Council Rock South topples Souderton in non-conference clash
LOWER SALFORD >> Three hits from Trey Obarowski and a smooth four innings on the mound from Zach Mayer were enough for Council Rock South to turn a cold, rainy day on the diamond into a 6-3 non-conference victory over Souderton Area.
“It was a good offseason,” Obarowski said with a smile after the Golden Hawks’ opener at the Harleysville Community Center. “We had a lot of chemistry getting ready for the year and I think it’s gonna come together.”
Council Rock South (1-0) built a 6-0 lead then held off a late rally by Big Red, who plated three runs in the seventh.
“Unfortunately we made a lot of errors,” Souderton coach Mike Childs said, “and (Rock South) is a team that’s gonna put the ball in play and they did that today, and we did not field.
“And (base-running) miscues on top of that, rounding second (for the final out of the third). It’s getting the early jitters out — we had three (non-conference) games to get it out and we did it. (Conference play) starts Tuesday, and who do we start with? Last year’s conference champs (Central Bucks South). So we’ll get the kinks out and see how we go.”
Big Red right hander Blaise Sclafani held Rock South scoreless in the first two innings, surrendering just one hit in that span, a single by Obarowski.
Then, with a runner on second and one out in the third, Obarowski stepped to the plate with a chance to drive in the game’s first run.
“He was pumping me fastballs so I was looking the other way,” the No. 2 hitter said, “trying to drive it through the third and short hole.”
Obarowski did just that, his single bringing in Eric Jeronis (walk then stole second) for a 1-0 lead. A total of three Souderton errors in the inning would inflate the margin to 3-0.
Obarowski scored his second run of the contest in his next at-bat in the fifth. His flare to left was followed by a nice bunt down the third-base line by Evan Fisher, a throwing error by Big Red stretching the lead to 4-0.
Later that inning, the Golden Hawks scored on a double steal and John Crane’s sac fly to left, boosting the gap to 6-0.
“That’s what we do,” Obarowski said of his team breaking the game open with a pair of three-run frames.
Meanwhile, Mayer was in command. The lefty allowed Souderton just three hits in his four innings of work and then Brendon Carter came on to pitch two innings of shutout relief.
Shane Walter took the mound for the final inning, and the first three batters for Big Red all reached. The Indians (1-2) got within 6-3 on a single to the gap by Dan Knechel, but Walter hung in, striking out Greg Gallagher and getting Kyle Meiler to ground out to end it.
Weather permitting, both teams are in action again Friday — Rock South hosts Upper Dublin and Souderton hosts Lansdale Catholic.
