Check out the results for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday.
American Conference
Upper Dublin 6, Upper Moreland 4
The Flying Cardinals picked up their fourth conference win in as many outings, rallying from an early deficit to earn the hard fought win.
“I’m really pleased with our persistence throughout games,” coach Ed Wall said. “We’ve been pretty resilient.
“We got knocked down early in this game today. We had Cheltenham on Tuesday, and we were in a situation where we weren’t producing runs. We were having a difficult time at the plate, but our attitude has just been one of persistence, and it’s been a lot of fun because these guys are believers. They’re believers in what they’re doing, and it’s been a joy to coach so far.”
Upper Moreland took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the third when the Cardinals scored four runs.
“In the first inning, we had the bases loaded, and they ended up double playing us out of the inning,” Wall said. “We look back at that third inning – we did a lot with two outs.”
With one out in the third, John Lee singled to left, and after a strikeout for the inning’s second out, Cole Swiger and Conor McFadden followed with back-to-back singles. Justin Horn drew a walk, and Christian Huckfelt delivered a two-run double to left field.
“That was really a game breaker for us,” Wall said. “That was our offensive play of the day.
“Defensively, we’ve been pretty steady with Horn and (Mark) Lunney up the middle. Those guys have gotten us off to some good starts. They’ve been pretty rangey out there too.”
The Golden Bears did come back to not the score 4-4 with a run in the fifth, but the Cardinals answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to earn the win.
“It was just resiliency that got us through and the will to win,” Wall said. “We had some key moments.
“We always come in ready to answer, and that’s the thing, so far, that I think I’m most proud of my guys.”
Cole Swiger picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one hit and one unearned run while striking out four. Swiger walked seven but managed to get out of jams, as the Bears left nine men on base. Swiger replaced Conor McFadden with the Cardinals (4-2, 4-0 SOL) down 3-0.
“Conor did a decent job but walked a lot of people in some tough cold weather,” Wall said. “Cole came in and really held down the fort for us.
“He did a good job of pounding the zone in some tough situations with runners on base in scoring position. He was able to get the ender with a strikeout, which was outstanding.”
Swiger also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Huckfeldt went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Horn scored twice and drove in one run. Lee went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.
Upper Moreland (1-3, 0-2 SOL) was led by Paul Ciampoli, who drove in two runs. Jon Searles went 1-for-2 with two walks, one run and one RBI.
Upper Moreland 021 010 0 4-3-2
Upper Dublin 004 020 x 6-5-2
Wissahickon 7, Plymouth Whitemarsh 6 (9 innings)
The Trojans – who have shown a flare for the dramatic – won their second extra-inning game of the week, following Tuesday’s 11-inning win over Upper Moreland with a nine-inning victory over the Colonials.
The Trojans scored the game winner in the top of the ninth on a two-out error. The inning began with a leadoff single by Robert Freeston, who advanced to second on Blake Rapoport’s sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Ryan Becker singled, putting a pair of runners on board, and the go-ahead run crossed the plate when Alexander Tappen was safe on an error.
The bottom of the inning was not without drama.
With one out, Tappen, who entered the game in the fifth inning, issued three consecutive walks to load the bases. He escaped the jam by striking out the next batter he faced and coaxing a harmless groundout out of the next batter for the game’s final out.
In 5.2 innings, Tappen allowed just four hits and no runs. He struck out four batters.
Earlier, Wissahickon (3-1, 3-0) led 3-0 after half an inning, but PW (1-4, 1-1) would tie things up after two innings. The two teams traded leads with PW taking a 6-5 advantage into the seventh when the Trojans rallied for the tie, using consecutive one-out singles by Rapoport, Nick Falso and Becker (RBI).
The Trojans were led offensively by Falso, who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Rapoport was 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and three runs scored, while Becker finished 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Jacob Segal also drove in a run on an RBI single, while Freeston finished 1-for-3 with a run.
For the Colonials, Nick Satterthwaite went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, and Connor Burke finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Brett Highland had two hits, and Zach Metz hit an RBI single and scored a run. Adam McKinlay also had an RBI single for PW.
Wissahickon 301 010 1017-12-3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 211 200 0006-10-2
Cheltenham 5, Springfield 1
The Panthers (2-2, 2-1 SOL) exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie.
Gilbert Owens drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Amari Cathay’s sacrifice bunt. Owens crossed the plate when Gabe Hofferman reached first on an error. Joel White’s two-out single pushed the second run across, and after a walk to Jack Gordon, Hugh Sharkey followed with an RBI single. Alex Haasz’s two-run single put the Panthers on top 5-0.
The Spartans (1-3 SOL) broke up Jacob Petrisko’s shutout bid in the top of the seventh when Corey Cottone (2-for-3) singled home Will Jamison, who had doubled.
Petrisko tossed a complete game to earn the win for Cheltenham, striking out three while walking zero in a six-hit, one-run performance.
Deandre Johnson, despite allowing no earned runs, took the loss for the Spartans (1-3, 1-3), allowing six hits in six innings of work.
For the Panthers, Joel White went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Hofferman doubled and also scored a run. Hugh Sharkey also went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run and an RBI for Cheltenham.
Springfield 000 000 1 1-6-4
Cheltenham 000 005 x 5-6-1
Norristown 9, Upper Merion 5
The Eagles held just an 8-7 advantage in hits but capitalized on three Viking errors to plate four unearned runs. They also benefitted from six walks.
Norristown jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first only to watch the Vikings answer with three of their own in the top of the second to knot the score. The Eagles scored single runs in both the second and third and seized control of the game with a three-run fifth inning.
For the Vikings, Matt Callahan was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Ray Sheier was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored. Alex Del Giudice added a solo home run, and Jared DeSanto had and RBI.
The win was first of the season for the Eagles, who are 1-2 in conference play (1-3 overall). The Vikings are 0-3 in league play (0-4 overall).
Upper Merion 030 001 1 5-7-3
Norristown 311 031 x 9-8-0
National Conference
Abington 13, Council Rock South 3 (6 innings)
The Ghosts plated three runs in each of the first two innings, and they never looked back on their way to big win.
“The quick start was the big key,” coach Dave Torresani said. “Three runs in the first inning was just huge for us, and then to come back in the second inning and score three more, that really gave us leeway, and I think it settled our pitcher down a little bit.
“I’m very pleased. This is a great group of kids. They’ve worked so hard, and they’re just really into it. Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Jack Larini’s two run single highlighted a three-run first inning for the Ghosts, who led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth when they plated a pair. They brought an early end to the game with five runs in the sixth.
“They had to go deep in their bullpen, and it just got out of hand for them,” Torresani said.
Larini drove in a game-high three runs for the Ghosts, who saw Brendan Gallagher go 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Aiden Coyle reached base all five trips to the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with three walks, two runs and two RBIs. Nick Bein went 1-for-3 with two walks, one run and two RBIs. Justin Yerkes went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs and one RBI, while Connor Breslin went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Chris Clewell finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Poppert earned the win on the mound, allowing two runs over four innings. Brian Close threw the final two innings to close it out.
“(Poppert) did a nice job for a sophomore in his first league appearance,” Torresani said.
“We’re actually playing very good baseball, which is really interesting because – just like everybody else – we had not been on a field until we stepped on the field with Plymouth Whitemarsh in our first game. We don’t have turf to practice on, so we’ve been in gym the whole time. It’s been a very interesting year.”
With the win, the Ghosts upped their record to 2-1 in conference play – 4-1 overall. The Ghosts 4-1 record, according to Torresani, represents the program’s best start in more than two decades.
“The last time Abington made the playoffs was 1990, and that might be the last time we had a winning record,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “We’ve been in games, and we’ve been battling over the years.
“We’ve gotten better. This group loves baseball, and one of the big keys for this group is a lot of kids played for Roslyn Legion, which had a great summer. They know how to win, and I think that’s carried over into what we’re doing now. This is a step in the right direction for us.”
The Hawks (1-4, 1-3) received RBIs from Nick Fabiano, Sean Lowney and Shaun Stackhouse. Nick Crane, Fabiano and Dean Obarowski each scored runs for CR South.
Council Rock South 001 110 3-6-4
Abington 330 025 13-11-1
Council Rock North 12, Harry S. Truman 0 (5 innings)
The Indians exploded for seven runs in the second inning to go on top 9-0 on their way to a shutout home victory in a game that lasted only five innings.
CR North (2-3, 2-1 SOL) collected 11 hits in the abbreviated contest, with four different players turning in multi-hit performances.
Cole German went 2-for-3 with a double, three runs and two RBIs, while Cole Hofmann went 2-for-2 with a walk, three runs and one RBI. Matt Hand finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Brandon Mcilwain went 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI. J.R. Hicks went 1-for-2 with a pair of runs scored.
The Tigers (3-2, 1-1) were unable to get anything going with Juliano Kovalcik. The CR North pitched went four strong innings, allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out five in the shutout performance. Tim Casey came in relief and tossed a seven-pitch hitless inning to close things out.
Harry S. Truman 000 00 0-1-4
Council Rock North 273 0x 12-11-1
Pennsbury 18, Bensalem 2
Five errors on Bensalem’s side and 17 hits for the visiting Falcons didn’t do the Owls any flavors in a lopsided loss.
Pennsbury (5-1, 3-1 SOL) score three in the second and went up 5-2 after three innings. The Falcons broke things open with a five-run fourth inning. Seven more runs in the seventh gave the Falcons their final margin of victory.
The Falcons saw DJ Endler go 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, three runs scored and four RBIs. Leadoff hitter Pat Lawrence went 3-for-5 with a run and four RBIs, while Logan Buell was 2-for-4 with three runs. Brody McFadden had one hit, one run and two RBIs, while Sean Maniatis and Jackson Hurlbert each got a hit, scored a run and drove in another in their only respective plate appearances.
Dave Murphy and Ryan Sheaffer each had one hit and two RBIs for Pennsbury, which saw pitcher Zach Conley earn the win with 4 1/3 strong innings of five-hit ball, allowing just one earned run while striking out five.
The Owls (1-2, 1-2) used five different pitchers. Rick Massott had the lone RBI for Bensalem, while Brandon Wermuth went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Chris Reyes also walked and scored the other Owls’ run.
Pennsbury 032 510 7 18-17-3
Bensalem 011 000 0 2-6-5
Neshaminy 9, William Tennent 3
Neshaminy improved to 2-1 in conference play (3-3 overall) with a win over host William Tennent. The Redskins blew open a close game with a seven-run sixth inning, turning a 2-1 lead into a 9-1 advantage. Bill Ritchey’s two run double highlighted the offensive onslaught.
The Redskins got three innings out of Andrew Alvino, who allowed one run and earned the win. TJ Arnao struck out seven and gave up one run in three innings of relief. Zach Boop closed things out by pitching the seventh.
On offense, Kyle Skeels finished 2-for-3 for Neshaminy, and Matt Grudza scored two runs and drove in two more. Jordan Angjelo scored twice, while Ritchey and Matt Graham each recorded two RBIs.
Neshaminy 110 007 0 9-6-3
William Tennent 100 001 1 3-4-4
Continental Conference
Souderton 12, Central Bucks West 3
Connor Lennon’s four-hit performance led an offensive onslaught that saw the Indians put up 12 runs in a dominating win over host Central Bucks West.
Lennon went 4-for-5 with a run and two RBIs, while Dylan Morrissette finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIS.
After Souderton took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the third, the Bucks (2-1, 2-1) put three runs on the board to trim the Indians’ lead to two, but the Indians would come back with five runs of their own in the next inning, Highlights on the inning included RBI singles by Morrissette, Lennon and David Schreffler.
Schreffler finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Tyler Mathe tripled and went 2-for-5 with two runs. Nate Luscombe double and went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Alex Meiler and Austin Eberhat each scored two runs.
Aaron Gulibon earned the winning, tossing six innings of four-hit, three-run ball while striking out five. Mitch Amenta threw a scoreless seventh. As a team, Souderton collected 16 hits to only five for CB West. Robert Philips, Matt Carver and Matt Peralta contributed RBIs for the Bucks
With the win, the Indians to improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Souderton 203 500 2 12-16-0
Central Bucks West 003 000 0 3-5-0
Pennridge at Central Bucks South (Postponed to Friday, April 10)
North Penn at Quakertown (Postponed TBA)
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