Pennsbury was a winner in SOL baseball action on Wednesday. (Game photos courtesy of Sheila Faulcon. Team photo courtesy of Heather Evans.)
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 10, NESHAMINY 1
The Falcons made it official, and they did it in convincing fashion, clinching sole possession of the SOL Patriot Division title with a 10-1 win over the visiting Redskins. This is the Falcons’ fourth title in the last seven years.
“You set goals at the beginning of the year to win the league, make playoffs, and compete for a district and state title,” Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci said. “These players can proudly check off a couple boxes – league title and playoff berth.
“We all know how difficult winning the SOL is. In my 13 years, we haven’t seen a repeat champ. And the fact that the Patriot and Colonial, who play crossover games, are the only two leagues in the district and maybe the state to play exclusively a 6A schedule is challenging. Teams beat each other up on any given day. We came out flat against Neshaminy the first time and kicked the ball around against North Penn and Souderton. Those losses sting for playoff seeding. We know coming out with the league title is special. And we know that we are going to be battle tested for playoffs.”
Wednesday’s win was the seventh in a row for the Falcons since dropping back-to-back games to Souderton and North Penn. It was their fifth straight game scoring double-digit runs, and this win avenged a 3-1 loss to Neshaminy in the first go round in division play. It is their second of three games in three days this week.
“We went into this week knowing that we could handle the three games in a row again with our pitching staff,” Pesci said. “(Justin) Mitrovich faced Neshaminy last time, so we wanted to give them a different look with (Callan) Fang on the mound.
“Well, today was kind of the Callan Fang show. He gave up a run in the first, but we stormed back in the bottom with five runs. We have been able to do that the second half of this year – answer when a team scores and score in bunches.”
The Redskins’ first inning run came when Brendan Raven roped a double to center that plated Anthony Trommer, who had walked.
The Falcons got that run back and then some in the bottom of the first. James Schaffer drew a leadoff walk, and Charlie Evans lined a single to left. Fang set the tone for the inning and the game when he ripped a three-run home run to right field.
“The big blow came off Fang’s bat,” Pesci said. “He deposited a 2-0 pitch just under the right field scoreboard for a 3-run home run.”
The Falcons weren’t finished yet. Ryan Zuckerman lined a single to center, and one out later, Joe Tiroly grounded a single to center. Zuckerman scored on a groundout, but Jackson Freeman followed with a single to center that plated Tiroly and gave Pennsbury a 5-1 lead.
“The game turned into a pitcher’s duel for the next four and a half innings,” Pesci said. “Fang got out of jams with a man on third and one out two separate times with inning ending strikeouts.
“Callan didn’t let anything faze him. He never does. He is so even keeled and takes a great approach. The kids look to him in those moments for his poise under pressure.”
In the bottom of the sixth, the Falcons erupted for five more runs. Reese Hirsh walked to open the inning, and Freeman was safe on an error. Sam Labrecque’s single to left plated, and then Schaffer singled. Fang’s single to center brought another run home, and when Justin Mitrovich grounded a single up the middle, two more runs crossed the plate, giving the Falcons their final margin of victory.
For Neshaminy, leadoff batter Gaige Ryan’s 2-for-4 day at the plate led the way. Raven (2B) and Jack Kozlowski (3B) had extra base hits.
Fallon scattered five hits and allowed one run in six innings in a winning effort, striking out eight and walking two. Gavin Hawkes closed it out with a scoreless seventh, allowing two hits while striking out one and walking one.
Leading the Falcons at the plate were Fang (2-for-4, HR, 2R, 4 RBIs), Mitrovich (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) and Freeman (2-for-3, R, RBI).
“This team is having a lot of fun – they are making it really fun and easy for us to coach them,” Pesci said. “They are disciplined and resilient. They take feedback, they let me get intense and they understand the message. They pick each other up constantly and really believe in each other.
“The message lately has been to be in the moment and be with your team. Enjoy going out there and competing every pitch. We know we have the talent, and the team bond has grown stronger every day. They had a gut check after the back-to-back losses and haven’t looked back.”
Pennsbury (15-3, 11-3 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Thursday, and Neshaminy (7-6, 6-6) will host Harry S Truman on Thursday.
Neshaminy 100 000 0 1-7-1
Pennsbury 500 005 x 10-11-1
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