Pennridge’s 1st win over North Penn since 2013 ends with controversial call in 7th

TOWAMENCIN >> The Pennridge baseball team earned its first victory over North Penn since 2013 Friday afternoon.

But the controversial call that decided the game in the seventh inning gave the victory a tinge of sourness to Rams coach Craig Whitten.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Ethan Cohen hit a grounder to third base with the Rams forcing out RJ Agriss at second, but a hard slide by Knights senior took second baseman Matt Campione off his feet, halting any chance of a double play.

But after a discussion by the umpiring crew, Agriss was ruled to have interfered with his slide, Cohen was called out and Pennridge held off a late charge to edge North Penn 5-4 in the SOL Colonial Division contest and snap a 13-game losing streak in the rivalry.

“To win like that against (Knights coach) Kevin (Manero), cause I know how much he loves the game and he knows how much I love the game, to end it on something like that that’s pretty controversial, it kind of stinks,” Whitten said. “But that’s baseball. That’s unfortunately when you put things in the hands of the umpire, that’s what happens.”

The Rams’ bats did all of their damage in the top of the fifth, breaking a 0-0 tie by scoring five runs with two outs as they collecting six of their eight total hits, including three doubles, during the inning.

North Penn broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fifth then plated two more in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 5-4.

Agriss was hit by a pitch with one out in the seventh, was forced out on the Cohen’s fielder’s choice but had appeared to have broken up the double play. A few moments later, that wasn’t the case – Manero emphatically sharing his disagreement with the call but the end result was first loss of the season for the Knights (3-1, 1-1 division).

“I thought RJ slid exactly the way a baseball player’s supposed to slide,” Manero said. “He slid hard, but he went right to the base. He didn’t go past it, he didn’t go to the side of it, he went right to the base like you’re supposed to. Every year, when we have the interpretation meetings, that’s a point of emphasis and RJ did everything right there. “

Pennridge shortstop Joey Calabretti was 3-for-4 with an RBI double in the fifth while Aidan Fretz doubled and pitched 5 2/3 innings to claim the win.

“It was a tossup,” said Calabretti of the deciding call. “I mean, play like good sports out there, won’t happen but unfortunately it’s a battle between both of our teams, it always gets dirty every year.”

The Rams’ victory was its first in over the Knights since topping them 4-3 in the 2013 District 1-4A semifinals. Those teams met again in that year’s PIAA semifinals, North Penn earning a 3-0 shutout win en route to a state championship.

“I love (former Pennridge coach) Tom (Nuneviller) to death but I don’t know how many wins Tom had going against North Penn the last 10 years,” Whitten said. “So I’m happy that I got my first win against North Penn the first time we played them. That way, I got at least something to tell my grandkids.”

Jeff Sabater, batting ninth in the NP lineup, collected half of the Knights’ four hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs while Jack Picozzi scored twice.

“We lost by one run because we had a bad inning early, we didn’t lose by one run because of a questionable call to end the game,” Manero said. “That being said, it’s a shame when your team gets as gritty as they did today and when the guys played as hard as they did trying to come back from a deficit, it’s hard to have to end a game on a call like that, I’ll just leave it at that.”

Both teams have SOL Colonial road games Monday, North Penn visiting Souderton while Pennridge is at Central Bucks West.

Fretz, the Rams’ starting pitcher, gave up four runs – all unearned – on four hits, the right-hander walking three and striking out five. Conor Flynn pitched the seventh to earn the save.

NP starter Gavin Mikulski took the loss, the lefty allowing three runs – all earned – on five hits, walked two and struck out four in 4 2/3 innings. Left-hander Mike Lennon threw the last 2 1/3 innings for the Knights, giving up two runs – both earned – on three hits. He struck out four and did not allow a walk.

Four of Pennridge’s six fifth-inning hits came on the first pitch – Fretz beginning the frame by taking the first offering to him for a double out to right center.

With one out, Nic Chellew dropped a bunt for a single as the Knights had no one covering first, putting runners on the corners. Mikulski struck out the next batter but Bobby Croyle connected on a two-out RBI single to bring home Fretz’s courtesy runner Noah Rush.

“(Fretz) sparked it off, we hit a little small ball, played a little bunt-and-run with Nic Chellew,” Whitten said. “Nic Chellew put like one of the best bunts I’ve ever saw. Noah Rush was running for Aidan and that thing, that just sparked it up and we turned the lineup around with that. That was freaking awesome.”

Lennon took over for Mikulski but his first pitch to Calabretti was knocked into left for an RBI double and a 2-0 Rams lead.

“I was talking to Whitten out here (at) third base, said first pitch it’s going to be there, he wants to establish a strike zone,” Calabretti said. “Fastball right down the middle – exactly right where it was.”

Harry Haeflein followed with a first-pitch double to left center, scoring both Croyle and Calabretti. The next at-bat, Ashton McCloskey hit a ball that took a high bounce of the pitcher’s mound into center for an RBI single.

“We picked up on the fastball, we didn’t take as many pitches,” Calabretti said. “Always jumping on the fastball early, especially if it’s in the zone. Taking curveballs.”

In the bottom of the fifth, Steve Corrado led off with a single but was forced at out second on a Picozzi fielder’s choice. An error on Quinn Marett’s bunt put runners on second and third with a Sabater bunt single scoring Picozzi. An Evin Sullivan’s RBI sacrifice fly to left plated Marett, pulling the Knights within 5-2.

Sam Cohen drew a walk the next at-bat with a wild pitch putting runners on second and third but third baseman Matt Atchley snagged a Pat Breen liner to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Corrado reached on a two-out error. A Joe Picozzi single and Marett walk loaded the bases. Nate Manuola took over on the mound for Fretz but a walk by Sabater brought home Corrado.

A wild pitch scored Picozzi to make it 5-4. Sullivan walked to load the bases again but Manuola got a strikeout to preserve the Rams’ one-run advantage.