Cheltenham, CR North and CB South were winners in SOL baseball action Monday. CR North/Abington photos provided courtesy of Diana Leferovich. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL American Conference
CHELTENHAM 7, UPPER MORELAND 4
Alex Bugg pretty much did it all on Monday, tossing a complete game win and driving in a pair of runs to lead the Panthers to their first conference win of the season. Bugg needed just 78 pitches, throwing 54 of them for strikes. He scattered six hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter.
“He had a great game,” coach Craig Stein said. “He’s been pitching very well for us this year.
“A couple of times our defense didn’t play up to it, and again, when we struggle to hit, we always seem to have a bad inning in the field and then just haven’t been able to overcome it, but he’s pitched very well for us. He really stepped up his game today.”
The Panthers broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the third. Ben Kaplan was safe on an error to lead off the inning and immediately stole second. He scored when Bugg doubled to right center. Lukas Nakkula followed with a single, and an error on the play allowed Bugg to cross the plate. Garrett Schmidt followed with a single, setting the stage for a two-run double by Dale Jacobs that put the Panthers on top 4-0.
“That was big,” Stein said of getting the early lead. “We’ve been struggling to string hits together. That’s the best part about it that we were able to put a couple of hits together, so that was good to see.
“We were able to get the meat of our lineup coming through.”
The Golden Bears cut that lead in half in the fourth, thanks to a two-out rally that included singles by Dawson Ruggles and Thomas Longstreth and an RBI double by Connor O’Donnell.
The Panthers had an immediate answer, scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to go on top 7-2. They capitalized on a walk, two errors and singles by Kaplan and Bugg. The Golden Bears scored single runs in the sixth and seventh but would get no closer.
“Upper Moreland is always a good team,” Stein said. “They’re always tough to beat, and it’s always a good win.
“We were able to stay out of defensively giving up the big inning. I think if we can do that, I think we have a shot that the second half of the season will be a lot better for us.”
Cheltenham (1-6, 4-8 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Thursday, and Upper Moreland (2-5, 1-4) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 000 201 1 4-6-4
Cheltenham 004 300 x 7-7-1
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 16, ABINGTON 5 (5 innings)
The Indians pounded out 17 hits and scored 16 runs – all in five innings.
“We’re swinging the bats right now, feeling pretty confident,” coach Matt Schram said. “The weather is a little warmer – the bats don’t shake as much. It’s all the right things that are happening right now offensively.”
The Indians led 6-1 after two innings only to watch the visiting Ghosts crawl right back in it, putting up four runs in the top of the third to pull to within a run.
“That’s typical,” Schram said. “I know Abington’s record, but let’s be real – they’re in the SOL National, so everyone in our league is tough. Every game is a heavyweight fight. I knew it, and it doesn’t surprise me – we went up and they jumped right back in the game. To their credit, they were swinging the bats too.”
The Indians had an immediate answer for the Ghosts’ comeback attempt, scoring four in their half of the third and then seizing complete control with a six-run fourth.
“It was timely hitting, two-out hitting, two-strike hitting – the whole thing,” Schram said. “You gain momentum – all of a sudden, you go to the plate with a little more confidence, a little swag.
“They were feeling pretty comfortable with the pitches they were swinging at. The pitch selection was awesome. It was just one of those days where every ball leaving the bat was in the right direction, and it was real good stuff.”
Leading the Indians’ hit parade were seniors Carson Shane (4-for-4, 2 RBIs) and CJ Donofry (3-for-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs).
“They’re guys who have been in the program for four years, guys who did their time and had to wait for guys who were ahead of them the last couple of years,” Schram said. “They’re teammates, they played a huge role the last couple of years, and now they’re getting their time and they’re shining.
“I’m not surprised. They’re both really good baseball players. They’re feeling it, and they’re feeling the momentum from the entire team, which is nice.”
Ryan Stalker was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. His solo home run in the second knotted the score 1-1.
“He’s been swinging the bat real well too,” Schram said.
Nolan Hartwell (2-for-3, RBI, 3 runs) and Pat Kusters (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs) also had multi-hit games for the Indians. Matt Shenot doubled and drove in three runs.
Council Rock North (7-3, 4-2 SOL) will host Harry S Truman Tuesday.
“Here we go again – heavyweight fight number two,” Schram said. “Every game is like that.”
Abington (2-9, 0-6) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday.
Abington 014 00 5-7-4
Council Rock North 064 6 x 16-17-2
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 13, NESHAMINY 11
The Redskins took what appeared to be a commanding 11-1 lead into the bottom of the third inning, but the never-say-die Titans outscored their visitors 12-0 the rest of the way to earn the win in a contest that saw the two teams combine for 28 hits.
The Titans still trailed 11-7 heading into the bottom of the sixth when they plated six runs. A two-run double by Bryan Rossi knotted the score.
For the Titans, Jake Trachtenberg (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), Rossi (3-for-4, 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 runs) and Brock Veit (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 run) all had huge days at the plate. Leadoff batter Ben Berger was 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a run, and Joey Loynd was 2-for-3 with a triple and three runs scored. Jake McKeown was the sixth player to turn in a multi-hit game, finishing the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
For the Redskins, Dalton Turner was 3-for-4 with a home run in the top of the first. He finished with four RBIs and two runs scored. Brian Nicolas was 2-for-3 with two runs, and Colin Foraker was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Joe Kaleck doubled and drove in a pair, and Matt Yauger had a double and RBI. Brody McAndrew also had a double.
Ryan Zakrezswki notched the win on the mound for the Titans, allowing just two hits in 3.2 shutout innings to close it out. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Central Bucks South (5-4, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Tuesday, and Neshaminy (5-5, 3-3) will be on the road at Pennridge for a crossover game.
Neshaminy 524 000 0 11-12-1
Central Bucks South 102 406 x 13-17-1
About the Author
