Check out the results for SOL baseball teams in action Monday. To view photos of the Wissahickon/Abington game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 7, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3
Joe Bates was clutch on the mound for the Golden Bears, allowing just four hits and one earned run while fanning nine to earn a win that avenged last Thursday’s 7-0 loss to the Colonials.
“He was huge for us,” coach Ken Irwin said. “This was a big game for us. We just lost to them last Thursday, and we were 2-4 going in with two teams that are 8-0 (Wissahickon) and 7-1 (Upper Dublin).
“Since we drop down for the (district) playoffs, our biggest thing is we just have to get enough wins to make the playoffs for the 3A, and we have to beat some good teams to get those bonus points. We asked a lot of Joey today because we have three league games this week, and it doesn’t get any easier.
“We have Wissahickon tomorrow and Upper Dublin on Thursday, so we basically said, ‘Hey, Joe, you’ve got to go until you tell us we’ve got to take you out.’ We’re a small school, and we don’t have as much depth as we had in the past, so Joe stepped up huge.”
Bates retired 14 in a row to close out the game, putting an exclamation point on the important win.
“He was throwing first pitch strikes, he was getting the leadoff hitter,” Irwin said. “The inning they scored their runs was the only inning they got their leadoff hitter on base.”
The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead in the second, but the Colonials answered with three runs in the bottom of the third. Upper Moreland took a lead it would not lose with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
In the pivotal fourth inning, Jaryd Goldstein and Connor O’Hagan both delivered RBI singles with O’Hagan’s two-run single putting the Golden Bears on top 4-3. O’Hagan’s game winner came with two outs.
“That was huge,” Irwin said. “We had the bases loaded, and they took their pitcher out.
“We were down 3-2, and the new pitcher came in and got a strikeout and a popup to the shortstop, so it looked like we were going to leave the runners there, and (O’Hagan) got the huge hit.”
Kyle Bennis, who had three of UM’s RBIs, and Goldstein both finished the day 2-for-4 to lead the Golden Bears.
“We’re young,” Irwin said. “We have a completely new team, so this was huge for the kids to feel great about it.
“It’s a big step to beat one of these teams. Hopefully, it leads to bigger things the rest of the week because it doesn’t get any easier.”
Both teams are 3-4 in conference play. Upper Moreland improved to 6-5 overall while PW is 3-7.
Upper Moreland 010 330 0 7-7-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 03 000 0 3-4-2
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 5, NORRISTOWN 4 (8 innings)
Chris Binet delivered a huge base hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth to propel the Spartans to the hard fought win.The Spartans appeared to be on the verge of earning the win when they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. They came up empty.
The second time was the charm.
“It was frustrating,” said Spartans’ coach Dennis Primavera, whose team held an 11-5 advantage in hits. “We made mistakes that cost us. For some reason, we always play Norristown in close games. Sometimes we win them, sometimes we lose them, but we happened to be on the up side twice this year.”
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Matt Gauss hit a hard shot that was misplayed at third, and the Spartans had a base runner. Corey Cottone drew a base on balls, and the bases were loaded after Deandre Johnson picked up his fourth hit of the day – this one an infield single between third and short. That set the stage for Binet’s heroics.
One inning earlier, the Spartans appeared to be in business when they loaded the bases, but a base running miscue cost them an out, and they couldn’t push a run across.
“We have to resolve the mistakes we make,” Primavera said. “It’s the same old story I have to go through every year. I tell the kids – we’re doing a lot of things wrong, and we’re doing a lot of things right, and you have to put it all together or else you’re not going to be successful.
“A lot of that depends on practice time, a lot of that depends on field time. We’re just now starting to have games and practices. Again, a lot of other teams are in the same boat we are, but when you’re a smaller school with limited personnel, it really affects you more than it affects anyone else.
“I don’t want to compare this to last year, but it took a while for us to mesh together, to practice and to understand what I need these kids to do. It’s starting to happen. There are a lot of things going right at the right time, but there are still a lot of things wrong, and that’s the frustrating part.”
The game was an uphill battle from the outset as the Eagles took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth when the Spartans plated a single run. They took a 4-3 lead after plating two runs in the fifth only to watch the Eagles knot the score in the top of the sixth.
Gauss, who worked a scoreless seventh, earned the win in relief. Johnson – who threw the first seven innings but was not involved in the decision – finished a productive day at the plate 4-for-5 with two stolen bases, while Binet was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, including the game winner.
For Norristown, Tom Detwiler, Robert Collins and Charles Grello each had a double.
With the win, Springfield is 4-5 in conference play (5-5 overall) while the Eagles are 2-6 in the conference (2-9 overall).
Norristown 012 001 00 4-5-1
Springfield 010 120 01 5-11-3
Continental Conference
PENNRIDGE 17, CENTRAL BUCKS 7 (Resumed game)
The Rams had a 16-5 lead in their contest against CB West when the rains came, bringing a halt to the game in the middle of the fourth inning. The game was completed prior to Monday’s regularly scheduled contest between the two teams.
Although the Bucks scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 16-7 game, the Rams answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring an early end to the contest via the mercy rule!
The story of the game was a 12-run third on April 7 that saw the Rams send 17 batters to the plate, scoring 12 runs off eight hits, three walks and a hit batter.
Contributing multiple hits for the Rams, who pounded out 15 hits, were Dan Shane (2-for-4, 1 run), Dan Long (3-for-5, triple, 1 run), Dave Tatoian (3-for-4, double, three runs), Caleb Hand (2-for-4, double, 3 runs). Tom Nuneviller (double) and Tyler Freed (triple) contributed extra base hits.
For the Bucks, senior Robert Philips was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Thomas Philips accounted for his team’s only extra base hit – a double. Shane Heacox was 1-for-1 with two RBIs.
Central Bucks West 014 020 7-8-1
Pennridge 0412 001 17-15-0
PENNRIDGE 4, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
In a direct contrast to the resumed contest that saw the Rams and Bucks combine for 25 hits, the two teams managed just nine hits between them in Monday’s second contest.
The Rams scored four runs in the fourth inning, and that would be the extent of the scoring for both teams until the Bucks plated a single run in the seventh.
Pennridge’s Caleb Hand was the lone player to collect more than one hit, finishing the day 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Hand and Joe Unangst both had two-run singles in the four-run fourth that included three West errors, resulting in four unearned runs.
Shane Heacox (1-for-3) drove in the Bucks only run.
Earning the win on the mound for the Rams was Dave Tatoian, who threw five shutout innings. Nick Evans absorbed the loss, allowing just four hits and four runs (all unearned) in six innings while walking one and fanning five.
Pennridge upped its record to 6-3 in conference play (9-3 overall) while the Bucks are 2-4 in the SOL (3-9 overall).
Pennridge 000 400 0 4-5-0
Central Bucks West 000 000 1 1-4-4
Non-League
ABINGTON 8, WISSAHICKON 0
Coach Dave Torresani had an idea that Nick Conard might have some success if he changed his delivery.
“My son (Bryan Torresani) is the head coach at Immaculata University, and they’ve had some success in dropping kids down,” coach Dave Torresani said of his son Bryan. “Nick was the first guy I was going to try this with because I think he has the potential to do it because he’s kind of tall and lanky.
“Because of the weather, he hasn’t had enough practice at it outside throwing to hitters, so we had to wait until we got some time in.”
If early results are worth anything, the move looks like a stroke of genius. All Conard did in his first career start was throw five shutout innings to earn his first career win. The senior pitcher scattered four hits, walked three and fanned one in a standout effort.
“For one day, it worked,” Torresani said. “He was great. He was just around the plate all day long.
“He’s an awesome kid, and he did a great job. It’s very difficult for kids to change what they’re used to, but he went right after it. I’m really proud of him.”
Cole Henrie threw two scoreless innings to close it out, allowing no hits and no walks while fanning four.
Abington scored a single run in the first and added three more in the third. The Ghosts went on top 5-0 with a run in the fourth, and three runs more runs in the fifth gave Abington its final margin of victory.
The Ghosts were led by the two-hit efforts of Paul Poppert, Aiden Coyle, Zach Mikander (double), Brendan Gallagher and Nick Bein (double).
With the win, Abington upped its overall record to 6-4 (3-3 SOL) while the Trojans are 9-2 overall (8-0 SOL).
Wissahickon 000 000 0 0-4-3
Abington 103 130 x 8-9-1
NESHAMINY 5, UPPER DUBLIN 2
The Redskins erased an early 2-1 deficit with two runs in the third and then added two more in the fifth on their way to the non-league win over the visiting Cardinals.
Andrew Alvino turned in a strong outing on the mound in the complete game win, scattering six hits and allowing two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out six.
Mike Burns (2-for-4, RBI) and Evan Matthews (2-for-3, RBI) led the Redskins offensively. Also contributing RBIs were Bill Ritchey (1-for-3, double, 2 RBIs) and Jordan Angjelo (1-for-3, RBI).
Steven Bell’s 2-for-3 effort led the Trojans, who received RBIs from Justin Horn (1-for-3) and Mark Lunney (1-for-2).
The Redskins improved to 4-8 overall (7-4 SOL) while the Trojans are 7-4 (7-1 SOL).
Upper Dublin 110 000 0 2-6-1
Neshaminy 102 020 x 5-8-2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
AJ Curran threw six strong innings, limiting the visiting Golden Hawks to just one hit and one run (unearned) while walking one and striking out five. Sam Killough threw a scoreless inning in relief, allowing just one hit.
While the Golden Hawks had only two hits, the Patriots pounded out 12. Those 12 hits were divided out between 11 players with only David Yanni (2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 1 run) collecting more than one. Carter Usowski had the game’s only extra base hit – a triple.
Contributing RBIs for the Patriots were Usowski, Jason Narkoff, Thomas Prato, Collin Sheehan, Chris Feasby and Dan King.
The two teams were deadlocked 1-1 after one inning, and the Patriots took a lead they would not lose with two in the third. They added two more in the fourth and three more in the sixth for the 8-1 final.
The Patriots upped their record to 8-4 (6-2 SOL) while the Golden Hawks are 5-5 overall (5-3 SOL).
Council Rock South 100 000 0 1-2-3
Central Bucks East 102 203 x 8-12-1
HARRY S TRUMAN 8, QUAKERTOWN 5
The Panthers held a 9-6 advantage in hits, but the Tigers had the edge on the scoreboard, scoring three runs in the sixth inning the break a 5-5 tie to earn the non-league win.
Evan Miller led the Tigers offensively with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate and one run scored. Contributing RBIs for the Tigers were Jared McBride, Collin Pool, Rob Lancieri, Trystin Hunt, Nick Hopley and J.D. Matthews.
For the Panthers, John Lilley had another big day, finishing the game 3-for-4 with a triple, RBI and run scored. Zack Metz (2-for-4, double, RBI, 1 run) and Alec Vera (2-for-2, RBI, 1 run) also had good days at the plate for the Panthers.
Mark Lopez threw 5.1 innings for the Tigers, allowing six hits and three runs while walking three and fanning six. Brian Aicher closed it out, allowing three hits and two runs while walking one and fanning three. The Panthers, meanwhile, used five pitchers.
With the win, Truman upped its overall record to 6-4 (3-3 SOL) while the Panthers are 2-5 overall (4-7 SOL).
Quakertown 201 020 0 5-9-4
Harry S Truman 400 013 x 8-6-3
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