Check out the results from Thursday’s SOL baseball action.
National Conference
PENNSBURY 3, ABINGTON 2
Every win is a big one with the playoffs looming on the horizon, and the Falcons got an important win to up their record to 7-6 in the league (11-6 overall). The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the third, thanks to a solo home run off the bat of Brandon Garrett.
The Ghosts went on top 2-1 in the fourth innings, but the Falcons answered with two runs in the fifth inning when Justin Jacko delivered a clutch two-out, two-run double off the left field fence.
Garrett earned the complete game win, fanning 11 and allowing five hits.
The Ghosts fell to 3-10 in the league (5-10 overall)
Abington 000 200 0 2-5-1
Pennsbury 001 020 x 3-5-0
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, PENNRIDGE 1
The last time Central Bucks East won a conference title in baseball, members of this year’s senior class were in kindergarten. On Thursday, the Patriots ensured themselves at least a share of the crown with their hard-fought win over the Rams.
“This means a lot to our guys,” coach Kyle Dennis said. “They were excited about it, but they don’t want to share, and I think that’s healthy for them.”
Dennis knew his team returned a stable of standout pitchers this season. Hitting was the question mark.
“Last year we pitched very well and had a team ERA of around 3.00, but we just couldn’t string hits together,” the Patriots coach said. “We lost some quality players in our infield, but we had some underclassmen that we knew were pretty good defensively. It was just a matter of would they hit and would we be able to do the offensive part. Last year we pitched, last year we defended, but unfortunately, the hitting wasn’t timely enough.
“It was the same question this year. Would the hitting come? We’ve been very fortunate that we’re hitting one through nine – if not all in one game. We’re getting it from the top and maybe the bottom falls apart a little bit, or maybe the top isn’t getting it done, and the bottom takes care of it. We’ve been very fortunate in that respect. Last year we lost a lot of close games. This year we’re winning a lot of close games.”
Blair Killough earned the win on the mound, going the distance and allowing six hits and one run while walking one and striking out two.
“Blair was a hard-luck loser last year – he pitched phenomenally well but lost a lot of close ball games,” Dennis said. “He’s been throwing a lot of complete games and going deep into games for us.
“He has a way of getting guys out. We were out-hit 6-5, but Blair just has a way of not letting big innings happen. He mixes all of his pitches really well, and it was tough for Pennridge to get a whole lot going. He really excels at making guys hit his pitch and getting guys to put the ball in play. Fortunately, our defense is picking it up behind him.”
The Patriots made the most of their hits. Senior Zach Matthews delivered an RBI double in the third to give East a 1-0 lead. He has stepped in at second base in the absence of Pat Reilly (concussion), who has been hitting out of the five hole this season.
“Zach’s a great defensive player,” Dennis said. “He’s on fire right now. He had a double today to put us on the board early. He’s stepped into his job and is really playing great offensively and defensively.
“Zach caught a ball over his shoulder in foul territory today at Pennridge. It was one of the most phenomenal catches I’ve seen all year. He’s stepping up to the plate. It’s really fun to see, and they guys are all behind him.”
Brandon Birkhead added an RBI single in the third to put the Patriots on top 2-0. The Rams cut that lead in half in the fourth inning, thanks to an RBI single by Jake Gordon. The Patriots plated an insurance run in the sixth.
Ethan Rode led the Patriots with a 2-for-3 day at the plate that included a double. AJ Molettiere led the Rams with a pair of singles.
Evan Myers absorbed the loss for the Rams, who fell to 8-5 in the league (12-5 overall). The Patriots are 11-2 in the league (14-3 overall) with a game against CB South on Monday remaining.
Central Bucks East 002 001 0 3-5-1
Pennridge 000 100 0 1-6-1
American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 8, UPPER DUBLIN 7
The Colonials and Flying Cardinals exchanged big innings on Thursday, but the Colonials took a lead they would not lose with a three-run fourth. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Austin DiBonaventure led PW with two hits, including a triple, and one RBI. Dutch Reardon added a pair of hits and one RBI. Zach Metz had just one hit but drove in three runs. Rob Pecharo, Connor Purdy and Patrick Cosgrave each contributed single RBIs. Jon Fisher had a double.
For the Flying Cardinals, Ray Sitarski had a pair of hits, including a double, and one RBI. Morey Hershgordon had five runs batted in to lead the Cardinals.
Michael Whalon earned the win on the mound for the Colonials, who improved to 3-10 in league play (5-12 overall). The Flying Cardinals are 5-8 in the league (5-11 overall).
Upper Dublin 003 400 0 7-7-1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 104 300 x 8-9-2
CHELTENHAM 9, UPPER MERION 4
The Panthers maintained their stronghold on second place – and a district playoff berth – with Thursday’s win. The Vikings took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the Panthers scored two in both the second and third innings and added a single run in the fourth to take a lead they would not lose.
Mark Heimann (double, two RBIs) and Matt Meyers led the way with a pair of hits. Calvin Salazar, who earned the win on the mound, and Brett Bernstein both had a pair of RBIs. Max Perilstein and Marshall Salem had one RBI each. Rafael Fernandez had a double.
For the Vikings, Bobby Landmesser, Mike Camasso (double), Brandan Steiner (triple) and Alex DelGuidice all had two hits.
The Panthers are 9-4 in league play (11-6 overall) while the Vikings are 2-11 in the league (2-15 overall).
Cheltenham 022 110 3 9-8-3
Upper Merion400 000 0 4-10-4
NORRISTOWN 4, WISSAHICKON 3
Every win, according to coach Vince Elsier, is a must-win for an Eagle squad still hoping to battle its way into the playoff picture.
“This was huge,” said Elsier, who watched the game from center field while serving a one-game suspension after getting ejected from Tuesday’s game against PW. “We talked going into this week that we needed to win the two games this week. It’s pretty much do or die for us. This was a huge, huge win.”
The Eagles have won back-to-back conference games after dropping a pair last week.
“We dropped a real tough one at Springfield,” Elsier said of his team’s 2-1 loss to the Spartans. “The kid from Springfield really pitched great, and I told my boys – you tip your hat to him. He had his stuff. The Upper Moreland game really hurt us. We outplayed them for 6 2/3 innings, we had the lead, and we threw the ball away in the last inning and two runs scored, and we lost 6-5.
“This group could have gone the other way, but they didn’t. They’re good kids, they work hard, they play hard, and they play right.”
The Trojans broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles answered with two in the bottom of the inning. Kevin Belskie got things started with a leadoff double, but with two outs, he was still on base. David Randolph delivered a clutch RBI single to put the Eagles on top 3-2, and after a free pass to the Eagles’ number nine hitter put a pair of runners on board, Bob Altieri singled to drive in a run that proved to be the difference.
The Trojans got one of those runs back in the top of the seventh, but winning pitcher Evan Grimes worked himself out of a jam.
“Evan Grimes was phenomenal,” Elsier said. “He threw a 93-pitch complete game. He ran into trouble in the seventh after he walked the eight hitter and hit the nine hitter, so they had first and second nobody out.”
Grimes fanned the Trojans’ leadoff and number two hitter, but a run crossed the plate on an error. With runners on second and third, Grimes coaxed a grounder to short to end the game.
“Evan’s pitched good games,” Elsier said. “He’s my starting shortstop, so I use him sparingly because he’s an integral part of my defense. A 93-pitch complete game in high school – it doesn’t get much better than that.
“The kids were really energetic, and I’m just seeing how this group is assembling themselves. I’m real happy with the group, and I’m having a blast.”
The Eagles and Trojans boast identical 7-6 records in league play.
Wissahickon 010 001 1 3-5-0
Norristown 010 102 x 4-6-2
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