Top Lumber Expos make it two in row in Delco MSBL
Poor field conditions may have pushed the start of the Delco MSBL championship series back a day, but it could not prevent the Top Lumber Expos from successfully defending their title.
Len Montano ripped a walk-off hit in the opener and was one of four players with at least two hits in Game 2 as the Expos swept the Clifton Orioles, 4-3 and 10-1 to claim their second straight league title.
Montano’s RBI hit in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 1 capped a two-run rally that erased 3-2 deficit. Champ Sanchez tied the game with a two-out RBI single and Montano followed with his winning hit. Andrew DeGaetano got the final two outs in relief of starter Barry Blundin to pick up the win. Dan Cooper added two hits and one RBI.
DeGaetano led the offense in Game 2 with three hits. Montano, Sanchez and Ed Bahamonde chipped in with two hits and two RBIs apiece. Steve Smith and Kevin Archer preserved both victories with outstanding plays on defense. Matt Papa picked up the win with relief help from Brian Stumpf.
Delco League
Jimmy Kingsbury, Sean Mohollen and Ben Burman made sure Wayne headed home with at least one win in the first two games of its Delco League semifinal series with Aston Valley.
Kingsbury went the distance, and Mohollen and Burman delivered the big blows in a three-run, thirdinning outburst that powered Wayne to a 4-3 victory over the Knights in Game 2 Sunday Field.
The best-of-5 series is tied, 1-1, and shifts to Villanova Stadium at Plymouth for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday.
Kingsbury allowed six hits and two runs and got out of a seventh-inning jam with the tying run at second to secure the win. Mohollen ripped a two-run single and Burman belted an RBI double in the third inning to erase a 2-1 deficit.
Mohollen finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Burman had two hits.
In the other semifinal: CONCORD 14, NARBERTH 4 » The Canes scored all of their runs in Saturday’s Game 1 loss in the final two innings.
It did not take as long for Concord to get its offense going in Game 2.
Concord scored afternoon at Buggy at least one run in the final six innings to even the series at one game apiece. The bestof-5 set switches to Garnet Valley High School for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday. Game time is 5:45.
Ben Faso blasted a three-run homer to highlight a six-run uprising in the fourth inning. He also had an RBI double. Tom Crumlish also had two hits and four RBis. Brian Kirk knocked in two runs. Cole Gamber collected two hits and two runs scored, while Sean Heidig chipped in with two hits.
Andrew Belfiglio fanned three and did not allow a run in five innings to get the win. He also had two hits and drove in a run on a squeeze bunt in the second inning.
Randy Milia belted a three-run homer for the defending champion Mudcats.
Cal Ripken
If Ridley was down after losing its first game in the Cal Ripken 8U Middle Atlantic Regional, the blues did not last long.
Ridley bounced back with a 14-4, four-inning victory over North Colonie N.Y. Sunday to finish in a tie for first place in Pool B with Marlton, N.J. The South Jersey champs earned the top spot based on their 9-8 triumph over Ridley Saturday night.
As the No. 2 seed out of Pool B, Ridley takes on Upper Allen, Pa., the No. 3 seed from Pool A, at 12;15 Monday afternoon. The winner of that game gets Pool A winner Cranford, N.J. in the semifinals at 5 p.m.
T.J. Valletti and Cole Romano drove in two runs each to help Ridley finish 3-1 in pool play. Jayden Carney and Braydon Scanlan chipped in with two hits each in support of winning pitcher Justin Teehan.
Softball
It’s on to the Marcus Hook Coed League finals for Big Bad Wolf BBQ.
The softball pit masters rolled 39 North, 14-2 and 20-9, to sweep the best-of-3 semifinal series. Big Bad Wolf takes on T&R Flooring next Sunday night for the title.
Ronnie Duranto and Pam Rambo both went 3-for-3 in the opener. Joey Broomall was the winning pitcher and had two hits. Brittany Taylor, Jackie Perretta, Becca Stanley and winning pitcher Rich Cropper collected three hits each in Game 2 to complete the sweep.