Jarrad Saffren recaps all of Tuesday’s SOL baseball action. Upper Dublin/Upper Moreland photos provided courtesy of Kathy Leister Photography. Check back for a gallery of action photos.
By Jarrad Saffren
The 2017 Suburban One League baseball season ended on Tuesday. There were eight league games and one crossover game.
The Suburban One League Continental and American conferences crowned champions. The Suburban One League National Conference crowned an outright champion.
Various other SOL teams strengthened their cases for district playoff spots and seeds.
Read about all nine games below.
SOL Continental
North Penn 3, Pennridge 1
North Penn clinched its third SOL Continental title in four years. The last time the Knights won the Continental, in 2015, they also won the PIAA Class 4A title.
At 11-3 in games that count toward the District One Class 6A Power Rankings, the Knights are likely to earn a first round bye and second round home game in the District One Class 6A playoffs. Another state title run is very possible.
Especially with Matt Stevenson finding his stride. North Penn’s No. 2 starter—behind ace Danny Kirwin—pitched a complete game on Tuesday. He allowed four hits and walked none.
Stevenson has won three consecutive starts, allowing one run or less in all three.
“He was better against (William) Tennent and (Central Bucks) South,” Knights coach Kevin Manero said. “But today the difference was he got better as the game went on. He was throwing more strikes. He was throwing a lot of fastballs. Early in the game he was up in the zone. But he made good pitches in key spots.”
North Penn is averaging almost six runs per game. But Manero is just as confident in his pitching staff as his lineup.
“Stevenson and Kirwin have both been strong lately. And Jon Udinski threw a shutout against Council Rock South last week,” Manero said. “The starting pitching has been very good. We haven’t had to go to our bullpen much lately.”
The lineup scored enough on Tuesday. North Penn broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the seventh.
Corey Stouffer knocked in a run. Tyler Siddal stroked two singles.
Oliver Jervis drove in Pennridge’s run.
North Penn (16-3, 9-3 SOL) does actually have one more regular season game, against Hatboro-Horsham Friday night at 7:30. Pennridge (6-13, 4-8 SOL) also has one more game, versus Quakertown Wednesday at 3:30.
North Penn 1-0-0-0-0-0-2 3
Pennridge 1-0-0-0-0-0-0 1
Souderton 10, William Tennent 2
Souderton blasted three home runs in this rout. The Indians actually trailed 2-0 after one inning. They scored 10 unanswered runs, starting with three in the second.
Jordan Morales put the Indians ahead for good in that inning, with a two-run double to center. Derek Freed and Kyle Lennon scored.
Thylar Summarell made it 4-2 Souderton in the third, with a monster home run over the right field fence.
“That fence today was 340 to right and he cleared that by 30 feet,” Souderton coach Michael Childs said.
Summarell now has eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 2017. The 6-foot-4 slugger has been a beast.
“He’s being patient. He waits for his pitch and explodes on it. He has learned to become patient with off-speed pitches,” Childs said. “Our fence is 320 to right and he blows them out of there all the time in practice. He has the size. The kid is 6’4. But it’s his patience and approach more than anything right now.”
Luke Barnum continued the home run derby in the fourth. He also cleared the right field fence. The three-run bomb blew the game open, making it 7-2 Souderton.
“Barnum hit a grand slam at our field last year,” Childs said. “So we knew he could do it.” Barnum had not previously hit a home run in 2017.
Two batters later, Brett Moyer drilled the ball over the centerfield fence. The solo shot made it 8-2 Indians. It was Moyer’s third home run of the season. His first two came in one game, on April 5 against Central Bucks East.
“We were putting the ball in play and hitting for power today,” Childs said. “We’ve been pretty powerful all year.”
Jack Despain and Brendan Kreag both scored a run for Souderton. Greg Delgado drove in both of William Tennent’s runs. Cole Browne and Joey Shannon scored them.
Souderton starting pitcher Jordan Morales allowed three hits and no earned runs in six innings. He also struck out 10.
“He’s not a typical sophomore. He has a senior confident attitude. He’s not nervous,” Childs said. “His positive antics on the mound motivate kids. He has a swag.”
Dan Knechel pitched a scoreless seventh for Souderton, lowering his earned run average to 0.60.
“Knechel does his thing again,” Childs said. “He keeps it in the zone.”
Souderton improved to 9-5 in games that count toward the 6A power rankings. The Indians are 10th in those rankings.
Tennent fell to 7-7 in such games. The Panthers are 17th in the rankings. They will sweat out selection night on Thursday night.
Souderton (13-7, 8-4 SOL) hosts Lansdale Catholic Friday at 3:45. Tennent (7-10, 5-7 SOL) plays Lansdale Catholic on Wednesday at four.
Souderton 0-3-1-4-1-1-0 10
William Tennent 2-0-0-0-0-0-0 2
Central Bucks East 12, Central Bucks South 4
Central Bucks East took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, withstood a three-run rally in the bottom of the first and added eight runs in the sixth.
It was another prolific offensive game for the Patriots, who are averaging six runs per game.
“Our top half of the lineup is doing a great job. And our bottom half had a couple big hits, Matt Bound and Matt Ernst,” CB East coach Kyle Dennis said. “If our bottom half gets going, it’s a tough lineup.”
The same Patriots who have been producing all year—Cameron Komonchak, Jimmy Wiegers, CJ Gillmer, Collin Sheehan and Grant Meiers—did so again on Tuesday.
Komonchak had two runs, two hits and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Wiegers scored twice. Gillmer scored two runs and drove in two more. Sheehan had three hits and two RBIs.
But Meiers had the biggest game, with two runs, three hits and four RBIs.
And as Dennis mentioned, Bound and Ernst, CB East’s eight and nine hitters, both scored a run and knocked one in.
“Our guys took good swings on good pitches,” Dennis said. “(Central Bucks South starting pitcher Alex) Bendzlowicz is around the zone a lot. We jumped on fastballs in plus counts and even with two strikes.”
East starting pitcher Tyler Quinlan allowed no earned runs in seven innings. He also fanned six and improved to 3-0 against Central Bucks rivals in 2017.
“Our pitching has been very good, too,” Dennis said. “Even in games where we score a lot, we don’t let up big innings, which is key.”
CB South’s Joey Loynd had two RBIs and a run scored. Tyler Watson, Andrew Dietz and Justin Anderosky all scored for South. Chris Farrell had an RBI.
CB East is 14th in the 6A rankings. Twenty teams make the playoffs. CB South is 18th. At 6-8 in games that count, the Titans are a bubble team.
CB East closed the regular season at 11-8 overall and 7-5 in SOL Continental play. CB South (9-9, 6-6 SOL) plays Upper Merion Wednesday night at seven.
Central Bucks East 4-0-0-0-0-8-0 12
Central Bucks South 3-0-0-0-0-0-1 4
SOL American
Hatboro-Horsham 4, Cheltenham 0
Colin Kennedy’s pitching line says it all: seven innings, 86 pitches, three hits, zero runs, zero earned runs, 10 strikeouts, one walk.
The senior left hander has been untouchable this season. So has his fellow ace, Brian Edgington.
The duo led the Hatters to the 2017 SOL American title in their first year in the league. Hatboro-Horsham clinched the title with this win.
Hatboro-Horsham last won a league title, in the Continental, in 2012. The Hatters are second in the 6A rankings and 1-0 since they came out. They should earn the first or second seed in the district playoffs.
On Tuesday, Hatboro-Horsham scored a run in the second. Eric Jester scored on a passed ball. It was the only run the Hatters needed. But they scored three more because why not?
Jake Mayson, Drew Passerini and Ryan Long also scored for the Hatters. Kennedy, Jake Bianchini and Ryan O’Donnell all drove in a run.
Cheltenham starting pitcher Jacob Petrisko allowed two earned runs in seven innings.
Hatboro-Horsham (14-4, 11-2 SOL) hosts Central Bucks West Thursday at 3:45. Cheltenham ended the regular season at 3-15 overall and 3-11 in SOL American play.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-1-2-0-0-1-0 4
Cheltenham 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0
Quakertown 6, Plymouth Whitemarsh 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh took a 3-0 lead in the home first. Jack Mangan hit a three-run double to right, scoring Richie Werner, John Pecharo and Luca Amoroso.
Quakertown came back to tie it with three runs in the away fourth. Jake Wooden hit a sacrifice fly to left. Jake Reed hit one to center. And Brian Robinson stroked an RBI single to left.
PW regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Mangan walked with the bases loaded. Steven Blum scored.
Quakertown again tied the game in the top of the sixth. Robinson singled to left, scoring Reed.
The Panthers took their first lead in the eighth. Robinson doubled to left, plating Reed. Then Viktor Morelock lined a single to left, scoring Robinson.
It was the only lead Quakertown needed. Robinson pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He had a great all-around game.
“Offensively he was aggressive to good pitches to hit. He didn’t chase anything,” Quakertown coach Jon Pallone said. “He barreled up good pitches and ran the bases well, especially that go-ahead double over the left fielder’s head.”
Robinson struggled early in the season. He got going recently.
“He was the only sophomore on varsity last year. He got going a little. But he had a real bad toe injury in Myrtle Beach,” Pallone said. “He couldn’t even swing for a couple weeks. We were in league play when he got his first at-bats. He’s had to get his timing down. He has turned it on in the second half. We moved him up to two from eight, and he’s stayed hot.”
Dennis Pierce, Drew San Angelo and Evan Hurst all scored one run for Quakertown.
Quakertown improved to 11-3 in games that count. The Panthers are fifth in the 6A rankings.
They (14-5, 11-3 SOL) play Pennridge Wednesday at 3:30. PW finishes the regular season at 5-14 overall and 3-11 in league play.
Quakertown 0-0-0-3-0-1-0-2 6
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-0-0-0-1-0-0-0 4
Upper Dublin 4, Upper Moreland 3
In the top of the eighth, Max Weinberg smoked the ball off the third base bag and into left. Justin Horn scored to put Upper Dublin up 4-3.
Horn held the lead by pitching a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He also scored three runs on Tuesday.
“He had a big game at the plate and on the hill. He did the job coming around on the bases, scoring some runs. He’s been the table setter all season,” Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall said. “We moved him to the top to get him more at-bats. He’s our best on-base guy. We had him in the three-spot. We hoped to have him drive in runs because he puts the ball in play.”
Weinberg bats third now. He drove in two runs on Tuesday.
“Max has been hitting the ball well,” Wall said. “He had a two-out RBI yesterday against Abington.”
Joey Monaghan had an RBI for Upper Dublin. JT Breslin scored a run.
UD starting pitcher Ryan Besachio allowed one hit and no earned runs in six innings.
“Ryan kept us in the game again. He did a great job. Ryan was in the zone the whole time. He was pitching to contact,” Wall said. “With only three Ks, we had to play good defense. JT Breslin made some great catches out there. Horn had a couple good plays at short. Hebling had a huge pick at first on a bunt that saved us. We did the job in the field for him, which was great to see as well.”
Upper Moreland’s Brandon Kohn scored two runs. Tommy Jacob scored one. Kevin Walder had one RBI.
Upper Dublin (6-13, 4-10 SOL) hosts Roman Catholic Wednesday at 3:45.
Upper Moreland improved to 10-4 in games that count toward the District One Class 5A Power Rankings. The Golden Bears are seventh in the rankings. Sixteen teams make the District One Class 5A playoffs.
Upper Moreland ended the regular season at 12-6 overall and 9-5 in SOL American play.
Upper Dublin 1-0-1-0-0-0-1-1 4
Upper Moreland 0-1-0-0-1-0-1-0 3
Springfield Township 6, Wissahickon 4
Springfield Township improved to 6-8 in games that count toward the District One Class 4A Power Rankings. The Spartans are fifth in the rankings, and four teams make the playoffs. They are less than one power point behind No. 4 Octorara.
Wissahickon fell to 8-6 in games that count toward the District One Class 5A Power Rankings. The Trojans are 14th in the rankings, and 16 teams make the playoffs.
Matt Shilling and Ben Maltin both had one RBI for Wissahickon. Steven Loden had two RBIs.
Springfield Township (9-9, 6-8 SOL) plays Central Wednesday at 3:45.
Wissahickon ended the regular season at 11-9 overall and 8-6 in SOL American play.
SOL National
Council Rock South 5, Neshaminy 1
Council Rock South took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Matt Smith worked a four-pitch walk. Josh Kim drilled an RBI single to left-center.
Then Evan Fisher worked a four-pitch walk. John Crane ripped an RBI double to right-center. Eric Jeronis followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
CR South did all of this against Neshaminy ace Zach Boop.
“That was a momentum booster, especially because Zach is one of the best pitchers around,” Kim said.
“It just demoralizes the pitcher when you score a bunch of runs in the first inning,” Jeronis said.
South starting pitcher Zach Mayer held the lead for six innings. He allowed one unearned run. Neshaminy left eight runners on against him.
“My curve, two-seam and four-seam (fastballs) were hitting the spots,” Mayer said. “I made sure they put the ball on the ground.”
“Every time I lowered my glove, I knew he would pitch it there,” said Fisher, Mayer’s catcher. “He hits his spots, always.”
South reliever Brendon Carter pitched a perfect seventh.
Kim scored two runs and drove one in for South. Jeronis had two RBIs. Joe Shragher scored two runs. Smith scored one.
Ben Raab drove in Neshaminy’s run. Zach Tredway scored it.
CR South improved to 7-7 in games that count toward the District One 6A rankings. The Golden Hawks are 22nd in the rankings, and 20 teams make the playoffs.
“At 7-7, and with Bensalem at 19 (in the rankings), and they are 7-7. We have the tiebreaker. We beat them twice,” South coach Ted Kirner said. “And this win should be a lot of points. All that should be enough.”
Neshaminy dropped to 9-3 in SOL National play, falling one win short of sharing the league title with Pennsbury.
CR South closed the regular season at 11-9 overall and 7-5 in SOL National play. Neshaminy ended at 15-4.
Council Rock South 3-0-0-0-1-0-1 5
Neshaminy 1-0-0-0-0-0-0 1
Non-League Crossover
Council Rock North 7, Central Bucks West 2
Council Rock North ended a five-game losing streak that dated back to April 28, almost three weeks ago.
The Indians improved to 8-6 in games that count toward the 6A rankings. They are 16th in the rankings and likely to make the playoffs.
On Tuesday, North starter Eric Hoefer allowed one earned run in five innings.
“Eric’s fastball was his best pitch,” CR North coach Matt Schram said. “He ran a couple deep counts. He threw more pitches than we wanted. But he did enough to get us out of our slump.”
North reliever Gavin Ferrandino pitched two shutout innings to close the game. “Gavin’s fastball was working well, too. He’s working to get more innings as we get to the playoffs,” Schram said. “His fastball had more velocity. For him it’s all mechanics. If it stays in his legs, he throws well.”
North broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the second and three in the third. In the second, Cole Olshavsky tripled to right, plating Carl Nowmos. In the third, Jason Walter hit a two-run single to right, scoring Kellen Pecuch and Tyler Marlow.
Cavan Tully, Lucas Feinstein and Nolan Hartwell all scored a run for the Indians.
Josh Hannon and Blaise Heacox both knocked in a run for the Bucks. Hannon and Thomas Philipps scored CB West’s runs.
CR North ended the regular season at 10-10. CB West (6-12, 4-8 SOL) plays Methacton Wednesday at 3:30.
Central Bucks West 1-0-0-1-0-0-0 2
Council Rock North 1-1-3-0-0-2-X 7
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