By Scott Huff
Featured Game – Council Rock North vs. Harry S Truman - *** see separate game story ***
And the beat goes on …
SOL American Conference
Upper Moreland (3-0, 2-0) had its battery charged as the Golden Bears remained unbeaten in conference play with a 5-1 victory over Cheltenham (1-3, 0-2).
“Both (pitcher) Craig Miekley and Dave McInerney (catcher) had great games,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr. “They were something special today.”
Miekley – a senior right-hander – threw a complete game for the Bears. He used his superior control to strike out 12 Panther batters and did not issue a walk.
“His location was moving guys all around the plate,” said Rehr. “They were off balance the entire game.
“I thought about taking him out in the last inning, but I felt like I owed it to him to let him finish the game,” added Rehr. “He finished real strong with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh, and a ground ball to first base.”
Miekley’s battery mate – a junior receiver McInerney – was four-for-four with a pair of doubles and three RBI.
“There hasn’t been a game yet where he hasn’t crushed the ball at least once in the game,” said Rehr. “The only thing that has limited his homerun total is that some fields don’t have fences.”
Lucas Armstrong also contributed offensively with two hits, three runs scored, and a triple.
“To have our pitchers go deep in games at the beginning of the season has been a huge plus,” said Rehr. “Our defense has played well behind them, and they trust in one another.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-2) was idle and will play at New Hope Solebury (4-1) tomorrow.
Norristown (0-2) did not play but will host Harry S Truman (2-1) in a non-league game on Monday.
Wissahickon (0-2) was idle and will travel to Central Bucks South (2-1) on Monday in a non-league tilt.
Upper Merion (1-1) did not play and will play again on Tuesday when the Vikings are at Cheltenham to meet the Panthers in an SOL American Conference contest.
SOL National Conference
Abington (1-1, 1-1) had three pitchers combine for a six hitter as the Ghosts won their first conference game with a 2-1 win over William Tennent (1-2, 0-2).
Abington head coach Dave Torresani has a pitching ace on his staff in senior Jake Ruch – but Ruch has been limited with a sprained ankle thus far.
“Jake was doing what all good captains and leaders do, but he sprained his ankle leading the team after practice in a run,” said Torresani. “He has been cleared to play, but he isn’t 100 percent.
“He is probably our best all-around player,” added Torresani. “We’re hoping that he will be back at full strength in a week or two.”
Abington had a pair of freshmen step up and make a huge contribution in the Tennent win – shortstop Eric Tidwell and pitcher Jake Ferrante.
Tidwell made his presence known in the field with seven assists and a diving stop of a Panther line drive in the fifth inning.
“Eric’s play today was huge for us,” said Torresani. “That play he made in the fifth inning was a huge boost for the team.
“And it was great to see Jake get a win in his first varsity game,” added Torresani of his young right-hander. “He threw great for two and two thirds, but we needed Ruch late in the game.”
Ruch limped to the mound with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth. He struck out the first Tennent hitter he faced and had a 1-2-3 seventh to save the game.
The only runs of the game for the Ghosts came on an RBI single by starting pitcher Justin Emrich, who scored what proved to be the game winner in the third inning on an RBI double by Scott Schwartz.
Pennsbury (1-4, 1-1) had a five-inning no-hitter thrown by Chris Rupprecht as the Falcons defeated Bensalem (1-1, 1-1).
Rupprecht struck out 10 hitters and issued four bases on balls during his five-inning stint.
The Falcons scored four runs in the first inning and four more runs in the third inning to fly to their first win of the season.
Tim Schaffer went two-for-two to spark to Pennsbury offense.
On Thursday, Neshaminy (2-0, 2-0) kept its grip on first place in the SOL National Conference with an 11-1 victory over Council Rock South (0-2, 0-2).
The big hit of the day for the Skins was a bases loaded – three-RBI double off the bat of Sean McGovern. Rick Brebner also had a double and three RBI for the winners.
Neshaminy senior Frank Leonhart threw the first five innings to record the win.
The Golden Hawks were guilty of four errors and issued nine bases on balls to Redskin batters.
SOL Continental Conference
Pennridge (5-1, 1-1) captured an important conference win as the Rams edged visiting Central Bucks South (2-1, 1-1) – 4-3.
“It’s early in the season, but after losing to West you can’t get too far back in the standings,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “Every win during the season is big.
“We made some big plays in the field, got some good pitching, and got some good hitting,” added Nuneviller.
The big plays in the field came when the Titans had runners on first and third with no outs. South attempted a steal and the runner at first base was gunned down by Ram catcher DanWolfe. On the next play, Pennridge shortstop Dylan Tice gunned down the runner on third base.
The good pitching came from Jared Schaffer. Schaffer threw six scoreless innings, but walked a pair of runners in the seventh inning and was lifted.
“Jared was outstanding for six innings,” said Nuneviller. “He made good pitches when he had to, and we made some nice plays behind him.”
The good hitting came from Brad Hess who sparked the 12-hit Ram attack with a pair of RBI hits.
Central Buck West (3-1, 2-0) continued to pound the baseball as the young Bucks blasted Souderton (1-3, 0-2) – 16-8.
CB West has scored 10 or more runs in each of its four games this season.
Matt Hanson led the hitting barrage for the Bucks with a pair of homeruns. Hanson blasted a two-run shot in the first inning and followed with a grand slam homer in the second inning. He had three hits and seven RBI for the game.
Buzz Lis contributed to the cause with a pair of doubles and three runs scored, while JP Grove had two hits and three RBI.
On Thursday, North Penn (2-0, 2-0) handed visiting Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 1-1) its first loss of the season with an 8-2 SOL Continental Conference victory.
Knight freshman right-hander Bryce Mengel threw a remarkable game in his varsity debut with a complete game win. Mengel allowed just four hits and did not permit earned runs. He struck out six Hatter hitters.
North Penn had RBI delivered by Ryan King, Peter Edgar, Mark Grassie, and Craig Lepre. Lepre is the lone starter back from last season’s state championship team.
Matt Hollenbeck, who was the starting pitcher for the Hatters, drove in a run for Hatboro-Horsham. H-H led 2-0 early in the game but could not hold the lead.
Quakertown (1-1) and Central Bucks East (1-1) were both idle.
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