Pennridge defeated Council Rock North to capture the District One AAAA title on Thursday. It is the program’s first district crown since 1987. Check the gallery of Keith Clemens’ photos of all the action...CLICK HERE.
By Scott Huff
Let’s Party Like it’s 19-uh-87.
Fairview Village – Pennridge captured its first PIAA District One championship since 1987 as the Rams edged Council Rock North 3-1 in an exciting Quad-A championship game played at Methacton High School. Both the Rams (1-1) and the Indians (1-2) will move on to the first round of the state tournament on Monday (6/6/16).
“You don’t often get a chance to celebrate a district championship,” said Pennridge head coach Tom Nuneviller. “It is a great feeling for this group of great young men.”
Nuneviller knows that wonderful feeling all too well. Coach Nuneviller – then center fielder Nuneviller - was a player on the 1987 Pennridge district champion that later went on to collect gold as the 1987 state baseball champion.
“The one thing that I can say about the two teams is that we had a certain chemistry,” said Nuneviller. “Everybody says that – but you really have to have it. I have known and coached these kids in other sports since they were eight years old. It is a team with a great work ethic.”
And nobody exemplifies that work ethic more than Pennridge senior Danny Long. Long – who will attend Monmouth University on a baseball scholarship – came in to close out the game for the Rams.
“Danny Long – whether it’s on the basketball court or the baseball field – is the player you want with the ball at the end of the game,” said Nuneviller. “He won’t step away from a challenge. He is the ultimate competitor. He is a very special player.”
“I knew that once they went to Long we were going to have our work cut out for us,” said Council Rock North head coach Matt Schram. “He has good velocity, a good curve ball, and outstanding command.”
“I am proud to play the game with this ‘P’ on my chest,” said Long – sporting a bruise on his left cheek as a result of the ‘dogpile’ celebration at the end of the game. “This green jersey that represents my high school for the last four years means a lot to me.”
Long closed out the game for junior Andrew Mayhew who threw a very effective 5.1 innings. The diminutive right hander handcuffed the potent CR North batters and limited the Indians to just an unearned run and one hit.
Pennridge took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to some two-out magic.
Riley Hager singled to start the rally and sprinted home with the first run of the game on a blistering double off the bat of Jason Souder. Luke Nuneviller – son of Coach Nuneviller – stroked a single to centerfield to score a hustling Souder with the second run of the game.
The Rams assumed a 3-0 lead with a solo tally in the fifth inning.
With one out, Mitch McCleod was safe on a two-base error. And with two outs, Andrew Fantaskey laced a single to score McCleod with what proved to be the final run of the game for Pennridge.
“We didn’t have one player stand out today hitting the ball,” noted Nuneviller as his Rams spaced out seven hits. “But we got some timely hitting when we needed it.”
Council Rock North scored its only run of the game in the sixth inning.
With one out, Matt Hand drew a walk and was the last hitter that Mayhew faced. Long came in and gave up an infield single to Seth Leuz putting runners on first and second with one out. Hand scored when the Rams failed to complete a double play, and Long struck out the final hitter to snuff out the rally and secure the win.
“When you spot a team like Pennridge some early runs, it’s tough to come back,” said Schram. “Their pitching is really tough. Mayhew hit his spots very well all day – and Long is such a great closer.
“Playing in this district tournament is tiring,” added Schram. “Last year we celebrated after beating North Penn to win the district title – and North Penn went on to celebrate a state championship after losing to us.
“I reminded the players of that,” added Schram. “The only good thing about losing this game is that we get another game on Monday.”
And the Rams will have that same state playoff date – only this year Pennridge will be the team to enter the tournament as District One champions.
Pennridge Rams 0-2-0-0-1-0-0 * 3 7 3
Council Rock North 0-0-0-0-0-1-0 * 1 3 1
Pennridge
Long ss-p 3 0 0 0
Fantaskey 2b 3 0 1 1
Robinson c 3 0 0 0
Yoder cf 3 0 1 0
Horne 1b-ss 3 0 2 0
Hager lf 3 1 1 0
Souder dh 3 1 1 1
Nuneviller rf 2 0 1 1
McCleod 3b 2 1 0 0
Totals 25 3 7 3
Council Rock North
Tully 4 0 0 0
Sheriot 2 0 0 0
Schram 3 0 0 0
Hand 2 1 0 0
Luez 3 0 1 0
D’Archangelo 3 0 0 0
Nowmos 3 0 0 0
Clowser 3 0 1 0
Parker 3 0 1 0
Totals 26 1 3 0
RAMS
Mayhew (WP) 5.1 1 1 0 4 4
Long (save) 1.2 2 0 0 2 0
INDIANS
Gavin Ferrandino (LP) 4.0 4 2 2 3 1
CJ Kilgarriff 3.0 3 1 0 1 0
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