Lehigh Valley Beats Inter-Ac/Independents
Lehigh Valley pitchers recorded 12 strikeouts in beating the Inter-Ac/Independents 3-1 during today's final first round Carpenter Cup game at the University of Pennsylvania's Meiklejohn Stadium.
The winners now meet Suburban One League National/Bicentennial Athletic League in Friday's 12:30 p.m. quarterfinal
In the seventh inning Lehigh Valley extended its lead to 3-1 on a sacrifice fly by Scott Kalamar.
In the sixth inning, Lehigh Valley broke a 1-1 tie on an RBI single by Joe Abeln.
Daniel Johnson got things started for Lehigh Valley with a one-out double that was misplayed in rightfield in the sixth inning. He moved to third on a groundout before scoring on Abeln's single.
A fourth inning sacrifice fly by Lehigh Valley's Drew Hercik tied the score at 1-1.
Inter-Ac/Independents took a 1-0 lead on a bases loaded walk to Malvern Prep junior Ty Young in the second inning.
Germantown Academy junior righthander Keenan Kish looked impressive in pitching three hitless innings for Inter-Ac/Independents.
Penn Charter freshman righthander Ken Koplove, brother of current Triple-A pitcher Mike Koplove, was the losing pitcher. Ken Koplove allowed two runs in four innings, but could have fared better if some balls weren't misplayed.
FINAL
SOL National/Bicentennial 7, Berks County 3
Defending Carpenter Cup champion, Suburban One League National/Bicentennial Athletic League has advanced to the quarterfinal with today's 7-3 win over Berks County in an opening round game at the University of Pennsylvania's Meiklejohn Stadium.
SOL National/Bicentennial will play the winner of this afternoon's second game between Lehigh Valley and Inter-Ac/Independents in Friday's 12:30 p.m. quarterfinal at Meiklejohn Stadium.
The winners scored their final run in the eighth inning.
Abington senior Corey Hower drove in the seventh run on a fielder's choice.
Berks County scored one run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Central Catholic's Chris Lloyd.
The SOL National/Bicentennial had scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead.
Council Rock North senior Matt Hone hit an RBI double and his team also received sacrifice flies from Council Rock North senior Kelly Adams and Bristol junior Adam Moore
Berks County cut the lead to 3-2 with one run in the fifth inning, but it could have been more. SOL National/Bicentennial rightifielder Tyler Orr of Neshaminy threw a laser to the plate to nail Blaise Fernandez at home.
Junior Ryan Seiz of Christopher Dock just missed a home run, but he still keyed a two-run fifth inning for the SOL National/Bicentennial.
Seiz crushed a triple that hit the centerfield fence, driving in Council Rock sophomore Billy Fleming, who had singled, to break a 1-1 tie. SOL Nat/Bicen then extended the lead to 3-1 when Greg Olenski of Holy Ghost Prep drove in Seiz with an RBI double
Olenski scored his team's first run after a teammate hit into a double play in the top of the fourth inning. The game is now in the top of the fifth inning.
Kyle Hartman's RBI double in the bottom of the third inning gave Berks a 1-0 lead.
Berks threatened in the first inning with runners on second and third and one out, but SOL National/Bicentennial pitcher Josh Patman of Truman, got a popout and then was saved by rightfielder Nick Mascioli of Delco Christian, who made what is so far the best catch of the tournament.
Charging the ball, Mascioli made a diving catch, stretching his body as far as he could go.
SOL Nat/Bicen also got out of the second with a defensive gem as second baseman Brian Fiocco of Neshaminy made a diving stop of a grounder and flipped it to his Neshaminy teammate Rick Brebner for the final out at second base.