SOL Natl/Bicen vs. Jersey Shore in Carpenter Cup final

Abington righthander Jake Ruch of the Suburban One League National/Bicentennial was ready to pitch in a Carpenter Cup semifinal, but he didn't realize it would take more than 20 hours to close out a game.

Ruch expected to play on Monday but was delayed when the game between his team and Suburban One League American/Continental was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the seventh inning with a runner on first and nobody out.

So Ruch patiently waited his turn then closed out the game in a 4-3 semifinal victory at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday that provided some last-inning suspense.

SOL National/Bicentennial is in the title game for the third straight year. Jersey Shore of Ocean and Monmouth Counties will provide the opposition in Wednesday's 2 p.m. championship at Citizens Bank Park.

"Waiting that extra time built things up," said Ruch, who earned the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. "I think being here last year really helped me."

Headed to Northampton Community College, Ruch relieved Council Rock South lefthander Greg Welsh with one out and nobody on in the eighth inning.

Welsh, who is a Penn State recruit, had to leave after pitching the limit of three (scoreless) innings. On Monday, Welsh walked the first batter in the bottom of the seventh inning when the rain came and his team leading, 4-3. He apparently wasn't too bothered by the delay since he struck out the side in the seventh inning.

"I came out ready to go and maybe too much so," said Welsh, who went to 3-0 on the first batter before battling back for a strikeout.

In the three wins, Welsh allowed two earned runs in nine innings, with 12 strikeouts and two walks.

He was supposed to begin summer classes at Penn State on Wednesday but said he would compete in the Carpenter Cup.

After getting the final two outs to end the eighth inning, Ruch had an eventual ninth inning.

He walked Central Bucks East junior Ryan Pater to start the inning, then got Pennridge's Dylan Tice to hit into a double play on a flyout to centerfield. Pater was stealing on the play and got doubled off first.

Hatboro-Horsham's Matthew Hollenbeck then hit a single up the middle and went to second on a base hit by Hatboro-Horsham teammate Casey Saverio.

That brought SOL National/Bicentennial manager Keith Smeraglio of Holy Ghost Prep to the mound.

"I never thought of changing pitchers," Smeraglio said. "Jake is the guy we were riding."

Finally, Ruch ended matters with a strikeout.

"I wasn't thinking strikeout," Ruch said. "I just wanted to get out of the inning."

SOL Natl/Bicen   011 200 000 - 4 7 0

SOL Am/Cont   030 000 000 - 3 5 3

WP: Jim McDade. LP: Anthony Caringi. 2B: SOLA-J.T. Crits; SOLN-Brian Beyer, Ryan Hartley; 3B: SOLA-David McInerney.