Chase Jones, a junior second baseman for North Penn, said he doesn't aim to hit home runs, but managed to hit one due to good contact and a favorable wind on Thursday afternoon.
Jones mentioned that he doesn't usually try to hit a home run, but he managed to hit one due to a favorable wind, even though he wasn't sure he hit it completely.
Jones hit a two-run homer in the third inning, extending the Knights' lead to 3-0 against Pennridge.
Kevin Brace increased the lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning with his second double. This was more than enough offense for starting pitcher Trevor Lugara, who only allowed two hits, securing a 5-0 victory for North Penn in the Suburban One League Colonial Division opener.
Knights coach Kevin Manero credited the starting pitcher, Trevor, for setting the tone and pace of the game. He also mentioned that the team came up with crucial hits when needed.
Lugara, in his first start after being honored last season, gave up only two singles, struck out eight, and did not allow a walk.
Lugara said that his fastball was really effective and he aimed to keep it in the zone to prevent the opponents from scoring.
Lugara faced a bit of trouble in the top of the fifth inning, but managed to strand both runners with a strikeout and a fly to center.
Lugara said he felt good overall, despite a couple of things not going his way, and commented that everyone had his back.
Lugara retired Pennridge in order in both the sixth and seventh innings. The Rams had only three baserunners throughout the game.
Pennridge's first-year coach Danny Long acknowledged Lugara's strong performance and mentioned the need to improve their offensive strategies.
Brace, who batted first for the Knights, had an impressive performance, finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Jones also had a good performance, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Manero said they were very persistent and focused on hitting good pitches. He mentioned that scoring two runs in the fourth inning was important for them to gain an advantage.
North Penn (2-0, 1-0), which reached the PIAA-6A semifinals last season, started its 2024 season in Vero Beach, Florida with a 7-2 win over Franklin Regional on Sunday. The team will play another non-league game on Friday, hosting Hazleton at 4 p.m.
Manero emphasized the need for game time, stating that the team's previous success doesn't guarantee anything in the current season. He highlighted the importance of playing games to establish their identity and build confidence through practical experience after an offseason of practice.
Manero stressed the importance of playing baseball to understand their identity and gain confidence, aiming to carry it through subsequent games.
Pennridge's starting pitcher Olson was defeated, allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits in three innings. He had three strikeouts and no walks. Connor Smith pitched the remaining three innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits with one walk and one strikeout.
Long praised the pitchers for effectively throwing strikes and not giving away free bases, emphasizing the need for opposing hitters to earn their runs rather than receiving walks or getting hit by pitches. Despite a few missed pitches, Long thought the pitchers performed well.
Long had a successful athletic career at Pennridge, graduating in 2016 as the leading basketball scorer in the school with 1,359 points. As a senior, he contributed to the Rams baseball team's victory in the District 1-4A title.
Long played college baseball at Monmouth University and served as an assistant with the Rams in the past two seasons. He has taken charge of a program that hasn't had a winning season since the 2016 squad's 18-8 record. The Rams finished last season with a 2-18 record.
Long aims to instill pride in the Pennridge baseball program, drawing from his own positive experience under Coach (Tom) Nuneviller. He wants the current players to have a similar enriching experience.
Pennridge will play a SOL Colonial game at Souderton at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
North Penn took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Brace started with a double inside the left-field line and then scored on Ben Farley’s double to center two batters later.
Brace started the Knights’ third inning with a single, stole second base, and then advanced to third on a Farley groundout. Jones then hit a two-run homer to give them a 3-0 lead.
Jones said he wants to score more runs for their pitcher Trevor because they can always rely on him. He emphasized the importance of supporting their pitcher as an offense.
North Penn added two more runs in the fourth inning. Coyne reached base on an error, Criger got a single, and Brace hit a double to bring in two runs before being caught out trying for a triple.
North Penn 5, Pennridge 0
Pennridge 000 000 0 – 0 2 1
North Penn 102 200 x – 5 9 1
WP: Trevor Lugara 7 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 8 SO.
LP: Ryder Olson 3 IP 6 H 3 R 3 ER 0 BB 3 SO.
2B: NP-Kevin Brace 2, Ben Farley; HR: NP-Chase Jones.
North Penn: Brace 3-3, 2 RBI, 2 R; Jones 2-3, 2 RBI, R.
