Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Monday. Pennsbury/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f12122253
SOL Colonial/Patriot Crossover
North Penn 5, Harry S Truman 0
In a highly-anticipated makeup crossover game, North Penn’s Trevor Lugara had another dominant performance on the mound.
Lugara tossed a complete-game, four-hitter on the road, as the Knights moved one step closer to clinching the SOL Colonial Division title with the 5-0 win over Truman on Monday.
“Lugara was outstanding again today,” said North Penn coach Kevin Manero. “We knew we were seeing a tough pitcher in (Truman’s Andrew) Armstrong and knew we couldn’t afford to give much away. Trevor was stingy and pounded the zone all day, just what we needed for a tough road win.”
Lugara walked just one batter, struck out seven and threw 80 pitches in seven innings.
Offensively, Jack Picozzi got his team started with a two-out, solo home run to right field in the top of the first.
That lead held up through the fifth, when the Knights tacked on four more runs.
Justin Egner and Kevin Brace had back-to-back RBI singles, while a pair of errors led to two more runs in the inning.
“Jack Picozzi got us going with an early HR and, as always, in tough games scoring first is a big help,” Manero said. “I thought our top of the fifth was one of our most complete innings of the year and gave us good separation. We did a lot of things well that inning.”
It was North Penn’s ninth straight win, and the Knights are now 11-1 in the Colonial Division (13-1 SOL), with a three-game lead in the standings with four games remaining. They host CB West in another key game on Tuesday.
Truman (8-5, 6-4 SOL) plays at Pennsbury on Tuesday.
North Penn 100 040 0 – 5 7 0
Truman 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Central Bucks East 13, Bensalem 3
On Friday, CB East snapped a nine-game losing streak with an epic walk-off win against its archrival, CB West. Monday, the Patriots fed off that momentum and had a huge hitting game in a 13-3, six-inning rout of Bensalem.
“Our guys continued to work every single day,” said coach Kyle Dennis. “They worked to get better every day. We took some lumps early. We lost on a walk-off to West (the first time they played) and that’s hard. But I’m proud of how they handled themselves every day.
“They’re learning a ton and playing better baseball. This is the second time in a row they’ve played a complete game – hitting, pitching, defense. Things are coming together a little bit. The guys just work so hard.”
Not only did the Patriots hit, they hit the ball hard, to the tune of three home runs, six doubles and a triple.
They started fast with three runs in the first inning. Jack Mislan doubled, Nolan Behm followed with an RBI triple and Chase Harlan followed with an RBI single. Harlan later scored on a fielder’s choice RBI by Matt Rowland.
Behm and Harlan had back-to-back RBI doubles to set off a five-run second inning, which included a two-run home run by Joey Wilga, and an RBI double by Ryan Zosulis.
Harlan, who had the game-winning HR against CB West Friday, followed that up with a 3-for-4, three-RBI game, including a double and another home run.
Wilga finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Sophomore Colin Lynch had a two-run home run, Rowland finished with two RBIs and Luke Herbine was 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs scored.
Gabe Amendola, who was the winning pitcher Friday after throwing an inning out of the bullpen, earned his second win in three days, going four innings and allowing just two hits and one earned run, with five strikeouts. Chase Fulford struck out three and didn’t allow a run or a hit in two innings out of the bullpen.
“The most important thing is we got the first three outs and then scored three runs early,” Dennis said. “It builds a lot of confidence for your lineup. When the top has success, the bottom has a great mental state as well.”
CB East (4-12, 4-8 SOL) has a road game Tuesday at CB South.
Bensalem (5-11, 3-10 SOL) looks to bounce back Tuesday at Council Rock North.
Bensalem 002 100 0 – 3 2 2
CB East 350 401 – 13 15 2
Council Rock South 12, Pennridge 0 (5 innings)
A seven-run third inning blew this one wide open as CR South bounced back from a loss to Bensalem on Friday with the five-inning, mercy rule win over visiting Pennridge in a makeup crossover game on Monday.
“Today was a much needed win for us,” said Golden Hawks coach Greg Paprocki. “Bouncing back after a tough loss Friday, our guys responded in a big way.
“We had a tremendous game offensively, and really kept the pressure on them from the first inning on.”
Three straight Pennridge errors loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the third. After a walk brought in one run, Johnny Mendola followed with an RBI single, Chase Ennis drove in a run with a sac fly, followed by singles from Billy O’Neill, Sam Serpiello and Mason Curtier. Another run scored on a fielder’s choice.
Just like that it was a 7-0 game and the Golden Hawks never looked back.
Mendola finished 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs to lead the 10-hit attack. O’Neill was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Serpiello also had two hits and two RBIs.
On the mound, Reed Curtier pitched a five-inning, one-hit shutout. He walked just one and struck out six.
“Reed Curtier was awesome for us,” Paprocki said. “This was a must-win game, and he was dominant. Reed is a great competitor and he stepped us for us in a big way.
“We are going to need more of the energy we brought today as we look to keep making a push for the playoffs.”
CR South (7-7, 6-6 SOL) hosts Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Pennridge (1-15, 1-11 SOL) plays at Souderton on Tuesday.
Pennridge 000 00 – 0 1 3
CR South 007 05 – 12 10 3
SOL Patriot Division
Pennsbury 11, Neshaminy 3
When play was suspended Friday between these two rivals in the middle of the Patriot Division title chase, the score was tied at 3, but Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci left the field frustrated, anxious to get back on the field.
He held a team practice Sunday in preparation for the continuation of the game on Monday, and it worked as the Falcons came out and scored three in the bottom of the second and four more in the third to blow the game wide open on the way to the 11-3 victory.
“The rain came down and they called it,” Pesci said. “It was the right call, but it was hard. We had to shut the game down. We were doing a Coaches vs. Cancer game, and everyone had to go home.
“But it may have been a blessing in disguise. We were able to put work in on Sunday. We wanted to see how we could get extra bases and extra runs, and we put a lot of time in it. We got to reset, clear our minds and come back out fresh.
“To put up another three-spot was amazing. To do it again with another four (in the third) was huge.”
In the bottom of the second, Sam Labrecque drew a leadoff walk, and one out later, James Schaffer singled. It looked as though the Redskins might escaped unscathed when they recorded the second out, but Joe Tiroly lined a clutch two-out single to left to plate a pair. Three straight walks pushed another run across, and the Falcons had a lead they would not lose.
Kayden Faulcon started in the third inning on Monday, in relief of Keller Bradley, who threw two innings on Friday. Faulcon went four innings, scattered two hits and four walks, and struck out five.
“We went with Kayden,” Pesci said. “The play is always Kayden in Game One of the week. They hit (Keller) Bradley well in that second inning. Actually, my assistant coach, John Crane, said potentially it was Kayden’s last chance to throw against Neshaminy. He’s going to show up, and he did.”
Ryan Webber pitched a shutout seventh inning in his first outing of the season to close the game out.
Offensively, third baseman Joe Tiroly went 3-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and three RBIs. Ryan Zuckerman went 2-for-4 with a home run (on Friday), three runs scored and two RBIs. James Schaffer went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Overall, the Falcons finished with 11 runs on 11 hits, they drew 11 walks, had one hit-by-pitch and stole four bases.
Luke Hardnock was 2-for-3 with a double for Neshaminy. Rob Harrison had a double and two RBIs.
With the win, Pennsbury improved to 12-3 overall and 9-3 in the Patriot Division. It now has a one-game lead over Truman. The Falcons host the Tigers on Tuesday.
Neshaminy (12-5, 8-5 SOL) looks to bounce back on Tuesday at Council Rock South.
Neshaminy 030 000 0 – 3 7 1
Pennsbury 334 010 x – 11 11 0
SOL Liberty/Freedom Crossover
Quakertown 11, Cheltenham 4
A huge effort out of the bullpen by Mason Probition was the lift Quakertown needed, as it spotted visiting Cheltenham three runs in the top of the first, but turned the tide with a big third inning on the way to the 11-4 crossover win.
“We were pressing pretty hard, making mistakes and the game didn’t seem very fun,” said Quakertown coach Jon Pallone. “We regrouped going into the bottom of the third and visualized what it’s like when things are going good and started doing the little things we needed to do to win.”
Cheltenham started quickly, aided by a pair of walks and an error to go up 1-0. An RBI grounder by Finn Ivory and an RBI double by Brian Trainor made it a 3-0 game before Quakertown even came to the plate.
But Quakertown responded with seven runs in the bottom of the third, including three straight bases-loaded walks, an error that scored another run, an RBI sac fly by Dan Schwalm and an RBI single by Danny Qualteria.
Trailing 7-3, Cheltenham threatened to get right back in it in the fourth, as the first four batters reached, including a single by Ivory, two hit-batters and a walk.
But out of the bullpen, Probition got an out on a fielder’s choice and then struck out two to end the inning without any further damage.
“Macen Probition came in with bases loaded no outs in the top of the fourth and was able to get out of the jam only giving up one inherited runner,” Pallone said. “He had a very athletic play on an attempted squeeze to make the out at home. He then struck out the next two batters.
“Macen has a bright future ahead of himself.”
Carter Kochel came on and pitched a scoreless seventh inning to finish the game off.
Offensively, Quakertown scored 11 runs on just six hits, led by Qualteria, who had two hits. It was aided by seven walks, five hit-batters and a pair of errors.
Quakertown (6-8, 5-6 SOL) is back at it Tuesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Cheltenham (3-10, 2-10 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland on Tuesday.
Cheltenham 300 100 0 – 4 5 2
Quakertown 007 301 x – 11 6 1
Nonleague
Council Rock North 7, Steinert (NJ) 2
It took four innings to get its offense untracked, but once CR North was rolling it never looked back on the way to the 7-2 nonleague win against Steinert (NJ) High School.
“It was a well-needed, well-played game for a team who is still finding their identity,” said Indians coach Matt Schram. “Our players are competing from start to finish in every game, and I am proud of that accomplishment this year.”
Since it was a nonleague game, CR North was able to throw multiple pitchers and did so successfully, as Will Seller, Peyton Shaw, Jake Ruple, Pat Dougherty, Matt Herbert and Quinn Erlandsen all saw time on the mound. Shaw did not allow a run in 2 1/3 innings to pick up the win.
“We used six different arms on the mound today to make sure everyone stays fresh and healthy for the final stretch of the season,” Schram said.
Offensively, Leor Kedar was 3-for-3 with two triples, two runs scored and one RBI. James Pikul had a two-out triple to score two runs in the fourth to give the Indians a 4-2 lead.
CR North (6-8) hosts Bensalem in a Patriot Division game on Tuesday.
CR North 000 410 2 – 7 7 1
Steinert 200 000 0 – 2 6 1
Souderton 13, Dock Mennonite 6
In a backyard rivalry game on Monday night, Souderton brought its bats in a big way, scoring 13 runs on 14 hits to get past Dock Mennonite.
The Indians not only had 14 hits, they hit two home runs – by Grayson Norris and Connor Klock – and two doubles, and also drew seven walks. They scored runs in five different innings and put the game away with an impressive five runs in the top of the sixth.
Shortstop Chris McKenna went 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI for Souderton. Ethan Warner was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Five different pitchers threw for the Indians, including starter Jack Wright who allowed one run in the first two innings. Tyler Lutz and Liam O’Leary both had scoreless innings to close out the game.
Souderton (7-8 overall) is back in Colonial Division play Tuesday at home against Pennridge.
Souderton 103 225 0 13 14 1
Dock 103 020 0 – 6 9 3
Sunday’s Game
Upper Dublin 6, Abington 2
In a special night game in Trenton, Upper Dublin won its 10th straight and maintained its one-game lead in the SOL Liberty Division with the 6-2 win over an Abington team that entered nearly as hot as the Flying Cardinals.
UD scored two runs in the fifth to break a 2-2 tie and sealed it with two more runs in the sixth, which was plenty for Cardinals’ pitchers Austin Dahl and Jacob Cornbluth, who combined for a three-hitters and blanked the Galloping Ghosts over the final four innings.
Dahl pitched the first four innings to get the win, allowing two earned runs, scattering two hits and four walks, while striking out four.
Cornbluth had the three-inning save, allowing just one hit and working around four walks to keep Abington.
Brendan O’Brien was 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs to lead a nine-hit UD offense. Paul Stoffel and Joe Levis had two hits each as well.
Abington, which saw its seven-game win streak snapped, was led by Jake Kaplan who had a two-run double in the third for his team.
Upper Dublin (12-3, 12-1 SOL) next hosts Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Abington (10-6, 8-4 SOL) plays at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 101 022 0 – 6 9 0
Abington 002 000 0 – 2 3 2
About the Author
