Thursday, June 20, 2013

MOVING UP…

Ten graduating seniors from Springfield High will continue playing sports in college or professionally. The student-athletes include (from left) first row, Libby Field (US Naval Academy-Lacrosse), Katie Morris (East Stroudsburg University -Field Hockey), Paige Morrison (Shippensburg University -Soccer), Mariel Mancini (Washington & Jefferson College - Water Polo) and Colleen Morris (East Stroudsburg University -Field Hockey; second row, Julian Toll (Centenary College - Lacrosse), Kevin Gollmer (Chicago Steel Ice Hockey), Billy Dahm (Widener University - Football), Anthony Scafidi (Seton Hall - Baseball) and Tyler Bond (Cabrini College - Soccer).

GREATER NORRISTOWN AMERICAN LEGION: Grande, PV shut down Lafayette Auto

Montgomery Media / BOB RAINES Lafayette Auto's Zack Scheier connects with the ball during Wednesday's Greater Norristown American Legion game against Perk Valley.
After Liam Grande’s team wasn’t able to produce enough offense to give him a no-hitter and a win through seven innings, the right-handed pitcher took it upon himself to provide the runs in extra innings to give him the chance to finish off the gem.

And if pitching seven no-hit innings of one-run ball wasn’t enough, Grande came up to the plate in the top of the eighth, hit a game-winning RBI double and then came back to the mound and finished off an eight-inning no-hitter in a 2-1 win for Perk Valley over Lafayette Auto in a Greater Norristown American Legion Baseball League game at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School on Wednesday night.

PEN-DEL BASEBALL: Upper Moreland squeaks past Glenside

Wednesday night’s matchup between Glenside and Upper Moreland looked like a game between two teams battling for first place, not a first place, undefeated team playing a last place team looking to get its first win.

Glenside looked like it might be on its way to notching its first win when it opened the scoring with Matt Hanson singling to plate Kenny Nelson. The Hawks would put up three hits in the inning.

“I had a shaky start, giving up a couple hits in the first inning,” Upper Moreland pitcher Doug Brown said. “I think early in the game I was going to the fastball a lot.”

PERKY LEAGUE: Errors cost Ambler against Trooper

Errors are part of baseball. One error in an inning could be quite harmless, actually. But four errors in the top of the seventh when the home team is up a run? That’s down right detrimental. Fielding miscues are exactly what cost Ambler the opportunity to move into fourth place in the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League standings.

Despite a very good outing from starting pitcher Rory Clemens, Ambler coughed up a one-run lead that it took in the sixth and couldn’t recover after Trooper's five-run seventh. The Rebels were lucky in many ways to be in the game for as long as they were, as Tribe starter Tom Urban only allowed one run over five-plus innings.

FOOTBALL: Souderton's Young commits to Villanova

Days after the junior year of Souderton’s Rick Young ended, the summer started with astounding news for the football standout. The first offer the 6-2, 290-pounder received was a full scholarship from his top-choice Villanova and it did not take him long to verbally commit to the Division I championship sub-division school.

“The school just felt right and it was where I wanted to go,” Young said. “I really like the coaching staff and players at Villanova. I wanted to go somewhere where I felt like I fit in. My family and I are really excited right now.”

WINNERS...

The Springfield Velocity Elite 18U softball team placed first at the ASA Father’s Day Challenge in Flemington, NJ. The team scored 24 rounds will allowing just five. Outstanding pitching by Lizzy Lloyd, Jaye Lynn Reed and Kim Machalette combined for the victories, while standout play from the two tournament MVP's – Offensive MVP Jamie Gosselin and Defensive MVP catcher Rachel Matricardi. The team includes (from left) bottom row, coach Tina Machalette, Kim Machalette, Lizzy Lloyd, Sam Grzegorczyk, Jaye Lynn Reed and head coach Mike Machalette; top row, coach Dave Dempsey, Bridget Valeri, Jewell Ringgold, Jamie Austin, Rachel Triantafilou, Megan Dempsey, Jamie Gosselin, Rachel Matricardi and coach Josh Ringgold.

CHAMPIONS…

The Hatboro Red team won six of seven games over three days, including a 12-6 win over Upper Moreland in the final, to claim the Scotty Gibbs Memorial Machine Pitch Tournament at Hatboro Little League. The double-elimination, District 22 tournament included 11 teams, including Upper Moreland, Horsham, Abington and Flourtown. Next the Hatboro 7/8 Year olds will take their skills to the annual Machine Pitch Tournament in Flourtown. The team includes (from left) front, Gavin Lynch, Brendan France, Patrick McHenry, Chris Branchide and Jordan Tiburcio; back, coach Andy Ogilvie, Sion Shimer, Dariel Tiburcio, Jack Barbor, Jack Giuliana, manager Ben Barbor, Adriel Tiburcio, Shawn Herbert, Jimmy Ogilvie, Joe Vlaanderen and coach Matt Lynch.

TRAVEL CHAMPS…

The Oreland-Wyndmoor Wolfpack 11U travel team captured the Suburban Travel Baseball League Championship with a 5-4 win over Doylestown (2012 Cal Ripken Little League State Champion) at Oreland’s Marlow Field. The title is Oreland’s first travel league championship. The team includes (from left) bottom row, Dylan Davis, Jake Siani, Troy Rumer, Aaron Maione and Connor English; second row, Max Perry, Mitchell McCann, Ethan Hamilton, Luke Greenberg, Brian McPeak and Ray Ebner; top row, coaches Mike McCann, Joe Maione and David Hamilton.

WINNERS…

The Glenside Youth Athletic Club Gators won the U10 playoffs in extra innings against Abington/Roychester. The teams play in the Inter Community Girls Softball League. The game was played at Roychester Park, the home field of the previously unbeaten Abington/Roychester team. The game featured outstanding defensive plays by both teams including a double play by GYAC to get out of a late inning jam, and a great catch out in left field to end the game and give GYAC its second consecutive U10 ICGSL Championship.

BASEBALL: Nationals rally past punchless Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies were one out away from a morale-boosting sweep of the Nationals.

Somewhere there must be an amusement-ride sign that bans the 2013 Phillies from having morale that goes higher than a cartoon mouse’s ears. Because they cannot seem to qualify for things like “satisfaction” or “pleasure.”

Jonathan Papelbon couldn’t secure the one-run lead the Phillies took into the top of the ninth, and after a largely hapless offensive night for both teams, home-plate umpire Alfonso Marquez put a little squeeze on his strike zone that both cornered and perturbed reliever Mike Stutes and led to a double, an intentional walk, a squeezed-zone walk, and ultimately a grand slam by Ian Desmond that sent the Phils to a disappointing, 6-2, 11-inning loss at Citizens Bank Park.

PHILLIES NOTES: Finding a place to play Frandsen

PHILADELPHIA — Kevin Frandsen entered Wednesday with a .286 average for the Phils this season, the second-best mark for a Phillie this season, just behind Michael Young’s .288 mark. When Frandsen was given regular playing time at third base during the final two months of last season, he hit .338, the best average of any Phillie after July 31.

The 31-year-old journeyman has shown an ability to hit, and the Phillies could use some of that. However, with Chase Utley (oblique) close to a return from the disabled list, there won’t be as much availability for action in the infield for Frandsen.

Frandsen did make three starts at the corner outfield positions for the Giants and has made cameos in the outfield 14 times in the majors.

Would Manuel consider using Frandsen out there in lieu of, say, Delmon Young or John Mayberry Jr.?

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

CHAMPIONS...

The Harleysville Thunderbirds 16U softball team went 6-0 to capture the Under June Line Drive Challenge Tournament held at Alderfer Park in Harleysville. The team includes (from left) front row, Paige Shelly, Gabby Binando and Jenna Gibbons; second row, Morgan Yoder, Nicole Yanni and Dayna Shelly; back row, Sara Huzar, Missy Wiley, Mandy Kalil, Erelle Sowers and Becca Shanks.

CHAMPS...

The Whitpain Recreational Association 12U Travel Team opened its season by winning the 2013 Boyertown Tournament. WRA beat Boyertown Red 4-1 in the opening game behind a two-run single by Kyle Kane and excellent pitching from Hunter Bradbury, Chris Faunce and Pat Elliott.
CHAMPS…The Whitpain Recreation Association 12U travel team won four games en route to winning the 2013 Boyertown tournament. The team includes (from left) kneeling, Kyle Kane, Michael Henderson, Pat Elliott, JT Culp, Tim Dion, Hunter Bradbury and Chris Faunce; standing, coach Jack Elliott, Ed Fortescue, Joel Bjordammen, Matt Horenci, Hunter McGarvey, Brian Basile and coach Tom McGarvey.

MONTCO LEAGUE CHAMPS…

The Upper Dublin 12U travel baseball team beat Fox Rok 2-0 in the Montco League Championship on Saturday. Upper Dublin went 11-4 in the regular season then undefeated throughout playoffs. 

LEGION BASEBALL: Battle of Germantown Pike tourney set

This weekend, June 21-23, the Mt. Carmel Club Mounties of the Greater Norristown American Legion Baseball League will be hosting the fourth annual Battle of Germantown Pike American Legion Baseball Tournament. The tournament will be played over three days at two venues-- The Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School

The tournament is offered exclusively to American Legion baseball programs, and its intention is to highlight and showcase American Legion baseball in the region. In a double elimination format, eight teams will compete this year; six from Pennsylvania and two from New Jersey. This year's participants include Mount Carmel (Plymouth Meeting), Bristol Post 382 (2011 PA American Legion State Champions), Valley Forge Generals (Greater Norristown League), Ivy Ridge Panthers (Roxborough), Westtown Express (Chester County ALB League), Washington Twp. Post 521, Narberth (Main Line League) and the Manchester Twp. NJ Hawks.

LEGION BASEBALL: Bux-Mont Legion stars to face Greater Norristown stars

The Greater Norristown and Bux-Mont American Legion Baseball Leagues will be holding their 2013 All Star game on June 30th at 7 p.m. at Hostelley Field in North Wales. The objective is to provide the players from both leagues to showcase their talents before prospective college and professional scouts.

The game will be nine innings with wood bats being used. While each league will develop its own criteria for selecting players, each player selected will be given an opportunity to play. Invitations to coaches will be sent to all universities and colleges in the Eastern Pennsylvania area, but any coach is welcome to come. Professional scouts will also be invited.

PWs Fisher selected for Big 26 Baseball Classic

Plymouth Whitemarsh High sophomore Jon Fisher has been selected to play in the Big 26 Baseball Classic, in which teams of underclassmen from Pennsylvania and Maryland face off in a three-game series.

At the recommendation of his coach, Chris Manero, Fisher was one of more than 100 sophomores and juniors that attended the eastern Pennsylvania tryout over the Memorial Day weekend. A similar tryout was conducted in the western part of the state, and the top players from both tryouts were chosen for the team.

Scott to host football clinic in Conshy

New York Giants running back and Conshohocken native Da’Rel Scott will host his second annual free Youth Football Clinic on June 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the “A Field” in Conshohocken, PA. Children 8 to 14 years old will participate in non-contact drills on both offense and defense and learn the fundamentals of the game.

Scott is a graduate of Plymouth-Whitemarsh and a former member of the Conshy Bears Youth Football Program. He went on to attend the University of Maryland where he currently ranks eighth all-time for career rushing yards (2,401) and is one of four players in school history to record more than 2,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards.

Cosgrave receives Whitemarsh Baseball Association scholarship award

Whitemarsh Baseball Association announced that Patrick Cosgrave, son of Tim and Becky Cosgrave of Plymouth Meeting, has received the 2013 Whitemarsh Baseball Association’s scholarship award.

Cosgrave is a 2013 graduate of Plymouth Whitemarsh High and will begin the fall semester at Dickinson College majoring in Political Science.

BASEBALL: Fernandez leads HV to top of Lower Montco standings

Photo courtesy of Mike Landes Rafael Fernandez has been a key to Huntingdon Valley's run to the top of the Lower Montco American Legion standings.
Despite finishing with as many points as eventual league champion Fort Washington, Huntingdon Valley lost the head-to-head tiebreaker and finished second overall in the Lower Montco American Legion standings last season.

It was an occurrence with which Valley was familiar, as the team, currently coached by Evan Horn, has never – not once – finished first overall in the standings since starting in the league in 1963.

Valley won the league championship in 1980 and 1992, but still, the team has not been able to reach the top of the standings when the regular season came to a close.

So when Horn and his team look at the current standings, one which has Valley all alone in first place with 16 points and a 7-3-2 overall record, it’s a pretty big deal for them.

And one of the main reasons that Valley has been able to have so much success this season is the play of Rafael Fernandez, the recent Cheltenham High School graduate and current team captain who leads off for Valley while quarterbacking the defense from the shortstop position.

GOLF: McDermott's in good form at Philadelphia Amateur

NEWTOWN SQUARE — Michael McDermott got his game revved up a little sooner in 2013 than usual.

Life as an investment adviser, husband and father of three boys, the youngest just seven months, doesn’t leave as much time for golf as there used to be in the days when McDermott was a regular at the U.S. Amateur and won the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s William Hyndman III Award that goes to the Player of the Year five times.

But McDermott is a member at Merion Golf Club and when the 2013 U.S. Open was headed to the historic East Course, well McDermott had to give it a shot. He came up short May 9 in a local qualifier at Waynesborough Country Club, but his game wasn’t far off.

Tuesday, McDermott, the former Haverford High and St. Joseph’s University standout, showed he’s in pretty good form during the rain-delayed qualifying for the GAP’s Philadelphia Amateur Championship. He went out and fired a 2-under 68 at the 7,190-yard, par-70 Aronomink Golf Club layout, tying him for the best round of the day at the Donald Ross gem.

He was even-par through eight holes when darkness halted his second round at the 6,613-yard, par-70 St. Davids Golf Club layout, leaving him at 2-under. He’s tied with Little Mill Country Club’s Michael Hyland in the battle for medalist honors.

BASEBALL: Frandsen, Lee lift Phillies past Nationals

PHILADELPHIA — Sometime soon, the Phillies hope to have Chase Utley back at second base, playing happily and healthily for the remainder of the season.

However, for the last three weeks, Kevin Frandsen has been making a pitch for more playing time by doing the same thing he’s done ever since getting called up in late July of last season — hit.

Frandsen continued to make good use of an opportunity he waited two months to get, as his two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth inning Tuesday night gave the Phillies the lead for good as they notched their second straight win over Nationals, 4-2, at Citizens Bank Park.

PHILLIES NOTES: Ruiz rejoins club

PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies decided two minor-league rehabilitation games were enough for Carlos Ruiz to get back behind the plate in the big leagues.

However, the fact that the team’s leading hitter in 2012 was hitting eighth in the order tells you that Charlie Manuel doesn’t think the veteran’s bat is quite ready, even if his hamstring has healed.

“That was my thinking — put him down there (in the No. 8 hole) and let him get some at-bats,” Manuel said in a rain-soaked home dugout at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday night. “On nights we have a good (offensive) night he’ll get four at-bats. On nights we aren’t getting runs, he’ll get three, probably. We’ll see where he’s at.”

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

CARPENTER CUP: SOL American/Continental powers past Philadelphia Catholic League

Montgomery Media / BOB RAINES Wissahickon's Randy Frankenfield pitches for the Suburban One American/Continental stars during Monday's Carpenter Cup game against the Philadelphia Catholic League.
The Carpenter Cup provides an opportunity for the area’s best baseball players to show their skill set in front of college scouts. While both the Suburban One American/Continental and Philadelphia Catholic League teams are packed with talent, the former simply has the better squad and it showed in the opening round of the all-star tournament.

Led by stellar pitching and big offensive outings for Upper Moreland’s Robert Knox and North Penn’s Brady West, the SOL American/Continental essentially dominated the game showing the PCL who was boss with an 8-3 victory.

CARPENTER CUP: SOL National-Bicentennial falls to Olympic-Colonial

There wasn’t too much to cheer about for the Suburban One National/Bicentennial team or its fans, but when Trey Guaglionona came up to the plate, the Abington faithful was plenty happy.

The recent graduate and starter for the Ghosts, who was selected to the All-Star squad along with Abington teammates Eric Tidwell and Sean Gallagher, had two hits and got a huge response from the sizable cheering section which made the drive down to see their local players participate in the 28th Annual Phillies Carpenter Cup Classic.

The two hits marked possibly the loudest cheers of the day for the SOL National/Bicentennial team, but in the end, it was Olympic Colonial coming out with a convincing 16-8 win in the opening game of the Carpenter Cup at FDR Park’s Richie Ashburn Field on Monday morning.