Runzer mainstay for Council Rock North baseball

This week, we check in on Council Rock North's Scott "Sunshine" Runzer. With his contributions at the plate and on the hill, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior powered the Indians past Central, 6-2, Monday in a PIAA Class AAAA state playoff opener.

Runzer, sporting a new Mohawk hairstyle, limited the Public League champions to four hits and whiffed five in a complete-game effort. He threw 119 pitches, 74 for strikes.

From the No. 3 spot in the order, he went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. He delivered a run-scoring single to left field in the third inning. In a three-run fourth, his double to right knocked in leadoff man Matt Hone and raised Council Rock North's advantage to 5-1.

Runzer, a West Chester recruit, is expected to play first base in today's state quarterfinal game against North Penn. The Indians, 16-6 and runner-up to West Chester East in the District 1 tournament, will clash with the Knights, 17-6 and the district's No. 5 seed, at 3 p.m. at Bear Stadium in Boyertown, Pa.

In 22 appearances, Runzer is batting .506 (39 for 77) with 31 RBIs, 21 runs, 14 doubles, 7 walks, 4 home runs, and 1 triple. He has a .961 slugging percentage and .548 on-base percentage.

On the mound, the Suburban One League National Conference's player of the year is 8-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 64 innings.