Neshaminy, Pennsbury & Upper Moreland were winners in SOL baseball action Wednesday.
SOL Patriot Division
Neshaminy 7, Council Rock South 6 (9 innings)
The Redskins clinched at least a share of the SOL Patriot title with Wednesday’s win, and they did it in dramatic fashion with a walk-off win in the ninth, thanks to a perfectly executed squeeze by Chase Bonner. Brandon Lall – who led off the ninth with a line single to left – scored the game-winner.
“Sophomores Brandon Lall and Chase Bonner came up in one of the biggest moments they have faced and executed a game-winning squeeze to perfection,” Neshaminy coach Dan Toner said. “I was extremely pumped that they were able to have that experience.
“Today was a very good baseball game. Both teams stepped up in huge moments, both teams had good pitching, both teams battled the entire game.
“Being up three games on everyone in the league, we wanted to maintain that and get a win any way possible. Even if it took us nine innings and a squeeze to do it.”
The Redskins used a three-run sixth to break a 3-3 tie. Lall led off the frame with a single to left and was replaced by pinch runner Noah Wallace, who was still on third base with two outs. Back-to-back walks to Chase Bonner and Joel Bonner loaded the bases, and a walk to Stone Powell brough home the go-ahead run. Ryan Fox’s hard ground single to center plated a pair, and the ‘Skins led 6-3.
That lead disappeared in the top of the seventh. With one out, Drew Nemeth singled, and Sam Serpiello followed and drew a walk. With two outs and two on, Johnny Mendola stepped to the plate and smashed a three-run home run to center field, knotting the score 6-6.
Both teams stranded baserunners in the eighth, and after Luke Schweiker threw a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, the Redskins won it in the bottom of the inning.
“The second time through our conference games, teams are going to be more refined and have a pretty clear idea of what needs to be done,” Toner said. “Teams are either prepping to win a conference, move up in the rankings, or simply make the playoffs. There is a lot on the line in this second half and it showed today.”
Schweiker notched the win with two shutout innings in relief, striking out three and walking three.
Lall’s 4-for-4 effort with two runs scored led the Redskins. Fox was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and one run while Adam Hunter was 2-for-2 with one RBI.
For the Golden Hawks, Billy O’Neill was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and one run. His two-run home run in the fourth gave Rock South a 2-1 lead.
Neshaminy (13-2, 11-2 SOL) – third in the latest District 1 6A rankings – will travel to Harry S Truman on Thursday, and Council Rock South (7-8, 6-6) – 20th in the latest district rankings – will host Holy Ghost Prep in a non-league game Thursday.
Council Rock South 000 210 300 6-9-3
Neshaminy 010 203 001 7-11-1
PENNSBURY 13, HARRY S TRUMAN 1 (5 innings)
The Falcons broke a 1-1 tie with a five-run second, and they were just getting started, scoring early and often on their way to the win in the abbreviated contest.
“First time this year we came off two back-to-back losses – the 1-0 loss against South, and we lost big yesterday to Neshaminy (9-2),” Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci said. “We came back a little at the end, but it didn’t seem like the same type of team we had in our win streak coming out and competing.
“So, today, we just talked about going back to work. Our goal is to win as many games as possible and get as a high a ranking as we can to hopefully get some home games for playoffs. Our guys came out and took care of business today. I was pleased with them and their efforts today, scoring in all five innings.”
The five-run second began with Eric David reaching base on an error and included singles by Ryan Webber and Tyler Boraski’s (2 RBIs). Dylan Hirsh delivered the inning’s big hit blow – a two-run triple. The Falcons led 6-1 and added to their lead in every inning.
Boraski led the Falcons with a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included three RBIs. Also contributing multi-hit games were Jordan Czerniak (2-for-3, RBI), David (2-for-4, 3R) and Ryan Webber (2-for-3, RBI, 2R).
“Ty Boraski has been doing great,” Pesci said. “He didn’t have a hit against Neshaminy, but he did have an RBI, but before that, he had a five- or six-game hitting streak. Today, again, he had three hits.
“Jordan Czerniak had two hits, Eric David had two hits, Ryan Webber has been having good at-bats but just not hitting the ball. He’s been flying out a lot, and he came up with two hits today. A lot guys throughout the lineup – even if they didn’t get hits, they had productive at-bats or they had walks.
“You look at it – we scored 13 runs. I feel like we had a little bit of a miscue on a dropped third strike that turned into a double play because my kids got a little over aggressive. I think we left more runs out there too.”
With the postseason just around the corner, the Falcons are 17th in the latest District 1 6A rankings.
“Today was great because 14 kids got at-bats today, and I got three pitchers in,” Pesci said. “We did beat Truman the last time, but this is the first time in years where we come out and kind of explode. Even last year, both games we went down on them and came back and won later. It’s always an interesting game against them. Austin Allen is a good pitcher, but we were able to put good at-bats together and take advantage of mistakes.
“What’s good is now that we have four or five games left – we kind of have to see what guys are going to be ones that are going to be able to help us out in a pinch because when you get 14 kids in, that means you’re getting five pinch hitters in, and we’re able to see what’s going on. Everybody collectively put together good at-bats today.”
Three pitchers saw action for the Falcons. Keller Bradley started and threw three innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out two and walking one. Connor O’Brien threw a scoreless third, allowing one hit while striking out three and walking one. Ian Pollack allowed one hit in a scoreless fifth, striking out the side.
“What was great too – Keller Bradley threw on Friday last week, so today we gave him a pitch count, and he threw 45 pitches in three innings and then we came back with Connor O’Brien, who’s a sophomore who got three strikeouts in his inning,” Pesci said. “Ian Pollack who’s a senior – this was only his third or fourth appearance of the year, and he came out and got three strikeouts in the fifth inning. All around it was a good day to see guys get opportunities and perform.”
For the Tigers, Aqual Chapman was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Nathan Gilson was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Pennsbury (10-5, 8-5 SOL) will face Abington in a non-league game on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Arm and Hammer Park in Trenton. Harry S Truman (2-11, 2-10) will travel to Neshaminy on Thursday.
Pennsbury 151 15 13-11-0
Harry S Truman 100 00 1-4-3
Non-league
UPPER MORELAND 14, ROMAN CATHOLIC 4 (6 innings)
Roman Catholic scored three runs in the top of the first. The rest of the game belonged to the Golden Bears, who pounded out 10 hits and brought an early end to the non-league game in the sixth.
“We battled back after giving up three runs in the first,” UM coach Jim Fasano said. “It could have been an ugly day but speaks to the character of our kids that we came back and scored some runs right away.
“We could have easily come out flat after a big win yesterday, but the kids knew how important playing well was to accomplish our goals in the last two weeks of the season.”
The non-league game provided an opportunity to give 17 players game time, and the Golden Bears turned a 4-2 deficit into a lead they would not lose with a seven-run third. Patrick Kilgus drew a leadoff walk, and Colson Campbell followed with a double to left field that plated a run. Nate Kelly followed with a single.
The Bears benefitted from a pair of walks and a Roman miscue. Jimmy Murray and Kilgus both added RBI singles. When the inning was over, the Golden Bears led 9-4 on their way to the mercy rule win.
Leading the Golden Bears with multi-hit games were Luke Sword (2-for-2, 2 RBIs) and Max Abbosh (2-for-3, 2 RBIs, 3R).
“It was great to see some of our younger guys get a chance and perform well,” Fasano said. “Sophomore Luke Sword had his first two varsity hits and fellow sophomore Jake Gibbs got his first, too.
“Sophomore Chase Rampulla threw the final two innings on the mound, and out of 33 pitches he threw 23 strikes. The kid has been our best JV arm all year and deserved his moment today. “Tomorrow is a huge game against William Tennent and we’re going in with some momentum, which is all we can ask for.”
Upper Moreland (6-7, 5-5 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Thursday.
Roman Catholic 301 000 4-5-4
Upper Moreland 027 023 14-10-5
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