Pennsbury defeated Owen J Roberts Thursday to capture the District 1 6A Tournament title. Pennsbury/OJR photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography & Michael Rice. Pennridge defeated Neshaminy in the third place gaem.
District 1 6A championship
#4 Pennsbury 10, #7 Owen J Roberts 3
Connor O’Brien has a bright future on the gridiron, but it was baseball that gave the Pennsbury senior a moment he’ll remember for a lifetime. That moment when – with O’Brien on the mound - third baseman Finn Burke squeezed a popup for the game’s final out of the Falcons’ 10-3 win over Owen J Roberts to clinch the District 1 6A title.
“That last out and everybody running at you – there’s really nothing like that in any sport,” O’Brien said. “I got trampled on. I tried to stay up as long as I could. We all just dogpiled – that’s our go-to. Just to add another banner to the check list - it was a great time. Coming out strong today, everybody contributed.
Coming out strong was an understatement. The Falcons collected six hits – five singles and a double by Pierce Perry - and put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the first before fans had settled in their seats.
“It’s just our depth – obviously, our top three guys are really good, but it’s up and down the lineup,” said junior Danny Seidler, who singled home a run in the seven-run first. “Everyone is working really hard, and it shows in these games as everyone is contributing to the runs.
“In the first inning, eight of our nine batters had either an RBI or scored a run – it’s amazing.”
Amazing but almost expected from a Falcon squad that has had the corner of the market on big innings.
“We scored seven runs in the sixth inning on Tuesday (in a 12-7 win over Neshaminy), and we scored seven runs in the first inning today,” Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci said. “They went with their kid who was their number two (Adam Stahl). We had a great scouting report on him. Our kids have just hit all year.”
An explosive offense has been the calling card of this year’s Pennsbury squad, and the Falcons put on a clinic in the first inning.
“In that first inning, it was just single, single, single – out kids are going to hit,” Pesci said.
The hits stopped coming with such regularity after the first, although the Falcons added a run in the third. Carlton Xrane lined a two-out double to center, and he scored when Perry delivered a clutch single.
It was an 8-0 game heading into the sixth inning when the Wildcats scored three runs. The Falcons got two of those back in the bottom of the inning. Perry led off the inning with a single, and with two outs, Michael Sogness drew a walk, setting the stage for a huge two-run triple to right field by Seidler, giving the Falcons a 10-3 lead.
For the Wildcats, Owen Waltimyer threw six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs while walking four and striking out nine.
“Look, their kid that came in was amazing,” Pesci said of Waltimyer. “He had a ton of strikeouts, but the word of the year has been resiliency. Our kids are so resilient.
“It got a little hairy when you give up three runs there, but we just kind of knew we were going to hit. Danny Seidler is one of the toughest kids in our league, and to come up with that hit – if the wind’s not blowing, it’s gone easily.”
All that remained was for O’Brien to take care of business in the seventh, and he did, retiring the Wildcats in order to put an exclamation point on the big win.
“We wanted to hang banners this season – we’ve got two, and we’re looking for the third now,” said junior Quinton Shaffer, who earned the win on the mound. “We’re going to take it one game at a time.
“The district championship - this was the biggest game of the season as every game before this has been, but absolutely, this was a goal from the start of the season. We knew we had something special.”
Shaffer delivers on the mound: With an offense that scores runs in bunches, it’s easy to overlook the standout effort of the Falcons’ pitchers, most notably starter Quinton Shaffer.
The hard-throwing junior took a shutout into the sixth inning when he was lifted with one out, a run in and a pair of runners on base.
“Quinton was amazing,” junior Danny Seidler said of his teammate. “His command was really good. He was throwing really hard – I wouldn’t be surprised if he touched 90 miles an hour.
“That’s all it really takes, and when you have solid defense behind him, it gets the job done.”
And it was the fastball that was Shaffer’s money pitch in Thursday’s win.
“My off-speed wasn’t the best it’s been this season, but I was able to pound the zone with my fastball and then keep them off balance with the curveball when I could,” he said.
Getting an early 7-0 lead certainly didn’t hurt either.
“It’s reassuring,” Shaffer said. “My entire life I’ve become accustomed to pitching with a lead. These guys are doing it game after game. It really is awesome.
“It just gives me confidence to go out there and do my thing. We had a good scouting report on these guys, and we knew we were going to come to play no matter who they threw.
“Playing with these guys the last couple years has been great. This is the culmination of all the good things we’ve done.”
Shaffer’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“The last three outings he’s had have been absolutely amazing,” Pesci said. “I’m just proud of our kids from top to bottom.”
By the numbers: Pennsbury: Pierce Perry (3-for-4, 2B, 1RBI, 2R), Carlton Crane (2-for-3, 2B, 1RBI, 2R), Danny Seidler (2-for-2, 3B, 3RBIs, 1R), Michael Sogness (1-for-2, 2R)
Quinton Shaffer (W) (5.1 IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 8K), Colin Boraski (0.1 IP, 2H, 0R), Connor O’Brien (1.1 IP, 0H, 0R)
Key inning: Bottom of first - Carlton Crane drew a leadoff walk, and Pierce Perry followed with a line drive double to left field. Brendan Zuckerman brought home the game’s first run with a line single to left. A second run scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Tyler Lee. Michael Sogness followed with a single that loaded the bases for Danny Seidler, who singled home the inning’s third run. Back-to-back ground outs by Henry Garlits and Nolan Kolanko both brought home a run, and singles by Finn Burke and Crane each drove in one run, giving the Falcons a commanding 7-0 lead after one inning.
“As a pitcher, that’s what you hope for – when you come in and score seven runs in the first inning, all the pressure is off your back,” O’Brien said. “Our entire lineup hits top to bottom. It’s just great.”
Seniors have unfinished business: Last year’s disappointment is this year’s motivation,
“We have 10 seniors on the team this year who were all on varsity last year and ended with what felt like unfinished business with the 1-0 state loss to eventual state champ Cedar Cliff,” coach Joe Pesci said. “Some of them were starters who have played big roles this year while others have made an impact and had special moments.
“I think the best part about this team and these seniors is the selflessness and that they genuinely love being together and rooting for each other.”
Connor O’Brien, according to the Falcons’ coach, is an example of that selflessness.
“He has been a starter, middle reliever, and closer,” Pesci said. “He is moving on from baseball after this year because he will be going post grad for football. He is going to be a D1 lineman.
“The kid is bigger than me now. He is imposing on the mound for sure. I think this is the role where Connor can make the biggest impact for us. Maybe once through the lineup with the movement he has on his ball. It felt special to have him as a senior be the one out there to secure this district title for us.”
O’Brien is a three-year varsity player for the Falcons.
“He could've had a future in college on the mound, but his ticket to the next level is no doubt football,’ Pesci said. “At 6-5, 270 points, the first team All-SOL lineman is a good thing to have on our baseball team too.
“He wanted to be a starter in the beginning of the year and he did get a few. But he has so understood and accepted these new roles. That's what it takes to make a great team. Kids working hard at their role.”
And for O’Brien and his fellow seniors, this is the stuff dreams are made of.
“You work all this time from when you’re a kid in little league all the way up until now for senior year to win districts, and to be able to have a home game for states and have a chance to play for a state title – it’s great,” O’Brien said. “This has long lasting impact on everybody around me and the whole entire school.”
O’Brien will be taking a post grad year to Phillips Exeter Academy.
“He is getting a lot of IVY, Patriot League. And mid major offers for football,” Pesci said.
For now, O’Brien’s focus in on baseball.
“This group that we have this year is the closest we’ve ever been as a team while I’ve been on varsity,” the Falcons’ senior said. “There’s no cliques on this team. Everybody has camaraderie. We’re all a big group, we hang out outside of baseball, and when we get here, we all work together.”
Up next: Pennsbury will host the District 3 fourth place team, Ephrata, in Monday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A State Tournament.
Owen J Roberts 000 003 0 3-8-0
Pennsbury 701 002 x 10-11-1
District 1 6A third place
#3 Pennridge 5, #8 Neshaminy 2
Hits were at a premium for both sides in Thursday’s third place game, and the Rams – who managed five hits to only three for the ‘Skins – scored all the runs they would need in a four-run second.
The Redskins trimmed that lead to 4-2 in the top of the third when Chase Bonner – after a Dan Marable walk – smashed a two-run home run to left field.
A sac fly by Tim Croyle accounted for the Rams’ fifth run.
Oliver Olson was credited with the win. He did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings. Brayden Robinson was one of four pitchers who saw action, and he threw three shutout innings, allowing just two hits.
By the numbers: Pennridge: Nick Calabretti (2-for-3, 1R), Noah Keating (1-for-2, 1RBI, 1R), Jarek Trout (1-for-1, 2R)
Oliver Olson (W) (2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 4BB, 2K), Brayden Robinson (3.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 4K)
Key inning: Bottom of second – The Rams broke a scoreless tie with a four-run outburst. Ascher Hamburg led off the inning with a single, Connor Murray was hit by a pitch, and the bases were loaded after Nick Calabretti singled. Noah Keating followed with a single that drove in a run, and with one out, Tommy Ginnetti’s bases-loaded walk forced home a run. Brayden Robinson’s sacrifice fly plated Keating, and the Rams led 3-0. A walk to Tim Croyle was followed by a fielder’s choice that plated a run.
Up next: Pennridge will face District 12 champion La Salle in Monday’s opening round of the PIAA 6A State Tournament. Neshaminy will travel to District 11 champion William Allen on Monday.
Neshaminy 002 000 0 2-3-0
Pennridge 040 100 x 5-5-0
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