SOL Colonial Division
Central Bucks East 4, Central Bucks South 3
After struggling at the plate early, Joey Wilga had a chance of redemption in extra innings and the CB East senior first baseman came through with a RBI double to give the Patriots the 4-3 win over rival CB South.
“Joey had a tough day at the plate his first two at-bats,” said Patriots coach Kyle Dennis. “We actually pinch hit for him earlier in the game. Joey came back, came to the plate and looked like the Joey Wilga we know. He was kind of having a rough day at the plate, I don’t think he was seeing it well, but he came up with the big hit in the eighth when we needed it. “
CB East also got a big day on the mound from sophomore Mike Scafidi out of the bullpen. He came on in the fourth in relief of starter Zavier Sjostedt, and pitched five innings, allowing just one earned run, scattering five hits and a walk, while striking out seventh.
“Zavier got the start, threw a handful of innings, but his pitch count was up,” Dennis said. “Mike got us out of the inning, and allowed only one inherited run. He’s a sophomore making his first varsity conference appearance. He was a freshman last year who put in a lot of work to make varsity this year. … Other than Joey’s walk-off hit, he was my favorite story of the game.”
The Patriots started quickly with two runs in the bottom of the first on a RBI single by Chase Harlan and a two-run double from Thomas Cano-Piszel. Two innings later, East went up 3-0 and looked to be in control.
But the visiting Titans battled back, starting with a bases-loaded walk to score a run and an RBI groundout by Colin Flynn to make it 3-2. They tied it with a run in the fifth on a RBI groundout by Logan Hinds.
The score stayed tied going into extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Harlan started the two-out rally with a single to right. One batter later Wilga drilled a double to left to plate the game-winning.
“We took the 3-0 lead pretty early, then we let South climb back in it with a couple of walks and then got some timely hits,” Dennis said. “Then we went back-and-forth. We both had opportunities and couldn’t cash in. We had runners at third a couple times and couldn’t get the run in. Same thing for them. We were able to pitch around it to get out of innings, so it was back-and-forth and no one could get that hit until Joey Wilga in the eighth.”
Harlan and Nolan Behm had two hits each for the Patriots, while Behm and Cano-Piszel each had doubles.
Owen Wheeler went 2-for-3 with a double to lead CB South, while Flynn also had a pair of hits.
CB East (1-2, 1-0 SOL) is going to continue a rain-shortened game at CB West on Monday with the score tied 1-1 in the third.
CB South (1-1, 1-1 SOL) has a nonleague game Friday at Penn Charter.
CB South 000 210 00 – 3 6 3
CB East 201 000 01 – 4 8 1
North Penn 12, Central Bucks West 3
A six-run third inning ignited North Penn’s big bats, as the Knights remained unbeaten with an impressive road win at CB West on Thursday.
Designated hitter Jack Picozzi went 3-for-4 with a home run and and RBI to lead a 14-hit attack for the Knights. Justin Egner, Kevin Brace, Chase Jones, Ben Farley and Brady Dolder had two hits each. Brace, North Penn’s sophomore shortstop had a double and four RBIs on the day.
“We played well overall,” said Knights coach Kevin Manero. “We only had one-half inning where we didn’t play well. I thought our pitchers worked efficiently and the top of our order continues to be very productive for us. They’re getting on base a lot and getting some big hits. Justin Egner had two big games for us. Today, Jack Picozzi had a big hit. We need those guys to step up while some of our younger guys find their way.”
Up 2-0, North Penn watched that lead slip away, as West scored three runs in the bottom of the second, thanks to an error and two-out, two-run single by Will Hogenauer.
But it didn’t take long for the Knights to bounce back. Picozzi solo homer to right tied the game, and North Penn ended up scoring six in the inning, as Dolder had an RBI single and Brace had an RBI double, while other runs scored on an error and a pair of bases loaded walks.”
“We scored first, that’s always important, but they got a couple runs back on us,” Manero said. “In the third, Jack Picozzi’s home run to right field as a great swing and that kind of ignited us and we tacked on a few for a big inning.”
Nolan Walker and Trevor Lugura shared pitching duties, with Lugura earning the win with four shutout innings of relief. He allowed just two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.
Hogenauer ended up with two hits on the day for CB West. Cayden Wertz pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings of relief on the mound.
North Penn (3-0, 2-0 SOL) is back in action on April 11 at home against Souderton.
CB West (0-1, 0-1 SOL) palsy a nonleague game at home Friday against Upper Dublin.
North Penn 116 000 4 – 12 14 1
CB West 030 000 0 – 3 3 1
Souderton 8, Pennridge 0
Jackson Morrissette and Fallon combined for a one-hit shutout, as the Souderton pitchers dominated Pennridge at James Memorial Park on Thursday afternoon.
Morrissette, who picked up the win, allowed just one hit and scattered four walks, while 11 of the 12 outs he recorded were strikeouts.
Jeremy Fallon threw the final three hits, did not allow a hit, scattered two walks and struck out five.
“After a rough start for Jackson in his first outing, I was impressed how he bounced back today, looking like the Jackson of last year, striking out 11 and giving up only one hit,” said Souderton coach Mike Childs.
The other story for the Indians was their offense. After losing its first two games 2-0 and 4-0, Souderton pounded out eight runs on six hits, blowing open a close game with three runs in the fourth and three in the fifth.
Catcher Ethan Warner had a RBI double in the top of the first to put the Indians up 1-0.
Joey Crecca, Fallon and Tyler Lutz had three straight singles to lead off the fourth, Lutz’s scoring a run. After a sac fly by Zach Pollock made it 3-0, an RBI groundout by Chris McKenna capped the three-run inning.
Connor Klock had an RBI single, while the host Rams were saddled with walks and errors in the fifth, as Souderton tacked on three more to put the game out of reach.
“We started off our season not scoring any runs, so it was good to see us more confident at the plate, putting up eight runs,” Childs said.
Souderton (1-2, 1-1 SOL) next plays at Upper Dublin in a nonleague game on Tuesday.
Pennridge (0-5, 0-2 SOL) plays at Abington on Monday.
Souderton 100 331 0 – 8 6 0
Pennridge 000 000 0 – 0 1 3
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock North 7, Bensalem 3
Matt Herbert did the job on the mound, and CR North got solid hitting up and down the lineup, eventually pulling away from Bensalem with four runs in the top of the seventh for the 7-3 win on the road Thursday.
Herbert pitched six solid innings, allowed only a pair of unearned runs in the fifth and sixth innings, striking out five and walking just one batter on the day.
Jake Ploppert pitched the bottom of the seventh, working around a run, to finish off the game.
“Matt Herbert was cruising until he ran into slight trouble in the bottom of the sixth, but he pitched his way out of it,” said Indians coach Matt Schram.
Offensively, CR North jumped ahead 2-0 with a pair of runs in the second, one on a sacrifice bunt RBI by Quinn Erlandsen and later on a Noah Hoskins RBI single.
Kyle Rubin drove in a run for Bensalem in the bottom of the fifth, but CR North answered with one in the sixth on an error, only to see the Owls come back and make it 3-2 in the sixth on a Zach Lentchner double.
Mulder led off the seventh with a single for the Indians, followed by an error to put runners on first and second. Later with two outs, Nick DiGiacomo hit a RBI single to left to score on and ignite the big inning. Erlandsen followed with a single to score a run, while two runs then scored on errors.
Hoskins went 2-for-4 with a RBI for CR North, while DiGiacomo and Erlandsen both had two RBIs. Overall, the team had nine hits by eight different players.
CR North (2-1, 2-0 SOL) plays at Council Rock South on Monday.
Bensalem (0-2, 0-2 SOL) next plays Saturday, nonleague against Holy Ghost Prep.
CR North 020 001 4 – 7 9 2
Bensalem 000 011 1 – 3 6 5
Neshaminy 12, Council Rock South 11
Twice Neshaminy gave up big leads, but it was undeterred, scoring the game-winning run in the fifth inning on the way to posting the one-run win in a wild one.
“Our offense did a fantastic job getting back on track after our last game,” said Neshaminy coach Dan Toner, who’s team lost 8-1 to Pennsbury on Tuesday.
“We had a lot of players come through in big situations and we did a fantastic job playing situational baseball.”
Both teams were very resilient and needed to be as each had struggles on the mound, as the teams combined for 15 hits and 18 walks, and used eight different pitchers.
After giving up a run in the top of the first, Neshaminy responded with six in the bottom of the first. Anthony Trommer led off the inning with a double, Rob Del Buono gave it a 2-1 lead with a two-run single and after a hit batter and a bases loaded walk, Mike Morrow drilled a three-RBI double to right to make it 6-1.
But the visiting Golden Hawks rallied with one in the third and five in the fourth to grab a 7-6 lead. Ryan Petrie and Johnny Mendola had RBI singles, Chase Ennis drove in one with a RBI sac fly and then Tyler Harper scored two with a double-run double.
In the bottom of the fourth, however, Neshaminy scored five runs of its own to take command again and go up 11-7, with four walks, a two-run single by Stone Powell and later a sac fly by Robert Harrison.
Not to be outdone, CR South tied it with four in the top of the fifth, the big hit a two-run double by Ennis.
Trommer tripled with one out in the bottom of the fifth for Neshaminy, and scored on Joel Bonner’s RBI single. Bonner also had the game-winning hit last week against Abington in a nonleague game.
Steven Martin pitched two scoreless innings out of the bullpen with four strikeouts to pick up the win. Ryan Jacobson came in to pick up the save with a scoreless seventh inning.
Mendola was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs for CR South. Ennis also had three RBIs, while Harper was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Neshaminy (3-1, 1-1 SOL) plays at Bensalem on Monday.
CR South (2-2, 1-1 SOL) takes on rival CR North on Monday.
CR South 101 540 0 – 11 7 0
Neshaminy 600 510 x – 12 8 1
Pennsbury 6, Harry S Truman 3
The Falcons fell behind early but didn’t stay behind for long, scoring six runs over the third, fourth and fifth innings on the way to the 6-3 win on the road at Harry S. Truman.
“We had some opportunities early and didn’t get a run across, which always scares me early in the game and (Truman) took advantage,”said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “Then, they put bats on the ball.”
Truman’s Caleb Wright put his team up with an RBI triple after a leadoff walk in the second. Wyatt Spinks drove in Wright with a RBI groundout to make it 2-0.
Pennsbury scored one in the third and took the lead for good with three more in the fourth. Tyler Boraski and James Schaffer had RBI singles and another run scored on a bases loaded hit by pitch.
The first four batters reached in the Pennsbury fifth, as Jordan Czerniak led off with a walk, followed by singles by Eric David, LJ Nelson and Boraski, the later of which scored a pair of runs.
Pennsbury finished the day with 10 hits, including doubles by Ryan Zuckerman and Charlie Cordisco. Schaffer, Zuckerman, David and Boraski finished with two hits each.
“I totally think (Truman’s Andrew) Armstrong kind of kept us a little off balance,” Pesci said. “We only struck out three times, but he was able to induce fly ball and groundouts early. In the second inning we went down 1-2-3. We still had 10 hits. We were putting the bat on the ball, for us to only strike out three times is a pretty solid day.”
On the mound, Connor McCloskey picked up the win with 2 1/3 shutout innings. Derek Dilorenzo went 1 2/3 before Zuckerman came in to throw a scoreless seventh inning.
“He actually made the team as a freshman as a pitcher,” Pesci said about Zuckerman, normally his team’s shortstop. “But we had (the canceled 2020 season because of COVID), and he’s a high-level infielder and hitter. But this year we planned to use him as a closer. The kids throws really hard. He’s 6-5 and throws 90-plus down hill.”
Pennsbury (5-0, 2-0 SOL) next plays home against CR South on Wednesday.
Truman (0-3, 0-2 SOL) will continue a rain-suspended nonleague game Tuesday at Archbishop Wood.
Pennsbury 001 320 0 – 6 10 2
Truman 020 000 1 – 3 4 0
SOL Liberty Division
Hatboro-Horsham 6, Abington 5
Jamie O’Neill hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth and Hatboro-Horsham won a back-and-forth Liberty Division battle on the road at Abington on Thursday.
“As a team, getting a win today was of the utmost importance,” said Hatters coach Pete Moore, whose squad lost 9-0 to Wissahickon on Tuesday. “Overcoming adversity is an important characteristic of becoming the team that we want to be.
“Our guys love each other and today they showed that winning was more important than any individual stats. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Stephen Plefka went 3-for-5 with two runs scored for the Hatters, while Noah Schlosser was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and Trey Porter and Kyle Dittus added two hits each.
Schlosser also stepped up big defensively.
“Noah Schlosser was incredible today,” Moore said. “He made the most impressive throws I have ever seen from a high school outfielder. He tracked a line drive in the gap and then back-picked a guy at first from about 250 feet. He also drove in multiple runs in big situations.”
Porter went the first four innings on the mound, allowing two earned runs, before giving way to O’Neill, who allowed two earned runs over the last five innings to pick up the win.
Abington led this game 2-0 and then 3-1, before H-H rallied with two in the sixth and two in the seventh to jump up 5-3 and presumably take command.
The Ghosts then rallied with two in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and force extra innings.
In the top of the ninth, Plefka led off with a single, and after a walk, Porter reached base on a bunt single to load the bases. With one out, O’Neill lofted a ball to center to plate the go-ahead run.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, O’Neill worked around a pair of singles, picking a run off third for the second out and then recording a strikeout to end the game.
“Jamie O’Neill was an absolute bulldog for us today on the mound, in the field and at the plate,” Moore said. “He was a complete player for us. He grew a ton as a player today. Very impressed with him.”
H-H (4-1, 1-1 SOL) is off until April 11 when it plays at Liberty Division rival Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Abington (0-2, 0-1 SOL) plays at PW on Friday.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 102 201 – 6 11 1
Abington 011 100 200 – 5 11 0
Upper Dublin 6, Wissahickon 1
Upper Dublin made a strong early-season statement Thursday with a solid 6-1 win over Wissahickon in SOL Liberty play.
The Cardinals improved to 2-0 in division play, allowing just two runs in games against Quakertown and Wissahickon.
Aiden McCarthy and Austin Dahl both were good on the mound. McCarthy allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk, while striking out three to pick up the win. Dahl did not allow a hit in three scoreless innings of relief, with two walks and five strikeouts.
“Aidan and Austin pitched well to keep a tough Wissahickon lineup at bay,” said Flying Cardinals coach Ed Wall. “Those two, with the help of the defense, got the first two batters out four of seven innings.
“Eric Berman had a day in center field with four putouts, including a diving catch to end the game.”
Seven different plays had hits for UD, all singles. Dahl also drove in two runs.
“The offense needs improvement, we left ten guys on base,” Wall said. “A bright spot? Nate Cairnes had a big pinch hit RBI late to extend the lead.”
UD (2-0, 2-0 SOL) plays at CB West on Friday.
Wissahickon (3-1, 1-1 SOL) hosts Upper Moreland on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 300 000 3 – 6 6 2
Wissahickon 100 000 0 – 1 2 1
SOL Freedom Division
Lower Moreland 12, Cheltenham 1
Host Lower Moreland pounded out 11 hits and used a six-run second inning to propel itself to the 12-1, mercy-rule shortened win over Cheltenham on Thursday.
Matt Dymowski was 2-for-3 with two triples, one run scored and six RBIs to lead the Lions’ offense. He had a bases loaded triple in the key second inning, and then repeated the feat with another triple and three more RBIs an inning later as LM blew the game wide open.
Kevin Cronin also had a triple, driving in two runs, while Matt Stolarski finished 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
Mason Tammaro went the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing just one unearned run to pick up the win, before giving way to Donato Incollingo, who recorded the final two outs in the top of the fifth.
Lower Moreland (2-1, 1-1 SOL) has a nonleague game at Archbishop Wood on Saturday.
Cheltenham (0-2, 0-2 SOL) has a nonleague game scheduled at Mastery Charter on Saturday.
Cheltenham 000 01 – 1 4 3
Lower Moreland 063 3x – 12 11 2
Springfield Twp 11, New Hope-Solebury 3
Springfield’s fast start to the season continued as the Spartans hit the ball well all day against New Hope on the way to the convincing SOL Freedom Division win.
The visiting Lions actually scored first, in the top of the first, and held that lead for three innings, before the Springfield bats woke up. The home team then scored four runs in the third and four more in the fourth, and 11 runs over the last four innings in a 16-hit effort.
Mike Capoferri tied the game in the third with an RBI single, Colby Sabin drove in two with a triple, and then scored himself on a Hastings single.
In the fourth, five straight one-out singles led to four more runs as Springfield took command.
For the game, the Spartans were led by Capoferri and Brett Smith with three hits each. Jim Halligan, Jack Hartman, Capoferri and Sabin finished with two RBIs each.
Smith pitched five innings, threw 99 pitches and allowed just one earned run to pick up the win. He worked around six walks and struck out nine.
Max May came on in relief and threw the final two innings to put the game away.
Springfield (2-0, 2-0 SOL) next plays April 11 at home against Upper Moreland.
New Hope (1-2, 1-1 SOL) has a nonleague game against Princeton Day School on April 10.
New Hope 100 001 1 – 3 6 2
Springfield 004 412 x – 11 16 1
William Tennent 5, Upper Moreland 4
Julio Ybarra had quite the day for William Tennent, going 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs at the plate, while also finishing the Golden Bears on the mound to preserve the win for the save in the top of the seventh inning.
“It was a great game, especially after a tough loss on Tuesday,” said Panthers coach Lucas Denzi. “I am really proud of the boys and how we responded. We were led by freshman pitcher Mike Woehr, who pitched an excellent game in his league debut. Striking out five, he left the game after 5 and 1/3. He has been a great addition to the team and we look forward to him having an impact this year.
“Junior Julio Ybarra came up big, delivering a three-run home run in the fifth to give us a lead to work with. Brian Bloom, Luke Torok and Jackson Archibald all added hits and as a team we played solid defense. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going forward and it gets us off to a solid start.”
Trailing 4-0, UM made things interesting with a three-run sixth inning to pull within a run, and then after the Panthers added an insurance run, came right back to get within one run in the top of the seventh.
The Bears took advantage of two walks and a hit batter to pull within a run again in the seventh, but Ybarra recorded the final out to finish off the Bears.
Tennent (1-2, 1-1 SOL) next plays Saturday at MaST Charter.
Upper Moreland (2-2, 1-1 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin on Monday.
Upper Moreland 000 003 1 – 4 6 3
William Tennent 100 031 x – 5 6 1
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