Scott Huff recaps all the SOL baseball action for the past several days.
By Scott Huff
Central Bucks East (6-8, 3-7) has snakebites all over it as the Patriots have dropped five close games to Suburban One League Continental Conference opponents. CB East has lost twice to Hatboro-Horsham (2-1, 7-5), once to Central Bucks West (4-2), once to Souderton (7-6), and once to North Penn (4-1).
This time it was the Patriots who took a bite out of first place Central Bucks West (11-3, 8-2) as CBE scored five times in the sixth inning to defeat the visiting Bucks – 6-2. However, the game looked all too familiar going into the home sixth with the Patriots losing 2-1.
“I admit I was a little nervous down a run late in the game,” said Central Bucks East head coach Kyle Dennis. “We have played so many close games, and it always seems like we come out on the wrong end.
“I have to give our team so much credit, we continue to do things the right way and hopefully winning this game will get us rolling for the rest of the season,”
added Dennis. “We go to practice every day and practice hard – and we go into every game wanting to win.”
The Patriots entered that game changing sixth inning with just three hits. CB East pounded out seven hits in the sixth inning – seven straight hits – and featured a three-run homerun off the bat of Ben Hauser. Tyler Zeleny and Craig Sebesky also collected insurance RBI for the Patriots in the inning.
“I feel for our pitchers this season,” said Dennis. “We have a team ERA of 2.45, but we haven’t been able to score many runs. We have pitched into a lot of tough luck this year.”
The Patriots received a fine starting effort in the West win by senior Nick Lager who went five and one-third innings, while junior Robbie Welhaf picked up the win in relief. CB East had received excellent pitching all season long from Welhaf, junior Blair Killough, and junior Anthony Barrila.
“It was great to see us hit the ball and put together some hits,” said Dennis. “We want to close the season with as many wins as we can.”
Central Bucks West Bucks 000 101 0 -2 5 0
Central Bucks East Patriots 010 005 x -6 10 2
The Rest of the Story in the SOL Continental Conference
The Central Bucks East – Central Bucks West was the only conference game played on Thursday.
Hatboro-Horsham (10-3, 7-2) will attempt to gain a tie in the conference standings with CB West when the Hatters travel to Pennridge (8-6, 3-6) on Friday.
Owls Fly to 8th Inning Victory
Bensalem (13-2, 8-2) scored all three of its runs in the eighth inning as the Owls flew to a 3-0 victory over host William Tennent (4-12, 1-9) in a Suburban One League National Conference contest.
“William Tennent played a great game, and Zach Hizer pitched a great game for us,” said Bensalem head coach Rick Lee. “He threw all eight innings, threw 107 pitches, and gave up only three hits. Plus we got the last out of the game with a pickoff at first base.”
Bensalem had just three hits over the first seven innings put collected four hits in the eighth inning to secure the victory. Hizer singled with one out and scored what proved to be the game-winning run on an RBI single by Zach Schwartz. Eric Ruud also delivered an RBI, while the third run scored on an error.
The Bensalem-Neshaminy game that was scheduled for Friday will not be played, as Coach Lee will attend his son’s graduation from James Madison University. The game will be played on May 15th – under the lights.
“I expect a lot of fireworks for that game,” said Lee. “Neshaminy and Bensalem are always exciting games.”
Bensalem Owls 000 000 03 -3 7 1
William Tennent Panthers 000 000 00 -0 3 1
The Rest of the Story in the SOL National Conference
Pennsbury (5-10, 4-6) had a magnificent game pitched by Paul Gosselin as the Falcons flew to a 3-0 victory over host Abington (3-12, 2-8).
“Paul might have pitched his best game of the year,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci of his talented right-hander who is a perfect 4-0 this season. “He got ahead of almost every hitter he faced, gave up just two hits, threw only 92 pitches and got eight strikeouts. They just couldn’t catch up with his fast ball.”
Pennsbury scored a run in the first inning on an RBI triple by senior Tyler Pennett. Pennent – who had three hits – also doubled home a second run and scored the final Falcon run on an RBI double by sophomore Justin Jacko.
Pennsbury Falcons 102 000 0 -3 9 0
Abington Ghosts 000 000 0 -0 2 1
Council Rock South (12-1, 9-1) kept its hold on first place in the conference as the Golden Hawks soared to a 7-4 victory over host Neshaminy (6-9, 6-4).
On Wednesday, Council Rock North (9-4, 8-2) scored four runs in the fifth inning and two game-winning runs in the seventh inning to collect a 6-4 victory over host Truman (3-11, 2-8).
Will Terry fueled the offense for the Indians with three hits and two RBI, while Michael Renk came up with the win for Rock North.
Council Rock North Indians 000 040 2 - 6
Truman Tigers 001 030 0 - 4
Trojans March to Victory
Wissahickon (8-8, 8-6) scored a run in the last of the seventh inning as the Trojans rallied for a 4-3 win over visiting PlymouthWhitemarsh (9-6, 9-5) in a Suburban One League American Conference game.
JT Crits delivered the game-winning blow for Wissahickon in the seventh inning with a one-out RBI single. Greg McDonough and Peter Bogdon collected doubles to spark the offense, while Bill McFarland was the winning pitcher.
Plymouth Whitemash Colonials 120 000 0 -3 4 2
Wissahickon Trojans 000 300 1 -4 5 0
The Rest of the Story in the SOL American Conference
On Wednesday, Cheltenham (7-9, 5-8) received a strong outing by winning pitcher Jack O’Grady as the Panthers clawed visiting Norristown (2-13, 2-12) – 5-3.
Matt Lawlor fueled the Panther offense with a double and a triple, while Brett Bernstein socked a double for the winners.
Norristown Eagles 000 010 2 -3 8 1
Cheltenham Panthers 200 201 x -5 10 3
On Tuesday, Upper Merion (4-10, 3-9) received a strong outing by winning pitcher Brian Rhindress as the Vikings sailed to a 5-1 victory over Wissahickon (7-8, 7-6).
The Upper Merion offense was sparked by the extra base hitting of Dalton Armenti (double), Bobby Landmesser (double), and John Delcollo (triple).
Wissahickon Trojans 000 000 1 -1 6 2
Upper Merion Vikings 201 002 x -5 10 2
- Log in to post comments
