By Scott Huff
There will be some if’s, and’s, and but’s
The winner of Friday’s Suburban One League National Conference showdown between host Council Rock North (10-2) and Neshaminy (10-2) will at the very least share the conference title with the loser.
“We are right where we want to be, we couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Neshaminy head coach Dennis Cox. “Both us and Rock still have two very difficult games in front of us, and nothing yet has really been decided.
“To be honest, I’m a little surprised that we are 10-2 right now with the competition we play in this league,” added Cox. “I knew that we had a good lineup coming into the season, and I knew that we would compete. But high school baseball is very unpredictable.
“The biggest plus has been the quality of our starting pitchers,” continued Cox. “Ray Hyjurick, Frank Leonhardt, and Corey Jackson have been terrific all season.”
Neshaminy took care of business on Thursday with a 9-3 conference win over Bensalem (2-11).
Jackson picked up his fifth win without a loss for the Skins.
Tim Reardon, who went 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBI, led the hitting attack, while Rick Brebner and John Burns also had 2 RBI each.
Council Rock North took care of business Thursday with a 12-1 mercy-rule win over Abington (3-10).
Jared Weed threw the first four innings for the Indians to record the win.
Rock North scored six runs in the first inning to break the game open. Tim Filer hit a homerun and drove home five runs for the Indians.
Truman (9-4) kept pace with the conference front-runners with a 10-6 victory over Pennsbury (6-7).
Mike McCloud was the winning pitcher for the Tigers and permitted just two earned runs.
Truman jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind the hitting of both Steve Arthur and Brian Beyer.
Council Rock South (9-4) also kept pace with the conference front-runners with a 15-4 win over William Tennent (1-12).
Golden Hawk starter Jerry Mulderig pitched a complete game to earn the win.
Suburban One National Standings
1. Council Rock North Indians (10-2)
2. Neshaminy Redskins (10-2)
3. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (9-4)
4. Truman Tigers (9-4)
5. Pennsbury Falcons (6-7)
6. Abington Ghosts (3-10)
7. Bensalem Owls (2-11)
8. William Tennent Panthers (1-11)
SOL National – On Deck – Friday
Neshaminy @ Council Rock North
SOL National – On Deck – Monday
Council Rock North @ Council Rock South
Pennsbury @ Neshaminy
William Tennnet @ Truman
Bensalem @ Abington
Suburban One League Continental Conference
North Penn (8-5) is one of three teams that still have a chance to catch Pennridge (9-4) for first place in the conference standings.
But in order for that potential four-team logjam at the summit of the conference standings, the Knights must beat visiting Pennridge in the conference finale on Monday.
“There are certainly no guarantees for either a championship or a (district) playoff spot,” said North Penn head coach Bob McCreary. “We have go out and beat a good baseball team.
“We will pitch Bryce Mengel against Pennridge,” added McCreary of his freshman sensation who is 3-0 with a 1.10 ERA. “He throws strikes, works quickly, and is always around the plate.”
North Penn finally did some damage at that plate in a 13-2 shelling of Central Bucks South (8-5). The Knights pounded out 19 hits in the conference win.
South entered the game tied for first place in the standings with Pennridge.
“We beat Quakertown (1-0) with only one hit, but we hit the ball hard and I saw signs of us coming out of it,” McCreary said. “But 19 hits is a lot of hits.”
Ryan King provided the offensive firepower for the Knights with three hits that included two doubles and five RBI. Jimmy Smith had three hits, while Craig LePre, Mark Fuse, Mark Grassie, and Brandon Martinez each had two hits for the winners.
“We have struggled all season with hitting the baseball,” said McCreary. “This would be a great time to come out of it.”
Grassie notched the win for North Penn with a complete game effort. The senior right-hander gave up just five hits and had seven strikeouts.
Despite the loss, CB South can still earn a piece of the conference title if North Penn can beat Pennridge, and if the Titans can defeat host CB East in their season finale on Monday.
Pennridge (9-4) earned sole possession of first place with a hard earned conference win over tough-luck Souderton (1-12) – 2-0.
The Rams could manage just two hits off Big Red ace Keith Moyer, who also struck out nine hitters. But those two singles drove home runs for Pennridge. Both Dylan Tice and Tim Eversole had RBI singles for the Rams.
Pennridge senior Kyle Myers hurled the complete game shutout for the Rams. Myers earned his fifth win of the season.
A Pennridge win over North Penn on Monday gives the Rams the outright conference title.
Central Bucks West (8-5) is very much in the mix for both championship and/or district playoffs.
The young Bucks earned that shot with a 5-1 conference victory over rival Central Bucks East (5-7).
R.J. Grant was extremely impressive in the win over the Patriots with a 15-strikeout performance.
Buzz Lis gave Grant all the offensive support he needed with a two run single in the fourth inning.
If North Penn can defeat Pennridge on Monday, and if CB West can beat Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, the young Bucks would move into a first place tie.
Quakertown (6-6) evened its conference record with a 6-2 win over Hatboro-Horsham (6-7). The Panthers opened up a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back.
Jason Rathjens threw a complete game to get the win for the Panthers, striking out six and allowing just three hits. Phil Bain had an RBI double while Tyler Coleman, Jason Rathjens and Mike Potynski each contributed an RBI single. Kevin Tancredi had a two-run double for the Hatters.
Suburban One Continental Conference
1. Pennridge Rams [9-4]
2. Central Bucks South Titans [8-5]
3. Central Bucks West Bucks [8-5]
4. North Penn Knights [8-5]
5. Quakertown Panthers [6-6]
6. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters [6-7]
7. Central Bucks East Patriots [5-7]
8. Souderton Indians [1-12]
SOL Continental Conference – On Deck – Monday
Pennridge @ North Penn
Central Bucks South @ Central Bucks East
Central Bucks West @ Hatboro-Horsham
Quakertown @ Souderton
Suburban One American Conference
Wissahickon (9-4) moved into sole possession of first place in the conference with a hard earned 3-2 conference win over Upper Merion (6-7).
Junior Craig Nebuscin started the game for the Trojans and earned the win. Sophomore Joe McGinley came on in relief and one-hit the Vikings over the final two innings to earn the save.
“Joe really closed them down when we needed it,” said Wissahickon head coach Shannon Gunby. “We made the most of our hits.”
The Trojans received an RBI single from Brian O’Donnell and an RBI sac-fly from J.T. Critis. The third Wissy run was unearned.
“We started the season 0-5 overall and 0-3 in the league,” recalled Gunby. “But this group of seniors had put so much into the off-season that I knew we were going to turn in around.
“We have won nine of our last 10, and we can control our own destiny if we can win Monday against Upper Moreland,” added Gunby. “It is our senior day, and we’re playing for a championship. It couldn’t be much more exciting.”
Upper Moreland (8-5) could earn a piece of the championship pie it the Golden Bears could defeat Wissahickon.
Upper Moreland earned its shot at the title game with a 3-2 conference win over Springfield (4-9).
Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-5) fell out of first place in the conference standings with a 7-2 loss to Cheltenham (3-10).
Matt Brown earned the win for the Panthers.
Despite the loss, PW can earn its piece of the championship pie if Upper Moreland can defeat Wissahickon, and if Plymouth Whitemarsh can beat
Springfield.
Upper Dublin (8-5) finds itself in the same conference situation as both Upper Moreland and Plymouth Whitemarsh – one game behind Wissahickon.
Upper Dublin split a rare double header with Norristown (6-7).
The Flying Cardinals won a suspended 3-3 game – 4-3, but lost the regularly scheduled game with the Eagles – 7-3.
Despite the loss, Upper Dublin can earn its piece of the championship pie if Upper Moreland can defeat Wissahickon, and if Upper Dublin can beat Upper Merion on Monday.
Suburban One American Conference
1. Wissahickon Trojans [9-4]
2. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials [8-5]
3. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals [8-5]
4. Upper Moreland Golden Bears [8-5]
5. Norristown Eagles [6-7]
6. Upper Merion Vikings [6-7]
7. Springfield Spartans [4-9]
8. Cheltenham Panthers [3-10]
SOL American Conference – On Deck – Monday
Upper Moreland @ Wissahickon
Upper Merion @ Upper Dublin
Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Springfield
Norristown @ Cheltenham
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