Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Wednesday. PW/Quakertown photos provided courtesy of Cindy Manero/PW baseball.
SOL Colonial Division
Souderton 3, Central Bucks South 2
Souderton has won games with offense this season, while other times it has relied on pitching. The result has been a current seven-game win streak and a two-game lead in the SOL Colonial Division standings.
Wednesday, the Indians won 3-2 and it was coach Mike Childs’ 200th career victory.
Two days after ace Will McCausland pitched a no-hitter, it was Jackson Morrisette’s day to shine. He went six innings, allowed two runs (unearned) on six hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Greyson Norris struck out two in a scoreless seventh to pick up the save.
“Overall, Jackson did a great job keeping them off balance in the box,” Childs said. “Some batters barreled some balls off of him, but he did a good job getting out of those situations. Greyson Norris showed some tenacity on the mound when he came in in the seventh. After a leadoff triple (by South’s JT Anderosky), he struck out the next two and got (Owen) Wheeler to ground out to short for the final out.
“I was impressed with his performance that inning, especially as a sophomore, to have the confidence, with the game-tying run on third and nobody out.”
Shanley Wall started the first inning with a walk and came around to score on an RBI double by Luke Pollock. Ethan Warner drove in Pollock with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
A two-out error allowed the Titans to creep back with a run in the top of the second, but Souderton answered right back with one of its own, as Wall, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on a passed ball.
South’s only other run came as Robby Porco led off with a double and scored on another Souderton error, cutting the lead to 3-2 in the fourth but it would get no closer.
The win moves Souderton’s record to 12-3 overall (10-2 SOL), heading into Friday’s scheduled game at CB East. CB South (7-8, 5-7 SOL) hosts CB West in a night game on Friday.
CB South 010 100 0 – 2 7 0
Souderton 210 000 x – 3 7 3
Central Bucks West 4, North Penn 2
It’s never easy to win on the road in the SOL Colonial, and down early in the first inning at North Penn, wasn’t a good formula for the Bucks, who had lost to the Knights 7-1 on April 29 and had lost their three previous games.
Aidan Quinn’s grand slam in the top of the third erased that early deficit and sent the Bucks on their way to the important 4-2 road victory.
“This was a game that our guys really needed,” said West coach Brian Weaver. “North Penn shut us down completely on Friday, and (Tuesday) against Pennsbury we were down 8-0 before we even settled into the dugout.
“We told the team that if we were going to pull out of that funk then we’d need guys who weren’t producing to step up. They really answered the call, even facing a dude (North Penn’s Trevor Lagura) who’s been one of the tougher pitchers in the SOL. Max McGlone went 2-for-3 and started the rally during our big inning. Quinn Illig and Kevin Bukowski each had a hit and kept the inning moving to set the stage for Aidan Quinn.
“It’s impossible to say enough about Aidan. He’s consistently worked his way on base, and he’s got as good of an approach right now as anyone I’ve ever coached. He’s grown into a critical leader on the team as a captain, as well. So, for him to hit that homer, it counts beyond just what’s in the scorebook. He’s a huge emotional talisman.”
West’s pitchers made those four runs hold up. Cole Fehrman scattered two hits and three walks over five innings, striking out eight. Max Slaymaker went the final two innings, allowing two hits and three walks, striking out two.
“Our pitchers knew they had to be good today against Lagura, and they were up to the challenge,” Weaver said. “Cole Fehrman threw another huge game for us. He’s given us a chance to win every game he’s started, and every time he takes the mound he makes his teammates feel like they’ve got a shot. Max Slaymaker worked two innings on the back end to continue a run of really good outings.”
Jack Picozzi went 2-for-4 for North Penn.
CB West (8-6, 6-4 SOL) plays at CB South on Friday. North Penn (7-7, 5-6 SOL) looks to bounce back at home Friday against Pennridge.
CB West 004 000 0 – 4 7 0
North Penn 100 001 0 – 2 4 2
Central Bucks East 7, Pennridge 3
Brett Young hit a walk-off home run against Pennridge in CB East’s 2-1 win on Saturday. Wednesday was the rematch, and Young delivered in the first inning, as his two-run double helped the Patriots jump in front early and never trail on the way to an important 7-3 win.
“There’s a big logjam in the district standings right now,” said Patriots coach Kyle Dennis. “We have to take care of our business. We play (first-place) Souderton on Friday, hopefully, if the weather holds out. We have most of our entire conference still to play and crossover games against CR South and Neshaminy. There’s a lot of baseball left.”
Reece Moody got things started well in the top of the first Wednesday, as he was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a Jimmy Wilga RBI single. Young’s double scored Chase Harlan and Wilga.
After Pennridge cut the lead to 3-2 with solo runs in the second and third, East struck again, this time with four runs in the top of the fourth to essentially put the game out of reach.
After back-to-back walks, freshman Chase Fulford had an RBI double, Harlan a two-run single and another run scored on a balk. Fulford had three hits on the day.
That was all the run support senior Tyler Behm would need, as he went the distance, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out eight.
“Tyler Behm had his second complete game in as many starts,” Dennis said. “He’s just been absolutely awesome. He’s just a bulldog out there. He just competes, forces guys to make contact and gets ahead in counts.”
CB East (9-4, 6-4 SOL) hosts Souderton on Friday. Pennridge (6-7, 4-7 SOL) plays at North Penn Friday.
CB East 300 400 0 – 7 7 0
Pennridge 011 001 0 – 3 4 0
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock South 6, Neshaminy 1
After a run of difficult losses, CR South needed to find a way against Neshaminy on Wednesday, and did exactly that, leading from start-to-finish on the way to a surprising 6-1 upset win.
“This was a huge win for our guys,” said Golden Hawks coach Greg Paprocki. “When you’re losing game after game it can get difficult to show up and give 100 percent focus every day.
“(Tuesday), we had our worst performance of the year. Today, the coaching staff challenged our players not to give up on their season and compete. They did exactly that.”
Chase Ennis and Keith Lippincott combined for a two-hitter. Ennis went the first five, throwing 93 pitches, allowing just one run on two hits, while striking out six. Lippincott picked up the save with two scoreless and hitless innings of relief.
Offensively, CR South scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Matt Camp, Noah Lackman and Ennis had back-to-back-to-back singles to plate one run, and Trey Sajeski followed with an RBI double. Ryan Bauerle drove in a run with an RBI groundout.
Two innings later, Sajeski hit a two-run home run to left field to make it a 5-0 game.
Sajeski was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Lackman was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
CR South (2-9, 1-9 SOL) looks to make it two straight with a nonleague game against Archbishop Wood Thursday. Neshaminy (5-5, 5-5 SOL) has a nonleague game Thursday against Harry S. Truman at Arm & Hammer Stadium in Trenton.
Neshaminy 000 010 0 – 1 2 1
CR South 302 100 x – 6 8 0
Harry S Truman 7, Council Rock North 1
Truman needed a big bounce-back game after a pair of tough losses to start this week, and on the road at CR North, the Tigers played their best game of the season, broke open a tie game in the fourth and pulled away for the upset victory.
“I think today was our most complete game of the season,” said coach Tim Monaghan. “Luke Olivero, a sophomore, pitched a complete-game, five-hitter. He only had one walk. He wasn’t really in trouble all day and we played clean defense behind him. It was the first game we made it through without an error.”
Back-to-back singles by Makai Jackson and Mike Burns started things in the top of the first for the Tigers. Burns stole second and scored on an error for the game’s first run.
After North came back and tied it, as Quinn Erlandsen and Jadon Tang had singles and a run scored on an RBI groundout by Brian Curry.
Truman came back to retake the lead with a run in the fourth, on a James Baker sacrifice fly, and then blew it open with four in the fifth. Burns had a two-run double and Wil Brennan an RBI single.
Burns had a big game, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Brennan was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Jackson was 2-for-2 with three runs scored.
“Offensively, we barreled up some balls and had some clutch two-out hits,” Monaghan said. “Once you can open up a lead, everyone plays relaxed a little bit, the defense makes the play, and it makes the game easier.”
Truman (7-8, 5-7 SOL) plays its nonleague Senior Night game at Arm & Hammer Stadium in Trenton against Neshaminy on Thursday. CR North (9-5, 7-5 SOL) plays at Council Rock South on Friday.
Harry S. Truman 100 140 1 – 7 10 2
CR North 010 000 0 – 1 5 0
Pennsbury 10, Bensalem 2
Two runs in the top of the first set the tone for another big offensive effort for the first-place Falcons, who won their fifth straight game in convincing fashion.
In that winning streak, Pennsbury scored 46 runs, including 35 in the last three games.
“Bensalem has been playing some really inspired ball,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “After we beat them, they won some games – North Penn by one, Neshaminy by one – and they lost some extra inning games. They’ve been playing really well. We knew we couldn’t let them hang around. The fact that we jumped out to a quick lead – it was 6-0 and 7-0 – that was great.”
Charlie Evans singled, Ryan Zuckerman walked and a two-out, two-run RBI single by Justin Mitrovich got the Falcons started in the first.
In the third, Callan Fang led off with a double and Zuckerman followed with an RBI triple. They then scored a run on an error and another on a Reece Hirsh sacrifice fly.
For the game, Pennsbury had 10 runs on 13 hits, and every batter in its lineup had at least one hit. Sophomore James Schaffer was 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Fang was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and Jackson Freeman was 2-for-3.
Kayden Faulcon pitched a complete game on the mound, allowing just two runs on two hits and scattering five walks. He struck out five.
“We lost a couple of games in the middle of the season that we didn’t think we should have,” Pesci said. “We kind of control our own destiny right now. It helps when other teams lose some games, but we’ve won five straight, but we’ve scored 15 runs, 10 runs and 10 runs and our defense is playing great.”
Pennsbury (13-3, 9-3 SOL) is scheduled to host Neshaminy on Friday. Bensalem (5-9, 4-8 SOL) is off until Monday when it plays at Truman.
Pennsbury 203 212 0 – 10 13 0
Bensalem 000 200 0 – 2 2 2
SOL Liberty Division
Hatboro-Horsham 9, Wissahickon 2
Jack Elwell went 4-for-4 with a double, triple, three runs scored and two RBIs, as Hatboro-Horsham stayed hot, winning its 13th straight game as the league schedule switched back to Liberty Division games.
“Jack Elwell was incredible today,” said H-H coach Pete Moore. “He smoked two balls in the gap and legged two hits out. He just puts an incredible amount of pressure on the defense in nearly every at bat.”
The Hatters scored two runs in the first inning – an RBI double by Elwell and an RBI single by Will Bruner – and then four more in the third to make it a 6-0 game.
Trey Porter led off the third with a single, followed by a single by Elwell and a RBI single by Cole Fisher. Bruner followed with an RBI double, Ryan Toporowski had a RBI single and a sac bunt by Nick Katherine scored another.
The Hatters tacked on three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Bruner went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, Fisher 2-for-4 with two RBIs, Porter scored three runs, Toporowski was 2-for-4 and Katherine drove in two runs.
Stephen Plefka went the distance, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out three.
“Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence that’s allowing them to play at a level I’m not sure they knew they were capable of,” Moore said. “It’s extremely fun to watch and be a part of. We have different guys step up every game and play huge roles for us.
“Plefka threw a great game today, which is what we needed, and it allowed our hitters to do their thing at the plate and use their speed on the bases. These guys play every game like it’s the most important one and hopefully that energy can carry us down the stretch.”
H-H (13-2, 12-0 SOL) plays at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday in a game originally scheduled for Friday. Wissahickon (7-8, 7-5 SOL) hosts Abington on Friday.
Wissahickon 000 110 0 – 2 5 3
Hatboro-Horsham 204 003 x – 9 13 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Quakertown 0
Alex Wilkie-Viscio pitched a complete-game six-hit shutout, as Plymouth Whitemarsh made an early lead hold up in a key SOL Liberty win over visiting Quakertown.
“Alex Wilkie-Viscio delivered an absolutely outstanding performance,” Colonials’ coach Chris Manero said. “He was sharp from the first inning on. He had to go toe to toe with Carl Weiss, who threw
the ball really well for Quakertown. So, Alex never had the luxury of pitching with a comfortable lead. It was 1-0 for just about six innings, but that never seemed to faze him.”
Jesse Jaconski and Luke Gartland had back-to-back singles to lead off the first, and Jaconski scored on an error.
That’s where the offense stalled for a few innings. Wilkie-Vescio held Quakertown at bay until the sixth, when the Colonials added three runs to put things away.
Jaconski singled, advanced on a bunt by Gartland and scored on an error. A sac fly by Mike Miller scored Gartland, Ray Tomasetti doubled and Joe Redmond made it 4-0 with an RBI single.
Jaconski finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
“We hit balls hard today, but overall, it wasn’t one of those days where we had a ton of big hits to get us a win,” Manero said. “It was actually two very well-executed bunts by Luke Gartland that got us on the board in the only two innings where we scored 
runs.
“It was also an important day for us defensively. We made just about every play behind Alex and made sure we didn’t give anything away.”
Thomas Kozlusky was 2-for-3 with a double for Quakertown.
Wednesday was also special for PW because it was its annual Teacher Appreciation Day.
“On this day each season, our seniors select the teacher they feel has had the biggest impact on them throughout their time in the Colonial School District,” Manero said. “Each teacher is introduced with the senior before the game. I know it is something our seniors look forward to, and to see them get so excited to honor a teacher just speaks volumes about the outstanding educators we have in our school district.
“And, while the purpose of the event is to allow the players to show their appreciation for the teachers, there is no doubt that simply by the nature of who they are, these teachers are just as appreciative of the students.”
PW (11-4, 8-4 SOL) is back at home Thursday against first-place Hatboro-Horsham.
Quakertown (8-5, 8-3 SOL) plays at Upper Dublin on Friday.
Quakertown 000 000 0 – 0 6 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 100 003 x – 4 6 1
Upper Dublin 13, Abington 1 (5 innings)
Offensively, the Flying Cardinals made their presence known early, scoring three runs in the first and four in the second and third innings on the way to a mercy-rule shortened 13-1 win over an Abington team that came into the game on a seven-game win streak.
After the first run scored on an error, a Leo Soriano double made it 3-0 in the top of the first.
Matt Worek hit a solo home run to get Abington on the board in the bottom of the first, but Upper Dublin struck again in the second, as Nick Lombardo had a two-run double, and Nick Harley belted a two-run home run to up the lead to 7-1.
Harley later added a double and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs.
UD had six extra base hits on the game. Kyle Rizzo was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jared Levis also had two hits.
Tristan Carnes benefited from a ton of run support on the mound, but he gave the Cardinals a strong effort, allowing just the one earned run on three hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out four.
With the win, UD (9-4, 9-2 SOL) remained two games back of first-place Hatboro-Horsham and has now won five straight. The Cardinals play at New Hope-Solebury Thursday. Abington (9-5, 7-5 SOL) plays at Wissahickon on Friday.
Upper Dublin 344 20 – 13 11 0
Abington 100 00 – 1 3 1
SOL Freedom Division
Upper Moreland 9, Lower Moreland 1
The Golden Bears scored nine runs in the first three innings, and that offensive infusion lifted them to the 9-1 win over Lower Moreland in the return to SOL Freedom play for both teams.
“I was super happy for (Nate) O’Connor and (Jared) McClellan today, two great kids who have been scuffling a bit,” said UM coach Jim Fasano. “But if you keep working hard and are open to making adjustments, things inevitably turn around.”
O’Connor was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. McClellan was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Shawn Townsend also had two RBIs.
On the mound, Jimmy Torpey had another strong outing for the Bears. He did not allow an earned run over six innings, scattering five hits without a walk, while striking out four.
“I’m excited for the rest of the season,” Fasano said. “We have to take it one day at a time, but we have a dedicated group of seniors and exciting younger players.”
For Lower Moreland, Donato Incollingo went 2-for-3 with a double. He also pitched three scoreless innings of relief late in the game.
UM (4-6, 4-6 SOL) plays at Cheltenham on Friday.
LM (4-10, 3-9 SOL) hosts New Hope-Solebury on Friday.
Lower Moreland 000 100 0 – 1 5 1
Upper Moreland 144 000 x – 9 9 3
About the Author
