2013 SOL Baseball Notebook (Vol. 7)

05/07/13 3:04am Posted by editor

Scott Huff looks at the play picture for SOL baseball teams and highlights last week’s pitching gems.

By Scott Huff

Playoffs.

We’re still talking playoffs.

PIAA District One Quad-A ‘North’ Playoffs.

The Suburban One League regular season is racing toward its conclusion, and the only sure thing about the SOL championships and the invitations to the 12-team Quad-A ‘North’ playoffs is that there isn’t a sure thing.

The SOL Continental Conference has three remaining conference games - CentralBucks East (9-2), Central Bucks South (8-3), North Penn (7-4), and Pennridge (7-4) all have mathematical chances for a conference title.  Both Hatboro-Horsham (5-6) and Souderton (5-6) have outside shots at playoff invites.

“Right now, all you can do is go out and try to win every game you have left,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nunneviller as the Rams play at Souderton (5/7), host Central Bucks East (5/9) and close out the season at North Penn (5/13).  “We could be conference champs, a playoff team, or not make the playoffs.  Every game we have left means something, and you only have 14 opportunities to get league wins.

“One of our goals at the beginning of the season was to make the (district) playoffs,” added Nunneviller.  “We can control our own destiny if we can play well the next three games.

“(Senior) Evan Myers has been our go-to pitcher all season, and we will have him be able to throw against both Souderton and North Penn,” continued Nunneviller.  “He has been effective all season changing speeds and throwing strikes.  He goes right after the hitters, and that’s the way we are going to have to play this week.  We need to go out fighting to win every game.”

The SOL National Conference has three remaining conference games – Neshaminy (9-2), Council Rock North (7-4), Council Rock South (6-5), and William Tennent (6-5) all have mathematical chances for a conference title.  Pennsbury (5-6) has an outside shot at the playoffs.

“We’re still hopeful that we can snag one of the remaining playoff spots,” said first year Council Rock South head coach Ted Kirner.  “If we’re going to do it, we are going to have to do it against the best teams in the league in Neshaminy (5/7), William Tennent (5/9), and Council Rock North (5/13).

“We got some bad news in that one of our best pitchers – Greg Paprocki – will not be able to play this week with an injury,” added Kirner.  “Ryan Fleming will pitch against both Neshaminy and Council Rock North, and Matt Walsh will most likely take the ball against William Tennent.  We know that this is the time to be playing our best baseball.

“Being a first year coach, you end up playing the ‘what if’ game,” continued Kirner.  “We were up 3-0 with two outs in the seventh inning and nobody on base against Truman and lost that game.  But really, every team in the league can play that ‘what if’ game.  We still have our chance, and we have to make the most of that opportunity.”

The SOL American Conference has three remaining conference games – and the conference has its unique qualities in that two schools have already made the PIAA playoffs.  Both first place Upper Moreland (11-0) and Springfield (5-6) will advance to the postseason – the Golden Bears on the Class AAA level and the Spartans on the Class AA level.  The Quad-A battle will take place between Cheltenham (8-3), Wissahickon (6-5), and Norristown (5-6) with all three still having a mathematical shot at the one guaranteed Quad-A playoff slot.

“We need to be able to win both of our games this week, and then take our shot at Upper Moreland next week,” said Wissahickon head coach Shannon Gunby as the Trojans host Upper Merion (2-9) and play at Norristown.  “We are in a position to take care of ourselves; however, 9-5 looks a lot better than 8-6.

“The last three years, the final game with Upper Moreland has been huge,” added Gunby.  “In 2010, the winner of that game won the conference. In 2011 we needed to beat them to get into the playoffs and lost, and 2012 we needed to beat them to get into the playoffs and we won.

“We have two great pitchers in (seniors) Randy Frankenfield and Bill McFarland to count on in these big games,” continued Gunby.  “They have combined for a 2.86 league earned run average, and I would have hoped that translated into more wins.  But we play the game with confidence, and we are excited about the games in front of us.”

The Suburban One League is not alone in the chase for playoff slots in the 12-team ‘North’ Quad-A bracket.  The Pioneer Athletic Conference is granted one guaranteed playoff berth and has teams in the mix for the remaining six at-large spots along with the three SOL conferences.  Right now – four PAC-10 teams are in contention for both the league title and playoff berths – Methacton (11-5), Boyertown (10-6), Perkiomen Valley (10-6), and Spring-Ford (10-6) are all in the hunt with two conference games left on the schedule.

Stay tuned.
PIAA District One ‘North’ Playoff Race

  • Central Bucks East Patriots (SOL Continental Conference) – 9-2 [.818] – Remaining games – Quakertown (0-11), @ Pennridge (7-4), and @ Central Bucks South (8-3).
  • Neshaminy Redskins (SOL National Conference) – 9-2 [.818] – Remaining games - @ Council Rock South (6-5), @ Council Rock North (7-4), and Pennsbury (5-6).
  • Central Bucks South Titans (SOL Continental Conference) – 8-3 [.727] – Remaining games - Central Bucks West (3-8), Souderton (5-6), and Central Bucks East (9-2).
  • Cheltenham Panthers (SOL American Conference) – 8-3 [.727] – Remaining games - Upper Moreland (11-0), @ Upper Merion (2-9), and Norristown (5-6).
  • Methacton Warriors (PAC -10) – 11-5 [.688] – Remaining games – Pottstown (10-6), and @ Owen J Roberts (4-12).
  • Council Rock North Indians (SOL National Conference) – 7-4 [.636] – Remaining games - @ Bensalem (4-7), Neshaminy (9-2), and @ Council Rock South (6-5).
  • North Penn Knights (SOL Continental Conference) – 7-4 [.636] – Remaining games - @ Hatboro-Horsham (5-6), @ Central Bucks West (2-9), and Pennridge (7-4).
  • Pennridge Rams (SOL Continental Conference) – 7-4 [.636] – Remaining games - @ Souderton (5-6), Central Bucks East (9-2), and @ North Penn (7-4).
  • Boyertown Bears (PAC – 10) – 10-6 [.625] – Remaining games - @ Phoenixville (10-4), and Pope John Paul II (5-11).
  • Perkiomen Valley Vikings (PAC-10) – 10-6 [.625] – Remaining games – Pottsgrove (2-13), and @ Upper Perkiomen (6-9).
  • Spring-Ford Rams (PAC-10) – 10-6 [.625] – Remaining games – Owen J Roberts (4-12), and Phoenixville (10-4).
  • Council Rock South Golden Hawks (SOL National Conference) – 6-5 [.545] – Remaining games – Neshaminy (9-2), @ William Tennent (6-5), and Council Rock North (7-4).
  • William Tennent Panthers (SOL National Conference) – 6-5 [.545] – Remaining games -  @ Abington (3-8), Council Rock South (6-5), and @ Truman (4-7).
  • Wissahickon Trojans (SOL American Conference) – 6-5 [.545] – Remaining games – Upper Merion Vikings (2-9), @ Norristown (5-6), and Upper Moreland (11-0).
  • Pennsbury Falcons (SOL National Conference) – 5-6 [.454] – Remaining games - @ Truman (4-7), Abington (3-8), and @ Neshaminy (9-2).
  • Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (SOL Continental Conference) – 5-6 [.454] – Remaining games – North Penn (7-4), @ Quakertown (0-11), and Central Bucks West (2-9).
  • Souderton Indians (SOL Continental Conference) – 5-6 [.454] – Remaining games – Pennridge (7-4), @ Central Bucks South (8-3), and Quakertown (0-11).
  • Norristown Eagles (SOL American Conference) – 5-6 [.454] – Remaining games – Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-9), Wissahickon (6-5), and @ Cheltenham (8-3).

Pitching Gems in the SOL

  • Anthony Scafidi of Springfield had an 11-strikeout complete game performance as the Spartans edged Norristown 2-1.
  • Mike Greenwood of Upper Merion tossed a two-hitter as the Vikings sailed to a 6-2 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh.
  • Eddie Decker of Upper Moreland won his fifth straight game without a loss as the Golden Bears clawed Upper Dublin 9-2.
  • Christian Salazar of Cheltenham hurled a complete game as the Panthers captured a 7-1 win over Wissahickon.
  • Dan O’Hara of Souderton fired a complete game as the Indians defeated first place Central Bucks East 4-3.
  • Ricky Dennis of Central Bucks South had an impressive nine-strikeout effort as the Titans collected a 7-2 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
  • Brian Maher of North Penn threw a five-hit shutout as the Knights marched to an 8-0 win over Quakertown.
  • Trevor Dalton and Dave Tatoian of Pennridge combined on a four-hitter as the Rams captured a 2-1 victory over Central Bucks West.
  • Matt Weir of Council Rock North hurled 4 and 1/3 innings of shutout relief as the Indians collected a 4-3 win over Pennsbury.
  • Cole Creighton of Neshaminy had a brilliant 10-strikeout performance as the Redskins captured a 4-3 victory over William Tennent.
  • Joe Sabatino of Pennsbury took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and finished with a one-hitter as the Falcons mercy-ruled Council Rock South 10-0.
  • Matt Renck of Council Rock North fired a complete-game two-hitter as the Indians defeated Truman 5-1.  It was the first career start for Renck who struck out five Tiger hitters.
  • Chuck Delagol of William Tennent allowed just a single run on four hits as the Panthers defeated Bensalem 4-1.  Delagol struck out nine Owl hitters in his complete game win.
  • John Fitz of Central Bucks West tossed a one-hitter in the Bucks 10-1 win over Souderton. Fitz fanned eight and needed just 86 pitches in the complete game effort.

‘On Deck’ In the Suburban One League
American Conference
Tuesday – May 7, 2013
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Norristown Eagles
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Cheltenham Panthers
Upper Merion Vikings @ Wissahickon Trojans
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals @ Springfield Spartans
Thursday – May 9, 2013
Springfield Spartans @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears
Wissahickon Trojans @ Norristown Eagles
Cheltenham Panthers @ Upper Merion Vikings
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Monday – May 13, 2013
Norristown Eagles @ Cheltenham Panthers
Upper Merion Vikings @ Upper Dublin Cardinals
Upper Moreland Golden Bears @ Wissahickon Trojans
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials @ Springfield Spartans
Continental Conference
Tuesday – May 7, 2013
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Central Bucks South Titans
Pennridge Rams @ Souderton Indians
North Penn Knights @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
Quakertown Panthers @ Central Bucks East Patriots
Thursday – May 9, 2013
North Penn Knights @ Central Bucks West Bucks
Central Bucks East Patriots @ Pennridge Rams
Souderton Indians @ Central Bucks South Titans
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters @ Quakertown Panthers
Monday – May 13, 2013
Pennridge Rams @ North Penn Knights
Central Bucks West Bucks @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
Quakertown Panthers @ Souderton Indians
Central Bucks East Patriots @ Central Bucks South Titans
National Conference
Tuesday – May 7, 2013
Council Rock North Indians @ Bensalem Owls
Neshaminy Redskins @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks
William Tennent Panthers @ Abington Ghosts
Pennsbury Falcons @ Truman Tigers
Thursday – May 9, 2013
Abington Ghosts @ Pennsbury Falcons
Truman Tigers @ Bensalem Owls
Neshaminy Redskins @ Council Rock North Indians
Council Rock South Golden Hawks @ William Tennent Panthers
Monday – May13, 2013
Pennsbury Falcons @ Neshaminy Redskins
Council Rock North Indians @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks
Bensalem Owls @ Abington Ghosts
William Tennent Panthers @ Truman Tigers

 

Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1.  Neshaminy Redskins
2.  Central Bucks East Patriots
3.  Central Bucks South Titans
4.  Council Rock North Indians
5.  Pennridge Rams
6.  North Penn Knights
7.  Upper Moreland Golden Bears
8.  Cheltenham Panthers
9.  Council Rock South Golden Hawks
10.  William Tennent Panthers

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