Souderton forges comeback when needed to claim PIAA 6A title

STATE COLLEGE >> There hasn’t been much need for comebacks by the Souderton baseball team in this PIAA Class 6A tournament.

But when tasked with digging out of a three-run hole after four innings in the state final with Central Bucks South, Jordan Morales had not doubt the Indians had what it takes to put together a rally.

“Me and Moses (Clemens) were talking about it the outfield and everybody in the dugout. And we just knew that there was going to be one inning we were going to score multiple runs,” Morales said. “And it’s going to shift the momentum. We just weren’t sure when.”

It started in the fifth and it ended up being not one but two innings. Souderton pulled level with three runs in the fifth then went ahead with another three in the sixth — the two frames of offense sending the Indians to its first-ever PIAA title with a 6-3 victory at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

“It was a little different at first because we’re not used to being down,” Souderton catcher Billy Norbeck said. “We’ve not (had) many times this season we were down. So I think it was a little low point and our energy was down but then it was just nice to see we came back.”

The Indians’ lone deficit in the states tournament prior to Friday came in the opening round against La Salle. The Explorers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first only for Souderton tied it in the third then posted two runs in the fourth en route in a 7-1 win.

No rallies were necessary in wins over Plymouth Whitemarsh (11-1 in six innings) and Neshaminy (3-0) the next two rounds. But after shutting out CB South in both of their regular-season contest, Souderton was trailing quickly into Friday’s contest after the Titans scored twice in the top of the first. South then pushed its advantage to 3-0 in the fourth on a Brock Veit RBI single.

“We definitely had nervous energy,” Souderton coach Mike Childs said. “We were hitting the ball hard but you could see defensively, when they put two runs on the board, we pressed a little bit. Taylor wasn’t hitting the strike zone like he usually does. And I said guys you got to relax, calm down. The game is early and then went up that extra third run and the kids never said die.”

Souderton, which was last held scoreless in 2016, finally got its bats going in the bottom of the fifth — Morales energizing the Indians by connecting on a one-out double to left. The senior La Salle commit, who tossed a three-hit shutout in the semifinal win over Neshaminy, went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in the final.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to pitch today but I just wanted to help my team win at the end of the day,” Morales said. “I got it started with a big double but other than that after that double, everybody just started hitting and seeing the ball pretty well. And it was pretty remarkable to watch.”

In its last PIAA title game appearance in 2007, Souderton loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning tied 1-1 with Seneca Valley and couldn’t get the walk-off hit. Seneca Valley proceeded to score eight in the next frame and top the Indians 9-1 for the 4A crown.

But 12 years later, Souderton made the most of its chances with the bases loaded.

In the fifth after Morales double, Norbeck walked and Hogan DeSpain singled to put three on for Conlan Wall, who plated the Indians’ first run with a RBI groundout to first base.

With runners still on second and third and two outs, Luke Taylor beat out an infield single on the next at-bat, bring home both runners to knot things at three.

A Clemens one-out double, Dylan Kummery’s walk and a Morales single packed the bases again in the sixth for Norbeck, who put the Indians ahead  4-3 by dropping an RBI single into right despite a diving effort from South right fielder Jake McKeown.

Still loaded after Norbeck’s go-ahead hit, DeSpain followed with a two-RBI single to left,  giv Big Red the three-run cushion.

“I said, ‘Hogan what do you want to do, you want to put some insurance on this,’ and he says, “Coach I got this,” Child said. “And I said you sure and he’s like, ‘Yep coach, I got it.’ He said just let me hit and he hits the single down the left-field line.”

“Hey, if the kids are feeling it, I know sometimes as a coach you got to make the call but you know what it’s their championship, put it on the big names, the big seniors and the did it. They stepped up and he stepped up.”

Andrew Curran came in for starting pitcher Taylor in the top of the seventh and denied CB South it’s one chance at a comeback — first baseman Frank Pollock’s hauling in a catch in foul territory for the final out to start Big Red’s championship celebration.

It wasn’t the blueprint for success Souderton had in its previous three games in PIAA play, but in the end the Indians were the ones hoisting the 6A state title trophy.

“Coming back — yeah, you’re right we haven’t come back a lot but it just shows what this team’s about,” Childs said. “They can do whatever it takes in any situation and today they did it. Does it always work out — no, but this is the kind of spirt and energy this team has.”