Six SOL teams will be in action in Wednesday’s second round of the District One AAAA Tournament. Check back for a recap of all the games.
Upper Moreland got a head start on the rest of the SOL, earning a spot in Thursday’s District One AAA semifinals with its dramatic 7-6 win in eight innings over Bishop Shanahan.
A month ago if you asked anyone associated with Upper Moreland baseball, they would have told you their team had just an outside chance of making the playoffs. The Golden Bears were very young in what was expected to be a retooling season, but after a slow start, they ended the season strong to not only advance to the playoffs but also earn a home game to boot.
The fourth-seeded Golden Bears went toe-to-toe with the Eagles of Bishop Shanahan on Tuesday with the Bears earning a date in the semifinals with top-seeded Holy Ghost Prep on Thursday afternoon at Methacton High School (4 p.m.).
“Our biggest goal was to just make the playoffs,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ken Irwin. “This gives them playoff experience.”
Things looked bleak after Shanahan scored two runs in the top of the first, and in the bottom of the inning, the Golden Bears’ first three batters went down on strikes.
With starting pitcher Frank Chubb cruising along through the first four innings, Shanahan – which opened up a 4-0 lead – might have thought it had the game won and took Chubb out. That’s when the tide turned.
“Our guys felt insulted when they took their pitcher out,” Irwin said. “They started believing again.”
With Chubb out of the game, the Golden Bears’ bats came alive in the very next inning as they scored three times to cut into the lead, but Shanahan wasn’t about to go quietly as they added to their one run lead with two in the sixth to go on top 6-3.
Upper Moreland cut the lead to two by scoring a single run in the sixth, and the magic carpet ride the Golden Bears will not allow to end continued when they tied it in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to an error and some heads up base running.
Kyle Bennis led the inning off with a walk, and with one out, Jon Searles singled. Nick Pita came in to run for Searles, and with two outs, Nick DeLucas hit a ground ball to the first baseman, who tried to bare hand the ball that went for an error. Irwin waved in Pita from second, enabling the Golden Bears to force extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bennis drew another walk and stole second. An error on the second baseman gave Upper Moreland second and third with two outs, bringing Connor Casey to the plate. A wild pitch enabled Bennis to cross the plate with the winning run.
“They were a little nervous, but confident going in,” Irwin said. “In high school baseball, anything can happen.
“If we play them 10 times, they probably beat us eight.”
After starting pitcher Joe Bates lasted just three innings, Jaryd Goldstein came in and stemmed the tide as he pitched the final five innings and allowed two runs (both unearned) on six hits.
“I was hesitant to bring him in because he threw nine innings last time out,” said Irwin. “He was able to keep the ball down.”
At the plate, Searles, DeLucas (double) and Randy Meehl had two hits each. Searles added two runs scored and DeLucas had an RBI. Ryan Lowery, playing with a sprained ankle, went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
“It is great to get the opportunity to play Ghost,” said Irwin of his team’s upcoming contest.
Bishop Shanahan 202 002 00 – 6 10 3
Upper Moreland 000 031 21 – 7 7 6
DISTRICT ONE AAAA SECOND ROUND
Six SOL teams will be in action in Wednesday’s second round of the District One Tournament, and Central Bucks East and Downingtown West would be the first in line to tell the remaining teams that seeds don’t mean a whole lot.
Twenty-sixth seeded Harriton sent seventh-seeded Downingtown West home for the season, thanks to the Rams’ 3-1 win. Central Bucks East, the tournament’s ninth seed, fell to 24th-seeded Garnet Valley 2-1.
A pair of second round games feature two SOL teams doing battle. As a result, at least two SOL teams will advance to Friday’s quarterfinal round with the possibility of four advancing. At least two will go home after Wednesday’s high stakes games.
#15 Council Rock North (11-7, 10-4 SOL) at #2 Wissahickon (14-4, 12-2)
In one of two all-SOL showdowns, the Indians and Trojans will square off in a rare meeting between the National and American Conference powers. Rock North closed its conference season with six straight wins and finished second only to Pennsbury.
The Trojans – after defeating Upper Dublin to take over first place in the conference standings in their second last game – dropped their league finale to Cheltenham and settled for a share of the American Conference crown.
The winner will face the winner of #26 Harriton versus #10 Conestoga.
How they got here: The second-seeded Trojans had a first round bye while Rock North – behind the standout effort of pitcher Matt Hand – earned a 6-0 win over 18th-seeded Avon Grove. Hand scattered three hits in a complete game shutout. Jared Schram and Brandon McIlwain both had two hits to lead the Indians. Schram had three RBIs.
#19 Spring-Ford (16-7, 12-6 PAC-10) at #3 Pennsbury (16-4, 12-2)
The Falcons captured the SOL National Conference crown and hope their 8-2 record during the regular season against district playoff teams is an omen of things to come.
The Rams are the fourth place team from the PAC-10 but captured their first PAC-10 Tournament title since 2011 with a 7-2 win over Owen J. Roberts. They are led by three first team all-league selections Bret Clarke, Ryan Markey and Cam Simmons.
The winner will do battle with the victor of #6 Upper Dublin versus #11 Owen J Roberts.
How they got here: The Falcons had an opening round bye while Spring-Ford was busy pulling an upset of 14th-seeded Marple Newtown. Bret Clarke earned the complete game win, scattering six hits and allowing one earned run. Offensively, the Rams were led by Michael Fuhrmeister (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), Zach Smiley (2-for-3, 2B, RBI), Jake Kelchner (2-for-3, RBI) and Matt Daywalt (2-for-4 RBI).
#13 Hatboro-Horsham (13-9, 10-4 SOL) at #4 North Penn (15-3, 12-2)
The two SOL Continental rivals split their regular season games. The Hatters – sparked by the one-hit effort of pitcher Eric Lane – won the first 5-1 despite managing just four hits on Knights’ ace James Witner. In the May 13 rematch, Witner exacted a degree of revenge, allowing six hits in the complete game win that gave the Knights sole possession of the Continental Conference crown.
The winner will take on the winner of the all-PAC-10 battle pitting #5 Boyertown against #12 Perkiomen Valley.
How they got here: While the fourth-seeded Knights had an opening round bye, the Hatters earned a 6-1 win over 13th-seeded Haverford. Erin Lane got it done on the mound and at the plate, delivering a three-run home run to erase a 1-0 deficit and earning the win on the mound with six strong innings. Ryan Murphy tossed a one-two-three seventh.
#11 Owen J Roberts (15-6, 13-5 PAC-10) at #6 Upper Dublin (13-7, 12-2)
The Flying Cardinals suffered their only two losses in conference play to the co-champion Trojans. The Wildcats finished second to Boyertown in the PAC-10 standings, and they were the PAC-10 Tournament runner up, falling to Spring-Ford in the title game. Corey Hennessey and Jake Leclerc are first team all-league selections.
How they got here: While the Flying Cardinals had an opening round bye, the Wildcats defeated 22nd-seeded Council Rock South 5-3. Corey Hennessey allowed nine hits in a winning effort on the mound. Offensively, the Wildcats were led by Joe Zgleszewski (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), Riley McGinley (2-for-3) and Blake McCourt (2-for-3, RBI).
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