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Central Bucks South beats North Penn in 8 innings

Brian Klumpp was the pitching coach for Archbishop Wood's mostly successful team for the last five seasons. That stint was capped by the program's first Catholic League title in 22 years.

Central Bucks South's Tyler Watson (right) celebrates with Chris Farrell and teammates after his walk-off sacrifice fly to beat North Penn.
Central Bucks South's Tyler Watson (right) celebrates with Chris Farrell and teammates after his walk-off sacrifice fly to beat North Penn.Read more(Steven M. Falk/Staff Photographer)

Brian Klumpp was the pitching coach for Archbishop Wood's mostly successful team for the last five seasons. That stint was capped by the program's first Catholic League title in 22 years.

Now the first-year skipper at Central Bucks South, Klumpp has the improved Titans in position to earn top honors in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

"He's made it a comfortable environment, lightened the mood, and let us to go out there and play with confidence," senior shortstop Kyle Rossi said.

C.B. South posted a pivotal victory Tuesday in its bid for the conference crown with a 3-2, eight-inning decision against defending PIAA Class 4A state champion North Penn.

The difference in Warrington was Tyler Watson's based-loaded walk-off sacrifice fly to right field, allowing courtesy runner Devin Farrell to score from third base.

"With the infield up, we just wanted to hit the ball hard somewhere," said Klumpp, who was a pitcher and shortstop at Wood.

Designated hitter Tommy Dugan's leadoff single to left, Andrew Dietz's double to right, and an intentional walk to Casey Sloms set the stage for Watson's winner.

In completing a season sweep of the Knights, who took a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat, the Titans improved to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in conference.

C.B. South ace Danny Klepchick yielded five hits and struck out five while going the distance. Coaches from St. Joseph's and Monmouth were on hand to watch the junior righthander.

Klepchick, who arrived with a 0.25 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 28 innings, gave up two walks, Mason Nadeau's single to shallow left, and Greg Kerr's two-run double high off the fence in left in the first.

"I left a few pitches up and they capitalized on it," the 17-year-old said. "I just wanted to put it behind me and move forward."

Klepchick (5-0) held North Penn (8-5, 4-4) to three hits from there. He retired the side in order in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth.

"Every time he goes out there, he just battles," Rossi said. "We knew he would grind it out and do what he usually does."

The Titans evened things with a four-hit fourth that was highlighted by RBI singles from Eric Gross and Mike Goldsworthy.

North Penn 200 000 00 - 2 5 0

Central Bucks South 000 200 01 - 3 9 0

WP: Danny Klepchick. LP: Matt Stevenson. 2B: NP-Greg Kerr; Mason Nadeau; CBS-Andrew Dietz.