Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Wednesday.(NP/Pennridge photos provided courtesy of Cindy Manero/NP baseball)
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 8, NESHAMINY 4
The Falcons moved one step closer to a division title, notching their second win in as many days over their neighboring rivals.
Pennsbury opened up a. 5-0 lead in the second, and after the Redskins pulled to within one in the bottom of the sixth, the Falcons answered with three runs in the top of the seventh to seal the Redskins’ fate.
Mason Keith allowed just one earned run in five innings and earned the win. Aidan Kenney closed it out with two scoreless innings in relief.
By the numbers: Pennsbury: Carlton Crane (3-for-4, 1RBI, 1R), Evan Hawkes (2-for-4, 2RBI, 1R), Ryan Webber (2-for-3, 2RBI, 1R), Ben Seidler (2-for-3, 2RBI, 1R
Mason Keith (W) (5.0 IP, 5H, 4R, 1ER, 1BB, 6K), Aidan Kenney (2.0, 1H, 0R, 1K)
Neshaminy: Dan Marable (2-for-2, 2B, 1RBI, 2R)
Key inning: Top of second: Brendan Zuckerman led off with a single and advance to second on a sac bunt by Danny Seidler, who was safe at first. Nolan Kolanko’s bunt single loaded the bases. Owen Hawkes (RBI), Evan Hawkes (2 RBI) and Crane (RBI) followed with consecutive singles. With one out, Webber hit a sacrifice fly, and the Falcons led 5-0.
Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci: “You’re walking into this game after yesterday (winning) 1-0. Once we got out of the first inning yesterday, we felt like we were in kind of control even though it was a 1-0 game, but coming into today, we put five runs up in the second inning and felt great, but it’s kind of too early to have that lead. If you have a five-run lead in the fifth or sixth, you’re like, okay, but it was too early. We kept them at bay and kept them at bay, and they put up one and then they put up four in the sixth, and it got scary there. We made two errors and then there was a double and then another error, but we were able to get out of it and keep the lead, and then for us to come back in the top of the seventh and score three – it was awesome, because it just showed resiliency.”
–A late rally: “We’ve been scoring and holding onto leads, but we haven’t really had those breakout moments late, so it was really cool to see Carlton Crane with his third hit of the day get on, and then (Dylan) Hirsch gets hit by a pitch. Then Ryan Webber slashed, and he says, ‘I’ve never slashed in my life. It was the first time.’ Then Ben Seidler comes up with a big single. When it got scary, they kind of stayed even keeled, and then came back and jumped out on them. That was really awesome.”
–The Neshaminy rivalry: “Obviously, every game that we play is tough. We lost three games. We’ve won every series, but it’s Neshaminy. Dan (Toner), and I coached together for a while. We run camps together. We played against each other. Neshaminy and Pennsbury has always been a massive rivalry, and them being kind of the offensive juggernaut most of the year, 10-running teams and stuff.”
–Bats deliver: “Their three pitchers – before today, those guys were going complete games. The kid (Matthew) Gryn today – I think he went five straight complete games. Yesterday, their pitcher, (Jared) Kligerman, threw 63 pitches in six innings. So, they’ve been doing a great job of pitching to contact. But we had a conversation with our kids about competing in at bats. Yesterday we only had three strikeouts. Today we didn’t strike out at all. We went down 0-2, 1-2 quite a few times, but we had some really strong at bats, fouling balls off, taking pitches.
“(Carlton) Crane goes down 0-2 in the top of the seventh and works it to 2-2 and then gets a hit. That was really special for us today because we’ve been getting five, six hits a game and winning. But today we rolled out 12, so, it’s pretty cool for the kids to step up in a big game like that.
“And then, obviously, giving Mason Keith that run support – his only loss of the year was a 1-0 loss to Council Rock South. He threw a little longer today. He’s been around the 80-pitch range. Today, he went 90. But really, we had to pull him because we had made the three errors. We brought in Aidan Kenney, who was our closer last year. He gave up no hits and no runs last year, and we really haven’t had a chance to use him as much. He got out of the inning, and then he closed the door and threw a scoreless seventh. It was really great to see kids step up in key situations offensively, and, obviously, Mason doing the same thing he’s done all year for us. It was really great.”
Up next: Pennsbury (14-3-1, 11-3 SOL) will be on the road at Neshaminy (10-6, 9-4) Thursday for the third game of the series.
Pennsbury 050 000 3 8-12-3
Neshaminy 000 103 0 4-7-0
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
The Golden Hawks won for the second time in as many days to take command of their season series with the Tigers.
On Wednesday, it was Jimmy Clark stealing the spotlight with a complete game two-hitter. The freshman pitcher struck out eight and walked two in a stellar outing.
The Golden Hawks scored all the runs he would need in a two-run third. After the Tigers – thanks to an RBI single by Jacob Decaro – cut that lead in half with a run in the fifth, the Hawks responded. In the bottom of the inning, Zak Abt’s two-run double put the Hawks on top 4-1 on their way to the win.
By the numbers: Council Rock South: Owen McLean (2-for-3, 2B, 1R), Johnny Mendola (2-for-4, 2 2B, 3RBI, 1R), Jack Reynolds (2-for-4, 1RBI, 1R), Zak Abt (2-for-3, 2B, 2RBI)
Jimmy Clark (W) (7.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 8K)
Key inning: Bottom of third: McLean led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Mendola’s double to left field. Mendola, who advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored when Reynolds singled to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
Council Rock South coach Greg Paprocki: “Another nice win today.”
–Clark in command: “Our freshman Jimmy Clark was great for us today. He has been reliable all year and is turning in an impressive season.
“It has been fun watching him have this success while also seeing him mature as a player. As the season went on, he started to go deeper and deeper in games. He’s gaining an understanding of how to navigate his way through lineups and adjust his game plan as hit faces hitter a second and third time. I am really proud of him – he stepped up in a big way for us this season.”
–Props: “Johnny Mendola had a monster day. Having two doubles and 3 RBIs.
“Zak Abt had a big two-hit day. Both these guys have been working hard to find their stride this season and they have come up big for us so far this series.”
Up next: Council Rock South (8-9, 6-7 SOL) will hold its senior recognition day Thursday when the Hawks host Harry S Truman (2-16, 0-14) for the third game of the series.
Harry S Truman 000 010 0 1-2-2
Council Rock South 002 022 x 6-9-0
SOL Colonial Division
NORTH PENN 1, PENNRIDGE 0
Trevor Legura added another masterpiece to his rapidly growing collection.
The Knights’ senior ace notched his fifth win of the league season without a loss, and he made it look easy. Legura, who
allowed only three singles, faced just 24 batters and needed only 81 pitches, which included 60 strikes. He did not walk a batter and struck out nine.
“If every game was as fast as today, we could start scheduling triple headers,” North Penn coach Kevin Manero said. “Both starters really competed today and in baseball no matter what your record, a good pitcher can always wreak havoc.”
Legura has been wreaking havoc on the entire Colonial Division and has a 0.389 ERA with a .639 WHIP. Even more remarkable, he has walked just one batter while striking out 37 in 36 innings.
It goes without saying Legura doesn’t need a whole lot of run support, and he got the only run he needed in the fourth inning when Chase Jones hit a solo home run.
For the Rams, Ryder Olson tossed a gem of his own, allowing just
two hits and one run in six strong innings. He struck out nine and walked one. He threw only 78 pitches – 49 for strikes. Most days, those numbers would mean an all-but automatic win, but this wasn’t most days.
By the numbers: North Penn: Trevor Legura (W) (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0R, 0BB, 9K)
Chase Jones (1-or-3, HR, 1RBI, 1R).
Pennridge: (6.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 9K)
Key inning: Bottom of fourth: Chase Jones – who led off the inning – turned on a full-count pitch and smashed a solo home run to left field.
North Penn coach Kevin Manero: “Trevor was outstanding today. He has been for four years but right now his execution is something special.
“Offensively, we had some baserunners in early innings, but Olson was tough. Chase Jones came up big, and you just kind of knew at the time that one run would loom large.”
Up next: North Penn (15-3, 10-3 SOL) will host Pennridge (9-9, 4-9) Thursday in the third game of its season series.
Pennridge 000 000 0 0-3-0
North Penn 000 100 x 1-2-1
SOL Liberty Division
HATBORO-HORSHAM 1, ABINGTON 0
Jamie O’Neill did it all in Wednesday’s win over the Hatters.
He not only tossed an impressive 3-hit shutout, he also accounted for the game’s only run with a solo shot to center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
O’Neill struck out four and walked one and needed just 81 pitches in an outstanding outing.
By the numbers: Hatboro-Horsham: Jamie O’Neill (W) (7.0 IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 4K, 1-for-3, HR, 1RBI, 1R) C Smith (2B)
Abington: Pat Loughney (5.0 IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K), Kevin Kelly (1.0 IP, 0H, 0R)
Key inning: Bottom of fourth: O’Neill led off the inning with a solo home run.
Hatboro-Horsham coach Bill DeBoer: “Too many on the wrong side (of the score) for us -2-0’s as well…for that type of game, you need great pitching, clean defense and timely hitting. Jamie O’Neill is the (young) man! He threw seven innings on 81 pitches. Oh yeah, and he hit a solo bomb for the game winner in the fourth. He pitched to contact, and we made the plays behind him. Our senior middle infielders Ryan Thomas and Dominic Rapino made 9 of the 21 putouts.”
–Honoring seniors: “Today was our Senior Day, and the entire lineup was seniors for most of the game (two juniors came in the bottom of the seventh defensively). They all stepped up and got the job done. Zero errors is the only way you shut a team out most times, and they accomplished that. We still have some work to do tomorrow, and we’ll see where the chips fall as far as a playoff berth is concerned. We still have work.”
Up next: Hatboro-Horsham (6-12, 5-9 SOL) will travel to Abington (4-11, 4-10) for the third game of the series.
Abington 000 000 0 0-3-0
Hatboro-Horsham 000 100 x 1-4-0
UPPER DUBLIN 3, QUAKERTOWN 1
The Cardinals clinched at least a share of the division crown with a win over the Panthers, their second in as many days over Quakertown. It was a freshman playing a starring role in the win. Luke Caron notched the complete game win, allowing three hits and one run while striking out nine and walking one.
“Freshman Luke Caron was dominant in our 3-1 win to clinch a share of the Liberty Conference title for us versus a tough Quakertown team,” UD coach Ed Wall said. “It was really fun watching him do it up tonight.”
A pair of unearned runs in the game was enough for Caron, but the Cards added a run in the second (also unearned). Nick DePiero’s RBI double in the bottom of the second accounted for the Panthers’ only run.
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Luke Caron (W) (7.0 IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 9K)
Quakertown: Nick DePiero (2-for-2, 2B, 1RBI)
Colin Tenney (5.0 IP, 2H, 3R, 0ER, 2BB, 5K), William Bowen (2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K)
Key inning: Top of first: The Cardinals capitalized on a pair of errors and a leadoff single by Eric Berman to plate two unearned runs.
Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall: “We were lucky to take advantage of some early mistakes that helped us get the lead.”
–Props: “Our defense helped to keep the lead. David Morris and Eddie Stoffel caught a runner stealing late which was a huge boost for us. Ben Wilkins who had one of our two hits tonight also came up big defensively with an inning ending double play. Luke was most impressive when he punched out their one, two and three hitters to end the sixth. I love the three-game series. Thursdays have been crazy this season. I’m sure tomorrow will not be any different. We’re looking forward to another great game tomorrow.”
Up next: Upper Dublin (12-6, 10-4 SOL) will travel to Quakertown(10-7, 9-5) Thursday for the rubber match in the three-game series.
Upper Dublin 210 000 0 3-2-0
Quakertown 010 000 0 1-3-4
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