Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday.
SOL Colonial Division
SOUDERTON 6, NORTH PENN 4
Justin Dicesare lined a two-run, two-out double to left field in the top of the sixth inning, breaking a 4-4 tie. His clutch hit turned out to be the game-winner in a tightly contested division game Thursday morning. Dicesare’s big hit was set up when Luke Polllock and Carter Jagiela collected back-to-back one-out singles.
Jackson Morrisette – despite allowing a pair of baserunners in both the sixth and seventh innings – kept the Knights off the scoreboard the rest of the way, earning the win on the mound. He threw three scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits, striking out two and walking one.
Earlier in the game, the Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second, capitalizing on an error and walk when Shanley Wall lined a two-out, two-run single to center.
Souderton upped that lead with two more runs in the third inning. The Indians loaded the bases with none out, thanks to singles by Pollock and Ethan Warner as well as a base on balls. Pollock scored on a groundout, and another run crossed the plate when Hunter Weitzel singled, putting the Indians on top 4-0.
But not for long.
The Knights scored a run in the bottom of the inning. Zach Warner, who singled, scored when Ethan Cohen was hit by a pitch after Ryan Sullivan was intentionally walked to load the bases.
The two teams were deadlocked 4-4 after the Knights scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jack Picozzi lined a bases-clearing double to left field.
Pollock’s 3-for-3 effort at the plate led the Indians’ 10-hit attack. Diceasare had three RBIs.
For the Knights, James Mangine was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Picozzi had three RBIs.
Souderton (5-1, 4-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Monday in a crossover contest, and North Penn (3-3, 1-3) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Souderton 022 002 0. 6-10-0
North Penn 001 300 0. 4-8-2
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 9, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Sam Greer and Michael Monahan combined for a no-hitter in Thursday’s non-league contest. Greer threw 94 pitches in six superb innings, striking out 11 and walking three. Monahan struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 seventh.
“Sam had great command today,” West coach Brian Weaver said. “His mix of pitches really worked. At the plate, he was dangerous too, working a couple of clutch at-bats (1-for-2 with a single and two walks). I’m incredibly proud of his composure. He’s a sophomore that’s not intimidated by the big stage.
“For Mike Monahan to close the door is a great confidence boost. Four games in four days – he was the last pitcher left, so there’s some pressure there, even with a big lead, and he comes in and finishes the job without flinching.”
The Bucks’ coach also lauded the play of their batterymates.
“Our two catchers, Max McGlone and Max Grill, get a lot of credit,” Weaver said. “They do a great job managing the staff and keeping them locked in.
“McGlone had three RBIs and has been locked in at the plate. Grill played some second base for us today for the first time and had a diving stop to keep the no-no going.”
The Bucks scored all the runs they would need in the top of the first when Matt Carr, who led off the inning with a single, scored on Aidan Quinn’s one-out double to left field.
In the second, the Bucks put three more runs on the board to go on top 4-0. Maxwell Grill scored when Julio Ermigiotti singled. Bill Zentmayer hit a one-out RBI triple to deep center, and a third run crossed the plate when Carr hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
In the fifth inning, Greer and Ermigiotti both had RBI singles, allowing the Bucks to extend their lead to 6-0. A three-run seventh gave the Bucks their final margin of victory.
Carr (2-for-3, 2B, 1 run, RBI), Quinn (2-for-4, run, RBI), Grill (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Zentmayer (2-for-4, 3B, run, RBI) contributed multi-hit games to lead the Bucks.
“Up and down the lineup, we hit it hard,” Weaver said. “Matt Carr’s been a leadoff sparkplug, Aidan Quinn had another big day. Bill Zentmayer, Julio Ermigiotti and Damian Thomas have gotten us some big at-bats in the bottom of the lineup too.”
Central Bucks West (4-2, 2-1 SOL) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Monday for a crossover contest, and Upper Dublin (4-4, 4-2) will travel to Springfield Township on Monday.
Central Bucks West 130 020 3. 9-9-1
Upper Dublin 000 000 0. 0-0-3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, HOLY GHOST PREP 3
The Patriots’ bats came alive early, scoring runs in each of the first three innings to take a lead they would not lose in a non-league game that was halted in the top of the sixth.
“We have started to string together hits against quality pitching the last two games, which is going to start to pay dividends when we get into the heart of the schedule and play three to four games a week,” East coach Kyle Dennis said.
The Patriots scored a pair of runs in the top of the first. Chase Harlan singled to open the inning, and after Jack Mislan drew a free pass, Joey Wilga was safe on an error that plated Harlan. Another miscue allowed a second run to cross the plate. The Firebirds got one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame.
East upped its lead to 4-1 with two more runs in the second, taking advantage of a pair of Firebird errors and a single by Harlan. A three-run third inning featured back-to-back-to-back doubles that gave the Patriots a commanding 7-2 advantage. Max McGrady was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Reece Moody followed and lined a double to left field. Nick Carter’s double to left plated a pair, and Brett Young’s RBI double capped the impressive stretch.
That 7-2 lead stood until the top of the fifth when Moody, who singled and stole second, scored on Jared Laff’s single to left field. The Firebirds answered with a run in the bottom of the inning for the 8-3 final.
Moody’s 2-for-3 effort at the plate led the Patriots and included a double, two runs scored and one RBI.
Sophomore Sam Bliss notched his first varsity win in relief of senior Tyler Behm. Bliss allowed two hits and one run while striking out four and walking two in two innings on the mound.
“We have been put to the test the last four games, facing off against four very good pitchers heading for Division 1 schools in (Will) McCausland (Souderton, St. Joe’s), (Cole) Fehrman (CB West, West Virginia), (Dylan) Brown (North Penn, Old Dominion) and Matthew Goldenbaum (Holy Ghost, University of South Florida),” Dennis said. “Each of those pitchers were a real test for our guys to face the velocity and spin that each of these guys can generate.
“To face that type of pitching is an awesome experience for our team, and the experience we gained is tremendously valuable. We look forward to getting back on the field after a few days off.”
Central Bucks East (3-2, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Wednesday.
Central Bucks East 223 01 8-9-2
Holy Ghost Prep 110 00 3-5-5
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