Pennsbury bounced back from a loss in game one of its three-game series to defeat Neshaminy 10-2 on Wednesday. Photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
SOL Patriot Division
Pennsbury 10, Neshaminy 2
They couldn’t have written a better script. At least not for fans of high school baseball.
Neshaminy and Pennsbury - the top two teams in the SOL Patriot and two of District 1 6A’s best - will meet on the final day of the SOL season Thursday in the rubber match of the three-game series with sole possession of the division title on the line.
“The NFL sets up your conference games at the end of the year because they want parity,” Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci said. “Not that the SOL set this up intentionally, but last year, it was Neshaminy, and we won two games. This year, it’s Neshaminy, and we have the rubber match.”
Some unexpected things had to happen to arrive at this point, and they certainly did.
On Tuesday, Neshaminy defeated Pennsbury ace Keller Bradley, and one day later, Pennsbury returned the favor, knocking off Neshaminy and its ace, Chase Bonner.
“We felt like we squandered the game (Tuesday), but today we came out with a lot of resiliency,” Pesci said. “Our kids have been that way all year, and yesterday, we just didn’t have enough but today was great. We took advantage of errors and walks, but we also hit when we had to, so there were a ton of positives.”
Playing a key role in Wednesday’s win was Owen Hawkes, who notched the complete game win. He scattered six hits and allowed two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out two.
The Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the first, added one in the third and exploded for seven runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach.
Neshaminy scored both its runs in the top of the fifth.
By the numbers: Pennsbury: Tyler Lee (2-for-4, 2B, 2RBIs), Danny Seidler (1-for-1, 2RBIs, 1 run), Brendan Zuckerman (1-for-2, 1RBI, 1run).
Owen Hawkes (W) (7.0 IP, 6H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K)
Neshaminy: Sam Hitchen (3-for-3, 2B)
Key innings: Bottom of first – Carlton Crane drew a seven-pitch walk, stole second and moved up to third when Pierce Perry was safe on an error. Brendan Zuckerman followed and lined a single to center that plated Crane. With two outs, Perry scored on an error, spotting the Falcons an early 2-0 lead.
Bottom of fourth – The Falcons, who had a 3-0 lead, blew the game open wide with a seven-run fourth. The inning began Finn Burke – batting out of the nine hole – lining a single to left field. A two-base error on Carlton Crane’s bunt single allowed Burke to score from first and Crane to move all the way up to third. Pierce Perry was hit by a pitch and Brendan Zuckerman was intentionally walked to load the bases. Ty Lee made the ‘Skins pay for that decision, lining a double that plated a pair and gave the Falcons a 6-0 lead. By the time the inning was over, the Falcons led 10-0, benefiting from three more walks, a sac fly by Henry Garlits and several costly errors.
Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci:
--Getting the early lead: “We came out today knowing they’re throwing (Chase) Bonner. He's been great all year. Just getting those two runs (in the first inning) and running the pitch count up – that’s the other big part. I think through two innings he’s almost at 50 pitches, and that’s huge. Our guys going up there and competing, and even if they got down 0-2 or 1-2, they extended at bats, which was really great.”
--Props: “Finn Burke is a sophomore, and he was great on JV. He started most of the year at third base, and he’s struggled a little bit. He had a ton of walks and stuff at the beginning of the year, but he just hasn’t big hitting. He had a big triple against Council Rock North, and we know that talent level that’s out there.
“Sometimes you press, sometimes the season gets away from you, but that leadoff hit (in the seven-run fourth) was big because obviously, Carlton, Perry, Zuckerman and Lee – they’ve been incredible all year, so getting on base there for the top of the order was massive because we knew that after that we would be able to move some guys around. Carlton does what he does, and Perry’s batting average has dropped 400 points, and he’s still hitting .400 and change. He gets hit by the pitch. They intentionally walk Zuckerman and then Ty Lee just comes up huge.
“Yesterday, Ty came up with two outs and a guy on second, and he could have tied it. He popped out, but today he comes up with the two-run double, which was huge to really blow the game open.”
--Hawkes in charge: “(Owen) is not an overpowering strikeout guy. Earlier this year, he was leaving his ball up. Today, he threw strikes. He got his splitter down, and he got a ton of ground outs. (He threw) 64 pitches in seven innings, which is great. You can’t ask for more out of Owen. Sixty-four pitches in seven innings and 42 strikes. In two innings, he walked the leadoff guy, and then we had a double play line drive and a double play groundball, so he was really efficient. I think he threw six pitches in the first inning. The double plays were huge.”
--The rubber match: “We always say to the kids – you have to win the series, so hopefully, we stole the momentum. Tomorrow’s game is going to be an interesting one. I assume they’ll throw Jared Kligerman. He came in relief (Tuesday). He was great for them last year, and he’s been really good this year. Our guys are ready to go.”
Up next: Neshaminy and Pennsbury will meet in a high stakes game at Pennsbury Thursday (4pm). The winner will capture sole possession of the SOL Patriot Division title.
Neshaminy 000 020 0 2-6-6
Pennsbury 201 700 x 10-6-2
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