, RBI, run) and Eric Stradling (2-for-2, RBI, run) also turned in multi-hit performances for the Falcons, who pounded out 15 hits.
Evan Hill (1-for-1, run) and Gavin Hawkes (1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBIs) also contributed.
Kayden Faulcon notched the win in 1.1 shutout innings of relief, striking out two and walking a pair. Eric Kolb threw a scoreless inning in relief, fanning one.
For the Lions, Matt Jermyn was 1-for-1 with a walk and drove in his team’s lone run.
Pennsbury (1-1) will host Upper Dublin in a non-league game Tuesday.
New Hope-Solebury 1 0 0 1
Pennsbury 13 4 0 17
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