Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Monday. Abington/Wissahickon photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Upper Dublin/PW photos courtesy of Michael Rice. Check back for galleries of both games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f12122253
SOL Liberty Division
Upper Dublin 8, Plymouth Whitemarsh 3
The Flying Cardinals have been on a mission all season, and Monday they completed the SOL Liberty Division championship portion of that mission with an impressive road win at second-place Plymouth Whitemarsh.
UD has won 12 straight league games, with its only league loss coming April 3 at Upper Moreland.
“First conference (championship) win since 2016,” said Cardinals coach Ed Wall. “A few of those guys made it to the game, which was awesome to see them.
“Winning the conference is always our initial goal. This week is a ‘playoff week’ for us. The boys really wanted this, and they’ve all worked so hard and I’m so proud to see their efforts be rewarded.”
UD started quickly with runs in the first and second innings, and a four-run fourth, all courtesy of a Jared Levis grand slam, made it a 6-0 game.
“Our energy from the start, from the whole team,” Wall said. “Eric Berman going first to third on an infield ground ball and another big catch in center. Joe Levis’ two-out RBI in the top of the first to score first. Paul Stoffel trusting himself and stealing on a dirt ball read and forcing an overthrow.”
And getting four runs with a single swing of the bat from Jared Levis was big too.
“Big innings are key in every win, but, against a team like PW, it was tremendous,” Wall said. “Then, being able to tack on a few more provided more confidence.”
On the mound, Aidan McCarthy pitched five innings and allowed just two earned runs, and then Austin Dahl closed it out with two scoreless innings of relief.
“(McCarthy) was attacking hitters and, along with a few big strikeouts, he gave them opportunities to hit the ball right at our defense,” Wall said. “His composure continues to become more and more stoic and stingy.”
Leading the Cardinals at the plate were Berman, who was 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Dahl, who was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
UD (14-4, 14-1 SOL), No. 1 in the District One Class 5A power rankings, concludes the regular season with a home against Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday.
PW (14-4, 12-3 SOL), No. 3 on the Class 6A power rankings, plays at Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Upper Dublin 101 402 0 – 8 7 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 210 0 – 3 4 2
Abington 2, Wissahickon 1
LJ Wolff pitched a complete-game, no-hitter with 16 strikeouts in a dominant effort on the mound for the Galloping Ghosts.
“One of the most dominant outings I’ve ever been a part of,” said Abington coach Bill Degen. “We only managed five hits and two runs, he took care of the rest.”
Wolff was close to perfect, allowing only four base runners, a walk in the fourth, and a walk and two errors in the fifth. He struck out the last six batters in retiring the side in the sixth and seventh innings.
Abington didn’t do much against Wissahickon pitching either. In the top of the second, Jake Kaplan led off with a single and scored on a Jaden Hernandez triple. Chase Goodson followed with a single to make it a 2-0 game.
Wissahickon reliever Jack Garrity threw six shutout innings after that, allowing jus
one hit and not walking a batter striking out sixth.
The Trojans’ only offensive threat was the error-aided fifth inning, which saw Blake McClintic reach on an error to leadoff and then Tyler Shilling walk to put runners on first and second with nobody out.
Luke Frank then bunted the runners into scoring position with the sacrifice. With two outs, an Andy Yun ground ball was played for an error, allowing Wissahickon’s only run to score without the luxury of a hit.
Abington (12-6, 11-4 SOL), which is 10-1 in its last 11 games, wraps up its regular season Wednesday against Quakertown. The Ghosts are currently No. 8 in the District One power rankings.
Wissahickon (12-6, 9-6 SOL), No. 14 in the rankings, hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Abington 020 000 0 – 2 5 2
Wissahickon 000 010 0 – 1 0 0
Quakertown 5, Hatboro-Horsham 1
Shortstop Danny Qualteria went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs, as red-hot Quakertown avenged a previous loss with a solid win over visiting Hatboro-Horsham on Monday.
Starting pitcher Matthew Marsten went the distance for the Panthers allowing just one run on three hits, not walking a batter and striking out eight.
Quakertown, which started its league schedule with five straight losses, is 7-2 in its last nine league games, with those two losses coming to Liberty Division champion Upper Dublin and second-place Plymouth Whitemarsh by one run.
“This was a big win for us following the one over Wissahickon,” said Panthers coach Jon Pallone, whose team was coming off a 4-3 win over the Trojans. “We still have two more games left to finish the season over the next two days. (Tuesday) is the most important game of the year and we know Upper Moreland is going to be tough.”
Qualteria got Quakertown off to a fast start with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first. Cole Reich followed with an RBI triple to right field, and Reich scored on a sac fly by Jackson Gillman to make it a 2-0 lead.
Hatboro-Horsham cut it to 2-1 with a run in the fourth on an RBI single by pitcher Jamie O’Neill,and that’s where the game stood going into the bottom of the sixth.
An error, a single by Gunner Rahn and a dropped third strike loaded the bases with nobody out, and Qualteria followed with a two-run double. Reich drove in another run with a sac fly.
“Matthew Martsten was excellent on the mound today,” Pallone said. “He got ahead of hitters early and stayed aggressive.
“Danny Qualteria and Cole Reich stayed home at the top of the lineup with extra base hits and RBIs.”
Reich was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored, and Rahn was 2-for-2.
Quakertown (8-10, 7-7 SOL) is unofficially No. 25 in the district power rankings and has work to do if it wants one of the 24 spots in the playoffs. It has road games at Upper Moreland (Tuesday) and Abington (Wednesday) to wrap up its regular season.
H-H (11-8, 8-7 SOL), which is 1-5 in its last six games and sits No. 12 for the upcoming 12-team Class 5A district tournament. It plays at division-winning Upper Dublin on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 100 0 – 1 3 1
Quakertown 200 003 x – 5 8 1
SOL Freedom Division
Upper Moreland 12, Cheltenham 3
Nate Kelly went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs, as Upper Moreland blasted Cheltenham for 12 runs on 14 hits in a win that clinches the SOL Freedom Division outright for the Golden Bears.
“A total team win today, I’m proud of the boys and the way we bounced back from a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season,” said UM coach Jim Fasano. “It shows our character and determination as a group.”
The decisive inning Monday was the top of the third, as the Bears scored seven times to take control of the game.
Jimmy Torpey got his team on the board with a two-run single, Jackson Townsend had an RBI single, and Kelly followed with a two-run home run to center field to make it 5-0. Dylan Wood and Paul Meyers followed with RBI singles.
For the game, in addition to Kelly, UM was led by Torpey, who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Jaryd Meehl 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs and two hits each for Wood and Shawn Townsend.
On the mound, Nick Simons went three innings and Luke Sword four out of the bullpen.
“We started a freshman today,” Fasano said. “Nick Simons, who has a tremendously bright future and will be a big part of our team moving forward. And right behind him came Luke Sword, another freshman, who did nothing but pound the zone and get outs for us today. Both have big shoes to fill with the departure of Jimmy Torpey next year.”
With the win, UM (9-7, 8-6 SOL) did wrap up the Freedom title but has two important games remaining as far as its district playoff hopes. After Monday, the Bears are No. 10 in the Class 5A playoff points for the upcoming 12-team postseason tournament. They host Quakertown Tuesday and then play at New Hope Wednesday in its final two league games.
“Our work isn’t finished,” Fasano said. “We have another huge game (Tuesday) against Quakertown with Torpey on the mound. A win should clinch us a spot in the playoffs, which is the next step in our path.
“All of our goals are still in front of us. We have two league games left and a nonleague Thursday at Methacton. I’m happy for the boys and the community – back-to-back Freedom Division champs.”
Upper Moreland 007 011 3 – 12 14 2
Cheltenham 002 001 0 – 3 5 6
Springfield Twp 12, Lower Moreland 8
Ryan Marcino went 2-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored and six RBIs, as Springfield outslugged Lower Moreland, scoring 10 runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings combined.
Springfield entered the game 1-12 in its previous 13 games. Lower Moreland had won three of its previous four and was looking to climb up further in the Class 4A power rankings.
Through the first three innings, the teams went back and forth, with Lower Moreland up 3-1 after two innings, as Springfield was hurt by a pair of errors. But it answered with a huge four-spot in the top of the third, including a three-run homer to left by Marcino and an RBI single by Rob Hartman.
Up 5-4, Springfield added three in the fourth to go up 8-4, and Lower Moreland came right back to cut it to 8-6 with two in the bottom half of the inning.
Springfield added three in the fifth on an error, a Will Hastings sac fly and Colby Sabin’s RBI single, and another in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Saban and Matthew Caruso had three hits each for Springfield, while Marcino and Brett Smith had two hits each. In all, seven different players had hits.
On the mound, Hartman picked up the win in relief, going five innings, scattering three earned runs on six hits and four walks, while striking out five.
For Lower Moreland, eight different players had hits, led by Matthew Wenger, who went 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Springfield (6-13, 6-9 SOL) sits in the No. 5 position for the four-team Class 4A playoffs. It hosts Cheltenham in its regular-season finale on Wednesday.
Lower Moreland (7-10, 5-10 SOL) is No. 6 in the rankings, with a home game against William Tennent Wednesday.
Springfield 104 331 0 – 12 13 5
Lower Moreland 211 200 2 – 8 9 4
William Tennent 12, New Hope-Solebury 2
Three runs in the bottom of the second inning got host William Tennent started and it never looked back on the way to the mercy-rule shortened win over New Hope-Solebury on Monday.
The Panthers pounded out 12 runs on 13 hits, including three doubles.
Senior Lucas Kimbrough won his second start in a row for the Panthers, not allowing an earned run over five innings, with three hits and two walks, while striking out seven.
“Over the last two starts, he has set the tone early and his teammates followed,” said Tennent coach Lucas Denzi. “In a season where we have experienced some difficult obstacles, I am proud of how the boys have shown up these last two weeks.
“And, although we will not finish the season where we would like in the standings, there is a lot to be said about how we continue to battle week in and week out.”
Offensively, Tennent was led by Conor Servis, who went 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Dominic Ferrara was 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and one run scored. Daniel Scheller and Julio Ybarra had two hits and two RBIs each.
Tennent (6-13, 4-11 SOL) plays at Lower Moreland in its season-finale on Wednesday.
New Hope (6-13, 3-12 SOL) wraps up its regular season on Wednesday with a home game over division champ Upper Moreland.
New Hope 000 20 – 2 3 2
Tennent 032 25 – 12 13 3
SOL Patriot Division
Harry S. Truman 9, Bensalem 0
Freshman Austin Allen pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out 13 with a dominant 94-pitch performance to lift Truman to the convincing win over Bensalem, avenging a previous loss to the Owls.
“He’s had a really good year for us, but this was his first career varsity win,” said Tigers coach Brian Sinkiewicz. “He’s had some really good outings for us, but he’s had some no decisions. But he has pitched awesome this year.”
Monday, Allen allowed just a third-inning double to Bensalem’s Yahil Almodovar, but got out of that inning with back-to-back strikeouts. He retired the final 10 batters he faced.
“He’s so cool, calm and collected on the mound,” Sinkiewicz said. “He got out of the first inning pretty quick. He just doesn’t show much emotion. I always say he has ice in his veins.
“He was absolutely awesome today. His changeup was unbelievable, down in the zone, and he was able to really locate his fastball. That allowed him to get ahead of hitters.
“He’s a lefty and his mechanics are so smooth and flawless, it makes throwing look so effortless.”
Offensively, the Truman bats came alive Monday too.
Caleb Wright, who hit the decisive home run in Truman’s win over CB South on Saturday, hit another homer in his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, a two-run shot to left field to get the Tigers started.
Jayden Gaines and Wyatt Spinks each had RBI triples in Truman’s five-run fourth inning to help blow the game open.
Andrew Armstrong was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, while Ryan Cavanaugh went 2-for-4 as well.
After losing five straight league games, Truman (10-8, 8-7 SOL) has won back-to-back games and finds itself in the No. 20 position in the District One power rankings with a home game against CR South on Wednesday.
Bensalem concluded it season Monday with a 6-14 overall record and 3-13 in the SOL).
Bensalem 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
Truman 020 502 x – 9 10 0
Council Rock North 1, Neshaminy 0
Pat Dougherty allowed just two hits and didn’t walk a batter, striking out five as CR North won a classic pitchers’ duel against Neshaminy and its starting pitcher, Ryan Fox.
Dougherty struck out five and only threw 73 pitches over seven innings, 51 pitches for strikes.
“Patrick Dougherty threw a gem today,” said Indians coach Matt Schram. “He was efficient and effective. His command was spectacular today, which allowed him to keep his pitch count to 73 by the end of the game.”
Dougherty recorded the first seven outs, before giving up a single to Robert Harrison in the third. He got out of that inning with two strikeouts. Rob Del Bueno had a single to lead off the fourth, and later that inning, Dougherty hit a batter, but ended the threat with an inning-ending double play. He then retired the final nine batters of the game in order.
Neshaminy’s Fox was right there with him too, allowing only one hit over six innings, with five strikeouts.
But that one hit was the decisive offensive moment of the game as Leor Kadar led off the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left field.
“Leor Kadar had one of those days where he was just causing issues on the bases and at the plate,” Schram said. “It really was a great SOL game. (Neshaminy coach Dan) Toner’s team is well-coached and their pitcher threw equally as well.”
CR North (10-8, 8-7 SOL), currently No. 23 in the District One power rankings, plays at division champ Pennsbury in its league finale on Wednesday.
Neshaminy (13-7, 9-7 SOL) wrapped up its regular season Monday. It is currently No. 17 in the power rankings.
CR North 000 100 0 – 1 2 0
Neshaminy 000 000 0 – 0 2 0
Pennsbury 7, Council Rock South 1
The top of the Pennsbury lineup combined to go 7-for-14 with three runs scored and three RBIs, and senior Kayden Faulcon allowed just one earned run over 6 1/3 innings as the Falcons put away CR South in a Patriot Division game Monday.
“The top three guys (James Schaffer, Ryan Zuckerman and Joe Tiroly) had seven hits, and Ty Boraski, who hits ninth, had a couple hits,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “We did a good job throughout the lineup. That’s big.
“I feel like Schaffer reached on an error once or twice too. He’s so quick it puts pressure on the defense.”
Tiroly was 3-for-4 with a double, one run scored and two RBIs. He also had two stolen bases. The Falcons stole seven bases on the day.
Schaffer was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, Zuckerman was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Boraski was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Faulcon was sharp on the mound too, scattering five hits and two walks and striking out eight before giving way to Austin Kenney with one out in the seventh, as he hit 101 pitches.
“Last game when he faced them, he struggled a little bit and we just didn’t score runs for him,” Pesci said. “He made some mistakes. This time he came out, had eight strikeouts and gave up one run in the second. They were hitting him a little bit hard, but after that second inning, he kind of went lights out.”
Pennsbury (16-3, 12-3 SOL), No. 4 in the District One power rankings, wraps up its league season with a home game against CR North on Wednesday.
CR South (9-9, 7-8 SOL), No. 21 in the power rankings, has an important regular-season finale at Harry S. Truman on Wednesday.
Pennsbury 200 200 3 – 7 12 0
CR South 010 000 0 – 1 5 2
SOL Colonial Division
Souderton 17, Central Bucks East 11 (9 innings)
A home run by Kaden Pasternak in the top of the ninth inning kicked off a six-run outburst for Souderton, which rallied from an 8-1 deficit to tie the game and then win it in a wild extra-inning affair.
The teams combined for 28 runs on 36 hits, there were eight walks and six errors. Souderton had eight extra base hits, including three home runs.
“I was proud how our guys never hung their heads and battled the entire game,” said Indians coach Mike Childs. “It was a good team win going into the playoffs. It is good to see our bats come alive at the right time of year.
“We had four guys with three hits and another three guys with two hits each. We had very timely hitting all through the lineup today.”
Pasternak was 3-for-5 with the home run, a double, three runs scored and two RBIs.
Tyler Lutz was 3-for-6 with a home run, two runs and four RBIs.
Catcher Ethan Warner was 3-for-5 with a double, three runs and five RBIs.
Chris McKenna was 3-for-6 with a double, RBI and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot for the Indians.
Zack Pollock was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, Austin Kreyenhagen was 2-for-6 with three runs scored, and Connor Klock was 2-for-6 with a double and two RBIs.
Souderton scored four runs in the fifth and five in the sixth to get back into the game and needed another in the top of the seventh to force extra innings. And it needed every run, because CB East finished with 11 runs on 15 hits.
“I have to give credit to East’s bats in the first part of the game,” Childs said. “Austin Kreyenhagen was pitching pretty well, pounding the zone, and they were hitting everything.”
Lutz pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth innings for Souderton and threw three shutout innings, with six strikeouts to shut down the Patriots.
“Tyler Lutz came up big again in the final three innings and did not allow a run,” Childs said. “He is facing some good hitting teams late in the games and doing an excellent job keeping them off balance.”
Nolan Behm, Chase Harlan and Thomas Cano-Piszel had three hits each for CB East. Jack Mislan was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and one RBI. Ryan Zosulis was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Souderton (10-9, 8-7 SOL), No. 19 in the district power rankings, finishes its regular season Wednesday at CB West.
CB East (6-13, 6-9 SOL) concludes its season Wednesday at North Penn.
Souderton 001 045 106 – 17 20 2
CB East 203 321 000 – 11 15 4
North Penn 5, Central Bucks South 3
Justin Egner and Kevin Brace had RBI singles in the top of the seventh inning, and sophomore lefty Trevor Lugara improved to 8-0 on the season as North Penn snapped a two-game losing streak to get past CB South on the road Monday.
“This time of year, you just have to find ways to win,” said Knights coach Kevin Manero. “It wasn’t our prettiest game, but we managed to lock in in some key spots and put a couple on the board when it mattered most.”
Third baseman Egner went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs out of the leadoff spot for North Penn.
Also for NP, which had seven hits and took five walks, James Mangine went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
In a three-run third, Egner’s RBI double knotted the score 1-1, and Jack Picozzi had an RBI single.
“Justin Egner had a great day at the top of the order,” Manero said “He’s been a little frustrated lately, but today he was big for us, and that’s what we want heading into the postseason.
“We have a young guy at shortstop, Kevin Brace, and he came up clutch today. Every chance guys like him get to play in big spots is a bonus for us for years to come.”
On the mound, Lugara scattered three runs on 10 hits, but didn’t walk a batter over six innings, before giving way to Nolan Palovich, who threw a scoreless seventh to get the save.
“Even without his best stuff, Lugara always gives us a chance because he doesn’t give up free 90s (walks),” Manero said. “Today, he kept us right there and gave us a chance to win.”
CB South trailed 3-1 at one point but rallied to tie it at 3 in the bottom of the third. Jake Yang hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second for the Titans, and Jack Carver hit a homer in the third.
Logan Hinds and Jack DiCesare had two hits each.
North Penn (15-3, 13-2 SOL) wraps up its league schedule Wednesday at home against CB East. The Knights are currently No. 2 in the District One power rankings.
CB South (10-9, 7-8 SOL), unofficially in the 24th and final spot in the power rankings, hosts Pennridge in its finale on Wednesday.
North Penn 003 000 2 – 5 7 0
CB South 011 100 0 – 3 10 1
Central Bucks West 12, Pennridge 2
Eight runs in the first three innings gave CB West the early boost ,and the Bucks cruised to the road win over Pennridge on Monday night.
Jacob Greer and Alex Valdes combined for the win on the mound. Greer picked up the win, allowing two runs on six hits over four innings with five strikeouts. Valdes pitched three shutout innings out of the bullpen to close out the game.
“This has been a really funky seven days with pitching for us, and today we needed to call on Jacob Greer to make his first varsity start,” said Bucks coach Brian Weaver. “He gave us four innings of strikes and gave our offense a chance to do their jobs.
“And Alex Valdes came in on the back end and gave us an incredibly efficient day, something like 30 of 39 pitches for strikes in three innings. Both of them limited hard-hit balls, shut down innings that could have turned messy, and gave us a chance to win what was really a must-win game for us.
“Jacob is a freshman, Valdes is a sophomore, so to have our young guys step up in a clutch situation was a huge boost to the team.”
Offensively, the Bucks loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first thanks to an error and two walks. Sam Greer had an RBI single, and Matt Carr and Quinn Illig had sacrifice flies to make it 3-0.
Illig then added an RBI double in the third, Luke Birkhead had an RBI single and Kevin Bukowski hit a three-run home run to break the game wide open.
Bukowski added a leadoff homer in the top of the seventh and finished 2-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs.
Illig was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, and Will Hogenauer was 2-for-3 with a double.
“It was symbiotic, though, because offensively we got a good jump out of the gates,” Weaver said. “We were fortunate to work good at-bats and put the bat on the ball in key situations.
“Even after a good start, though, I think the sixth was our biggest inning. We scored all three runs with two outs and gave the pitchers even more breathing room to relax and just throw strikes.
“Kevin Bukowski stayed dialed in at the plate. He hit two homers and drove in four runs. He’s an emotional leader on the team, and I know we’ve robbed him of a bunch of RBIs because we hit him leadoff, but he’s unflappable and can set the tone early in any game.”
With the win, CB West (13-6, 9-6 SOL) sits in the No. 13 position in the District One power rankings. It wraps up the regular season against Souderton at home Wednesday.
Pennridge (1-18, 1-14 SOL) plays its season finale Wednesday at CB South.
CB West 305 003 1 – 12 9 2
Pennridge 002 000 0 – 2 8 2
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