To view game action photos of the CB South/Pennridge contest, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
William Tennent (2-9, 1-8) won its first Suburban One League National Conference game with an 8-2 win over Abington (4-6, 3-5). The Panthers hadn’t won since their 11-4 win over Norristown on opening day in a non-league game.
“This was the first game that we have won in over a month,” said William Tennent head coach Chris Marchok. “The kids have been working real hard – show up for Saturday morning practices at 7 am – and have been very enjoyable to coach.
“It makes it a little easier to come to practice after you win a game,” added Marchok. “And we beat a real good pitcher in (Abington starting pitcher Jake) Ruch. He’s the real deal.”
The first four hitters in the Panther lineup were a combined 10-for-15 on the day.
Brandon Roman was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored; Brandon Dibona was 4-for-4 with a double and three runs scored; Pat Traczykiewicz was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored; and Jordan Weintraub was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and four RBI.
Roman and Weintraub combined to hurl Tennent to the victory. Roman – on a pitch count – fired the first five innings and carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning. He yielded just three hits and struck out three. Weintraub threw the final two frames and permitted just a single hit to go along with two strikeouts.
“We have five freshmen, three that play regularly,” said Marchok. “It was great to see them have some success today.”
Pennsbury (6-8, 5-4) is making a slow move toward the top of the conference standings after the Falcons flew by Bensalem (1-7, 1-7) , 11-5.
Yesterday, Pennsbury defeated previously unbeaten Council Rock North – 7-0.
The hitting star for the Falcons against the Owls was Chris Wiertz. Wiertz went 2-for-3 with a homerun and four RBI. Josh Cailoa went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The winning pitcher for Pennsbury was Brad Garrett.
Council Rock North (9-1, 7-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season to defeat Truman (5-5, 4-4) by a 6-5 score.
Suburban One League American Conference
Wissahickon (6-5, 6-3) opened the 2010 season with five straight losses, but the Trojans have reeled off six successive wins including an impressive 11-1 victory over host Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-6, 4-3).
The Colonials entered the game with a four-game conference win streak of their own.
“They beat us the first game of the year (10-8), and that loss left a sour taste in our mouths,” said Wissahickon head coach Shannon Gunby.
“We wanted to jump on the early,” added Gunby. “We needed to send a message.”
The message was received as Wissahickon led 8-1 after the first three innings.
“When the score got to be 8-1, we continued to tell (starting pitcher) Rob McKenna that he had to keep up the pace – continue to throw strikes down in the zone. Let the defense makes the plays behind you.”
McKenna earned a complete game victory for the Trojans. He limited the explosive Colonials to just three hits.
The offensive load featured a two-run triple by junior Brian Kaissi, and a two RBI game by Nick Sunderland. JT Crits went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. A total of eight Trojans batters got a hit during the game.
Norristown (4-5-1, 4-3-1) won a crazy eight-inning game against visiting Upper Merion (7-4, 6-3).
The Eagles trailed Upper Merion 6-2 going into the last of the seventh inning, but scored four runs to tie the score.
The Vikings seemed to put the game away with a four-run eighth inning to take a seemingly comfortable 11-6 lead.
Wrong.
Norristown scored five runs in the last of the eighth inning to put the game in the conference win column.
Eagle centerfielder Anthony DiNolfi had an amazing game in the win. The diminutive senior went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, stole 3 bases, and scored 2 runs.
DiNolfi homered to fuel the comeback in the seventh inning, and alertly scored the game winning run on a foul out when nobody covered home plate.
Upper Moreland (6-3, 5-3) rebounded from its 10-2 loss to Norristown with an 8-0 conference victory over Cheltenham (2-10, 0-9).
Craig Miekley threw the first six innings for the Golden Bears to notch the win. Miekley struck out nine hitters.
The Upper Moreland hitting attack was sparked by Lucas Armstrong, Pat McKay, and Sean Valenta.
Suburban One League Continental Conference
Central Bucks South (8-3, 6-3) had its ‘statement game’ as the Titans clubbed first place Pennridge (10-3, 6-2) – 12-2. The game was an unexpected ‘mercy rule’ game that ended in the sixth inning.
“We must be drinking the right water down here,” said Central Bucks South head coach Mike Schaefer. “We had great pitching, great defense, and great hitting against one of the best teams in the area.
“These players have had a knack of picking each other up,” added Schaefer. “Pennridge is a team that you can never feel comfortable against, but we did a good job with them today.”
Dan Wasson took care of the great pitching for the Titans with a complete game effort against a solid Ram hitting attack.
Wasson also benefited from some superb Titan fielding early in the game as he pitched out of jams by getting two double play balls.
Wasson also benefited from Wasson the batter as he cranked a three-run homer.
Central Bucks South also had offensive contributions turned in by John Mullin (3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and an RBI), Doug Prikockis (2-for-2 with 3 runs scored and a double). And Dylan Glassmire (3-for-4 with 2 doubles, and 3 RBI).
“Nothing really went well for us,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “This was a tough one, but CB South is playing very well right now.
“We have to forget about this one and move forward,” added Nuneviller. “This is a tough league, and you can’t have any letdown.”
Pennridge did have a pair of three-hit games. Dylan Tice and Ryan Metzler each had three singles for the Rams.
Hatboro-Horsham (7-5, 4-4) senior Nick Hinkson may not be just the ace for the Hatters – but the ace for the entire conference. Hinkson threw a complete game gem as the Hatters topped North Penn (6-5, 4-4) – 3-2.
Dean Kenniff was the tough-luck loser for the Knights.
Hatter Casey Saverio came up with a huge hit as he belted a two-run homerun.
Jimmy Smith hit a solo homer for North Penn.
Central Bucks West (6-6, 4-5) halted a three-game losing streak as the young Bucks ‘mercy-ruled’ Souderton (3-8, 1-7) in five innings – 13-3.
Marty Martens came on in relief on an injured Buzz Lis in the first inning to gain the victory. Martens also swung a good bat with a pair of triples and two RBI.
Dan Seitzinger blasted a triple and knocked home two runs for the winners.
Quakertown (6-3, 4-3) had its bats blazing as the Panthers torched Central Bucks East (5-7, 3-5) in conference play – 12-9.
The Panthers used back-to-back homeruns in the first inning – including a two-run shot by Phil Bain and a solo homerun by Tyler Coleman – to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 lead.
Jason Rathjens had a two-run double in a five-run fifth that saw the Panthers go on top 8-5.
Ryan Pater was a perfect 4-for-4 to lead the Patriots. Tyler Zeleny and Sam McClay each hit grand slam home runs.
Kurtis Robert pitched five innings to earn the win, striking out six.
Featured game…
By Nick DeLorenzo
On paper, Thursday’s matchup between Neshaminy and Council Rock South seemed like a foregone conclusion. After all, the Redskins were sitting atop the SOL National Conference with an undefeated league record while the Golden Hawks were struggling to break free from the middle of the pack.
Someone forgot to tell this to Greg Welsh.
Behind the dazzling complete game performance of the Penn State-bound senior hurler, Rock South defeated Neshaminy 3-1.
The Redskins threatened to break the game open early, loading the bases with one out in the second inning, but Welsh managed to escape allowing just one run on an RBI groundout.
The Hawks answered back in the third when Jerry Mulderig scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1. In the fourth, South manufactured a few runs off Neshaminy hurler Ray Hyjurick, scoring on a bases-loaded walk by Paul DiFede and an RBI groundout by Mulderig to take a 3-1 lead.
That was all the run support Welsh needed.
After escaping the second inning jam, he was nearly untouchable the rest of the way, retiring 15 of the final 17 batters he faced for the complete game victory.
Welsh was able to throw both his fastball and his hard slider for strikes all afternoon, keeping hitters off balance while only allowing a handful of hard-hit balls.
“I knew right when I was warming up in the bullpen [before the game] that I felt good today,” said Welsh, who finished with 10 strikeouts while allowing only three hits.
Welsh went out of his way to give credit his defense – the Golden Hawks committed zero errors on the day, which is especially crucial in a pitcher’s duel.
“Everyone behind me did a great job fielding,” Welsh said. “I’m really happy the way we all played today.”
After a slow start from his southpaw, South head coach Greg Young was thrilled with the way Welsh was able to bounce back and carry his team to a win.
“Early in the ball game he had some control issues, but he seemed to work his way out of it,” Young said. “When he throws multiple pitches for strikes he’s really tough to hit.”
“He could probably tell [the batter] that he’s going to throw his slider, and he still wouldn’t hit it,” Young continued. “Once he gets settled in, he’s the real deal.”
Hyjurick was the hard-luck loser for Neshaminy (6-1), tossing a complete game while allowing just three runs. Rick Brebner hit a double in the sixth inning, the game’s only extra-base hit.
Welsh was conscious of the Redskins’ potent lineup and had a game plan in order to maximize his performance on the mound.
“They have Brebner, [John] Burns – a couple good hitters,” Welsh said. “I stayed away from them by throwing my slider. In earlier games, my slider wasn’t as on, but today I could throw it for strikes.”
Thursday’s win, along with a win Wednesday against Truman, brings South (5-4) back in the thick of things in the SOL National. After going through a rough patch early in the season, Young believes his team is back on the right track and ready to make a playoff run.
“It’s a good win,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “Neshaminy is a good ballclub. This was a big game and I think they knew it and we knew. We’re not a 4-4 team and I think we’re going to start proving it.”
The special thing about this team, according to Young, is the contributions from every player on the roster – a well-balanced squad with a new hero every time out.
“We’ve shuffled some kids in and out,” Young said. “We use a lot of guys because we have confidence in our entire roster. These guys are here for a reason – they are all really good players. They’re playing well as a team, and that’s everybody.”
After such an important and emotional win, the Hawks’ confidence is sky-high, and Welsh is excited for his team’s future.
“We’re right back in the playoff race,” Welsh said. “I just can’t wait to play next week.”
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