Check out the recaps for SOL baseball teams in action Thursday. Pennsbury/Truman photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of game photos. PW/Upper Moreland photos courtesy of Cindy Manero.
SOL National
Pennsbury 8, Harry S. Truman 2
Needing one win in its last two games to clinch the SOL National Conference outright, the Falcons took care of business Thursday with a convincing 8-2 win over Harry S. Truman.
Pennsbury received contributions throughout its batting order, led by Justin Fogel, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBIs. Sean Doherty also drove in three runs.
The top of the Falcons batting order – Shane Marlin, Sam Ruta and Justin Massielo – went 6-for-12.
“We have been winning close games lately, so it was really nice to come out swinging the bats really well and get a comfortable lead,” said Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci. “We haven’t been scoring early and getting behind but being really resilient and staying focused.
“Five extra base hits and some big-time, two-out RBIs made the difference. Fogel was a stud today and has come up big for us over and over again.
“Clinching the league title outright on Senior Recognition Day made this a little bit sweeter.”
Trailing 2-1 after three, Pennsbury broke through with two in the fourth, including a RBI double by R.J. Huth and a RBI groundout by Doherty. In the fifth, the Falcons tacked on four runs to put the game out of reach, including a RBI double by Massielo and a two-run double by Fogel.
On the mound, Pennsbury starter Shayne Ostrowsky improved to 5-1 on the season, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing just two earned runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out nine. Connor Baptiste came on in the seventh to record the final two outs of the game.
“Shayne Ostrowsky was great today,” Pesci said. “He had two walks that scored early in the game, but he took a one-hitter into the seventh inning with nine (strikeouts). Connor Baptiste came in and closed it out with two Ks.”
Truman had just three hits on the day, the biggest a two-run single by Dylan Jackson that briefly put the Tigers in front in the third.
Pennsbury (15-4, 10-1 SOL) has one game remaining Tuesday at home against Neshaminy. With the win, the Falcons will also likely wrap up the No. 1 seed for the upcoming District One Class 6A Tournament.
Truman (5-10, 3-7 SOL) has a nonleague game Friday at Central Bucks South.
Pennsbury 100 240 1-8 11 2
Harry S. Truman 002 000 0-2 3 0
Council Rock South 10, William Tennent 2
Coming off of a difficult late loss to first-place Pennsbury on Tuesday, Council Rock South needed a win in its district playoff quest, and Thursday blew open a close game with an eight-run fourth inning in what turned out to by a 10-2 win over Tennent.
“Great bounce-back win after a tough loss on Tuesday,” said CR South coach Ted Kirner. “Jake Barder had a great game on the mound today, commanding all of his pitches and striking out eight through five innings of work.”
Barder allowed just two earned runs. Zach Ramirez and Jon Pinciotti followed with one scoreless inning each.
Most of the offensive damage in the fourth came with two outs. Leading 2-1 at the time, Pinciotti walked with one out, and two batters later, Bubba Wilkinson followed with a two-out walk. Jack O’Neill singled to load the bases, followed by a bases loaded walk to Emilio Pallante. Trey Obarowski had a two-RBI single, Jared Ennis hit a three-run double two batters later and two errors led to two more runs and just like that it was a 10-1 game.
CR South scored its 10 runs on just five hits.
“Jared Ennis continues to see the ball well,” Kirner said. “He had a very big, two-out, three-run double in the fourth inning.”
Tennent was led by Xavier Delgado, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and a RBI. Alex Turbicio drove in the other run for the Panthers.
CR South (9-5, 5-5 SOL) has another important game Friday night against Quakertown in a cross-over game at Memorial Park.Tennent (5-12, 1-10 SOL) returns to action Tuesday at home against Harry S. Truman.
Tennent 100 010 0-2 7 3
CR South 011 800 x-10 5 0
Bensalem 6, Council Rock North 2
Bensalem won for the 11th time in its last 12 games thanks to a five-run first inning and solid pitching against Council Rock North on Thursday.
It was a big day for Bensalem third baseman Keith Rooney, who went 2-for-3 with a bases loaded triple in his team’s big first inning.
Austin Shay and Dom Grady each had two hits for Bensalem, while Grady and Rich Bordone each drove in runs.
On the mound, Logan Young earned the win with five strong innings, allowing just one earned run while scattering four hits and three walks. Rooney then came on in the sixth inning and pitched two scoreless and hitless innings to finish the game off. He struck out four.
Nick D’Apolito and Kyle Dearie drove in runs for CR North. John Joseph was solid in relief, allowing only one run (unearned) in 5 1/3 innings on the mound. He struck out four.
Bensalem (12-3, 8-3 SOL) plays at Council Rock North on Friday, and then closes out the regular season with a cross-over game against Central Bucks East on Tuesday.CR North (5-11, 2-7) follows up Friday’s home game against Bensalem with a home game against rival CR South on Tuesday.
CR North 010 001 0-2 5 1
Bensalem 500 100 x-6 7 3
SOL American
Hatboro-Horsham 10, Abington 3
Hatboro-Horsham exploded with seven runs in the second and third innings, and sophomore starter Benny Wilson took it from there as the Hatters ran away for a 10-3 win over Abington to maintain their share of the lead in the SOL American.
Wilson (6-2) won for the second time this season, this time allowing one earned run on three hits in six innings. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
“Benny Wilson showed why he is one of the best pitchers in the area with a dominating performance,” said Hatboro-Horsham coach Pete Moore. “He was lights out from the start. He wanted to go back out for the seventh, but we have a big game on Tuesday and we decided to save some bullets and have all pitchers fresh and ready for that game.”
Anthony Liott pitched the seventh to close the game out.
Singles by Anthony Bruno and Sean Gledhill got the second inning started for the Hatters. A Lucas Walker sacrifice fly scored one of the runs and the other crossed on an error. They added five more runs in the third, which included RBI singles by Liott and Walker.
For the game, Hatboro-Horsham was led by Bruno and Wilson with two hits each. Walker finished with three RBIs.
Angelo Pearson went 2-for-2 for Abington, while Sonny Stevenson had two RBIs.
Hatboro-Horsham (14-5, 10-3 SOL) has a nonleague game scheduled for Friday night at North Penn, with the league finale on Tuesday against Plymouth Whitemarsh for the SOL American regular-season championship.Abington (4-14, 3-10 SOL) plays at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 025 001 2-10 12 2
Abington 001 000 2 -3 5 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Upper Moreland 2
Needing a win to keep its hopes of a SOL American Conference championship alive, Plymouth Whitemarsh battled back from an early deficit and broke through with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to post a 4-2 win over Upper Moreland on Thursday.
Brett Bottinger was solid on the mound in a 101-pitch effort over six innings for PW. He allowed two runs (both unearned) on four hits and just walked two. He struck out eight. Joe Jaconski moved to the mound to pitch in the seventh and retired the side in order for the save.
Upper Moreland grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, as a two-out error opened the door for a Connor O’Donnell two-run single.
But PW answered back in the bottom half of the inning, a Ben Mascio sacrifice fly scored one and Jaconski scored on a wild pitch for the other.
The Colonials broke the tie with a Dan Kliesch RBI double in the fifth, and then tacked on a key insurance runs on a RBI double by Jesse Jaconski an inning later.
O’Donnell went 3-for-3 on the day for UM.
PW (10-7, 10-3 SOL) is off until its showdown at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday with the winning team claiming sole possession of the SOL American championship.Upper Moreland (7-7, 6-6 SOL) next plays Lower Moreland in a nonleague game on Monday.
Upper Moreland 002 000 0-2 4 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 002 011 x-4 6 2
Wissahickon 13, Upper Dublin 0
Quinn Rovner and Teague DiNicola combined on a two-hit shutout and Wissahickon’s offense came alive with six runs in the bottom of the first on the way to a five-inning 13-0 win over Upper Dublin on Thursday.
Rovner allowed just two hits and three walks over four innings, while striking out six.
“Quinn Rovner continued to impress today, with his mix of pitches keeping (Upper Dublin’s) hitters off balance,” said Wissahickon coach Andy Noga.
Offensively, Joe Hornig had a two-run double, Brian Hynes a two-run single and Andrew Booth a two-run home run to left on consecutive at-bats in the six-run first.
Overall, the Trojans finished with nine hits on the day. Hornig went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Brian Menhardt went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Booth and Jackson Tappen had three RBIs each, while Hynes was 1-for-2 with the two RBIs.
“We had quality at-bats up and down the lineup,” Noga said. “Andrew Booth’s two-run home run was clutch and got the whole offense going the rest of the day. He got his pitch and didn’t miss it. It was great to see him have a day like he did today.”
Upper Dublin managed just a pair of hits and was never able to get anything going against Wissahickon pitching.
Wissahickon (6-11, 5-8 SOL) has a nonleague game scheduled Friday at home against Methacton.Upper Dublin (9-9, 6-6 SOL) will look to bounce back Tuesday when its hosts Springfield.
Upper Dublin 000 00-0 2 5
Wissahickon 643 0x-13 9 0
SOL Continental
Quakertown 13, Central Bucks West 2
A two-run home run by Dennis Pierce in the first inning got Quakertown started, and the Panthers later put the game away with nine runs in the sixth and seventh innings on the way to a 13-2 blowout win over Central Bucks West on Thursday.
It was an important win for the Panthers, who are in the hunt for a berth into the District One Class 6A playoffs and after the win currently stand at No. 20 in what will be a 20-team field.
“Matt Ciarrocchi threw very well on the mound,” said Quakertown coach Jon Pallone. “Pierce and (Mason) Hicks had some clutch hits.
“Every game is important with our low ranking in District One (power points), somehow. We have to take this momentum into (Friday’s game with major playoff implications between us and Council Rock South.”
It was Pierce’s fourth home run of the season. He finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs.
Mason Hicks also had a three-run home run for Quakertown, also his fourth of the season, in his team’s four-run sixth inning broke open a 4-1 game.
As a team, the Panthers had 13 hits, led by Adam Ritter, who went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Justin Butler, Sean Brennan and Brad Bryan each drove in two runs.
On the mound, Quakertown starter Ciarrocchi gave his team six strong innings, allowing just two earned runs and scattering six hits and two walks. He struck out seven. Andrew Nace finished the game off with a scoreless seventh.
For CB West, Matt McCarthy went 2-for-2 with a double and both of his team’s RBIs.
Quakertown (12-5, 7-4 SOL) is back in action Friday night at Memorial Park with an important cross-over game against Council Rock South.CB West (7-10, 4-7 SOL) wraps up its season Tuesday night at Central Bucks South.
Quakertown 300 104 5-13 13 0
CB West 000 101 0-2 6 0
Central Bucks East 6, Pennridge 0
Nick Bitsko, Jack Hamilton and Aidan Weaver combined on a three-hit shutout as CB East blanked Pennridge in a night game played at James Memorial Park in Sellersville on Thursday.
Bitsko, who also hit a two-run home run, dominated for five innings, allowing just one hit and not walking a batter, while striking out nine. Hamilton pitched a scoreless sixth and Weaver finished the game off in the seventh. Bitsko and Hamilton are sophomores, while Weaver is a freshman.
CB East broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the fourth. Tyler Young reached on an error, Colin Weber singled and Andrew Whinney scored a run with a sacrifice fly. James Pello followed with an RBI single, and later in the inning, Adam Zortea scored a run with an RBI double.
The score stayed at 3-0 until the seventh, when Bitsko hit a two-run home run to center field and Young scored another on a groundout.
Pennridge had three hits on the night, two from John Finley and a double by Paul Croyle.
CB East (10-9, 5-7 SOL) wraps up its season Tuesday against Bensalem at home.Pennridge (5-11, 1-10 SOL) plays at North Penn on Tuesday.
CB East 000 300 3-6 8 1
Pennridge 000 000 0-0 3 3
North Penn 5, Central Bucks South 2
Joe Valenti pitched a complete-game, four-hitter and defeated CB South for the second time this season, snapping his team’s three-game losing streak.
Valenti (3-3) allowed two earned runs, but was efficient, walking only one in an 84-pitch effort.
Seven different Knights collected hits on the night for the Knights, starting in the first as Jake Drelick walked, Kyle Schulze singled, and then with two outs, Connor Ertel drove in the team’s first run.
In the bottom of the fourth, CB South finally cracked Valenti, as Jake McKeown singled with one out and Joey Loynd followed with a two-run home run to put the Titans up 2-1.
Valenti allowed just two base runners the rest of the night and CB South never seriously threatened.
Meanwhile, the North Penn bats came alive as it retook the lead with a three-run fifth inning, all coming with two outs. Jeff Sabater was hit by a pitch, Drelick singled and Schulze walked to load the bases. A walk to Colby Chan tied the game and Kolby Barrow followed that up with a two-run single to make it 4-2.
In the sixth, Griffin Juckniewitz singled home Zack Miles for North Penn’s final run of the game.
North Penn (7-10, 5-6 SOL) hosts Hatboro-Horsham in a nonleague game at Memorial Park in Lansdale on Friday night.CB South (10-6, 6-5 SOL) still is very much in the hunt for a spot in the District One Class 6A Tournament. It hosts Harry S. Truman in a nonleague game Friday, before concluding its regular season Tuesday night at home against CB West.
North Penn 100 031 0-5 7 0
CB South 000 200 0-2 4 0
Non-League crossover game
Neshaminy 4, Souderton 3
For the second time this season, Neshaminy knocked off SOL Continental champion Souderton on Thursday, this time by a 4-3 final score.
Neshaminy had lost five of its previous six games going into Thursday.
“Today was a must-win game for us,” said Neshaminy coach Dan Toner. “We came out with incredibly high energy and focus, which we were lacking the past couple games.
“We needed this game against a very good Souderton team to get that winning feeling back.”
It was a back-and-forth game right from the start. Souderton scored twice in the first on a fielder’s choice groundout by third baseman Jake Horton and a RBI single from Frank Pollock.
Neshaminy answered back with one in the second on a RBI single from Chris James, and then another in the third on a RBI single by Dalton Turner. It then took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the big blow an RBI double by shortstop Cory Joyce, who later scored on an error.
In all, Toner’s squad had nine hits on the day from seven different players, including two each by Joyce and Yauger, against two of the better pitchers in District One this season in Souderton’s Luke Taylor and Jordan Morales.
Max Temple went the distance for Neshaminy in an 88-pitch effort, allowing three earned runs on four hits and one walk. He struck out three and improved to 3-0 on the season.
“Max Temple had another fantastic pitching performance on the mound and we had multiple guys contribute on offense,” Toner said.
Neshaminy (11-5, 7-4 SOL) has a nonleague game against Archbishop Ryan Friday and plays at rival Pennsbury in its regular-season finale on Tuesday.
Souderton (15-3, 11-0 SOL) likely saw its quest for the top seed for the District One Class 6A Tournament end with the loss. It will play Dock Mennonite in a nonleague game at home on Friday, before wrapping up the regular season Tuesday at Quakertown.
Souderton 200 100 0-3 4 1
Neshaminy 011 200 x-4 9 0
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