SOL American Conference

PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 7, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Zach Chandler is PW’s number three starter. The junior hurler looked every bit the part of a mound ace in Friday’s complete game win, allowing just three hits while fanning nine and striking out two.
It was an impressive outing for a player who’s been used in relief in the early season.
“He came in for an inning in Florida and got a save, he came in the game against Upper Moreland and got us a save,” coach Chris Manero said. “He had a three-hit shutout – when you play three games in a row in a week, and your number three starter does that, you couldn’t ask for much more than that.
“Him and our catcher Kevin Reilly have played together a lot. I think they have a pretty good feel for each other. Our pitching coach, Anthony Musumeci, worked with Zach at the jayvee level, so he has a good working knowledge with Zach. Just pitch selection, location – he pounds the strike zone and pitches with a lot of confidence, and nothing really gets to him.”
Chandler’s older brother also had gone through PW’s baseball program.
“He’s an absolutely outstanding kid from a great family,” Manero said. “He has a really good work ethic. When you have a kid come out there as a junior, he’s putting in all that work, he’s putting in all that time. I think he’s pitching with a lot of confidence and that showed today. He wasn’t afraid to throw strikes.”
While Chandler was mowing down the Cardinals, the Colonials’ offense erupted for five extra-base hits – three home runs. The first round tripper came in the fourth inning, and this one by Stephen Longo not only gave the Colonials a 2-0 lead but also made history.
“That’s the first official home run at that field,” Manero said. “He’s a senior, and he’s had a really good week. We moved him up to the four spot today. He’s aggressive, and he gets his swings. He’s never going to be cheated in an at-bat. His hit today broke the ice. It took us a little while to get going, but once Steve hit his (home run) – we always say hitting is contagious, and I think it opened up the door for other kids to be more confident.”
The Colonials added three more runs in the fifth inning. Junior Mike Orensky ‘s round tripper highlighted the frame.
“He stayed back on an off-speed pitch, and his ball was crushed,” Manero said. “We saw that in the fall (league). He came up and it was just a well-struck ball.”
In the bottom of the sixth, it was Ben sophomore Mascio delivering the third home run of the game for the Colonials.
“He was our pitcher against Upper Moreland,” Manero said. “We like his bat. A lot of guys the past several years have been primarily pitcher only. We really like Ben as a guy who can pitch, play the field and get his at-bats. That was a big hit for him today.”
Mascio finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Longo was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Orensky was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Matt Mitchell and Kevin Reilly each had a double.
On Friday, it was Upper Dublin’s turn to get a taste of life on PW’s new turf baseball field.
“It is a really great to see a school district invest in its athletic facilities, and when I watch other teams come to our field for the first time – it’s so cool to see kids go on the field for the first time,” Manero said. “When the kids from Upper Dublin got here, they were so excited. It’s just great for all these kids – our own kids and the other kids in our conference that get to come and play on that field.
“A guy like (UD coach) Ed Wall, who’s a great coach – I have a ton of respect for him, and to see him say, ‘We want this’ – that’s good for baseball. It’s good for all the kids in this conference, and we’re glad we can have that. Honestly, it’s pretty special.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-2, 2-1 SOL) will be on the road at Abington on Monday for a non-league contest.
“There’s a lot of parity in the league,” Manero said. “I really think it’s going to be one of those years where we see a lot of really good baseball games, a lot of close games.
“From what we’ve seen so far, even today’s game was a really tight game for a while. I think it is a year where everybody’s got a shot.”
Upper Dublin (0-2 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Monday.
Upper Dublin 000 000 0 0-3-3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 000 232 x 7-6-2

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