Check out the results of SOL baseball teams in action Wednesday. To view photos of the CR North/Neshaminy game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Cheltenham 9, Upper Merion 6
Panthers’ coach Frank Decembrino was developing what he described as a “laundry list” of gripes with his team’s effort for much of Wednesday’s game with the upset-minded Vikings, but ended up having to modify it a bit after they scored five times in the top of the seventh to break a 4-4 tie.
After loading the bases, Mark Heimann and Jack Gordon delivered run-scoring singles, and the Panthers were able to manufacture some additional runs that were needed after the Vikings, who posted 14 hits against Cheltenham ace Calvin Salazar, scored twice in the bottom of the frame.
Gordon, Gabe Hofferman and Kevin Graham each had two-hit games while James Heaven earned the save in relief of Salazar.
“We didn’t play great,” said Decembrino, whose team (7-3 overall) remained unblemished in five league games. “It was a storm they had to weather.
“(Upper Merion is) good. Maybe their record doesn’t indicate it, but they can swing the bat.”
The Vikings were led by two underclassmen -- junior Alex Del Guidice (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and sophomore Troy Thomas (2-3, RBI), who is batting .434 for the season – as well as seniors John Glenn (2-for-4, 1 RBI), Carmen Fortino (2-for-4, a double, 2 runs) and Brenden Steiner (2-for-4, 1 run). Glenn raised his average to a team-leading .450.
Cheltenham 000 310 5 – 9
Upper Merion 102 100 2 – 6
Upper Moreland 7, Springfield 4
Several players got into the act for the Golden Bears, who broke open a 3-3 tie with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Kyle Irwin had two hits and reached base on all four trips to the plate, scoring three times, while fellow midfielder Chris Carr accounted for the go-ahead run in the third inning.
Charlie Hooker, who doubled, drove in a run. Also plating runs were Mike Cavanaugh and Pat Driscoll. Winning pitcher Eddie Decker raised his record to 2-1, giving up two earned runs while fanning nine in six innings.
For Springfield, runs were driven in by Martin Pauwells, Bill Hetrick and Eddie Bacino.
Springfield 200 101 1 – 4
Upper Moreland 102 040 X – 7
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1, Upper Dublin 0
A week ago, when senior southpaw Mike Whalon tossed a complete-game shutout against Upper Merion, PW skipper Chris Manero said it was the best outing of his career.
After Wednesday, the tune changed a bit.
“Last week was his second best outing,” said Manero, after Whalon scattered four hits and fanned nine to emerge victorious in a classic pitcher’s duel with Upper Dublin ace Dan Jacobson. “He just pounded the strike zone.”
Manero, who estimated that around 70 of 80-plus pitches went for strikes, points to mental toughness as much as improved command of pitches from Whalon, who worked out several jams.
“It never bothered him,” said Manero. “When he needed to, he made the big pitch. I think that is a sign of his growth, getting guys out when he needed to.”
Manero said Jacobson was equally effective and “keeping us at bay,” as the Colonials scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the fifth when Brett Highland (2-for-3) scored Connor Purdy with a two-out single to right field.
“We always talk about the importance of two-out runs, and there it was right there,” said Manero, whose team is 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the league.
The Cardinals are 4-2 in league play (5-3 overall).
Upper Dublin 000 000 0 – 0
PW 000 010 0 – 1
Wissahickon 4, Norristown 3
Matt Oruch had two hits and Alex Tappen drove in two runs as the Trojans built a 4-2 lead and fended off an Eagles’ rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Winning pitcher Logan Willians went five innings, striking out nine. Jimmy Gorman pitched the final two frames, fanning two, to earn the save.
For Norristown, losing pitcher Alec Proietto struck at six while going the distance.
The Trojans evened their league record at 3-3 (3-4 overall) while the Eagles fell to 0-5 in the league (0-7 overall).
Wissahickon 200 020 0 – 4
Norristown 020 000 1 – 3
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Council Rock North 6, Neshaminy 5
In a situation that Indian coach Matt Schram described as “very unique,” his team went into the bottom of the seventh inning trailing, 5-4, despite the fact that his two pitchers – Brendan McIlwain and Matt Renck – had thrown a combined no-hitter.
The game was tied when Cole German tripled home Aiden Tully, who led off the inning being hit by a pitch. German then scored the winning run when Seth Leuz singled a few batters later.
“It feels good,” said Schram. “It just one of those games. Our pitchers had a combined no-hitter and yet we were down, 5-4.”
Schram, whose team improved to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the league, credited emerging Neshaminy pitcher Jordan Angjelo for keeping his team off-balance much of the way.
“It was a big win for us,” he said. “Winning that game, against a good team like Neshaminy, was something we needed.”
The Redskins are 4-2 in the league (5-2 overall).
Neshaminy 100 040 0 – 5
CR North 120 100 2 – 6
Pennsbury 5, Abington 2
The Falcons won their third straight, improving to 4-1 in league play, behind the strong pitching of Jake Goldberg and timely hitting.
Goldberg went the distance, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out five. He also worked out of two based-loaded jams in the first two innings.
Leading, 2-1, the Falcons claimed some breathing room in the home fourth with two runs by virtue of a bases-loaded single from Brendan Campbell (2-for-3, run scored). Scoring was Ryan Shaeffer, who was 2-for-3 with a double.
Zach Szumingala was 2-for-4 with a run scored while D.J. Endler had a hit, a run scored and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
For Abington, Brendan Gallagher was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
“They are one of those teams you can’t go to sleep on,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci about Abington. “They are just one of those teams that you can’t let hang around. Abington has been a sneaky team, this year and in the past. They came in today and loaded the bases on us in the first two innings.”
Abington is 3-3 in the league (3-6 overall).
Abington 001 010 0 – 2
Pennsbury 101 210 X – 5
Bensalem 6, Truman 2
While Jason Mulvey (three hits, one RBI) and Bill Uphoff (two RBI) led the offense, winning pitcher Brandon Wermuth tamed the visiting Tigers.
The Owls played an unearned run in the first and added three more in the third. Wermuth got things started with a single, and Bill Uphoff contributed a big two-run single. The Owls led 5-0 before the Tigers got on the board in the fifth, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Joey Schiotis.
Wermuth tossed a complete game, allowing just two hits while striking out six. The Owls are 2-3 in league play (4-4 overall).
Matt Shea (five strikeouts) took the loss for Truman (1-8, 1-4 SOL).
Truman 000 011 0 – 2
Bensalem 103 101 X - 6
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
Pennridge 8, Central Bucks East 4
Sophomore Dan Long had the biggest hit of his young varsity career, jolting a walk-off grand slam to give the Rams a much-needed victory.
“We had been scuffling,” said Pennridge coach Tom Nuneviller, whose team improved to 3-3 overall and 2-3 in the league. “We’ve lost some close games because we haven’t been able to get that big hit. We have been snake-bitten a little bit.”
Adding the drama was the fact that Long’s heroics came against CB East ace Brandon Birkhead.
“It was a quite a finish,” said Nuneviller, who was quick to add that Long is “a good hitter” with power. “We definitely needed a league win, especially against a good team.”
Scoring on the Long tater was Danny Shane, who also earned the win in relief of Eric Wesolowski after putting the Patriots down in order in the top of the seventh with the meat of the order waiting to bat.
Brad Misialek, who singled behind Long in the seventh, went 3-for-4 for the Rams. Jeff Roedell was 2-for-3.
For the Patriots, Carter Usowski was 2-for-3 while Pat Reilly drove in two runs.
CB East 004 000 0 – 4
Pennridge 310 000 4 -- 8
Central Bucks South 14, Souderton 2
Winning pitcher Matt Radwanski helped his own cause with two hits and two RBI. In a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule, he allowed three hits and struck out two.
Also chipping in with two-hit, two-RBI games were Pat Fitzgerald and Tanner Pfender.
CB South 254 0 3 – 14
Souderton 020 00 – 2
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