Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Monday. CB West/CB East photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Souderton/Pennridge game courtesy of Kim Supko. Pennsbury/Truman photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of D&J Photography. Check back for galleries of all three games. (North Penn/CB South photos courtesy of Cindy Manero/NP baseball). All SOS photo galleries for BASEBALL can be viewed by clicking HERE.
SOL Colonial Division
Central Bucks West 9, Central Bucks East 0
The Bucks spotted Cole Fehrman two runs early and while they added on later in the game, that was plenty for the senior right-hander.
Fehrman pitched a complete-game, two-hitter, walking two and striking out 12 to give CB West the impressive win over rival CB East. He threw just 81 pitches over seven innings.
“Cole Fehrman was tremendous today,” said Bucks coach Brian Weaver. “I think East has one of the strongest lineups in District One, but today Cole and (catcher) Max McGlone executed our game plan brilliantly. That set us up to play loose offensively.
“Even in our big innings, where he was on the bench for 20-30 minutes, Cole came back out locked in. His strike percentage was really great, and his first pitch strikes were incredibly high, something like 21 out of 26.
“It’s something our staff, especially our pitching coach, Bill Evans, really emphasizes, and today he pitched ahead and set the tone in almost every at-bat. I’ve only ever seen a few high school pitchers control a game the way he controlled this one.”
Offensively, West got started in the bottom of the first as Aidan Quinn hit an RBI triple to left field to score Kevin Bukowski for the game’s first run. Quinn later scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
In the third, after Quinn singled and Jackson Cunnane reached on an error, Aiden Kim and Julio Ermigotti both hit RBI singles and just like that it was 4-0.
Five runs in the fifth put the game away, as Kim hit a two-run home run, Damian Thomas had an RBI double and then Bukowski hit a two-run homer.
Kim (3-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs) and Quinn (3-for-3, 3B, 2 runs, RBI) lead the Bucks’ 12-hit attack.
“At the plate, this was one of the days where everything clicked,” Weaver said. “Kim and Quinn both had huge days. Kim was a triple shy of the cycle. Both of them were incredibly dialed in.
Kevin Bukowski was 2-for-3 with a walk and a homer out of the leadoff spot. And the bottom of our lineup chipped in a couple of hits and some clutch at-bats.
“Mentally, they’re a tough bunch, and against three good pitchers you have to be able to dig in and fight through at-bats. We did that today. In a rivalry game like this, sometimes guys can press a little and tense up, but to their credit our guys stayed calm, didn’t chase much, and battled with two strikes.
“It’s exciting to see the guys put it together like this, but we try hard to remind ourselves that it’s one game in a season full of incredible competition. So we’ll enjoy it tonight, then get ready for three games against good teams in three days.”
West (2-1, 2-0 SOL) is back in action Tuesday night (6 p.m.) with a nonleague game at Quakertown. CB East (1-2, 0-2 SOL) looks to bounce back Wednesday when it hosts North Penn.
CB East 000 000 0 – 0 2 2
CB West 202 050 x – 9 12 0
North Penn 6, Central Bucks South 2
Freshman Trevor Lugara allowed just two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings and pitched the Knights to the Colonial Division win on Monday.
Lugara walked just one batter and struck out six. Christian Oh recorded the last out of the game.
“Trevor was pitching in a big shadow today, facing off against a very accomplished pitcher (West Virginia commit Robby Porco), but you just never would have known it by looking at him,” said NP coach Kevin Manero. “His poise and aplomb as a freshman is just tremendous.
“It’s a game of command and strikes, and when you toss 79 percent strikes, you’re going to have a chance. At this level, I’ll take a ball/strike chart over a radar gun any day.”
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the third, North Penn scored three times in the bottom half of the inning, benefitting from a pair of walks, an error as well as a RBI single by Ryan Sullivan and a sacrifice fly by Ethan Cohen. The Knights scored three more times in the fourth to put the game away.
Sullivan went 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Jack Picozzi and Cohen also drove in runs.
The Knights committed only one error on the day defensively.
“We got a little sloppy in the top of the third, giving up a couple free 90s and a couple runs,” Manero said. “But I thought us answering back with three in the bottom half was probably our most important half inning of baseball so far in the young season.
“Justin Egner and Jack Picozzi did a great job getting in base and finding some barrels at the top of the order. And Ryan Sullivan is picking up right where he left off last season. He is such a sturdy bat for us right now.
“It’s a long and tough week of baseball for us. So it’s always best to start with a win. But we have a tough road ahead with some very good baseball teams and we know every game is going to be a grind.”
For CB South, Colin Mitchell and Hunter Petrich had RBIs.
Monday was also North Penn’s autism awareness game, and the Knights were proud to welcome Ben Hartranft back to the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. North Penn has been hosting autism awareness games since Ben’s years as a student. Since that time, Ben has become the Philadelphia Eagles’ autism ambassador and has appeared on the Ellen Show, bringing his autism awareness campaign to the national stage.
“Ben Hartranft has been a national advocate for Autism awareness since he graduated from North Penn, and we are always lucky to have him and his ‘Benergy’ back on campus each year to raise autism awareness. The North Penn School District does such outstanding work for students with disabilities and seeing how far Ben, himself, has come is a true testament to not only Ben, but also to North Penn.”
North Penn (3-1, 1-1 SOL) next plays Wednesday at CB East, while CB South (0-4, 0-3 SOL) hosts Pennridge.
CB South 002 000 0 – 2 6 2
North Penn 003 300 x – 6 5 1
Souderton 9, Pennridge 0
The Indians scored six runs in the first two innings, had five extra base hits and three home runs, as they easily took out rival Pennridge in a battle of the SOL Colonial unbeatens on Monday afternoon.
“The bats came up big today with all nine starters getting a hit for a total of 13 hits,” said Souderton coach Mike Childs. “Sophomore Chris McKenna has earned the starting spot at second and is proving he belongs at the varsity level.”
McKenna went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs.
“He is a smart, tough player that doesn’t let anything phase him,” Childs said. “He just goes out and plays hard every game.”
Monday, after Shanley Wall walked to open the bottom of the first inning, McKenna hit a two-run homer to left to give the Indians the early 2-0 lead.
In the second, Justin Dicesare led off with a home run, and McKenna followed later in the inning with his second HR, this time driving in three runs.
Wall added an RBI single in the fifth, and Dicesare wrapped up the scoring with a two-run double in the sixth.
Will McCausland, Jackson Morrisette and Grayson Norris combined for the shutout on the mound for Souderton, with McCausland going the first three innings to pick up the win. The trio combined for 19 strikeouts and walked just one batter. McCausland and Norris both fanned seven in three innings while Morrisette struck out five in two innings.
With division three division games in two days later this week, culminating with a twinbill on Thursday, Childs came into the game with every intention of using three pitchers.
“That was the plan for today so we will have everybody ready to roll for Wednesday and Thursday,” the Indians’ coach said.
Also for the Indians, Diceasare was 2-for-2 with a double, home run, one run scored and 3 RBIs, and Wall was 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
Jaden Morgan was 3-for-3 with a double for Pennridge.
With the win, Souderton is now 3-1 (2-0 SOL) and plays at CB West on Wednesday. Pennridge (3-1, 1-1 SOL) plays at CB South Wednesday.
Pennridge 000 000 0 – 0 5 0
Souderton 240 012 x – 9 13 2
SOL Patriot Division
Bensalem 1, Council Rock South 0
Not much separated these Patriot Division rivals on Monday, and it came down to a run in the top of the seventh, as Bensalem squeaked out the 1-0 win in a clean, early-season game.
The Owls started the seventh with a single by designated hitter Kyle Rubin. He was bunted to second by Mike Kramer. Sean Swentowski hit a two-out single to put runners on first and third, and pinch-runner Dan McShane scored what would be the game-winning run on a passed ball.
It was a spectacular game for the pitchers.
Sean Nelson (2-0) went the distance for Bensalem, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out six in a 91-pitch effort. It was his second straight shutout as he also threw a two-hitter in a 5-0 win over Harry S. Truman on Tuesday.
Camp started for Council Rock South, throwing six shutout innings, scattering three hits and three walks, while striking out five.
Swentowski had two of Bensalem’s five hits.
Bensalem (3-3, 2-2 SOL) is on the road again Wednesday when it plays at Neshaminy. CR South (0-3, 1-3 SOL) hosts Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Bensalem 000 000 1 – 1 5 1
CR South 000 000 0 – 0 2 0
Council Rock North 4, Neshaminy 3
CR North improved to 7-0 on the season with a walk-off win over Neshaminy at home Monday.
Josh Huddy went 4-for-4 on the day for the Indians, none more important than his RBI single in the bottom of the seventh that scored Will Scibona.
“Josh Huddy had a great day,” Indians’ coach Matt Schram said. “The team is playing inspired baseball for each other.
“Their ability to pick each other up throughout the game is unparalleled.”
This is a game that CR North appeared well in command of, as it jumped ahead with two runs in the second and another in the third, and pitcher Jadon Tang was well in command on the mound.
A two-RBI single by Brian Curry scored Huddy and Shane Anhalt in the second, and then the Indians took advantage of an error to go up 3-0 in the third.
Tang kept the Neshaminy bats in check through four, but in the fifth, the visitors rallied with three runs of their own with a bases loaded hit batter and then a two-run error to tie the game.
Nick Focella came out of the bullpen for CR North, got out of the jam in the fifth and then pitched perfect innings in the sixth and seventh to give his team a chance to win.
“Jadon Tang threw a solid four-plus innings and Nick Foccella did a great job in relief, coming in the fifth inning with no outs and the bases loaded,” Schram said. “Nick muscled through Neshaminy’s lineup in the sixth and seventh to keep the game tied.”
The Indians’ seventh started with a walk to Scibona and a single by Austin Stalker. An intentional walk later loaded the bases with one out, setting up Huddy’s game-winning heroics.
Neshaminy was held to just two hits on the day, singles by Joel Bonner and Mike Morrow. Matt Mays pitched six innings and allowed three unearned runs.
CR North (4-0 SOL) has another big game Wednesday at Pennsbury. Neshaminy (2-1, 2-1 SOL) looks to rebound at home against Bensalem Wednesday.
Neshaminy 000 030 0 – 3 2 3
CR North 021 000 1 – 4 7 2
Pennsbury 8, Harry S Truman 2
The Falcons scored at least one run in every inning and broke open a close game early with timely hitting and solid pitching throughout.
Right-hander Colin Fang was strong for Pennsbury, as he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before an infield single broke it up. He ended up going six innings, allowing one earned run on two hits, while striking out 11.
“Fang got stronger as the game went on,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “He left a couple pitches up that were hit well, but a great diving play to open the game by Charlie Evans in centerfield and a couple nice plays on the run by Jackson Freeman in left, Justin Mitrovich in right and Evans again in center kept Fang’s no hitter going.
“Joe Tiroly made a great play at third base, charging a bunt hard to make the play. Reese Hirsh was excellent behind the plate; a brick wall today. Fang’s curveball was excellent today and had a lot of bite. Hirsh had no problem handling it.”
Offensively, shortstop Ryan Zuckerman went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI to lead the Falcons, while James Schaffer went 2-for-3, and Hirsh, Tiroli and Freeman all had RBIs.
“We put the ball in play today,” Pesci said. “We had eight hits, but also forced them to make plays. We have good team speed top to bottom so any ball in play puts pressure on the defense. We were able to take advantage of mistakes and capitalize.
“Truman always plays us tough. Tim Monagan and the staff are top notch. The team is solid and athletic (and) maybe the most experienced lineup top to bottom we have seen from them.
“We were able to draw long at-bats and force deep counts to push their starter’s pitch count up.”
Mike Burns had an RBI for Truman, which managed just three hits on the afternoon.
Pennsbury (5-1, 2-1 SOL) has a make-up game Tuesday at Council Rock South. Truman (1-4, 0-3 SOL) hosts CR South on Wednesday.
Truman 010 010 0 – 2 3 5
Pennsbury 113 111 x – 8 8 1
SOL Liberty Division
Hatboro-Horsham 4, Quakertown 0
Cole Fisher was about as good as a high school pitcher can be on the mound, and he also aided the Hatters with his bat too, as Hatboro-Horsham led this one from start to finish against visiting Quakertown.
“Cole Fisher was tremendous,” said H-H coach Pete Moore. “He pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up one hit and one walk. He was disappointed that he couldn’t finish it, but he hit 100 pitches on the second to last batter and we took him out. Ryan Toporowski, another senior who was our shortstop last year and also plays center field, came in and got the last out.
“The thing that stands out about Cole is that he’s a fierce competitor every time he steps on the mound. He competes on every pitch. Today, he threw four pitches for strikes, which is unusual for high school pitchers. He was carving up both sides of the plate, working ahead of hitters. He did a real nice job.”
At the plate, Fisher went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. His two-out double into the center field wind scored Trey Porter and Jack Elwell and extended a two-run lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning.
Will Bruner had an RBI single in the first and Elwell stole home to give the Hatters the early advantage.
Porter and Elwell each scored two runs, while Porter also had a pair of singles.
“We’ve got eight guys back from our everyday lineup for last year, so we came into the season with confidence, considering we made the state tournament,” Moore said. “We lost a few seniors, including Jimmy Tooley, our 4-hole hitter, our center fielder and our ace on the mound. But we were less concerned about the offense, considering how much depth we had in our offense. We haven’t hit our stride hitting yet. I think we’ve scored 12 runs in three league games, which is not as many as we’d like to score. But the hitting comes along, I’m not worried.”
H-H (4-2, 3-0 SOL) has a makeup game Tuesday at Abington. Quakertown (1-2, 1-1 SOL) hosts CB West in a nonleague night game (6 p.m.).
Quakertown 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
Hatboro-Horsham 200 200 x – 4 6 0
Abington 9, Plymouth Whitemarsh 3
The Galloping Ghosts broke up a pitchers’ duel in the fifth and then blew this SOL Liberty Division game wide open with six runs in the sixth, as Abington took advantage of walks and miscues to pick up the win over the defending division champs.
Abington’s Anthony Ehly and PW’s Ray Tomasseti were the story early, as neither team could get untracked through the first four innings.
In the fifth, however, the Ghosts took advantage of an error and three walks to plate the game’s first run, Colin Hamsher had an RBI single and Brian Murtha scored on a passed ball to make it a 3-0 game.
One inning later, an error, two walks, a dropped third strike and two hit batters helped break the game open, followed by an RBI single by Frazier and a two-run double by Luke Sydlowski to up the lead to 9-0.
For the game, Cody Frazier was 2-for-4 for Abington, while Sydlowski and Jake Kaplan each had two RBIs.
Ehly went the distance, allowing two three earned runs on six hits, while striking out 12 in a 98-pitch outing.
Joe Redmond went 2-for-3 with a RBI for PW, while Gavin Rocks had a triple and Luke Caucci a double.
Abington (2-2, 1-2 SOL) is back in action Wednesday at Quakertown. PW (3-3, 0-3 SOL) plays at Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Abington 000 036 0 – 9 4 0
PW 000 002 1 – 3 6 4
Upper Dublin 11, Wissahickon 2
The Flying Cardinals scored six runs in the bottom of the second and finished the game with 11 runs on 10 hits, breezing to the win over rival Wissahickon in Liberty Division action on Monday afternoon.
Catcher and leadoff hitter Kyle Rizzo went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and shortstop Nick Lombardo was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, as the top of the Upper Dublin lineup caused havoc throughout.
“They got after it,” said UD coach Ed Wall. “Kyle had a really good day. He had a couple hits in big spots. Nick got it going today. He had some of his best swings of the season so far. (Tristan) Cairns and (Ethan) Madnick had some big doubles to center field.
“This is one of the better lineups we’ve had. One through nine – we’ve got some guys that are really disciplined in a box. They know the strike zone, they know what they’re good at hitting, and they’re ready to swing when it’s in the zone. It’s a tough group to get through.”
After Wissahickon took advantage of an error to go up 1-0 in the first, Upper Dublin got the run right back, and a whole lot more in the second innings.
Madnick led off the inning with a double and later scored on a bases loaded walk. Jared Levis was then hit by a pitch to score another run, which put the Cardinals up for good and set off a huge outburst in the inning. Rizzo followed with an RBI single, Lombardo had a sacrifice fly and Cairns had a two-run double to make it a 6-1 game.
In the UD fifth inning, Rizzo had an RBI single and Lombardo followed with a two-run single, as its lead grew to 10-2.
Leo Soriano also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Cardinals.
On the mound, David Sharp went the first 4 1/3 innings and picked up the win, while Chase Sunday and Aidan McCarthy came out of the bullpen to help finish the game off.
“David battles,” Wall said. “He’s such a tough kid out there on the mound. Even when it’s not going perfectly, he always finds a way.”
For Wissahickon, Morgan Wilson had an RBI single.
Upper Dublin (4-2, 4-1 SOL) hosts Hatboro-Horsham in a key divisional battle on Wednesday, while Wissahickon (1-3, 1-2 SOL) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Wissahickon 100 010 0 – 2 4 1
Upper Dublin 060 041 x – 11 10 1
SOL Freedom Division
Upper Moreland 11, William Tennent 0 (5 innings)
Good pitching backed up by a ton of offensive fireworks added up to a big afternoon for the Golden Bears, who routed visiting William Tennent in a game shortened to five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
On the mound, left-hander Jimmy Torpey was in control all game for UM, allowing just one hit and two walks, while striking out eight in five innings. He struck out the side in the first and third innings.
“Torpey was terrific and is a great kid, he deserves every success he achieves,” said Bears coach Jim Fasano.
“I’m happy for the boys. We played great today and will need to continue playing this way if we want to compete for a division title.”
Offensively, UM’s Kaleb Powell led off the second with a double, and later with two outs, Jaryd Meehl had a two-run double, Shawn Townsend an RBI single and a three-run home run by Paul Kilgus to make it 6-0.
“Kilgus home run would have been out of any park in America – a no-doubt bomb,” Fasano said.
In the third, Townsend had a two-run single, Jared McCellan a two-run triple and Kilgus picked up another RBI with a ground out to score a run and it was an 11-0 game.
UM (2-1, 2-1 SOL) has a week off and will resume its schedule on April 18 at home against Hatboro-Horsham. Tennent (2-2, 2-1 SOL) hosts Wissahickon.
Tennent 000 00 – 0 1 1
Upper Moreland 065 0x – 11 9 0
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