Bensalem and Pennsbury notched wins in SOL baseball action Monday.
SOL Colonial Division
BENSALEM 12, HARRY S TRUMAN 0 (5 inning)
The Owls opened league play with a no-doubt-about-it win over the Tigers on Monday, erupting for five runs in the third and seven more in the fifth to bring an early end to the contest.
Ryan McLaughlin allowed just one hit in five shutout innings, striking out seven and walking one in a winning effort.
“We got really good pitching from Ryan McLaughlin – he did a real nice job,” Bensalem coach Harry Daut said. “He throws strikes, he’s very deceptive, and he really pounded the zone well.”
It looked as though it might be a pitcher’s duel as Truman sophomore Ryan Cavanaugh did not allow a hit in the first two innings. In the third, the Owls put five runs on the board with only one hit.
Tyler Fischer drew a leadoff walk, and Sean Swentkoski was hit by a pitch. A bunt single by Jon Ridge loaded the bases and set the stage for three straight walks to Jalen Soberal (RBI), Sean Nelson (RBI) and Matt McShane (RBI). Ryan Bailey entered the game in relief of Cavanaugh and coaxed a double play out of the first batter he faced. A run scored on the play, and the Owls led 5-0 when Nelson scored on a wild pitch.
“It looked like it was going to be a tough game because their pitcher was throwing pretty good the first couple of innings, but then he kind of lost the plate,” Daut said.
The Owls put the game out of reach in the fifth. The seven-run uprising included singles by Nelson, McShane, Young (RBI) and Fischer (2 RBIs). With two outs and the bases loaded, Soberal delivered the inning’s big blow, a booming triple to center that cleared the bases and gave the Tigers their final margin of victory.
“Truman is always scrappy, they’re always tough to beat,” Daut said.
Bensalem (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Wednesday, and Harry S Truman (0-2, 0-1) will travel to Council Rock North on Wednesday.
Bensalem 005 07 12-6-0
Harry S Truman 000 00 0-1-1
Non-league
PENNSBURY 11, QUAKERTOWN 1 (6 innings)
Jake Schilling had himself a day out of the cleanup spot for the Owls, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. As beginnings go, they don’t get much better than the senior first baseman’s. In three games, Schilling is 5-for-7 with four runs and three RBIs.
“Not to mention he has made some great picks and a diving play at first base in these three games,” coach Joe Pesci said of Schilling, who will play both football and baseball at Lycoming College. “Jake has taken to the four spot and is developing a very good approach to that spot in the lineup. I’m thrilled for him so far. He has shown leadership and great competitiveness.”
Senior catcher Joe Limongelli – who will continue his baseball career at Elizabethtown – is also off to a torrid start for the Falcons. In Monday’s win, he was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly, improving to 5-for-7 on the year as well.
Senior Eli Parmalee, sophomore Kayden Faulcon and senior Owen Lynch threw two innings each. Parmalee, who will continue his baseball career at Penn State Harrisburg, left the game after two innings with a 3-1 lead and earned the win in the abbreviated contest.
Faulcon allowed one hit and fanned three in two shutout innings, and Lynch, who is committed to play baseball at Penn State Abington, also allowed just one hit in two shutout innings.
The Falcons put a run on the board in the first, thanks to an RBI single from Schilling. Callan Fang also singled in the inning. Quakertown evened the score with a run in the top of the second, but the Falcons scored two in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would not lose.
For the Falcons, Charlie Evans was 1-for-3 with two RBIs out of the leadoff spot. Alex Martin was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Eric Stradling was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI. Also contributing one RBI each were Chase Stover, Justin Mitrovich and Dan Ciotti.
Pennsbury (2-1) will travel to Bensalem for Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Quakertown (0-2) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Quakertown 010 000 1-5-1
Pennsbury 122 402 11-9-1
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