North Penn scores 5 in 1st inning, rolls past Pennridge in SOL Colonial opener

WEST ROCKHILL >> Brady Dolder came up just shy of connecting on a grand slam in the top of the first inning — his blast falling just in front of the left-center field fence at James Memorial Park.

“I didn’t barrel it but I was actually sprinting around first and coach (Bryan) Clayton goes ‘Congratulations,’” North Penn baseball’s sophomore catcher said. “So I think he jinxed me a little bit.”

Dodler’s shot was still good enough for a double to drive in a pair of runs, extending the visiting Knights’ advantage to 4-0.

“Last fall, thanks to coach (Mark) Renda, he actually switched up my swing and it kind of changed everything for me,” Dodler said. “Just thinking more about widening the base, just getting a lot more balls in play instead of strikeouts, taking those hacks. So I think just barreling down, finding the fastball on the first pitch was good for me.”

Mario Sgro’s RBI single on the next at-bat to add a fifth run in the frame as North Penn grabbed a quick lead on Pennridge in the Suburban One League Colonial Division opener for both sides on chilly Tuesday afternoon.

“I thought it was important for us to come out and score first and put up a nice crooked number in the first inning.” Knights coach Kevin Manero said. “So that’s always a good way to start. And then come back and follow it with a zero on the other side of the field is good.”

The Knights tacked on two more in the third to build a 7-0 advantage while Jack Picozzi and Nick Pavlovich combined to hold the Rams to four hits and North Penn rolled to an 8-1 victory.

“I was happy with the way we started – we didn’t quite stay consistent like that throughout the day, I think it was a little bit of a tough day to play baseball today,” Manero said. “It’s windy, it’s cold, the field’s way so it was a little bit of a tough day but it’s important to get out to a good start and then put up some zeroes on the mound and you keep in control of the game.”

Dodler hit another double in the third as he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Justin Egner, Chase Jones and Ben Farley all collected three hits as the Knights (2-0, 1-0) – playing for the first time since beating Colorado’s Prairie View in Florida last Monday – totaled 14 hits.

“All through the lineup, this is the deepest lineup coach Manero’s had in a while,” Dodler said. “Just definitely you can see the difference from last year, we’re up there, we’re taking hacks on the first pitch, we’re not sitting back and waiting.”

Jones went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored while Egner was 3-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and two runs scored while Farley finished 3-for- with a run scored.

“Obviously it’s good for the confidence, it’s good for the dugout, everything, it’s good to jump out to that lead,” Dolder said. “But I think last few innings we need to buckle up, we need to get rid of the errors, play a cleaner game.”

Joey Gregoire was 2-for-3 with a double to left in the bottom of the sixth for Pennridge (0-4, 0-1).

Pavlovich picked up the win, allowing one hit, no walks and striking out six in pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. NP starter Picozzi went 3 2/3 innings, giving up one run – earned – on three hits, walked two, hit two batters and struck out four.

“We attacked on the mound, I thought we looked strong,” Manero said. “I think our pitching’s looked pretty good so far in scrimmages and nonleague stuff. I just think our pitch count was a little high today, little tougher day to pitch. High strike zone today so we had to adjust to that. Yeah, if we can just cut down on a couple too many free 90s but other than that I think our guys’ll be fine and I think we’re only going to get better as the season goes on.”

Rams starting pitcher Kyle Watson took the loss, allowing five runs – all earned – on six hits in one inning. He walked one and struck out two.

Both teams have SOL Colonial games at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, North Penn visiting Central Bucks West while Pennridge hosts Souderton.

The Knights started Tuesday’s top of the first with consecutive singles from Egner then Kevin Brace. A Picozzi walk loaded the bases for Jones, who singled to bring home both Egner and Brace.

A Farley base hit loaded the bases again and after a strikeout, Dolder made it 4-0 Knights by belting a two-RBI double to deep left center.

“Brady, he’s a great kid on and off the field so to see him come up and lace a couple doubles and handle himself behind the plate, just that’s what we’re looking for from him. Not have to do too much, just get up there and do his job.”

The next at-bat, Sgro knocked an RBI single to center, scoring Farley for an early five-run lead.

In the top of the third, James Mangine led off with a walk before Dolder hit a double to left center to put runners on second and third with no outs.

“Same approach, just trying to jump on fastball first pitch,” Dolder said. “I mean, first pitch is always going to be the best pitch you get so that’s what I’m looking for mostly.”

After a strikeout, Will Chiappa then Egner both connected on an RBI single to push the Knights’ advantage to 7-0.

Pennridge posted its lone run in the bottom of the third. Ryder Olson led off by getting hit by a pitch while Garrett Navitsky followed with a double to right center. With one out Matt Atchley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ashton McCloskey followed by sending a shot out to center that center fielder Sgro tracked down for a catch but it allowed Olson to score on an RBI sacrifice fly.

A lineout to the shortstop on the next at-bat kept the Rams’ deficit at 7-1.

North Penn tacked on its final run in the top of the sixth. Egner started the inning with a walk then came home from second three batters later on a Jones two-out RBI single.

North Penn 8, Pennridge 1
North Penn 502 001 0 – 8 14 2
Pennridge 001 000 0 – 1 4 2
WP: Nick Palovich 3.1 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 0 6 SO.
LP: Kyle Watson 1 IP 6 H 5 R 5 ER 1 BB 2 SO.
2B: NP-Brady Dolder 2; P-Joey Gregoire, Garrett Navitsky.
North Penn: Dolder 2-4, 2 RBI, R; Justin Egner 3-3, RBI, 2 R; Chase Jones 3-4, 3 RBI, R; Ben Farley 3-4, R.
Pennridge: Gregoire 2-3.