QUAKERTOWN 2, UPPER DUBLIN 1
Quakertown used some dominant pitching and timely hitting to get past Upper Dublin on Thursday.
Justin Guidos tossed six strong innings, striking out nine while allowing just three hits and one unearned run, while Mason Hicks singled home the winning run in the top of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie.
During a time in the season when teams tend to play a little sloppier while still finding their footing, Quakertown and Upper Dublin played a relatively crisp contest that was anyone’s game.
“Justin, he’s the dude for us,” Quakertown head coach Jon Pallone said. “He was dominant for us last year and it was a crime he didn’t get an all-league mention. He had more strikeouts than innings pitched and got overlooked, so he’s pitching with a chip on his shoulder and proved he’s one of the best guys in the league.”
Guidos, an East Strousburg commit, gave way to Dennis Pierce to close the door in the seventh. Pierce gave up a hit but struck out two to give Quakertown the victory.
“Dennis has a closer’s mentality,” Pallone said. “He throws hard. I haven’t had a guy with that closer’s mentality in my five years here, and it’s great to have a guy who doesn’t have a problem coming in and shutting the door.”
After returning recently from a trip to Myrtle Beach, Quakertown’s bats were a bit cold like Thursday’s temperature, but the Panthers got hits when they had to.
“Their pitcher, (Garrett) Breslin did a good job,” Pallone said. “He did a good job keeping the ball down in the zone and made us hit on the defensive early in the game. Dennis had a leadoff double in the sixth, got to third on a grounder before Mason got a good, clutch hit for us.”
Breslin allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 for Upper Dublin, striking out five and walking just one. The Cardinals had just four hits on the day, with Alex Goldenberg collecting two of them. Jack Jamison had the team’s only extra base hit, a double.
“There are some kinks we have to shake out, but we’re just excited to get outside and start playing baseball again,” Pallone said.
Quakertown (1-1, 1-0 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Upper Dublin (0-1) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
Quakertown 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2-7-3
Upper Dublin 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1-4-1

Read the full report: http://suburbanonesports.com/article/content/sol-baseball-wrap-4-5-18-0077002