Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Saturday. Cheltenham/CR South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a photo gallery: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f899671345
Non-league
Cheltenham 6, Council Rock South 4
The visiting Panthers scored four runs in the fifth to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 6-4 lead, and Pablo Diaz did not allow a hit in 3.2 shutout innings to lead the Panthers to the non-league win.
“It was another big win for my program on the road,” Cheltenham coach Kevin Hite said. “The big-time pitching came from two relievers, and Pablo “Papi” Diaz Jr – his first time playing or pitching this season – was key.
“We have been real delicate with him coming off an arm injury from last season. He was amazing with great defense behind him. Joel Martin started the game and was tremendous as well.”
Martin allowed three hits and four runs – two earned – in three innings with one strikeout and four walks.
Rock South took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring a run on a single by Mason Levin and two more on a costly miscue. The inning began with back-to-back singles by Tyler Harper and Joey Pirone.
The Panthers got two of those runs back in the second when Martin tripled to left field, plating Kaedan Carrera and Finn Kopp. Both had singled earlier in the inning.
The Golden Hawks added an unearned run in the second, and that 4-2 score stood until the fifth when the Panthers put four runs on the board. Kopp lined a double to center to open the inning, and Carrera singled. Kopp scored from third on AJ Gordon’s line out to left field. A walk to Martin was followed by a single from Colin Kelly. Jack Haugen drew a walk that pushed a run across, and a Golden Hawk miscue allowed another run to score, giving the Panthers a 6-4 lead that held until the final out.
Kopp was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Panthers.
“Finn ‘Chosen One’ Kopp continues to shine at the plate and in the field,” Hite said. “I reminded my team before the game – it’s (Rock South’s) senior game, and we won’t be an easy win. I take pride in wearing the C across my chest, and our team motto is ‘Expect to Win’ and we did.”
Cheltenham (3-6, 2-5 SOL) will host Upper Dublin in a crossover game Monday, and Council Rock South (4-5, 3-4) will host North Penn in a crossover game Tuesday.
Cheltenham 020 400 0. 6-6-2
Council Rock South 310 000 0. 4-3-2
Bensalem 10, Springfield Twp 1
The Owls broke a 1-1 tie with a seven-run fifth inning on their way to the non-league win on Saturday. It was the second win in as many days for the Owls, who received a standout performance on the mound by Peter Pasquarella.
The Owls’ hurler allowed just two hits and one run in six strong innings, striking out 11 and walking one. He threw 85 pitches – 60 strikes.
“Peter Pasquarella pitched a great game – he was ultimately the star of the game for us,” Bensalem coach Kurt Sowa said.
Logan Savage closed it out with a scoreless seventh.
Bensalem put a run on the board in the top of the fourth when Jake Wagner, who led off the inning with a single and stole second, scored on a two-out single by Tyler Anderson.
The Spartans evened the score in the bottom of the inning. Chris Cahill led off the inning with a single, and Anderson Kerper drew a walk. Two outs later, they were still on first and second when Nathan Levy lined a single to center that plated Cahill and knotted the score 1-1.
The seven-run fifth included singles by Anthony Labate, Lukas Wilson, Wagner (RBI), Kaden Lavendar (RBI) and Anderson. The Owls also capitalized on three walks and a Rock South miscue.
In the top of the seventh, the Owls tacked on two more runs on RBI singles by Ryan Strazziere and Zach Lentchner for the 10-1 final.
For the Owls, Wilson was 3-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot. Anderson’s 3-for-3 effort at the plate included one RBI and one run scored. Wagner was 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, one RBI and two runs scored.
“Tyler Anderson was able to get us on the board with a big two-out hit in the fourth,” Sowa said. “He had a very nice day at the plate with three hits.
“Jake Wagner stayed hot offensively, and Lukas Wilson also had a very nice all-around game. He has been consistent for us all year.”
Levy was 2-for-3 with one RBI to lead the Spartans.
Bensalem (2-7, 0-5 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South for a crossover game Monday, and Springfield Twp (5-4, 5-3) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh for Monday’s crossover game.
Bensalem 000 170 2. 10-12-0
Springfield Twp 000 100 0. 1-4-1
Lower Moreland 14, MaST Community Charter 10
The Lions scored six runs in the last two innings combined to earn the win in Saturday’s wild non-league game at MaST Charter.
“It was a fun game,” LM coach Mike Guido said. “We needed a game that like that after a few rough losses.
“We have a huge game against Abington coming up, and we’re going to need to play a well-rounded game to win.”
In a contest that saw both teams collect 19 hits, there were plenty of offensive heroes on both sides. The Lions were led by the three-hit efforts of Kevin Cronin (3-for-4, RBI, 3R), Xavier Gonzales (3-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Bradley Horsnall (3-for-5, 2B, 3 RBIs). Adding two hits each were Drew Dorval (2-for-4, RBI, 2R), James Cronin (2-for-3, RBI, 2R) and Keegan Courdoff (2-for-3, R).
The Lions led 7-4 after three innings, but MaST scored four in the fourth to go on top 8-7. LM trailed 10-8 heading into the sixth when the Lions plated three runs to take a lead they would not lose.
Lower Moreland (6-5, 3-5 SOL)
Lower Moreland 142 013 3. 14-19-0
MaST Charter 040 420 0. 10-19-1
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