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By Scott Huff
WILLOW GROVE – An Upper Moreland-Upper Merion baseball game is always under the microscope at the conclusion of the season.It is a Suburban One League game, and a SOL American Conference game, and a battle between the only PIAA Class AAA teams in the league.
“Every game with these guys is like a playoff game,” said Upper Moreland head coach Ernie Rehr after his Golden Bears defeated visiting Upper Merion, 6-2. “At the end of the year, usually District One will take one of our two teams. One is a given – the second is a question mark.
“We preach execution, and we executed at key times during the game,” added Rehr. “The team that executes at the key times is going to win the game.”
The winning pitcher for the Bears was diminutive southpaw Steve Sawa. Sawa went five strong scoreless innings and limited the Vikings to just a single hit.
“I tried to keep the hitters off balance with both my fast ball and curve ball,” said Sawa. “I seemed to work early in the game, so we pretty much stuck with it the entire game.
“Coach (Rehr) call the pitches and I pretty much just go with what he calls,” added Sawa. “Coach is a pretty knowledgeable guy.”
“Steve did a great job today,” said Rehr. “He’s like a Jamie Moyer type pitcher that has a great off speed pitch and has great location on his fast ball.”
“He did a great job of keeping us off balance,” said Upper Merion coach Jason Darnell. “We’re a good hitting team, we’ve scored 30 runs in three games.
“Sawa also did a better job than us at throwing strikes,” added Darnell. “You have to score more than two runs to win in this league.”
Upper Moreland took a 2-0 first inning lead when designated hitter Brandon Watts doubled home Lucas Armstrong and Sawa worked a walk with the bases loaded to score catcher Dave McInerney – who had also walked.
The Golden Bears broke the game open in the fifth inning by scoring four runs – without a hit.
Upper Moreland was issued five walks in the inning and took advantage of two costly Viking errors. The only RBI of the inning was a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sawa.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help myself,” said Sawa who had two RBI. “Whether it is take a walk with the bases loaded or put the ball in play with a sacrifice fly.”
Upper Merion finally put runs on the scoreboard in the sixth inning.With one out, Chris Baker was safe on an infield single. Joel Paradis walked, and the bases were loaded when Greg McCuch singled.
Baker scored on an error, and Paradis scored on an RBI single by Ryan Dolga – however McCuch was thrown out at the plate on the Dolga single to end the inning.
“That was one of the best high school defensive plays that I have seen,” said Rehr as Bear center fielder Jason Montgomery made a perfect throw to the plate to catcher Dave McInerney. “That was a huge play.”
“Ninety-nine times out of a hundred you score there,” said Darnell. “But give them credit – they made the play.
“This loss was tough for us coming off the Norristown loss,” added Darnell. “We had too long between this game and that one.
“This loss to Upper Moreland could make a difference when it comes time for districts,” continued Darnell. “But we get them again at our place.”
After all, it is a Suburban One League game, and a SOL American Conference game, and a game between the only PIAA Class AAA teams in the entire league.
Upper Merion 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 2
Upper Moreland 2 0 0 0 4 0 x - 6
Upper Merion: James O’Toole c 4 0 0 0; Kevin Neufer lf 3 0 1 0; Chris Baker p 3 1 1 0; Joel Paradis rf 2 1 1 0; Greg McCuch ss 2 0 1 0; Pat McCaughey dh 3 0 0 0; Matt Shannon cf 3 0 0 0; Ryan Dolga 2b 3 0 1 1; Ben Dworecki 1b 3 0 0 0. Totals 26 1 5 1.
Upper Moreland: Mike Rosenbaum 3b 3 0 0 0; Lucas Armstrong 2b 3 1 0 0; Dave McInerney c 2 2 1 0; Brandon Watts dh 2 1 1 1; Sean Valenza ss 1 1 0 0; Jason Montgomery cf 2 1 0 0; Steve Sawa p 1 0 0 2; Pat McKay rf 1 0 0 0; Craig Miekley lf 1 0 1 0. Totals 16 6 3 3.
Upper Merion: INN R ER BB K
Chris Baker (L) 4.1 5 3 9 3
Dan Binck 0.2 1 0 2 0
Ben Dworecki 1 0 0 0 0
Upper Moreland:
Steve Sawa (W) 5 0 0 3 6
Eric Laflamme 2 2 0 1 2
2B- Watts E – (U Me) – 3 (U Mo) – 1 LOB – (U Me) – 5 (U Mo) – 8.
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