Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday.
SOL Freedom/Liberty Crossovers
Springfield Twp 2, Hatboro-Horsham 0
In the years since the SOL broke into four divisions, and the Freedom Division was matched up against much larger schools of the SOL Liberty, Springfield had yet to win a game against a Liberty Division team heading up to Thursday.
Behind the pitching of senior Brett Smith, the Spartans made a little history with an exciting 2-0 win over visiting Hatboro-Horsham.
Smith went the distance, allowing only four hits and two walks, while striking out eight. The Hatters’ best chance came in the seventh, with a single and a double with one out, but Smith answered with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
“Brett Smith is back, and I’m glad for him,” said Springfield coach Dennis Primavera. “He struggled for two years. He’s always had good stuff, but his location was up in the air a lot of the time. I felt bad for him.
“He came to me this year, and I said, ‘I want you to pitch,’ and he said, ‘Okay, if you want me to.’ I said absolutely, and apparently, he’s got it back. He’s a quality pitcher. He threw 100 pitches on the nose today. He got out of a couple jams where it could have blown up, but he didn’t. I chalk it up to maturity. He basically gutted it out a couple of times with some at-bats by the other team, and our defense was good. We didn’t have any errors.”
Offensively, Springfield scored one run in the fourth and one in the sixth. An error, two walks and a passed ball led to the first run. Two innings later, Matt Caruso reached on another error, and then Smith drove him in with an RBI single.
H-H starter Jamie O’Neill was dominant himself, allowing just the two runs (both unearned) on two hits and two walks, with 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
“We had a couple occasions where we could have scored and we didn’t,” Primavera said. “That’s been our problem all year. Hopefully, as the season goes on and the weather gets better, we’ll improve.
“This was a big win for us. We have four games in five days, and we’re still going on. I had to pick and choose my pitchers. I’m very happy for Brett and the team.”
Springfield (4-3, 4-3 SOL) hosts New Hope-Solebury in a makeup game on Friday.
H-H (4-5, 3-5 SOL) hosts William Tennent on Monday.
H-H 000 000 0 – 0 4 3
Springfield 000 101 x – 2 2 0
Wissahickon 13, Cheltenham 2 (5 innings)
This rivalry game was actually tied going into the bottom of the fourth when Wissahickon exploded with five runs and added six more in the fifth to finish off the visiting Panthers with a mercy-rule shortened 13-2 victory.
Josh Palutis, Justin Miller and Brayden Ryan had two hits each for Wissahickon.
“Offensively, I thought it was a great jumpstart for our guys,” said Trojans coach Andy Noga. “From top to bottom, we were getting better swings on balls than we had been recently, and our best trait is our speed and ability to run the bases and create havoc, and we did a great job with that today.
“We took extra bases when they were presented to us, we executed set plays in order to generate runs, and generally were able to create offense without putting the ball in play on the base paths.
“It was good for us to get back to winning a game convincingly in a way that is how we need to win ball games moving forward, and I’m really proud of our guys for doing that.”
Palutis opened the bottom of the first with a double, followed by a Miller single and then a sacrifice bunt by Adam Hajdak to score the game’s first run. A bases loaded walk made it 2-0.
But the Wissahickon bats were quiet for a few innings, and Cheltenham was able to tie it up with two in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, however, the Trojans kicked it into full gear and didn’t let up.
Ryan had a double, while Palutis and Miller each had RBI singles, as Wissahickon went up 7-2. In the fifth, the first five batters reached base, Mark Selverian had an RBI single, Ryan a two-run single, Aiden McGillian a RBI single and then an error plated the remaining runs and finished the game off.
Gavin Malloy pitched all five innings to pick up the win for the Trojans, allowing just two runs, scattering three hits and four walks, while striking out six.
“This was a really good get-back win for us and got us out of a little bit of a cold streak that we were in,” Noga said. “Our one constant this year has been tremendous pitching from everybody in our rotation, and Gavin has been no exception.
“He’s coming off a tremendous all-league season last year and has jumped right back in in a new role as a starter and shown that he is still as competitive and dominant as he was as a closer last year. He gave us a tremendous effort today and was able to minimize damage when he let runners on. We have full confidence in him every time he toes the rubber.”
Wissahickon (6-4, 3-4 SOL) plays at New Hope-Solebury on Monday.
Cheltenham (1-6, 1-5 SOL) is at William Tennent in a makeup divisional game on Friday.
Cheltenham 000 20 – 2 3 3
Wissahickon 200 56 – 13 9 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 15, Lower Moreland 0 (4 innings)
It took a couple of innings, but with a six-run third inning, Plymouth Whitemarsh continued its red-hot start to the season with a four-inning mercy rule shutout of host Lower Moreland in a crossover game on Thursday.
Before that big inning, the Colonials went ahead in the top of the first with a home run by right fielder Johnny Giordano.
“Johnny got us going with his sure-shot home run in the first inning,” said PW coach Chris Manero. “Big hits like that can take a lot of pressure off, and I’m sure it helped the rest of the lineup get going.
“Freshman brothers Mason and Max Eagland both had good production at the plate today, combining to drive in six runs.”
Two walks and an error got the PW third inning started. Mason Eagland followed with an RBI double. An error, three more walks and a Max Eagland RBI single capped a huge six-run inning.
The Colonials, who finished the game off with eight runs in the third, had 15 runs on eight hits, including four extra base hits, and took advantage of 11 walks, a hit batter and four Lower Moreland errors.
Mason Eagland was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Max Eagland was 2-for-3 with one run scored and three RBIs. Chase Fisher had a triple and three RBIs.
On the mound, Fisher started and allowed just one hit and one walk over three shutout innings, before giving way to Brady McGrain, who pitched a scoreless fourth inning finish off the Lions.
“We are starting a lot of guys around the diamond this year who came into the season without a lot of varsity experience,” Manero said. “It’s nice to see that they are taking advantage of these opportunities.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-2, 8-0 SOL) hosts Springfield in another crossover game on Monday.
LM (5-5, 3-5 SOL) has a nonleague game scheduled Saturday at MaST Charter.
PW 106 8 – 15 8 1
LM 000 0 – 0 2 4
Quakertown 10, William Tennent 2
Pitching its fourth starter in four games, Quakertown won for the third time this week, overcoming an early deficit with a huge four-run third inning and cruising from there to the 10-2 victory.
Carl Weiss got the start for the Panthers and he gave his team exactly what they needed, going the distance, allowing just two earned runs on four hits, no walks and 11 strikeouts.
Tennent’s only two runs came in the second inning, thanks to a big RBI triple by Dom Ferrara and then a RBI single by Chase Solkoff. But that was it, as Wess retired the final 16 batters of the game in impressive fashion.
Offensively, shortstop hitter Danny Qualteria went 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
Qualteria’s RBI double after a walk to Brady Martin jumpstarted the Panthers in the pivotal fourth inning. Another walk set up a run-scoring single by Cooper Natisin, and after Caleb Everitt’s sacrifice bunt, Matt Marsten came up with a clutch two-out hit, driving in a pair that put the Panthers on top 5-2. They never looked back.
Natisin and Marsten each had two hits and three RBIs. Everitt also had two hits.
Quakertown (7-3, 6-2 SOL) hosts Pennridge on Friday night.
Tennent (3-4, 2-3 SOL) next plays Monday at Hatboro-Horsham
Tennent 020 000 0 – 2 4 2
Quakertown 104 113 x – 10 11 1
Upper Dublin 3, Upper Moreland 0
Senior Austin Dahl was on his game Thursday, throwing a complete-game shutout, with 14 strikeouts as Upper Dublin broke a scoreless game open in the fourth and beat Upper Moreland at home.
Dahl threw just 85 pitches, allowing just two hits and two walks. He retired the first eight UM batters and then was sharp late, striking out the final two batters to secure the win for his team.
“Austin Dahl was in command the whole way for us on the mound,” said UD coach Ed Wall. “He was at 69 pitches going into the seventh. Bobby Keck has been rock solid behind the dish for us all season and cleaned up most of the runners who reached base with two caught stealing.”
Offensively, the Cardinals were likewise held off the board by UM’s Nick Simons but finally broke through with one in the fourth as Dahl helped himself with an RBI single to score Oliver Gill, who singled earlier in the inning.
Then in the fifth, Eddie Stoffel singled and later scored on a throwing error after Nate Cairnes laid down a sacrifice but to advance him to third. Eric Berman then scored on a balk to close out the scoring for the 3-0 win.
“UM’s pitcher Simons was tough,” Wall said. “We were able to scatter enough hits to plate a few runs. Jim (Fasano) and his staff are great. They gave us all we could handle.”
UD (6-2, 5-1 SOL) is back in action with a nonleague game against Souderton Friday.
UM (4-4, 4-2 SOL) plays at Quakertown on Monday.
Upper Moreland 000 000 0 – 0 2 1
Upper Dublin 000 120 x – 3 4 0
Abington 10, New Hope-Solebury 0 (5 innings)
Offensively, Abington was the better team right from the jump, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first and never letting up on the way to a five-inning, 10-0 shutout win over visiting New Hope.
“We started early and kept it rolling all five innings,” said Galloping Ghosts coach Trey Guglianota.
On the mound, Calvin Judge shut the Lions down for all five innings of the mercy rule shortened game, allowing just two hits, with no walks, and 12 strikeouts.
Offensively, Abington scored 10 runs on 10 hits, led by Chase Goodson, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Mike Judge had two RBIs. Eight different players had hits for the Ghosts.
Abington (2-5, 2-5 SOL) next plays Tuesday at Lower Moreland.
New Hope (2-6, 0-6 SOL) has a road game in the Freedom Division Friday at Springfield.
New Hope 000 00 – 0 2 4
Abington 432 1x – 10 10 0
SOL Colonial/Patriot Division Crossovers
Pennridge 5, Neshaminy 3
The Danny Long era as a head coach is only seven games old, but Thursday was the biggest win so far as Pennridge went on the road and knocked off previously undefeated SOL Patriot frontrunner Neshaminy 5-3, thanks to a huge five-run sixth inning and solid pitching.
“I’m really proud of our guys and how we responded after being down 3-0 late in the game,” Long said. “Team at-bats and timely hits allowed us to put the five-spot up in the sixth.”
Trailing 3-0, Tommy Ginnetti and Ryder Olson led off the sixth with a pair of singles. Matt Atchley followed that up with a two-run double to right field. Noah Keating then tied the game with an RBI single.
An error set up the Rams go-ahead run that Zach Swanson brought home with a sac fly to center field.
Connor Murray went the distance for Pennridge, allowing just three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, while striking out seven.
Neshaminy scored three times in the bottom of the third. Brandon Lall led off with a double, Joel Bonner hit a two-run double and Ryan Fox added a RBI single.
Murray induced a ground ball to get out of the inning and he was sharp the rest of the day. After his teammates got him the lead in the top of the sixth, Murray recorded six straight outs to close out the game.
“Freshman Cooper Murray was sharp on the mound, keeping us in it, throwing all seven innings,” Long said. “He is mature beyond his years with how he approaches the game of baseball, and it was an impressive outing from him.”
Pennridge (4-3, 3-3 SOL) plays at rival Quakertown in a nonleague game Friday night.
Neshaminy (8-1, 7-1 SOL) will look to get back on track against Souderton on Monday.
Pennridge 000 005 0 – 5 5 2
Neshaminy 003 000 0 – 3 5 3
Central Bucks West 12, Bensalem 1 (6 innings)
The Bucks brought their hitting shoes to Bensalem on Thursday, scoring runs in every inning, and forcing the mercy-rule with a five-run sixth inning in a convincing 12-1 crossover victory.
“Everybody in our lineup that came to the plate today had a hit,” said CB West coach Brian Weaver. “Duke Psoras continued to be a bright spot in the leadoff position, (Harrison) Yim and (Jack) Hogenauer both had a couple of hits, Sam Greer had two doubles.
“We’ve struggled to string innings together this year, so to score in every frame was big for our crew. It’s great to see them putting at-bats together and driving each other around the bases.”
The other story of the game was pitching, and CB West’s Ernie Sanchez was dominant for all six innings, allowing just one run on one hit, with two walks and two strikeouts.
“Ernie Sanchez threw one of the most important games of our season today,” Weaver said. “He took the loss in our game on Monday, but that was entirely on our defense, not him, so for him to come back out unfazed and get to work was a great sign.
“We’ve had four games in four days, so we’re really on the back end of our pitching. Ernie went out and threw a six-inning complete game, gave up one hit, and did a phenomenal job pitching to contact.
“In these long weeks, we still need to feel confident even in our last game that our pitching can give us a chance. I think our guys trust Sanchez right now to battle and give us that chance, and he has repaid that trust.”
Offensively, Psoras went 2-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Hogenauer was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Greer, Kim and Quinn Illig had two hits each.
CB West (4-5, 3-4 SOL) has another crossover game scheduled Monday at home against Harry S. Truman.
Bensalem (0-7, 0-5 SOL) hosts Lansdale Catholic in a scheduled nonleague game on Friday.
CB West 112 125 – 12 15 4
Bensalem 000 100 – 1 1 3
Council Rock North 5, North Penn 2
Leadoff hitter and shortstop Leor Kedar went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, as CR North jumped out fast on the road Thursday and never looked back with an impressive win over North Penn in a crossover game.
It was a game delayed by an hour, as transportation issues held up the visiting Indians, who didn’t pull into North Penn until 4:20.
“Offensively, Leor Kedar set the table, as he always does, with three hits and just great quality at bats,” said CR North coach Matt Schram.
“The players were stuck at school today and waited 90 minutes to get on the bus to take an hour ride to North Penn, and they never complained, and jumped off the bus and went to work. I’m proud of this team and extremely proud of our young guys, as they continue to get introduced to SOL baseball.”
Kedar led off the game with a single, and then after a pair of walks loaded the bases, Nick DiGiacomo put the Indians in front with a two-run double to center field.
In the second, Peyton Shaw doubled with one out and came around to score on a Kedar RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.
Shaw added an RBI sac fly in the fourth to up the lead to 4-0, before North Penn battled back with runs in the fourth and fifth to cut it to 4-2. Luke Chartrand had an RBI single in the fourth, and Ben Farley roped an RBI triple an inning later, but the Knights would get no closer.
Kedar doubled and scored on an error to round out the scoring.
Jude Hamilton picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one earned run on four hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out five.
Preston Martin pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
“It’s a good test of the barometer when you are fortunate to get a win against a team like North Penn,” Schram said. “Our young arms had no issues stepping on the mound today. Sophomore Jude Hamilton took the ball and executed the plan to perfection. Sophomore Preston Martin got the save.”
CR North (7-4, 4-3 SOL) is off until Wednesday when it plays at Souderton.
North Penn (6-4, 4-4 SOL) plays at CR South on Tuesday.
CR North 210 100 1 – 5 6 1
North Penn 000 110 0 – 2 4 1
Pennsbury 2, Souderton 1
It was another close game, and another win for Pennsbury, which had solid pitching and two huge runs in the fifth inning to edge visiting Souderton on Thursday.
“It was not clean, but it was interesting,” said Falcons coach Joe Pesci. “(Souderton’s) pitcher Tyler Lutz was really good. We struck out seven times, but we put the ball in play a bunch. We were getting guys on early, but nothing was happening.”
Trailing 1-0 going into the fifth, Pennsbury’s fifth was jump-started by a Charlie Cordisco double to left field. Evan Hawkes followed with a single to right, putting runners on first and third with one out.
Dylan Hirsh then capitalized with a two-run single, giving the Falcons the 2-1 lead.
On the mound, an ailing Keller Bradley allowed just one earned run over three innings. Junior Mason Keith came out of the bullpen and threw 3 1/3 innings, scattering three hits and two walks, but no runs, as he held the Indians at bay.
Junior Aiden Kenney picked up his third save in a row, recording the final two outs to close the game.
“Mason Keith hasn’t thrown since March 16th in Myrtle Beach,” Pesci said. “He pitched three scoreless innings of relief. To go 32 days without pitching in a live game, he was phenomenal today. That just shows our depth. It’s just next man up.”
Cordisco and Hawkes led the Pennsbury hitting attack with two hits each, but Souderton’s Lutz recorded a ton of big outs, and Grayson Norris struck out all four batters he faced out of the bullpen.
For the Indians, Jeremy Fallon was 2-for-4, Chris McKenna was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI, and Zack Pollock was 1-for-3 with a triple.
Pennsbury (7-3, 5-3 SOL) next plays at SOL Colonial leading CB East on Monday.
Souderton (3-6, 2-5 SOL) has a nonleague game Friday against Upper Dublin, which will be Veterans Appreciation Game where all Veterans related to the players and coaches will be acknowledged for their service to our country.
Souderton 001 000 0 – 1 6 2
Pennsbury 000 020 x – 2 8 2
About the Author
