Pa. Boys: Thurs. Pa. boys: Big comeback for Friends' Central

With his team down by five runs entering the seventh and final inning, Friends' Central baseball coach Ross Trachtenberg gathered his players Thursday and delivered what he called "the normal."

Fight to the last out. Don't quit. Win the inning.

Surprisingly to Trachtenberg, the normal did the trick as Charles Bears capped a six-run rally with a two-run single to right as the Phoenix stunned visiting Moorestown Friends, 8-7, in a Friends Schools League game.

Bears, a junior who started the game as the designated hitter, pitched a perfect seventh inning to earn the win. He produced the winning hit with one out after working a 2-2 count. It was Bears' second hit of the day.

"It was huge for Charles," Trachtenberg said. "He's been working real hard this season. He was smiling ear to ear."

Freshman Joey Lawall finished 3 for 3 with three runs scored and led off the seventh with a single. Senior shortstop Aaron Ross added a pair of RBIs, and his single cut the deficit to one run with no outs.

Suburban One. Luke Pollach, a senior shortstop, hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to lift Springfield (Montco) over visiting Norristown, 2-1. Anthony Scafidi earned the win with 11 strikeouts over seven innings.

David Tatoian went 3 for 4 and picked up the save as Pennridge topped host Central Bucks West, 2-1. Trevor Dalton started the game and fanned four over five innings.

Catholic. Justin Babb pitched no-hit ball through six innings before allowing a pair of hits and struck out nine as Archbishop Wood rolled past visiting Archbishop Carroll, 7-1. The senior lefthander is headed to the College of New Jersey.

Joe Kinee allowed just one hit in seven innings as Neumann-Goretti rolled at Conwell-Egan, 12-2. He also went 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a pair of triples. Josh Ockimey added four RBIs on three hits.

Central. Ashton Raines posted the win, and Dave Splain hit a double as Strath Haven edged host Radnor, 6-5.

Sophomore catcher Nick DiGregorio stroked a two-run single in the fourth inning to help Ridley top visiting Upper Darby, 5-3.

Pioneer. John Hopkins hit a triple in going 2 for 2, scored twice, and drove in three runs as Phoenixville rolled over visiting Upper Perkiomen, 12-3.

Ben Cellini scored three times, and Jim Durkin recorded a pair of assists as Hatboro-Horsham nipped host Central Bucks East, 11-10, in a Suburban One Continental game.

Zach Irwine added two goals, and Ryan Higgins scored once and assisted on a goal.

Cole Rushworth led C.B. East with a goal and 15 faceoff wins.

Catholic. Dan McMenamin scored three times and assisted on five goals as Lansdale Catholic eased past visiting Roman Catholic, 16-2. Michael Burns added five goals, and Dom Moscariello recorded five assists.

Central. Dalton George's three goals and one assist helped Ridley roll at Marple Newtown, 13-1. Mike Crowley chipped in with two goals and two assists.

Bicentennial. Michael Major scored six goals, and Ryan Kovacevich contributed four to lead Holy Ghost Prep past visiting New Hope-Solebury, 19-3.