Two SOL baseball games were played on Wednesday. Check out the results.
ABINGTON 11, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3
Dave Torresoni gave high marks to coach Ted Kirner and Council Rock South for making the field playable for Wednesday’s game.
“They did an absolutely great job of getting their field playable,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “Wow – what effort. It was a little wet in the outfield, but it was very, very playable.
“I was shocked how good a shape it was. They had a tarp for their mound and home plate, so that saved those two very important areas, which was nice. They really did a great job working on that field. I give them a lot of credit.”
That tells you all you need to know about the recent weather conditions when the biggest raves after a big win are reserved for the field crew.
The Ghosts and Golden Hawks were two of the fortunate few that were able to play a game in a week that so far has been a complete washout for many.
“This was important,” Torresani said. “I’m thinking to myself that we might not play all week with the forecast.
“We have league games Thursday and Friday, and to have to play five league games next week – everybody is looking at the same thing, and quite frankly, in high school, the depth in pitching is not going to be there, and that’s for everyone. You’re pitching every kid that volunteers at that point.”
In Wednesday’s win, Paul Poppert got the job done on the mound and at the plate. The junior pitcher earned the complete game win, allowing nine hits and three runs (two earned) while walking two and fanning three in seven innings. He also was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI double.
Chris Clewell was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.
The Golden Hawks got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the first, thanks to an Evan Fisher RBI single, but the Ghosts erased that 1-0 deficit in a hurry in the top of the second when they plated three runs.
Collin Kelly’s two-run double was the inning’s big blow.
“That was the big hit, but we took advantage of some mistakes they made,” Torresoni said.
The Golden Hawks made it a 5-2 game in the bottom of the second when Shaun Stackhouse scored on Kyle Fleming’s groundout. The Ghosts all but sealed the Hawks’ fate with a four-run fifth to go on top 10-2 on their way to the win.
Wednesday’s game was originally a home game for Abington, but the game was switched to Rock South. The Golden Hawks are scheduled to play at Abington on Friday, weather permitting.
Abington (8-5, 4-5 SOL) will host Bensalem on Thursday, and Council Rock South (4-8, 2-6) will host William Tennent on Thursday.
Abington 051 041 0 11-7-1
Council Rock South 110 001 0 3-9-5
UPPER DUBLIN 9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3
In a week that has seen one game wiped off the schedule after another, Upper Dublin and PW played their game one day ahead of schedule, moving Thursday’s game to Wednesday.
“It was Chris Manero’s idea,” UD coach Ed Wall said. “He shot me a text and said, ‘Do you want to move it up?’ The weather changes so frequently that it made sense.
“If it rains and the field’s unplayable, it gives us another option at least, so we went with it. Thanks to him for thinking of that.”
Wall also had high praise for those who made the field playable.
“Kudos to PW’s ground crew,” the UD coach said. “Our field holds water pretty well for the most part, but even ours – I don’t know if we would have been able to play today.
“Being able to get a game in today and having a day between us and Upper Moreland on Friday is big. We have four games next week and three more after that. We’re running out of time here.”
The Flying Cardinals didn’t waste a whole lot of time before taking control of Wednesday’s game, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. Cole Swiger – who also earned the win on the mound – crushed an RBI double to deep left field.
“He had a couple of very hard hit balls today and did a great job,” Wall said.
Thomas Juelke put the Cards on top 3-0 when he followed with a line single down the third base line that plated a run. The Cards tacked on a single run in the second and upped their lead to 8-0 with a four-run fourth before the Colonials scored a single run in the fourth. They added a pair in the fifth but never threatened.
“At this point, we’re just trying to get wins,” Wall said. “The next game is the most important one.
“Today was the most important game of the week, and Friday is now our new most important game of the week. We’re bringing that focus. Being able to get this win mid-week on Wednesday is real nice because now we can rest Cole a little bit and get him ready for next week.”
Swiger allowed four hits and three runs (all unearned) in five innings. He fanned five and walked seven.
“He wasn’t as sharp as usual,” Wall said. “His fastball location was a little tough for him, but he had his other two pitches working for him which really helped out a lot.”
“Our defense, for the most part, played outstanding, especially our outfield,” Wall said. “Conor McFadden chased down a couple of really hard hit balls for us in the outfield.
“Andrew McDermott made a shoestring, inning-ending play right up against the out-of-play line in right field that was awesome, and JT Breslin had a couple of nice catches out there also. Our defense picked him up, and we’re really happy to see that.”
McDermott closed it out with two scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits while fanning one and walking none.
McDermott was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot, and Swiger was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Breslin had a productive day out of the two hole, finishing 1-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs.
Luca Amoroso led the Colonials with a 2-for-3 effort. Jacob Laudenbach had a pair of RBIs.
Upper Dublin (9-2, 8-0 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Friday for a key conference battle. Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-9, 3-7) will host Wissahickon on Friday.
Upper Dublin 310 410 0 9-11-2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 120 0 3-7-4
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