C.R. South, North battle before rain comes

Council Rock South and Council Rock North, Bucks County neighbors and fierce rivals, will have to wait at least another day to decide their latest Suburban One League National Conference baseball showdown.

With no score in the top of the fifth inning, Tuesday's clash in Newtown was suspended because of poor playing conditions caused by a steady rain.

"This is unique," C.R. North coach Matt Schram said. "For us to start the game and then have to start another day, it's crazy."

Weather permitting, the contest will resume at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Another possible date, since more rain is expected Wednesday and both teams have conference games scheduled for Thursday, is Friday.

Whenever the contest does resume, it will not include C.R. South coach Greg Young. He was ejected by the plate umpire for arguing that a balk should have been called on Indians lefthander Jake Drossner.

In the fourth, with two outs and runners on second and third base, Zach Fitzgerald attempted to steal home. Drossner's throw to catcher Chris Ender nabbed Fitzgerald, but it appeared that Drossner had committed a balk by throwing to the plate while his pivot (right) foot was off the rubber.

"I think you could tell how I felt afterward," Young said. "Big plays happen, and everybody needs to be on the same page."

Schram seemed to agree that the three-man umpiring crew missed the call. "It looked like a balk," he said. "Yeah, it did."

Council Rock South, ranked No. 2 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, is 14-1 overall and 10-1 in the conference.

The Golden Hawks' catalyst is senior centerfielder and pitcher Brian Donnelly. On the hill against the Indians, the Rider recruit yielded two hits in four innings. He thew 63 pitches, with 45 for strikes.

Donnelly, a righthander, also starred in football, as a running quarterback in a wishbone offense.

"He's a horse," Young said. "He's going to want the ball if we don't come back until Friday."

Young said his squad has "five aces." In addition to Donnelly and DeStefano, he feels confident when handing the ball to southpaw Ryan Fleming and righthanders Greg Paprocki and Jeff Miller.

C.R. North (10-5, 9-2) has been sparked on offense by shortstop Cal Parker and outfielders Phil Marks and Will Terry. Terry is hitting near .400 from the No. 5 hole, with six doubles.

The hard-throwing Drossner, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior, is ticketed for Maryland. He chose the Terrapins over fellow Atlantic Coast Conference programs North Carolina and Virginia.

"He's a dynamite pitcher," Young said. "When he's facing one of our top guys, you expect a one- or two-run game."

Young, who pitched at Council Rock and Penn State, said DeStefano is considering a number of colleges, including Kutztown. Fellow senior Dan Callahan, a catcher, is bound for La Salle.

Because of his ejection, per PIAA rules, Young will have to sit out the completion of Tuesday's matchup and the team's next game.

Bensalem was also in the hunt for the National Conference crown. The Owls, who handed C.R. South its only loss, entered the week with an 8-2 league mark.