Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Wednesday.
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 3, NORTH PENN 0
Jordan Morales is in some kind of groove on the mound.
Six days after tossing a complete game two-hit shutout in a win over CB South, the Indians’ ace was back at it again. North Penn was his latest victim as Morales won yet another pitcher’s duel. The La Salle commit allowed two hits in six shutout innings while fanning 12 and walking three. In his last 13 shutout innings, Morales has fanned 26 and walked three while allowing just four hits.
“Jordan had 14 strikeouts against CB South, which is one of the top teams in the league, and then strikes out 12 guys out today against a North Penn team that is still the reigning division champs,” Souderton coach Mike Childs said. “For Jordan to come out and do what he did on the mound, it’s just incredible.”
Morales walked the first batter he faced, and then – in a preview of things to come, he struck out the side.
“He’s definitely rolling, he’s feeling confident,” Childs said. “He’s developed pitches, and he’s got a three-pitch arsenal that pretty much he’s placing where he wants.”
While Morales was working his magic on the mound, Conlan Wall was doing the same at the plate. The junior leadoff batter’s two-out triple to right in the sixth plated a run that turned out to be the game-winner.
“He’s been on fire – Mr. Clutch, whatever you want to call him,” Childs said. “For him to do what he’s doing as a junior and stepping up in the leadoff spot, he’s the spark of our team.
“He got a single to start the game, then he was intentionally walked, and in the end with a guy on first and two outs, he hits a triple down the line. He comes into third base standing up.”
Luke Taylor and Moses Clemens drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, setting the stage for Jake Horton, who drove in a pair with a single to left.
“These are team wins,” Childs said. “Although some guys are stepping up – Conlan steps up and does that and you have Jordan on the mound doing what he does against a good pitcher like (Joe) Valenti, who was getting us out left and right,” Childs said. “We had opportunities – we had five or six guys on base in the first three innings. We would get on, and (Valenti) would strike out two batters.”
Eric Richie earned his second save of the week with a scoreless seventh.
“Guys are stepping up in certain spots,” Childs said. “(Eric) Richie comes in as a sophomore and closes the door.
“(Jake Horton) comes up as a sophomore and gives us a two-out single to score two insurance runs in the sixth.
“Right after the game, they all go out to eat together. As a coach, that’s what you hope for. They all do stuff together, they take care of each other. Whether they’re playing or not, they’re all cheering for each other. We’re happy with what we’re doing, but I told the team – we’re never satisfied.”
Valenti turned in a gem of his own, scattering five hits and allowing two runs in 5.2 innings. He struck out 10 and walked two.
“Valenti is a crafty lefty that had us back on our heels, and we did not make adjustments until the end,” Childs said.
Souderton (6-1, 4-0 SOL) will be on the road at Pennridge Thursday, and North Penn (2-5, 0-3) will host Central Bucks West Thursday.
North Penn 000 000 0 0-3-2
Souderton 000 003 x 3-6-1
Non-league crossover
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 3
The Bucks erased an early 2-0 deficit with a four-run third. They led the rest of the way on their way to a win over the Tigers in a cross-over game.
“I said to our guys all week – you can’t look past Truman,” coach Brian Weaver said. “They’re playing in an incredibly tough league. Tim (Monaghan) has them playing good baseball.
“It looks like they’re in just about every game. He has those guys doing a lot of little things right. I think they’re a tough out for pretty much anybody. The kid they threw against us, (Tyler) Chew, did enough things right that kept us off balance for a decent chunk of the game. I was really impressed with the team he rolled out.”
Evan Profy, who singled to lead off the first, scored on a two-out error to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Rhys Nicholas doubled, and the Bucks had runners on second and third with one out but came up empty.
In the third inning, Profy once again ignited the Tigers. He led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored on Tim Foley’s single. The Bucks answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
Tommy Comes tripled to left with one out, and he scored when Nicholas singled. Matt McCarthy and Brian Gilvary followed with back-to-back singles. Luke Nitschke delivered a two-run single, and by the time the inning had ended, the Bucks led 4-2. They led the rest of the way.
“We threatened in the first and didn’t get anything,” Weaver said. “In the bottom of the third, our bats woke up.
“Tommy Comes ripped a triple to left, and then things just started moving.”
Nicholas led the Bucks with a 3-for-4 effort that included a double, RBI and two runs scored. McCarthy also was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Comes tripled and scored two runs.
Gilvary earned the win, allowing six hits and three runs (one earned) in 5.2 innings while striking out three and walking none. Julian Murray recorded the save, allowing two hits in one-and-a-third scoreless innings in relief.
Central Bucks West (5-2, 2-1 SOL) will be on the road at North Penn on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (2-3, 1-1) will travel to Bensalem Thursday.
Harry S Truman 101 001 0 3-8-3
Central Bucks West 004 101 x 6-10-4
Non-league
FATHER JUDGE 5, HATBORO-HORSHAM 2
The Hatters traveled to Father Judge and lost a non-league contest by the score of 5-2. The Crusaders bled the Hatters out, scoring one run in each of the first five innings.
Junior Ram Krishnamoorthy started on the mound for the Hatters. In his four innings, he allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks. Junior Jin Lee replaced Krishnamoorthy and threw the fifth and sixth innings, allowing one unearned run on a hit and two walks.
The Hatters scored both of their runs in the top of the third inning when sophomore Jimmy Tooley doubled and scored on junior Jake Bianchini’s double. Bianchini advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
Hatboro-Horsham (7-2, 3-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham in a key conference battle on Thursday. Both teams are 3-1 in league play. Junior RHP Benny Wilson is the Hatters’ projected starting pitcher.
Hatboro-Horsham 002 000 0 2-4-3
Father Judge 111 110 x 5-6-0
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