Penncrest Baseball is Surging

They’re creeping up, slowly, surely, and Marple Newtown, Garnet Valley and Conestoga better begin taking notice of the baseball team. The Lions did something very interesting Tuesday in a Central League game against Lower Merion. Penncrest won, 7-1, which doesn’t come as a surprise.

What does is that Penncrest is 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Central League. The eight victories already ties last year’s Lions’ victory total, when they finished 8-13 and were 4-7 after 11 games in 2010.

"We’re a lot different than last year, I know we would have lost a lot of games last year that we’re winning this year," said Penncrest winning pitcher Tyler Rybarczyk, who improved his record to 4-1. "As a pitcher, it’s assuring to know we’re going to score runs, because we put the ball in play. We have a feeling that any team in this league is beatable."

And those teams better start paying close attention to Penncrest.

"I think it’s good we’re staying under the radar," said Penncrest outfielder Andrew Belfiglio, who had two hits and drove in a run. "I do believe we have a very dangerous team. There is a lot of confidence here. We’re not intimidated by anyone."

The game was close for six innings. Penncrest held a 3-1 lead and still hadn’t completely figured out Lower Merion starter Rich Weker. The Lions had a few chances to open it up, but the dam finally broke in the top of the seventh inning.

Penncrest batted around, sending 10 batters to the plate and hammering Weker, whose effective breaking balls and fastballs were getting up in the strike zone. The Lions opened up a big lead and Lower Merion wasn’t able to recover.

"That’s been the issue this year, one bad inning or one mistake and it costs us," said Lower Merion junior shortstop Pete Siciliano, who had an excellent day for the Aces, going 3-for-3. "Our problem has been putting our foot on the gas. We haven’t been able to put that full package together. Each game, we’ve had something new comes up that’s been our Achilles heel."

While Penncrest has continued finding ways to win. The Lions have now won three of their last four, and a pattern seems to be brewing. Whereas Lower Merion has had that one big "glitch" inning, Penncrest has been able to rely on an explosive inning.

In Penncrest’s eight victories this season, the Lions are averaging 8.1 runs a game.

"I thought [Weker] did a nice job, but what we did today was show patience," Penncrest coach Steve Silva said. "These guys have a confidence and belief in themselves, and Lower Merion has been in some games, they’ve proven to be a pretty good team. But I like the direction we’re going right now. The kids are starting to believe."