Saucon Valley whips Wilson

Saucon Valley slipped into this baseball season without garnering much attention around the Colonial League.

The Panthers have certainly caused people to take notice of them with their early play.

For the second time in three league games, Saucon Valley blitzed an opponent with its bats. Pat Kane put the finishing touch on a 17-2 win over Wilson Friday with a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning, ending the game and giving the Panthers a few innings off before today's non-league game against Bethlehem Catholic.

Kane, Saucon Valley's No. 8 hitter, finished 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He led a 14-hit attack for the Panthers (3-1 overall, 3-0 Colonial), who have grabbed the early lead in the South Division.

''Last year we had a really good season, but it fell apart at the end,'' Kane said. ''This year we want to start strong and keep on going through the playoffs.''

Saucon Valley coach Glenn Snyder could not have asked for his players to produce a better start within the league. They followed a 16-1, five-inning whipping of preseason South Division favorite Notre Dame-Green Pond by fighting through an 11-inning game against Salisbury, winning 3-1 on Jake Schnalzer's two-run home run Wednesday.

Friday featured another offensive onslaught from the Panthers. Kane's leadoff single in the second started an eight-run inning that buried the Warriors (1-3, 1-1). Saucon Valley scored four more runs in the third and another four in the fourth to end the game.

Tucker Sandercock produced the day's big blast, ripping a grand slam to center field in the second inning. He also walked, was hit by a pitch and scored twice in three plate appearances.

Schnalzer scored three times, Dave Wildrick went 2-2 with four RBIs, and Brandon Shuck had two hits and scored four times for the Panthers. Saucon Valley also displayed patience, drawing eight walks against three Wilson pitchers.

''The defense played good again. We got key hits. The boys played well today,'' Snyder said.

Wildrick also collected his first win of the season, pitching all four innings for the Panthers. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out three.

Wildrick helped Saucon Valley start the afternoon well by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the first. He retired seven straight batters at one point.

Nils Larson had Wilson's lone multi-hit game, singling and doubling in two at-bats. Patrick Bambary knocked in both Warrior runs with a fourth-inning single, but they never came close to threatening the Panthers.

Saucon Valley will try to keep rolling within the league next week. The Panthers will have their first week with three Colonial games, facing Southern Lehigh, Palisades and Palmerton.

''We just want to keep plugging away,'' Snyder said. ''Our goal from the beginning of the year, when we're matching up our pitching and stuff like that, we're trying to match it up against league games.''

Added Wildrick: ''I knew we were going to have a good team. We're hitting. We're fielding. We're doing everything right. That's what you've got to do to win.''

Wilson0002--252

Saucon Valley1844--17141

Gabor, Larson (3), Izarek (4) and Izarek, Cahoon (4); Wildrick and J. Okken. WP: Wildrick. LP: Gabor.

stephen.miller@mcall.com

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