The Suburban One League National Conference/Bicentennial Athletic League dropped a 10–7 decision on Thursday to Lehigh Valley in the first round of the 33rd annual Carpenter Cup Classic at FDR Park in South Philadelphia.
Lehigh Valley advances to Monday’s second round against Delaware North, a 5–3 winner over the Philadelphia Public League.
The SOL National/BAL squad scored a run in the first inning. Xavier Delgado (William Tennent) and Justin Massielo (Pennsbury) opened the game with singles, and Delgado scored on a groundout by Nolan Bolton.
SOLN/BAL added three runs in the second inning. Cory Joyce (Neshaminy) singled in a run, and two more runs crossed on a fielding error.
After Lehigh Valley notched two runs in the bottom of the second and one in the third, SOLN/BAL increased its lead to 6–3 on an RBI single by Bolton and a sacrifice fly by Greg Delgado (Tennent).
Lehigh Valley scored four runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the eighth to pull ahead..
SOLN/BAL scored a run in the ninth when Sam Ruta (Pennsbury) led off with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly, but Lehigh Valley reliever Koby Staivecki was able to close out the game.
Leading the way for SOLN/BAL were Massielo (3-for-3), Council Rock South’s Evan Fisher (2-for-3) and Joyce (2-for-3).
Pennsbury coach Joe Pesci managed SOLN/BAL. He was assisted by Tim Monahan (Harry S. Truman), Vince Rossomando (Holy Ghost Prep), Dan Toner (Neshaminy), Tony Vlahovic (New Hope-Solebury) and Matt Schram (Council Rock North). ••
