Check out the results for SOL baseball teams in action Tuesday. To view photos of the Upper Moreland/Cheltenham game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Pennsbury 11, Truman 1
Justin Jacko led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a home run to give the host Falcons the 10-run cushion necessary to claim a mercy-rule victory and raise their league record to 7-4 (8-7) overall, good enough to stay in the mix for the league title.
“We are all within a game of each other,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “There are a lot of games coming up that can make a difference for us.
“It is going to make for an interesting week.”
After building a 6-0 lead through three innings, Pesci felt comfortable pulling starter Brody McFadden (1 hit, 3 strikeouts) and letting Sean Manniatis finish up, a move that allows a chance to start McFadden again this week.
Brendan Campbell continued his scorching hitting for the Falcons, going three-for-three with a triple. He also scored a run and drove in two.
Other contributors included Zach Szumigala, who had a hit and three walks, which translated into three runs scored. Matt Kaiser had a hit, a walk and two runs while Shaughn Wright tripled and scored.
In addition to his game-ending homer, Jacko had another RBI-hit.
The Tigers are 2-10 in league play (3-14 overall).
Truman 000 01 – 1
Pennsburgy 114 41 – 11
Neshaminy 4, Council Rock South 1
The Redskins were opportunistic against Golden Hawk ace Greg Paprocki, scoring four runs on five hits, all in the fourth through sixth innings. They improved to 8-4 and stay a nose in front for the pending photo finish for the league crown and the quest to seal up a playoff berth.
“First and foremost, we are still trying to win our league,” said coach Chris Tenaglia. “And (the contenders) are all playing each other coming up.
“As for the playoffs, generally speaking, with a 9-5 record, you are OK. Sometimes, even at 8-6, you are OK, too.”
Winning pitcher Jake Franzen was not overpowering, giving up seven hits in seven innings and fanning just two, but worked out of some jams and issued just one free pass.
Neshaminy got on the board by way of Todd McDonald’s solo home run. Eric Klimowicz (2-for-3, RBI) had the only multi-hit game.
The Golden Hawks are 7-3 in conference play.
CR South 000 000 1 – 1
Neshaminy 000 112 X – 4
Council Rock North 13, Bensalem 0
The Indians wasted no time keeping themselves in the thick of the top-heavy standings, disposing of the visiting Owls in five frames while only needing to use pitcher Brandon McIlwain for three innings.
Taking over the ace role for the injured Matt Renck, McIlwain gave up no hits through three innings and will be able to start again sooner than later.
“We should be OK,” said Indian skipper Matt Schram of his pitching setup for the stretch run.
McIlwain helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI. His homer was a three-run blast that highlighted four-run second inning.
Aden Tully (2-for-2, 3 runs) and Tyler Callender (2-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI) also had big days at the plate.
The Indians have a key game with Neshaminy on Thursday and face Truman Friday before ending the regular season against rival Council Rock South next week.
“You just have to take care of yourself and watch what other people do,” said Schram. “The way things are playing out here, we have to get ourselves at least two out of three.
“Obviously, if we win out, it’s good for us.”
While the Owls fell to 4-7 in league play (7-8 overall), the Indians upped their league record to 7-4 (10-4 overall).
Bensalem 000 00 – 0
CR North 243 40 – 13
William Tennent 14, Abington 9
Despite the football-like final score, the top of the Tennent order did not score any touchdowns.
They did do just about everything else, though.
The top four batters – Brett Kozlowski, Paul McElroy, Vinny Case and Ben Zeitz – were a combined 11-for-17 with seven runs scored and nine RBI. Seven of their 11 hits went for extra bases (six doubles, one triple).
McElroy was 4-for-5 with three doubles, three runs scored and five RBI out of the No. 2 hole. Kozlowski, leading off, was 2-for-4 with two doubles to go with three runs and one RBI. No. 3 hitter Case was 2-for-4 with a triple and one RBI. Cleanup hitter Zeitz was 3-for-4 with a double, run and two RBI.
The Panthers, who put six runs in the home second to take an 8-2 lead, also received some big games from the bottom of the order – Tim Brodhag (2-for-4, run, 2 RBI), Danny Hinks (2-for-3, double, 2 runs) and Stephen Hatala (hit, two runs, one RBI).
Leading the Abington counter-attack were Nick Bein (2-for-4, double, run), David Hopkins (hit, 2 runs), Chris Clewell (hit, 2 runs, RBI) and Nick Torba (3 RBI).
The Panthers are 5-6 in league play (6-7 overall) while the Ghosts fell to 5-7 in the league (5-10 overall).
Abington 200 340 0 – 9
Tennent 260 024 X - 14
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3, Norristown 1PW coach Chris Manero had one question after Tuesday’s narrow escape against visiting Norristown.
“Can’t we get a day when we don’t face somebody’s No. 1 (pitcher)?” he said, referring to Norristown’s J.T. Vaughan locking PW’s Zach Metz into a pitcher’s duel before the Colonials (11-4, 8-4) were able to piece together a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and hang on.
Will Kane (2-for-3) led off the home sixth with a walk and eventually scored his second run of the game on Jordan Mitchell’s sacrifice fly. Larry Waks, running for Dylan Ensslin (2-for-3, RBI), scored the insurance run on a throwing error.
“The first two guys getting on for us was big,” said Manero.
Norristown is 1-9 in league play (1-11 overall).
Norristown 000 100 0 – 1
Plymouth-Whitemarsh 000 102 X – 3
Upper Merion 4, Wissahickon 3
The Vikings and Trojans, in two meetings, have played 19 innings. This time around, the Vikings came out on top with a run in the top of the ninth inning.
“It was nice to get them back,” said Upper Merion coach Matt Mitchell, whose team is 5-9 and 3-7 overall and is still holding out hope of a strong enough finish to land a spot in the Class AAA District One playoffs. “This was a real nice game. I’ll take these any day.
“Our goal is to make the triple-A playoffs, and we are still in it. We just have to take it one game at a time to give ourselves a shot.”
Alex Del Guidice plated the winning run in the top of the ninth while his brother, Andrew, picked up the win in relief of Jarrett Quinn.
In eight innings of work, Quinn allowed seven hits while walking two and striking out 11.
“He was great,” said Mitchell. “He commanded the (strike) zone really well. Without him, we’re not even playing innings today.
Oddly, the way the game began, a low-scoring game being decided in the ninth inning did not seem likely. After two innings Tuesday, the Vikings and Trojans were knotted up at 3-3.
“Both teams buckled down, in terms of pitching and fielding, after that,” said Mitchell, who received a monster day at the plate from Troy Thomas (3-for-4, a double, run).
Evan Dixon (1-for-2) had a double and scored twice. Quinn, in addition to his stellar pitching, doubled and scored a run.
For the Trojans (6-8, 6-6 SOL), Blake Rappaport had three hits and Julian Osterneck two. Ryan Becker drove in a run.
Upper Merion 120 000 001 – 4
Wissahickon 120 000 000 – 3
Upper Moreland 9, Cheltenham 3
The Panthers sent unbeaten ace Calvin Salazar to the mound looking to seal the deal and lock up the league crown, but the Golden Bears had another agenda on Senior Night and flipped the script and handed their guests their first league loss.
“The seniors sure did shine,” said Upper Moreland coach Ernie Rehr.
That group of seniors leading the way were catcher Pat Driscoll (2-for-3, double, 4 RBI) and Mike Cavanaugh (2-for-4, 3 RBI). Kyle Irwin and Tommy Robinson each added two hits to the cause while Charlie Hooker went the distance on the mound.
For Cheltenham, Azaan Harris was a bright spot, going 2-for-4.
The Golden Bears are 9-3 in league play (10-5 overall) while the Panthers are 11-1 (13-4 overall).
Cheltenham 000 101 1 – 3
Upper Moreland 203 013 X – 9
Springfield 11, Upper Dublin 2
With the cushion of an early lead (11-1 after three frames), Julian Salzer pretty much cruised for the Spartans (3-8 overall, 2-8 league), allowing seven hits and one walk while fanning six.
“He has been our No. 1 all year,” said Springfield coach Dennis Primavera. “After the last three games, his ERA has gone under 1.50. He has just been lights out lately.”
The key for the Spartans was getting hitting, pitching and defense on the same day.
“I kept telling them that we need to put it all together,” said Primavera. “That’s what happened today.
“We hit the ball today.”
Leading the way, hitting-wise, was Chris Binet (5-for-5, a double, three RBI. The supporting cast included Mike Johnston (2-for-4) and Jeff Hammons (2-for-4, triple).
The Spartans are 2-8 in league play while the Flying Cardinals fell to 5-7 in the league (7-8 overall).
Springfield 425 000 0 – 11
Abington 100 010 X - 2
CONTINENTAL CONFERNCE
North Penn 11, Hatboro-Horsham 3
The defending state champs pulled a half-game ahead of the pack and also made a statement in the process, thumping a Hatter pitching staff that had been close to unhittable all season.
The Knights are now 8-3, followed by Pennridge (8-4) and Hatboro-Horsham (7-4).
“For now,” said North Penn coach Kevin Manero of the team’s first-place perch. “This is a tough league. There are a lot of good teams. There are really no easy games. It’s nice to be where we are, but there are a lot of innings to be played.
“You just have to win each pitch, each inning, each game.”
As has been the case, shortstop Jered Malone remained on fire. He jolted a tape-measure two-run home run in the fifth to cap the game’s scoring. He finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.
“He is really doing well, both in the field and at the plate as our No. 3 hitter,” said Manero. “He is just doing everything we want him to do. He’s a great student, and a great kid.
“He played a key role for us last year (in the run for the state title). We called him up (from junior varsity). He started at first base and batted .412. He got an opportunity last year and hasn’t stopped.”
The game was knotted at 3-3 going into the bottom of the fourth. That’s when Manero said the Knights were able to “string some things together” against H-H pitcher Kevin Barron and post six runs.
“We had a few things bounce our way to get the inning started,” he said. “Then, we came up with some clutch hits.”
Joining Malone were recently junior varsity call-up Alex Peterson (2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Bobby Scott (2-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Brandon Heggan (2-for-2, RBI). Chris Kersey and Kris Akins each scored twice.
James Witner pitched three scoreless innings in relief of starter Colin Healey.
“He did a real nice job pitching ahead,” said Manero.
Although Barron had a rare off-day on the mound, he was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Hatters, with a double and two RBI. John O’Malley was 3-for-3 with a run and a stolen base. Chris Crookham was 2-for-3 and scored run while driving in another.
Hatboro-Horsham 010 200 0 – 3
North Penn 012 620 X - 11
Pennridge 7, Souderton 3
The Rams continued putting their slow start in the rear-view mirror, breaking an early 2-2 tie with two runs in the third inning and three more in the fifth to claim their fourth straight win.
“We like what we’re doing now,” said coach Tom Nuneviller.
The Rams (10-4 overall) are alive and well in the league standings at 8-4.
“We have two league games left,” said Nuneviller. “We’re just trying to stay hot and find ways to win. We have been doing it lately.
“We are swinging the bats better, getting timely hits, and the pitchers have been doing their job.”
One of those pitchers is Eric Wesolowski, who came on in relief of starter Jeff Roedell and kept the Indians off the board in the fourth through sixth innings to up his record to 5-2 on the season.
At the plate, sophomore Dan Long jolted a two-run homer, his fourth of the season. Other heavy hitters were Dan Shane (2-for-3, two doubles, 2 runs, RBI), Dave Tatoian (2-for-4) and Tom Nuneviller (2-for-3, triple, run, 2 RBI).
“You don’t rely on one guy, and all of our guys have been contributing,” said the coach.
For Souderton (8-7, 6-5 SOL), Dylan Morisette had a home run and three RBI.
Souderton 020 001 0 – 3
Pennridge 202 030 0 – 7
Central Bucks South 4, Central Bucks West 1
With ace Matt Radwanski on the hill, the Titans put the Bucks in a bind by scoring all their runs in the bottom of the first inning and held on from there.
The key hit was a two-run double by Mike Kuypers. Steve Trachtenberg also plated another run with a hit. Pat Fitzgerald had a multi-hit game.
For his part, Radwanski went wire to wire, yielding three hits while fanning six.
The Titans are 4-6 in league play (5-8 overall) while the Bucks are 5-7 in the league (6-8 overall).
CB West 000 010 0 – 1
CB South 400 000 X - 4
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