Solomon Powers Bulldogs to 4-2 Win Over Athletics

The scoop- Norchester scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an inside the park, three-run home run by Brad Solomon to break open a game that was deadlocked at one apiece. The Bulldogs knocked out 13 hits en route to a 4-2 winner’s bracket semifinal victory over Phoenixville.

The win advances third seeded Norchester into the winner’s bracket final of the Chester County League American Legion baseball playoffs on Sunday at 10 a.m. versus the winner of the #1 Spring City / #4 Caln match up. The Bulldogs will host Caln if the Seabees beat the Red Sox, otherwise the game will be at Rams Stadium in Royersford.

Player of the game - Center fielder Brad Solomon is well known for his exploits with the glove, but the ball he crushed past a diving Shae Ferguson in right field for the Athletics was the turning point in the game. Until that swing, the Bulldogs had stranded seven men on base. 

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Phoenixville

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Norchester

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Other Key performers - Shortstop Jeff Evans, who started the game with a spectacular sliding glove and throw play to gun down the first A’s batter, also recorded seven assists and two put outs in the tilt.

Pitcher David Vining, who attends the University of Pittsburgh, struck out eight and allowed one earned run while scattering nine Phoenixville hits in nine innings of work to claim the complete game victory.

Inside the lines - “We wanted to be aggressive at the plate,” said Bulldog manager Rick Harrison. “I thought David and Jeff (Evans) who pitched earlier did a great job for us today. Jeff didn’t have his best stuff but battled and shut down a very good hitting team. David did what he does, he gets ahead and works quickly, which helps us really stay in the game defensively."

Say what? - “It’s great, calling pitches and knowing that they (Norchester pitchers) are going to hit my glove," said Bulldogs catcher Dave Raifsnider. “We have so much depth at pitching that other teams have a hard time matching us. Their kid, (Collin Ammon) pitched a great game but David matched him. We try to focus on one pitch at a time, one batter, one inning. And when we stick to our game plan we are tough to beat. I look forward to taking on Spring City tomorrow ... it will be a great game.”

Next on the Schedule - Norchester will face the winner of Spring City/ Caln at 11 a.m. at Spring City or Norchester.

Extra Innings - Norchester defeated Avon grove 13-1 in the opening round game earlier in the day at Owen J. Roberts High School.