Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Tuesday. Pennsbury/CR South baseball photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. Souderton/NP photos provided courtesy of Cindy Manero/NP baseball. All SOS photo galleries for BASEBALL can be viewed by clicking HERE.
SOL Liberty Division
Hatboro-Horsham 8, Abington 1
When Tuesday’s game concluded and Hatboro-Horsham remained unbeaten in SOL Liberty play, it didn’t know if it had clinched the division championship or not. It all depended on what happened in the Upper Dublin-Plymouth Whitemarsh game, so the team – coaches and players – decided to stick around to see how that one ended.
“We didn’t know if we had the outright league title or not,” said Hatters coach Pete Moore. “We knew we clinched at least a share, so we hopped on GameChanger (app) and checked out the PW-Upper Dublin game. At that point it was 3-3 and all the kids and coaches stuck around and watched the end of the game on GameChanger.
“We have a family here. It’s a culture passed down from years past and that’s immeasurable and I don’t ever take it for granted. We got the opportunity to sit in the dugout, huddle around and watch it on the screen. We got to see the final out (in PW’s 4-3 win which gave H-H the outright title) and the bench erupted. We had a dog pile on the field.”
H-H had a tough challenge itself Tuesday, facing Abington ace Anthony Ehly, who is headed to Seton Hall to play his college ball.
The Hatters scored two runs in the bottom of the first and then blew the game open with four in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
“He’s certainly a top level talent,” Moore said. “For us to hang eight runs on him in five innings, is a testament to the depth of our lineup.”
Junior center fielder Trey Porter went 2-for-4 with a home run – his fifth of the season – two runs scored and three RBIs.
“Zach Greenberg, hitting in the 9-hole, in a seven-pitch at-bat, worked a two-out walk (in the fourth),” Moore said. “Trey Porter steps up and hits a three-run home run to put us up 6-1. Little things like that two-out walk, grind out at-bats like that, can’t be overstated.”
Jake Elwell went 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and one RBIs. Logan Fischer was 2-for-3 with two doubles, one run scored and two RBIs.
On the mound, sophomore Stephen Plefka pitched a complete-game two-hitter, allowing just one run on two hits and three walks, while striking out four.
“He’s transformed himself physically and mentally,” Moore said. “He threw significant innings for us as a freshman, and this year has taken on the role as our No. 2 starter, and he’s been outstanding. He will tell you this fall he was not as good as he would have liked to have been. He took that personally and did everything he needed to do to improve for the spring. He’s been competitive and gives us the opportunity to win every time he takes the ball.”
H-H (15-2, 14-0 SOL) plays at Quakertown Thursday night. Abington (9-7, 7-7 SOL) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh Thursday.
Abington 000 100 0 – 1 2 0
Hatboro-Horsham 200 420 x – 8 9 3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Upper Dublin 3
Luke Gartland singled home the game-winning run in the top of the seventh, and reliever Matt Krawitz worked out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh to give Plymouth Whitemarsh the 4-3 win in a closely-played Liberty Division game on Tuesday.
“Matt got a chance to bury his outing from last week and he did just that,” said PW coach Chris Manero. “I know he felt good about it.
“It was a well-played baseball game today. Both starting pitchers controlled most of the game and I don’t think either team was going to give anything away.”
Ray Tomassetti gave PW a strong outing, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing just two earned runs on four hits, before giving way to Krawitz in the sixth.
Upper Dublin’s Tristan Cairnes went all seven innings for his team, striking out six.
“Ray gave us another strong start and threw a ton of strikes,” Manero said. “For five innings or so, he had some of the best stuff I’ve seen from him all year, and he’s had a very good year.”
PW went up 3-0 in the top of the fourth. Luke Caucci and Tomassetti led off with singles, a Logan Sharpe double drove in one run, and Joe Redmond and Colin Brady had RBI groundouts.
The Flying Cardinals rallied to tie it with one in the fifth and two in the bottom of the sixth. David Sharp had an RBI single in the fifth, Cairnes drove in one with an RBI groundout in the sixth, while a Sharp fielder’s choice tied the game at 3.
Brady led off the top of the seventh with a single to left, was sacrificed to second by Gavin Rocks and scored on Gartland’s two-out single to left.
Upper Dublin’s leadoff batter walked in the bottom of the seventh, but catcher Mike Miller threw out a runner attempting to steal second. After another walk, Krawitz ended the game with a strikeout.
“We scored a couple of runs on ground balls by putting balls into play, we had some very timely hitting and we executed an important sacrifice bunt late in the game,” Manero said. “As you get down to the stretch drive of the season and every game feels like a playoff game, all of those things become increasingly important.”
PW (12-5, 9-5 SOL) plays at Abington on Thursday. Upper Dublin (10-5, 10-3 SOL), which saw a six-game win streak snapped, looks to rebound Thursday at Wissahickon.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 300 1 – 4 8 1
Upper Dublin 000 012 0 – 3 4 0
Quakertown 6, Wissahickon 2
Stymied for five innings by Wissahickon starter Nate DeVincent, Quakertown broke out with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to post the 6-2 win over the visiting Trojans.
“It was a really tight game down to the end,” said Panthers coach Jon Pallone. “Our guys were really having a tough time seeing the ball from DeVincent. He really did a nice job keeping us off the bases.
“Carl Weiss had another great start, and it was a great pitchers’ duel.”
Weiss allowed just two runs on six hits, without a walk, over six innings for Quakertown, striking out three, to pick up the win. Cooper Natisin pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the save.
Offensively, the game came down to the bottom of the sixth.
Vinny Pellegrini had the big hit of the inning, a two-out RBI single to score Ethan Beil to put the Panthers in front 3-2. Danny Qualteria added an RBI single and Thomas Kozlusky capped the inning with a two-run double to left.
Kozlusky finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Natisin was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Beil also had two hits.
For Wissahickon, DeVincent struck out 11 and didn’t walk a batter over 5 2/3 innings pitched before tiring in the sixth. Justin Miller was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Quakertown (9-5, 9-3 SOL) hosts division-leading Quakertown Thursday night at Memorial Park. Wissahickon (8-9, 8-6 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin on Thursday.
Wissahickon 000 020 0 – 2 6 1
Quakertown 001 005 x – 6 10 0
SOL Freedom Division
New Hope-Solebury 3, William Tennent 2
One day after surrendering a lead late to William Tennent, New Hope-Solebury went up with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and held on to avenge that loss with a 3-2 win over the visiting Panthers.
Both pitchers were sharp Tuesday.
New Hope’s Josh Shiller allowed just one earned run on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out nine.
Tennent’s Alex Roop was strong over 4 1/3 innings, before giving way to Josh Nydick, who didn’t allow a run out of the bullpen.
“Josh’s fastball and slider created a lot of swing and misses,” New Hope coach Tony Vlahovic said about Shiller. “He worked ahead throughout his six innings of work, throwing 12 first-pitch strikes. He kept the Tennent batters off balance with his off-speed pitches.
“Roop kept the ball low in the zone and middle infielder Josh Nydick played flawless defense, stopping two potential multiple-run New Hope innings with runners on base.”
Kyle Campbell had a big game for New Hope. He doubled in the third and scored on an RBI groundout by Brooks Saft. After Nate Wiseman led off the fifth with a double, Campbell had another double to drive in a run, and he would score the game-winning run on another RBI groundout by Saft.
Saul Carmenini came in to pitch the seventh for New Hope. After a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt to put the tying run on second, he struck out the final two batters of the inning to close out the game.
The Lions (5-6, 4-6 SOL) host Cheltenham on Thursday. Tennent (4-11, 4-9 SOL) hosts Upper Moreland on Thursday.
William Tennent 000 110 0 – 2 5 2
New Hope 001 020 x – 3 6 0
Upper Moreland 4, Springfield Twp 2
Jimmy Torpey shook off a two-run first inning and dominated the rest of the way, while the Upper Moreland bats woke up in the fourth to post a 4-2 win over Springfield on Tuesday.
“Jimmy Torpey was outstanding today, as I’ve come to expect from him,” said Golden Bears coach Jim Fasano. “The kid competes and pounds the zone, changes speeds and makes pitches when he needs to. If he isn’t an all-league player, I don’t know what one looks like. He’s going to make a college coach very happy in a couple years.”
Torpey allowed just five hits, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out seven.
Shut down for three innings, UM took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Jared McClellan led off the inning with a double and Pat Kilgus was then hit by a pitch. An RBI single by Sean Dallahan put the Bears on the scoreboard, and then Nate O’Connor made it 3-2 with a two-run double to center field.
Shawn Townsend had an RBI double in the fourth.
“Again, we were led by our seniors, Dallahan and O’Connor,” Fasano said. “Two huge, clutch hits with two strikes put us up for good. As a team, we talk about two-strike approaches and how we need to put the ball in play, and those guys came through for us big time today. I couldn’t be happier for them and their families.
“We need to keep winning to get where we want to be, and with our leadership and team camaraderie there’s no limit to what we can do.”
The win was the third straight for UM (6-6, 6-6 SOL), which plays at William Tennent on Thursday. Springfield (1-10, 1-9 SOL) plays at Lower Moreland on Thursday.
Springfield 200 000 0 – 2 5 0
Upper Moreland 000 310 x – 4 4 0
Lower Moreland 5, Cheltenham 4
Donato Incollingo led off the seventh inning with a single, stole second, stole third and then stole home for what would be the winning run in Lower Moreland’s exciting 5-4 road win over Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Incollingo went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI for the Lions, who saw a 4-0 lead slip away, only to rally for the win in the seventh.
Aiden Riccardi went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one RBI, while Aiden Stepansky and Mike Pennisi were each 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Mason Tammaro stuck out 10 and scrambled the entire way on the mound to pick up the victory.
Lower Moreland (4-10, 3-9 SOL) will look to make it two straight Thursday at home against Springfield. Cheltenham (2-13, 0-12 SOL) plays at New Hope on Thursday.
Lower Moreland 310 000 1 – 5 12 1
Cheltenham 010 030 0 – 4 11 2
SOL Patriot Division
Pennsbury 13, Council Rock South 3
Pennsbury’s offensive power surge continued, as it scored in every inning, 13 runs on 12 hits, including a six-run fifth inning that ended the game via the mercy-rule.
The Falcons have won five straight and inched closer to winning the Patriot Division title, and now has scored 35 runs in the last three games.
“It was another good outing for us,” said Falcons coach Joe Pesci. “It was 6-3 in the fourth. We were up 6-0 and they scored three runs with two-outs – a walk and three straight hits. But we came back with six in the fifth to put the game away.
“We took advantage of some mistakes in the field, but we also had 12 hits in five innings.”
Third baseman Joe Tiroly went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Ryan Zuckerman was 2-for-3 with a home run, his fifth of the season, and two RBIs. James Schaffer was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Justin Mitrovich and Sam Labrecque had two hits each.
Kayden Faulcon pitched all five innings, scattering three runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out seven to pick up the win.
“We stole four bases, we did everything well,” Pesci said. “We threw a kid out stealing. We picked a guy off base.”
Pennsbury (14-3, 10-3 SOL) has a two-game lead over second-place Neshaminy in the loss column and can clinch the division title outright when the two teams play Wednesday at Pennsbury. CR South (2-12, 1-12 SOL) plays at Bensalem Thursday.
CR South 000 30 – 3 6 2
Pennsbury 132 16 – 13 12 0
Neshaminy 11, Harry S Truman 5
Neshaminy led this one from the start, but it was never easy, and the game was never truly in hand until the final out, as the Redskins scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to put away the visiting Tigers in an important division game for both teams.
“We played pretty close to a complete game today,” said Neshaminy coach Dan Toner. “We had timely hits and did a fantastic job getting on base. I was extremely proud that we were immediately able to answer in the bottom half of the inning every time Truman scored.”
The middle of the Neshaminy lineup had a huge game. Brendan Raven, Jake Kozlowski and Bobby Hansen combined to go 7-for-8 with five runs scored and six RBIs.
Raven hit a two-run home run to put his team up 2-0 in the bottom of the first.
After Truman tied it with two in the top of the third on a Makai Jackson RBI single and an error, Neshaminy answered with three in the bottom of the third. Luke Hardnock picked up an RBI on a bases loaded walk, Kozolowski scored on a wild pitch and then a Joel Bonner sac fly scored Hansen to make it 5-2.
A double by Kozlowski in the fourth scored a run and it was 6-2 heading into the sixth inning.
There, however, Truman scored three times to get within a run. Andrew Armstrong drove in a run with a groundout, another run scored on an error and Aqual Chapman doubled home a run.
Not to be outdone, however, Neshaminy blew the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away, Kozlowski had another RBI double, Hansen hit a two-run double, Bonner singled home a run, and the 11th run crossed the plate on an error.
Matt Mays picked up the win on the mound for Neshaminy, going six innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out nine. Evan Krippel pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
“Matt Mays was fantastic once again and the defense was just as good behind him,” Toner said.
Truman was led by Wil Brennan, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Neshaminy (7-5, 6-5 SOL) has another huge division game Wednesday at rival Pennsbury.
“We have an extremely full schedule this week,” Toner said. “We hope today’s success, and having no down time, will continue and carry over to our upcoming games.”
Truman (8-10, 6-8 SOL) hosts Pennsbury on Thursday.
Harry S. Truman 002 003 0 – 5 6 2
Neshaminy 203 105 x – 11 9 3
Bensalem 5, Council Rock North 4
After a tough loss to Harry S. Truman on Monday, Bensalem bounced back in a huge way, on the road against a Council Rock North team scrambling for a spot in the upcoming District One Class 6A playoffs.
“It was a nice team win all around,” said Owls coach Kurt Sowa. “Dan McShane gave us a great start on the mound.”
McShane went the first four innings and allowed just one run on two hits. Kyle Rubin pitched 1 2/3 innings, and then Sean Nelson came back after a rough outing on Monday and closed out the win with 1 1/3 innings of relief.
“Sean Nelson came in a tough spot and was able to get us out of a jam, and close out the game for us,” Sowa said.
Offensively, Bensalem jumped up with a run in the first and two in the third to go ahead 3-0. Sean Swentowski scored on an error in the first. The third saw Mike Kramer, Ryan Brown and Swentowski all single to load the bases with nobody out. Tyler Fisher scored two runs with a one-out double.
Shane Anhalt had a sac fly for CR North in the third, and the Indians closed to within 3-2 with an RBI groundout in the fifth.
After the Owls scored twice in the sixth, on RBI singles by Brown and Swentowski, North battled back again with one in the sixth on a Brian Curry RBI single and another in the seventh on an error, but left runners on base in both innings.
Fisher went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Bensalem offensive attack, while Brown, Swentowski and Kramer had two hits each as well.
Bensalem (6-10, 5-9 SOL) snapped a four-game losing streak with the win and will host Council Rock South on Thursday. CR North (10-6, 8-6 SOL) plays at Neshaminy on Thursday.
Bensalem 102 002 0 – 5 9 3
CR North 001 011 1 – 4 5 2
SOL Colonial Division
Central Bucks South 6, Central Bucks East 3 (9 innings)
They don’t get much bigger than what faced Central Bucks South the past two days. Not only were the games crucial to the Titans’ playoff hopes, but the opponents were rivals Central Bucks West and Central Bucks East.
Tuesday, they made it two in a row with a thrilling 6-3 win at CB East in extra innings.
“It was an exciting game,” said CB South coach Kevin Bray. “It was an emotional game for both sides, right from the get-go.
“We manufactured a run in the first inning to go up and Reece Moody (CB East’s leadoff hitter) turns on the first pitch from Josh Marraccini and put it over the left field wall for a home run. Right from the get-go, we knew it was going to be a battle. The team that produced and limited mistakes was going to come out on top today.”
South never trailed. It managed a run in the third on a JT Anderosky sac fly and that lead held up until the bottom of the sixth, as Marraccini was dealing on the mound. He ended up allowing just two runs on five hits, while striking out 10 in seven innings.
Jack Mislan led off the sixth with a single for East, and then stole both second and third. Max McGrady tied it up with an RBI sac fly to center.
The Titans looked like they had the game won again in the eighth, as Robby Porco drove in a run with an RBI infield single. But again East battled back, as Chase Fulford led off with a single in the bottom of the eighth, Chase Harlan doubled and then Joey Wilga tied it up with an RBI single.
With the potential winning run on third, South reliever Owen Wheeler was able to get out of the inning with a lineout and then picked a runner off at first base.
In the ninth, Colin Mitchell had an RBI single, and Bryce Bell had a two-run single to make it 6-3.
Reliever Joe Rooney worked around an error in the bottom of the ninth to close out the victory.
“We’re a team that collects base hits and we got 11 of them today,” Bray said. “We’re trying to take one game at a time. We knew it was going to be a tough week, obviously when you start with West on Monday, East on Tuesday and then North Penn on Thursday – we got the first two out of the way with two tight games against two really good teams and rivals. It meant a lot to our ballclub. The leadership has been there all year. These guys have been fighting all year. I’m not surprised that we were able to pull it out today.”
Logan Hinds and Mitchell had two hits each for South, while Anderosky and Bell had two RBIs.
East was led by Harlan, who went 3-for-4, and starting pitcher Tyler Behm, who allowed just two runs on four hits over six innings.
South (9-8, 7-7 SOL), still ranked No. 23 unofficially by District One for the 20-team Class 6A playoffs, hosts North Penn Thursday. East (10-5, 7-5 SOL) hosts CB West on Thursday night.
CB South 101 000 013 – 6 11 2
CB East 100 001 010 – 3 8 0
Pennridge 4, Central Bucks West 2 (10 innings)
Twenty-four hours after getting one-hit by North Penn’s Jack Picozzi, Pennridge was back at it and this time it took 10 innings, but the Rams found a way to get a hard-fought 4-2 win at CB West in 10 innings.
“Yesterday was tough,” said Rams coach Craig Whitten. “Picozzi threw a really good game. I’ve known (NP coach Kevin) Manero for years, and he knows I appreciate an 80-pitch game, but for us to come back and actually get our bats alive after having one hit and five total base runners was big for us.”
Pennridge again had a big pitching outing. Robbie Pliszka went four innings, allowed one run (unearned) on two hits and two walks. Aidan Fretz came out of the bullpen and threw six innings (89 pitches), allowing an unearned run on four hits and two walks, while striking out nine.
“We had a good start from Robbie Pliszka,” Whitten said. “I told Fretz in school, ‘We want to go with you after Robbie,’ and he wound up pitching an entire game himself.”
Kyle Bukowski scored Cole Fehrman with a sacrifice fly to put West up 1-0 in the bottom of the third, but Pennridge came back with two in the fourth on a two-run double by Jaden Morgan.
The Rams were then one out away from closing the game out in the bottom of the seventh, when Bukowski doubled and scored on a two-out RBI single by Max Grill to tie the game at 2.
The game wouldn’t be decided until the 10th.
“About the 10th inning, Danny Long, our first base coach, brought the guys in and said, ‘This is the 10th inning. This is what you dream about. This is what baseball is all about.’
“Conor Flynn led off with a single, he was bunted over and went to third on a passed ball. Andrew Fantaskey was hit by a pitch. He stole second and (CB West) threw it down. As soon as the catcher committed, Connor took off right away. He came in and slid into home and wrecked his face. He slid right into the catcher’s shin guard, but he was safe for the go-ahead run.
“Joey Calabretti then hit a double to score another run.”
Pennridge (7-8, 5-8 SOL) hosts first-place Souderton on Thursday. CB West (8-8, 6-6 SOL) plays at CB East on Thursday night.
Pennridge 000 200 000 2 – 4 5 2
CB West 001 000 100 – 2 7 1
Souderton 2, North Penn 0
With Will McCausland and Dylan Brown on the mound, not a lot of offense was expected when these two neighboring rivals met in Harleysville on Tuesday.
And that played out, as neither ace gave up much.
A two-out single by Chris McKenna and a pair of errors was all the opening Souderton needed to score two runs and McCausland and reliever Jackson Morrissette put the game away for the 2-0 victory.
“Both pitchers pitched well,” said Souderton coach Mike Childs. “It was definitely a pitchers’ duel with not a lot of offense. I was joking with Will saying that he did not have his best stuff today and he still struck out 12 guys.
“I always preach to our players to just put the ball in play and let them make mistakes. Fortunately for us, that is what happened today.”
McCausland went 6 2/3 innings before hitting 101 pitches in the seventh. He allowed just five hits and one walk to go with the 12 strikeouts.
Brown threw 94 pitches over six innings for North Penn, allowing four hits and three walks, with four strikeouts. Both of the runs allowed were unearned.
Souderton (13-3, 11-2 SOL) has a three-game lead in the loss column, with three games remaining and can clinch the Colonial Division title outright with a win at Pennridge on Thursday. North Penn (8-8, 6-7 SOL) plays at CB South on Thursday.
North Penn 000 000 0 – 0 5 2
Souderton 000 020 x – 2 4 1
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