Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday.
Non-league
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, RADNOR 5
The Colonials won in dramatic fashion when Mike Miller lined a double to left field in the bottom of the seventh, plating Luke Gartland – who was hit by a pitch – for the walk-off win in Thursday’s non-league contest.
“We ended the season with five consecutive one-run games,” PW coach Chris Manero said. “That can really age a coach, but I think our staff hopes that it helped build some toughness among our team as we head into the postseason.
“We have been playing Radnor as a non-league game to end the season for all 10 years that I have been the head coach. The games are always close and serve as good preparation for the second season.”
The Colonials took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Gavin Rocks, who laced a two-out triple to right, scored on Jesse Jaconski’s sacrifice fly. It was a 2-0 game after Luke Hildebrand delivered an RBI single in the third.
Radnor plated a run in the top of the fourth and knotted the score with a run in the fifth, but the Colonials responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Joe Redmond plated a run with a triple to center field, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Chase Olszyk. An RBI single by Rocks gave the Colonials a 5-2 lead that turned out to be anything but secure, but after Radnor tied it in the top of the seventh, the Colonials – or more specifically Mike Miller – won it in the bottom of the inning.
“We had a few big hits from some seniors today,” Manero said. “Joe Redmond hit a go ahead triple in the bottom of the sixth, and after we lost the lead in the seventh, Mike Miller wasted no time walking it off with a double. They were big hits by very confident hitters.
“Jaconski, Rocks, and Gartland made some big defensive plays for us in the infield today, and we got some late timely hitting. Defense and timely hitting were two of our struggles when we dropped our first three league games early this season, so it seemed very fitting that we ended the regular season with those as our strong points.
“We really scratched and clawed our way to 15 wins this season. We won six one-run games and three of our five losses were one-run losses. Without the mental toughness and contributions from so many guys up and down the roster, this season could have ended up very different. We worked hard to end the season winning six of seven and earning the first round bye next week. Our goal is to keep that momentum going.”
Miller (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) was the lone PW player with multiple hits.
Four pitchers saw action with junior Lincoln Sharpe, in just his second start, allowing no hits and one run in three innings, striking out one and walking three.
“Lincoln gave us exactly what we were looking for today,” Manero said. “Three innings and right around 45 pitches.”
Matt Krawitz, who took the mound for the next three innings, scattered five hits and allowed one run, striking out one and walking one.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-5, 11-5 SOL), the 10th seed in the District One 6A Tournament, will have an opening round bye and will host #7 Coatesville in a second round game on Wednesday.
Radnor 000 110 3 5-7-0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 011 003 1 6-8-4
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 12, UPPER MORELAND 0 (5 innings)
The Titans celebrated Senior Night with a no-doubt-about-it win in an abbreviated non-league game on Thursday.
“Tonight was a special night for our program as we honored our 12 seniors and their families,” South coach Kevin Bray said. “Games like this are always filled with emotions. Our guys did an excellent job of enjoying the pre-game festivities but also getting locked in when it was game time.
“Our pitchers had strong performances. Scott Lavin, Brett Hilton, Joe Rooney and Justin Marraccini threw very well for us, while our offense pounded out 13 hits. Matt Boyce, Robby Porco, JT Anderosky and Tyler Robinson had multiple hits.”
It took some work to ensure the Titans would be able to play Thursday’s game.
“The rain last night caused a huge challenge for our ground crew,” Bray said. “But after several hours of them working on the field, it was in great shape by game time. We are super grateful for the staff that made it happen.”
The Titans took care of business in a hurry, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first and adding three more in the second.
In the first inning, they scored three runs with one sweet swing of Robby Porco’s bat. The West Virginia University bound senior’s three-run home run to left field came after Matt Boyce drew a walk and JT Anderosky singled.
In the second inning, Tyler Robinson drew a one-out walk, and Colin Mitchell followed with a double to center. Robinson raced home on a wild pitch, and a run scored on Boyce’s sacrifice fly to center. Back-to-back doubles by Anderosky and Porco (RBI) resulted in another run and a 6-0 South lead.
A five-run third was highlighted by Eric Damico’s two-run home run to center that plated Nick Pinkerton, who singled. Joe Rooney followed with a solo home run, and two more runs crossed the plate before the Titans were retired. A single run in the fifth closed out the scoring.
Contributing multiple hits for the Titans were Porco (3-for-4, 2B, HR, R, 5 RBIs), Boyce (2-for-3, 2B, 2R, RBI), Anderosky (2-for-2, 2B, 2R), and Robinson (2-for-2, 2R).
“We are very proud of this group, and they are hungry for playoff baseball,” Bray said. “Now that the regular season is officially over, we will switch our attention to fine tuning some things as we prepare for Monday.”
Lavin (2IP, 2H, 1K), Hilton (1IP, 1H, 1BB), Rooney (1IP, 3K, 1BB) and Marraccini (1IP, 3K) combined for the abbreviated shutout.
Central Bucks South (9-7 SOL) closed out its regular season with a 12-8 record, earning the 19th seed in the 20-team District One 6A Tournament. The Titans will be on the road at #15 Ridley for Monday’s opening round game.
Upper Moreland, the SOL Freedom Division champions, finished the regular season 9-8 overall (9-7 SOL). The 12th-seeded Golden Bears will travel to #5 Strath Haven for Monday’s opening round game in the District One 5A Tournament.
Upper Moreland 000 00 0-3-0
Central Bucks South 335 1x 12-13-0
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 6, MaST CHARTER 0
Three pitchers combined to toss a shutout in Thursday’s regular season finale. Tyler Corino, who started and earned the win, allowed two hits in four shutout innings, striking out three and walking one. John Whelan threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out one and walking four. Nate Wiseman closed it out with a scoreless seventh, allowing one hit and striking out one.
The visiting Lions plated a run in the top of the first without collecting a hit. They added a run in the top of the third when Wiseman – who singled, moved up to second on an error and stole third – scored on a groundout by Kyle Campbell. Matt Spadavecchia’s RBI single in the fourth put the Lions on top 3-0.
In the top of the fifth, Campbell collected a one-out double, and he scored on Josh Shiller’s single to center. Shiller scored on Matt Jermyn’s sacrifice fly to center, giving the Lions a 5-0 lead. The Lions scored a run in the top of the seventh when Shiller, who singled, stole home.
Shiller (2-for-4, 3R, RBI) was the lone player for either side to collect a pair of hits.
New Hope-Solebury (8-7-1 SOL) closed out its regular season with a 9-7-1 record. The Lions are the second-seeded team in the District One 4A Tournament and will host #3 Pope John Paul II in an opening round game on Tuesday.
New Hope-Solebury 101 120 1 6-6-1
MaST Charter 000 000 0 0-4-8
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