By Scott Huff
Truman (2-0) came up with an impressive Suburban One League National Division victory with a 9-7 victory over Council Rock North (1-1) on Monday.“On paper, there is no question that Council Rock North is the team to beat in our conference,” said Harry S Truman head coach Jeff Vitale. “And for us to hit the ball the way we did against their top pitchers was great.
“We are going to have to win a lot of those types of games this year,” added Vitale. “We really hit the ball up and down the lineup, and everyone had at least one hit.”
Senior Kyle Tepper led the Tiger offensive performance with a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Senior Ryan Field also collected a key hit for the winners.
“We gave up seven runs, but I thought our pitchers did a good job,” said Vitale. “Zack Phillipi pitched a gem of a game even though he gave up four homeruns, and Brandon Tepper came on in the seventh inning to save the game for us.”
Tepper came into a bases-loaded – one out – situation in the seventh inning with the Tigers holding a 9-7 lead. He pitched out of the inning by retiring the next two hitters – and Truman in now alone in first place in the SOL National Conference standings.
“We got up 6-1, they came back to lead 7-6, but we got three runs in the sixth inning to regain the lead,” said Vitale. “And for us to be able to do that – against that team – was very impressive.
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Abington (1-2) won its first conference game of the season with a 6-3 victory over visiting Pennsbury (1-2).
Junior lefty Greg Mugnier – a transfer from La Salle – was brilliant with a complete game effort. Mugnier struck out seven hitters – did not issue a base on balls – and permitted just two earned runs.
“Greg has great movement on his fast ball,” said Abington head coach DaveTorresani. “He also has a nice change up and a decent curve ball. He kept them off balance the entire game.”
The Ghost offense featured a 2-for-3 afternoon from senior Sam Pitkow – who collected two RBI – and junior Chris Ruhl with two hits and an RBI.
“Dale Hoover had a clutch hit in the fourth inning to give us the lead,” said Torresani. “Once we got the lead, Greg did the rest.”
Pennsbury Falcons 011 010 0 - 3 7 4
Abington Ghosts 002 310 x - 6 7 5
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Council Rock South (2-1) knocked Neshaminy (2-1) from the unbeaten ranks as the Golden Hawks flew to a 4-2 victory over the Redskins.
“It was a nice sunny day, but the wind seemed like it was blowing in about 100 miles an hour,” said Council Rock head coach Greg Young. “Any ball hit into the outfield was knocked down and caught, so both teams tried to play small ball to get runs.”
The Hawks scored three runs in the second inning to secure the win. Senior second baseman Jeff Cochran delivered the key hit for CRS with a two-run single.
Junior Brian Donnelly earned the win for Rock South with a gutty complete game effort. Donnelly yielded just three hits and struck out two hitters.
“Every win in the conference is a big win,” said Young. “Who really knows who is going to win this thing?”
Neshaminy Redskins 001 010 0 - 2 3 1
CR South Hawks 030 100 x - 4 4 0
Suburban One League Continental Conference
Souderton (1-2) earned its first conference win of the season as the Big Red came up with a 9-5 victory over Hatboro-Horsham (1-3).
“We haven’t been playing well, and I sat down with the guys and explained to them that we were still in the conference race,” said Souderton head coach Mike Childs. “You have to do three things to win baseball games – hit, pitch, and play good defense. We did those things today.”
Souderton pounded out 14 hits and slammed a pair of homeruns in the win. Sophomore Dan O’Hara blasted a three-run homer for the Big Red, while senior Evan Smith collected a solo four-bagger.
The Indians received a solid pitching performance from Ozzie Moyer, who threw the first five-plus innings, while Evan Porter closed the door with one-plus innings of work. Moyer struck out six hitters, while Porter recorded three strikeouts.
Souderton did not commit an error.
“We are slowly getting better,” said Childs. “As long as we don’t hang our heads, we are going to be competitive.”
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 003 000 2 - 5 8 1
Souderton Big Red 103 203 x - 9 14 0
**
North Penn (2-1) scored in six of the seven innings as the Knights defeated host Central Bucks West (2-1) – 8-5.
“We haven’t been hitting the ball all that well, and I hope today means that we broke out of our slump,” said North Penn head coach Bob McCreary. “We really attacked the ball today, and we were much more aggressive at the plate.
“We were a tough out collectively today,” added McCreary. “We put the ball in play.”
North Penn pitcher Bryce Mengal earned the win, but Mengal was hit in the ankle by a line drive and was forced to leave the game in the third inning. Alex Lashkavich and Bobby Reddick finished up the game for the Knights.
North Penn collected three triples during the game. Ryan King, Craig Lepre, and Pete Edgar all had three baggers for the Knights.
North Penn Knights 221 110 1 - 8 10 2
CB West Bucks 001 200 2 - 5 6 4
**
Central Bucks South (2-2) showed no mercy as the Titans mercy-ruled visiting Quakertown (1-2) – 12-2. The game was stopped in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“Our pitchers have not allowed an earned run in the last 15 innings,” said Central Bucks South head coach Mike Schaefer. “Both Pat Dundon and Larry Kelley threw well today.”
Dundon threw three innings and had four strikeouts and permitted just one hit. Kelley tossed two shutout innings.
The Titan offense was headed by a pair of homeruns – one by Chris Coia and the other by Ben Moller. Both homeruns were two-run shots.
Sophomore Bobby Whitteman got a start as first base and collected a pair of hits – including the walk-off hit in the fifth inning.
“Bobby is a junior varsity kid who we liked during tryouts,” said Schaefer. “So we decided to give him a chance – and it worked out real well.”
Quakertown Panthers 200 00 - 2 1 6
CB South Titans 423 21 - - 12 10 2
**
Pennridge (3-0) remained on top of the conference standings with a 6-2 victory over winless Central Bucks East (0-2).
Senior right hander Jared Schaffer picked up the win for the Rams and limited the East batters to just four hits.
Senior shortstop Dylan Tice collected three hits that included two doubles and two RBI. Drew Decew blasted a triple for the Rams.
Pennridge Rams 001 030 2 - 6 9 0
CB East Patriots 200 000 0 - 2 4 2
Suburban One League American Conference
Cheltenham (2-4) tightened the SOL American standings with a 6-2 victory over visiting Norristown (3-2).
“We have a very young team, but we were still able to beat both Norristown and Plymouth Whitemarsh,” said Cheltenham head coach Frank Decembrino. “Sometimes you just have to scratch your head with a very young team, but that is to be expected.
“Matt Brown pitched a very good game,” added Decembrino of his senior right hander who had six strikeouts in a complete game effort. “He threw 104 pitches and was really batter to batter in the seventh inning. But he got through it, and it was a nice win for us.
“Matt kept them on the ground, and we made the plays behind him,” added Decembrino.
The offensive load for the Panthers featured RBI by Brown, (sophomore) Matt Lawlor, and (sophomore) Rafael Fernandez. The Panthers scored all six of their runs in the fourth inning.
Norristown Eagles 020 000 0 - 2 6 5
Cheltenham Panthers 000 600 x - 6 4 3
**
Wissahickon (4-2) earned a share of the top spot in the conference standings with an 8-2 victory over host Upper Moreland (4-2).
The Trojans scored seven of their runs in the sixth inning. Senior second baseman Michael Kropnick hit a double with the bases loaded to fuel the offense.
“Mike is our lead-off hitter and is hitting .435,” said Wissahickon head coach Shannon Gunby. “And he already has eight RBI this season. He has been great.”
Greg Nuducsin earned the win for the Trojans. He threw a complete game and did not issue a single base on balls.
“Greg did a great job of throwing to contact,” said Gunby. “He let his defense make plays behind him. He threw 67 percent of his pitches for strikes and was very effective.”
Wissahickon Trojans 100 007 0 - 8 9 3
Upper Moreland Bears 000 100 1 - 2 8 5
**
Upper Merion (3-2) had a wonderful game thrown by Ray Gambone as the Vikings sailed by winless Upper Dublin (0-3).
The Upper Merion offense was led by Brian Desch. Desch collected two hits – scored two runs – and had two RBI.
Upper Dublin Cardinals 000 001 0 - 1 3 4
Upper Merion Vikings 023 200 x - 7 8 1
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