Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday.
SOL Colonial Division
Pennridge 7, Central Bucks South 6
In the resumption of a game that was halted because of weather on Tuesday night, the Rams – who led 4-0 when the game was suspended – prevailed but had their hands full with a Titan squad that twice battled back to within a run.
“Today was a race to nine outs, continuing Tuesday’s suspended game,” Pennridge coach Danny Long said. “Brayden Robinson did a great job of competing on the mound for three innings.
“Zach Swanson came up to the plate in big spots and delivered with five RBIs.”
On Tuesday, the Rams put four runs on the board in the bottom of the second. The inning was highlighted by an RBI single by Kyle Watson and a three-run home run by Swanson.
In the top of the fifth when play resumed, the Titans were on the receiving end of three straight walks to open the inning. Jake Yang and Colin Flynn delivered back-to-back RBI singles. A third run scored on a double play, and just like that it was a 4-3 game.
The Rams answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. A single by Rendler plated a run, and Swanson’s two-run double to center gave the Rams a 7-3 lead that was anything but secure.
In the top of the seventh, the Titans benefitted from three walks, a Pennridge miscue and an RBI single by Owen Pinkerton to score three runs. Robinson slammed the door on the Titans’ comeback with back-to-back strikeouts to close out the game with the tying run on second base.
Robinson, who notched the win, allowed three hits and three runs – one earned – while striking out two and walking three.
The Rams were led by the two-hit efforts of Swanson (2-for-2, 2B, HR, 5 RBIs, R) and Ryder Olson (2-for-3, R).
Pennridge (12-8, 8-8 SOL) is 18th in the 24-team District 1 6A Tournament field and will travel to #15 Haverford for Monday’s opening round contest. It’s been quite a turnaround for a Ram squad that one short year ago was 2-18 with no thought of competing in districts.
“We are excited to be back in the District 1 playoffs on Monday,” Long said.
Central Bucks South 000 030 3 6-5-0
Pennridge 040 003 x 7-8-1
Non-league
Central Bucks East 3, Holy Ghost Prep 2
Closing out the season with a non-league game gave coach Kyle Dennis the perfect opportunity to use far more players than usual, and they delivered, finding a way to win in a contest that saw them manage just three hits.
“We got almost the entire roster involved in some way today,” the Patriots’ coach said. “In the first, senior Timothy Mahony, who typically pitches in relief, got the start at his secondary position of first base today and had a big single to score senior shortstop Zach Oram, who was making his first start and walked earlier in the inning.
“Colin Lynch hit the go-ahead homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning and Jack Mislan added on with a home run in the bottom of the sixth.”
Five pitchers saw action on the mound with Tyler Dandrea – who threw 1.2 shutout innings and struck out two – earning the win. The five pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and allowed just four hits.
“Mike Scafidi, who usually comes out of the bullpen in tough spots got the start and pitched great,” Dennis said. “He went four innings, allowed three hits, walked none and struck out five.
“Senior Tyler Dandrea got his first varsity win and pitched the fifth and sixth innings, striking out two not surrendering a hit or a walk. Sophomore Jason Abert recorded his sixth save of the season, closing out the seventh inning and striking out one.”
Central Bucks East (14-6, 12-4 SOL), the #7 seed in the District 1 6A Tournament, has an opening round bye and will face the winner of #10 Garnet Valley versus #23 Council Rock South in a second round game.
Holy Ghost Prep 000 010 1 2-4-0
Central Bucks East 100 001 1 3-3-4
Central Bucks South 7, Penn Charter 5
The Titans rebounded from a one-run loss in the resumption of their game with Pennridge to earn the non-league win over Penn Charter.
“It was a great team effort tonight to get this victory,” Titans’ coach Kevin Bray said. “This was the last home game our seniors would have, and we wanted to send them out right.
“Our guys had really good at-bats, our defense played well, and our pitchers did their jobs. It was a total team win.”
The Titans took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second on a successful squeeze by Nick Zakrzewski that plated Ryan Shaughnessy, who singled to lead off the inning. Braeden Black delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in the second run.
In the third inning, South added two more runs with Shaughnessy contributing a sacrifice fly and Ryan Frey singling home a run with a two-out single for a 4-1 lead. The Titans added a run in the fifth to go on top 5-1 before Penn Charter scored a pair in the top of the fifth.
The Titans got those two runs back in the bottom of the sixth on their way to the win.
Michael Liu started and earned the win, allowing two hits and one run while striking out four and walking one.
Central Bucks South closed out its season with an overall record of 7-11.
Penn Charter 010 020 2 6-5-0
Central Bucks South 022 102 x 7-4-1
Souderton 5, Dock Mennonite Academy 0
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the Indians found a way to notch a 5-0 Senior Day win despite managing just one hit.
“It is a rare occasion when you score five runs on one hit,” coach Mike Childs said. “We didn’t have our bats going today, but our pitching staff did a phenomenal job.
“These guys do not get a lot of innings throughout the season but looked like seasoned veterans today. We are happy to get the win and keep the momentum rolling into playoffs on Monday.”
Bobby Trost started and earned the win, allowing just two hits in three shutout innings while striking out three and walking two. Chris Southard did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings, striking out three and walking none. Cody Ricko allowed one hit in one shutout inning, and Ben Divens, who was credited with a save, did not allow a hit in one shutout inning to close it out, striking out three and walking none.
Souderton’s pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and only two walks while allowing three hits in seven shutout innings.
Grayson Norris led off the bottom of the second with the Indians’ only hit – a single to center, and he scored a run that stood as the game-winner on a ground out by Landon Foley.
Souderton (11-9, 9-7 SOL), #17 in the District 1 6A Tournament, will travel to #16 Avon Grove for Monday’s district opener.
Dock Mennonite 000 000 0 0-3-4
Souderton 022 010 x 5-1-0
Avon Grove 10, Hatboro-Horsham 0 (6 innings)
The Hatters managed just two hits in Thursday’s regular season finale, a non-league game that afforded coach Bill DeBoer an opportunity to use many players.
Hatboro-Horsham closed out its season with an 8-11 record overall.
Hatboro-Horsham 000 000 0-2-1
Avon Grove 210 223 10-14-0
Wednesday, May 15
New Hope-Solebury 8, South Hunterdon 2
The Lions finished the season on a high note, winning three of their last four games. Seniors Brooks Saft, Tyler Corino, Nate Klossner, David Locke and Riley Wilson all contributed to an 8-2 win for New Hope.
John Whelan pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10.
“John, the quiet warrior had a great curveball tonight and his fastball had some great late movement,” NH-S coach Tony Vlahovic said. “The lefty dominated the top of South Hunterdon’s lineup.”
Charlie Plebani had two hits (double) and two RBI’s and scored two runs.
“Charlie ignited our offense and set the table for Brooks Saft ( triple) and one RBI and Nate Klossner with 2 RBIs,” Vlahovic said. “Our defense was flawless today, and our young players definitely matured during the last half of the season. We finished 6-14 overall and the baseball IQ of our players increased.”
South Hunterdon 200 000 0 2-3-2
New Hope-Solebury 220 121 x 8-6-0
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