Four SOL baseball games were decided in extra innings on Tuesday. Check out the recaps for all of the action.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9, HARRY S TRUMAN 7 (8 innings)
The Indians edged the Tigers in a wild extra-inning contest.
"Guys are battling and competing," said Council Rock North coach coach Matt Schram, whose team pounded out 15 hits. "Everybody's seeing the ball real well. Everybody's working the counts real well."
The Indians won it with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Nolan Hartwell singled to center field to drive in a run, and the Indians also benefitted from a pair of Tiger miscues.
There was nothing to suggest the Indians would need extra innings to win it when they took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Tigers, however, put four runs on the board to even the score with the benefit of just one hit – a two-run double by TJ Braiser as they took advantage of a pair of hit batters, a walk and a costly passed ball.
Rock North starter Eric Hoefer allowed just four hits and three runs in six innings. He struck out seven and walked three. He was not involved in the decision.
"He should’ve got the win," Schram said.
Hartwell earned the win in relief, allowing two hits and one run (unearned) while striking out three and walking none in two innings.
Carson Shane had another big game at the plate for the Indians, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Also turning in multi-hit games were CJ Donofry (2-for-6, 2 runs), Jason Walter (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, run), Griffin Peterson (2-for-4, run) and Pat Kusters (2-for-4, run). Cavan Tully doubled and drove in a run.
For the Tigers, Evan Profy was 2-for-3 with three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. TJ Brasier was 1-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Wayne Pekarski drove in a pair of runs.
Council Rock North (8-3, 5-2) will travel to Council Rock South on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (4-7, 3-4) will be on the road at William Tennent Thursday.
Council Rock North 003 012 12 9-13-0
Harry S Truman 201 000 40 7-6-9
BENSALEM 1, PENNSBURY 0
Nicholas Dean turned in an 84-pitch complete game masterpiece to win a classic pitcher’s dual. The Owls’ ace allowed just two hits while striking out seven and walking none.
The Owls scored the only run Dean would need in the fourth – it was unearned.
Pennsbury’s Christian Buchler pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing three hits and one run (unearned) in 5.2 innings while striking out five and walking four. Ricky Palmer threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. He did not allow a hit and struck out one.
The only extra-base hit came in the bottom of the second off the bat of Pennsbury’s Jake Martell – a double.
Bensalem (8-1, 6-1 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Thursday, and Pennsbury (6-5, 3-4) will be on the road at Abington on Thursday.
Bensalem 000 100 0 1-3-0
Pennsbury 000 000 0 0-3-3
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 9, ABINGTON 3
Council Rock South blew open a close game with a five-spot in the fourth inning, turning a tenuous 3-2 lead into an 8-2 advantage. The inning was highlighted by Nick Gallo’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Evan Fisher.
Earlier, the Ghosts took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by Griffin Wittenberg. The Hawks answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, sparked by RBI singles from J. Ennis and Rich Dembrowski. Abington made it a 3-2 game in the top of the fourth when Justin Cunnane singled to plate George Jacob.
In a contest that saw both teams collect eight hits, the Golden Hawks were led by the 2-for-3 effort of Dembowski, who also had two RBIs and one run.
Abington was led by the perfect 3-for-3 effort of JP Nolan.
Sean O’Brien notched the win for the Golden Hawks, allowing five hits and two runs in five innings. He struck out five and walked two. Matt O’Neill allowed three hits and one run (unearned) in two innings, striking out two and walking one.
Council Rock South (4-5, 3-3) will host Council Rock North on Thursday, and Abington (2-10, 0-7) will host Pennsbury on Thursday.
Abington 100 100 1 3-8-2
Council Rock South 300 501 x 9-8-1
SOL Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 8, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4
The Knights keep finding ways to win, and although it wasn’t always pretty, they picked up their seventh conference win without a loss on Tuesday.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Knights broke a 3-3 tie with a pair of runs. Billy Collins led off the inning with a single, and Atlee Hasson drew a walk. A sacrifice bunt by Ryan Bealer put Knight runners on second and third, and it looked that that’s where the rally might end after a groundout for the inning’s second out. But with two outs, pinch runner Connor Mikulski raced home with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, and an RBI single by Rob Weiss put the Knights on top 5-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Knights added three more runs, capitalizing on a costly error, two hit batters, a walk and just one hit – a leadoff single by Hunter Hamlin. A solo home run by Grant Meiers in the seventh was the only run the Patriots could muster.
Weiss led the Knights with a 2-for-3 effort. Hasson was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Bealer was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
For the Patriots, Meiers finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, double, RBI and two runs. Jimmy Parrish was 2-for-4. Colin Weber and Jack Nugent each had an RBI.
Kolby Barrow, who earned the win, allowed seven hits and three runs (all unearned) in 5.1 innings. He struck out six and walked just one in the victory. Mason Blankenburg closed it out for the Knights. Three Central Bucks East pitchers combined to allow eight hits.
North Penn (10-2, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West on Thursday, and Central Bucks East (6-7, 2-6) will host Souderton on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 002 010 1 4-7-1
North Penn 021 023 x 8-8-4
CENTRAL BUCKS 3, SOUDERTON 2 (9 innings)
Central Bucks South's Joey Loynd singled down the left field line to score pinch runner Zach Steinberg in the top of the ninth. Jake Trachtenberg’s single to right field ignited the 10th inning rally.
That one-run lead stood as Jack MeKeown retired the Indians in the bottom of the frame, propelling the Titans to the win in extras.
“It was a big win,” South coach Brian Klumpp said. “Any league is a big win, and when you go on the road – we were tied with Souderton for second place, so to get the win there and to get it in the low-scoring fashion that we did – it really shows we have a lot of toughness on our team.”
Loynd (3-for-4, RBI, 1 run) and Connor McKeown (3-for-5, RBI) both had big days in the middle of the Titans’ lineup.
“Joey’s been unreal, and Connor’s been hot of late, and that’s kind of what we expected out of him from the beginning of the season,” Klumpp said. “He’s really coming along well so far this season for us.”
The Titans’ coach went on to laud the outings of his two pitchers. Starter Brock Veit allowed only four hits and two runs (one earned) in seven strong innings. He struck out one and walked a pair. McKeown did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings, fanning five and walking four.
“Brock threw a really strong seven innings and unfortunately didn’t get the win,” Klumpp said. “He got out of some huge jams, not only with his pitching but with his fielding as well. He made a double play and some nice plays on ground balls as well.”
Central Bucks South (6-4, 5-1 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham in a non-league game on Friday, and Souderton (7-3, 4-2) will travel to Central Bucks East on Thursday.
Central Bucks South 200 000 001 3-10-1
Souderton 110 000 000 2-4-3
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, WILLIAM TENNENT 3 (8 innings)
Central Bucks West's Ryan Rudek scored on wild pitch in the top of the eighth, and that proved the difference in the game.
Brad Tracy, CB West's coach, attributed much of the success to his pitchers, who he said threw great pitches and stared down runners in scoring position.
Brian Gilvary earned the win, allowing one hit in 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. He struck out one and walked a pair. Matt Cooper started and threw four innings, allowing three hits and two runs (both unearned) while fanning six and walking three. Garrett Hackett followed and went 2.1 innings. He gave up three hits and one run while striking out three and walking a pair.
Tracy has several young players earning their stripes and "learning how to win at the varsity level."
"We've had a whole lot of injuries," the Bucks’ coach said. "We've had to move guys around."
Earlier, the Bucks scored three runs to go on top 3-2 in the fifth, benefitting from a costly error on a Luke Nitschke grounder that allowed a pair of runners to cross the plate.
The Bucks took that 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh only to watch the Panthers knot the score when Tommy Plunkett delivered an RBI single.
Leading the Bucks at the plate were Trevor D’Arcy (2-for-5, 2B, 1 run) and Luke Nitschke (2-for-4).
Central Bucks West (2-9, 2-5 SOL) will host North Penn on Thursday, and William Tennent (5-5, 3-4) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday in a non-league game.
Central Bucks West 000 030 01 4-8-5
William Tennent 002 000 10 3-7-6
SOL American Conference
QUAKERTOWN 5, WISSAHICKON 4 (8 innings)
With the top spot in the conference standings at stake, it was the visiting Panthers eking out a win with a run in the top of the eighth. JJ Paul delivered a two-out double that plated Justin Guidos – who singled to lead off the frame. That run turned out to be the game winner.
Paul, according to his coach, was hitting over .600 heading into Tuesday’s showdown.
“He’s been hitting the ball pretty well for us, and he came up big today,” Pallone said.
Dennis Pierce retired the Trojans in order in the bottom of the inning to preserve the win for Nathaniel Barnes, who did not allow a hit or run in 1.1 innings in relief. Paul started and threw 5.2 innings.
“Our pitching was really solid,” Pallone said. “JJ went out there, and he threw well.
“(Barnes) went in with two outs in the six and he threw the next inning and kept us in the game. We got the lead, and we brought Dennis Pierce in, and he did what he does, so all three of those guys pitched really well, which kept us in the game. We had some timely hits there, and our pitchers did a good job.”
Through the first three innings, leaving men stranded was a theme for both Quakertown and Wissahickon. In the top of the first, the Panthers drew a leadoff walk only to see that runner picked off, a play that loomed large when Pierce doubled one batter later. In the second, Quakertown again left a man on base as the team wasted a Barnes’ single. In the bottom of the inning, Wissahickon's Eddie Fortescue doubled with one out and made his way to third on a groundout but wasn’t brought home. In the third inning, Wissahickon's Michael Steitz singled but was left on base.
The two teams exchanged single runs in the fifth, and both scored three in the sixth. A winner wasn’t decided until the eighth in a contest that was a far cry from the initial meeting between the two teams that saw Quakertown roll to a 12-2 win in a contest that was halted in the eighth inning for the mercy rule.
“When we played them the first time, it was a much different kind of game,” Pallone said. “We scored nine runs in the first inning whereas this time we knew they were going to be better.
“Andy (Noga) does a very good job coaching over there, so the players are going to be better. They were already better than they played, and he’s going to continue to do that.”
Pierce (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Mason Hicks (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Barnes (2-for-3) led the Panthers’ eight-hit attack.
For the Trojans, Brian Hynes was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs. JT Culp doubled and drove in a run.
Quinn Rovner gave the Trojans seven strong innings, scattering six hits and allowing four runs (only one earned). He struck out seven and walked two.
“Their pitcher, Rovner – he’s a competitor,” Pallone said. “You could see him out there battling the entire game, and he did a great job.”
Quakertown (6-2, 6-1 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Thursday, and Wissahickon (7-3, 5-2 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday.
Quakertown 000 013 01 5-8-0
Wissahickon 000 013 00 4-6-2
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
Nick Pave was on top of his game on Tuesday. The Lehigh recruit allowed just three hits while striking out seven and walking two in the complete game win.
“Nick has pitched in the past this season in freezing weather – he’s just not a cold weather pitcher, and today he started to shine,” coach Dennis Primavera said. “Nick pitched well – he had a complete game, and that’s what we need out of Nick if we’re going to have any success this year.”
The Hatters got on the scoreboard in the top of the first when sophomore shortstop Jake Bianchini led off with a single to right field and, with one out, scored on sophomore designated hitter Anthony Bruno’s double.
The Hatters threatened to add on to their lead when Bruno advanced to third on a wild pitch and senior third baseman Kevin Waeltz walked to set up first and third with one out. However, Pave got Shane Carpenter to ground into a double play to end the threat.
Springfield tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Tim Dahme singled and eventually scored on Trevor McCaffrey’s sacrifice fly.
“That was an important run,” Primavera said. “We had a man on third with one out. We needed to get him in.
“We practice that all day long, scoring a run with a fly ball, and that’s what he did.”
In the fourth inning, Springfield’s Brian Murphy lined a single to center field to plate Max Perry with the go-ahead run.
“Both teams played very good defense,” Primavera said. “It was a good baseball game, but Nick dominated somewhat.
“We needed a big hit when we got one.”
Hatters’ starting pitcher, sophomore Jackson Treski, battled through some control issues and allowed just two runs in four innings on two hits, seven walks, one hit batter and four strikeouts. Sophomore Eric Thron followed Treski with one and a third scoreless innings pitched and senior Alex Crim recorded the final two outs.
Springfield Township (3-5, 3-3 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Wednesday.
“We have six home games coming up,” Primavera said. “The kids are playing well. We need to win some games so we can get into the PIAA 4A playoffs.
The Hatters (3-8 Overall, 3-5 SOL American) will be back in action on Thursday when they host Upper Moreland.
Hatboro-Horsham 100 000 0 1-3-2
Springfield Township 001 100 x 2-4-0
UPPER MORELAND 4, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3
Upper Moreland’s two-run fourth inning proved the difference in the team's victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday. The Golden Bears trailed 3-2 entering the fourth but took a lead they would not lose.
The Golden Bears managed just six hits with five of those coming from two players: leadoff batter Jack Dombroski (3-for-3, 2B, 2 runs) and Kevin Walder (2-for-3, RBI). Connor O’Donnell doubled and scored a run.
The Colonials scored all of their runs in the third inning with Stephen Longo, Richie Werner and Mike Orensky each contributing an RBI.
Upper Moreland's Colin Bates pitched five innings and allowed four hits and three runs in the victory. He struck out five and walked three. Tyler Arnold recorded the save, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings of relief.
Plymouth Whitemarsh's Brett Bottinger gave up five hits and four runs, but only two of those were earned. He struck out seven batters and walked three. Steve Blum gave up just one hit in two scoreless innings in relief. He fanned three and didn’t walk a batter.
Upper Moreland (3-5, 2-4 SOL) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-4, 5-3) will host Wissahickon on Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 030 000 0 3-5-2
Upper Moreland 110 200 x 4-6-0
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 13, NESHAMINY 12 (10 innings)
The Rams scored a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning and then withstood a Redskin comeback attempt in the bottom of the frame in the resumption of a game that was halted after eight innings due to darkness on April 9 with the two teams deadlocked 11-11.
Finishing the game with multiple hits for the Rams were Nick Christ (2-for-6, 2B, RBI, 3 runs), Evan Freed (2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs), Bret Henofer (2-for-6, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Eddie Kerrigan (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 1 run), Ray Knight (2-for-5, 1 run) and Jim Petrik (2-for-5, 2 runs).
Petrik earned the win on the mound.
NESHAMINY 10, PENNRIDGE 2
The Redskins rebounded from a loss in the completion of the suspended game to earn a split in Tuesday’s crossover games.
“We’ve been talking – we’re still trying to find out what we are as a team,” coach Dan Toner said. “The biggest thing I took out of today was how we responded.
“I challenged the guys to get each other’s backs a little more, be energetic throughout the game and work on our approach hitting, and every guy focused on what they needed to do in that second game, and the result showed. We were into it the whole entire game, we were driving the ball the other way, moving guys over. I was extremely, extremely happy with the way that they responded.”
The Redskins scored three runs in the first and three more in the second. They never looked back. Leading the way offensively was Joe Kaleck, who was 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Rodrigo Santo and Chris Cavallaro hit back-to-back home runs in the second. Santo finished the day 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two RBIs and a run scored. Cory Joyce (2-for-3, 3B, RBI, 2 runs) also had a big day. Dalton Turner doubled and had a pair of RBIs, and Gus Natelli doubled and drove in a run.
“We were hitting the ball all over the place,” Toner said. “It was just a mindset the kids had coming into this second game – how they had each other’s backs and were cheering each other on.”
Kyle Rovny threw six strong innings in a winning effort on the mound, scattering seven hits while allowing one run. He struck out eight and walked just one.
“Kyle Rovny just attacked the strike zone the entire game,” Toner said.
For the Rams, Jim Petrik and Jon Nase were both 2-for-3. Nase had a double and RBI. Bret Henofer also had an RBI.
Neshaminy (6-6, 3-3 SOL) will be on the road at Bensalem on Thursday, and Pennridge (3-6, 1-5) will travel to Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Neshaminy 330 101 2 10-11-1
Pennridge 001 000 1 2-8-1
UPPER DUBLIN 7, COLLEGIUM CHARTER 2
The Flying Cardinals fell behind 2-0 but rallied to knot the score in the fourth. They won it with a five-run outburst in the fifth.
Five UD pitchers combined for the win with Karan Acharya – who did not allow a hit in two shutout innings – earning the win. He struck out three and walked one.
The Flying Cardinals had nine hits, but no player had more than one. Jacob Womelsdorf tripled and drove in a pair of runs. Alex Goldenberg doubled and scored two runs, and Jared Lamberg doubled and drove in a run. Drew Stover and Jarrod Matz added one RBI each.
Upper Dublin (3-4, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Wednesday.
Collegium Charter 200 000 0 2-4-2
Upper Dublin 001 150 x 7-9-2
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