Inter-Ac Baseball – Last Tuesday, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy was tied for last place in the Inter-Academic League. Nine days later, the Blue Devils own sole possession of first.
With yesterday’s 8-1 win over visiting Haverford School, the Blue Devils have won two straight and are the only team in the Inter-Ac garnering a winning record.
Springside Chestnut Hill improves to 3-2 in the Inter-Ac defeating Germantown Academy, Episcopal Academy & Haverford School - PSD Photo
“The importance of our wins date back to our loss last Thursday against Malvern, which caused our momentum to slowly drop,” said SCH junior Jon Bautista. “Not only did we gain momentum, but we also gained confidence that we will continue to improve as the second half of our season continues to play out.”
Take away the seven runs scored by Malvern, the Blue Devils have allowed a miserly four runs in their other four league contests.
On Tuesday, the Blue Devils defeated Episcopal Academy, 6-1. Senior Cole McNeil contributed two hits and two runs batted in and scored a run. Senior Josh Niebish allowed only three hits and struck out five in four scoreless innings.
“I knew during the bullpen that he was locked in,” said senior catcher Sam Aslansan. “He was getting his curveball and change up over for strikes, and he was able to locate his fastball.”
Bautista relieved him for the final three innings.
“I tend to keep the pressure low because I change my focus to just let the batters put the ball in play and let my defense work rather than going out there trying to strike everybody out,” said Bautista. “So my mentality going into the game to relieve a pitcher that has pitched really well like Josh did is to just follow his footsteps and do not try to do anything extra.
“Josh’s level of competitiveness and grit on the mound allowed us to save three pitchers for the Haverford game. That’s what we needed from him.”
Haverford School vs. SCHA - Photos by Mike Nance
Haverford School vs. SCHA - Photos by Mike Nance
Aslansan is pleased with the Blue Devils’ momentum, which started with the victory on the road against an Episcopal Academy team that had won two of its first three.
“The Episcopal win meant a lot,” said Aslansan. “The Inter-Ac is a three-game elimination tournament. So, as a team, being able to bounce back from an uncharacteristic loss against Malvern felt great.”
Germantown Academy also placed itself back in the race with a 7-2 triumph at Haverford School. The final tally is misleading because the Patriots scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning, nullifying the angst of surrendering leads of 1-0 and 2-1.
GA scores two runs in 7-2 victory vs. Haverford School - video by Dan McCarty
Germantown Academy vs. Haverford School - Photos by Mike Nance
Germantown Academy vs. Haverford School - Photos by Mike Nance
The Patriots grabbed a 1-0 lead on junior Shane Harkins’ lead-off homer and went ahead 2-1 on a sixth-inning long ball by senior Matt Brittingham, who went 3-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
In the eighth, Fordham University-bound senior Jack Popolizio drilled a two-run single. Sophomore Jeff Decker followed with a walk. Up stepped senior Grant Giampalmi, who slugged a three-run blast.
“I went into the at bat just wanting to put the ball in play to get Jack Popolizio home from second to do my job,” said Giampalmi. “I was seeing the ball pretty well the whole game and went in expecting a fastball, and I got one on the outer part of the plate and just tried to take it to right center. I honestly thought it was a fly out, but it just kept carrying and it was crazy when I saw it go over, and my teammates went wild.”
Senior Colten Smith pitched the first six innings. In the seventh, senior Wes Champlin escaped a two-on, nobody-put jam in the seventh before mowing down the side in the eighth.
“Keeping the Haverford hitters guessing at which pitches were coming helped a lot,” said Smith. “I had to mix my pitches and tempo, especially at Haverford’s field. It’s a hitter’s park, so you have to make ever pitch count. The fielding behind me was also great.
“It was big for us as a team coming off a tough loss to EA, where it seemed that nothing was going right,” said Smith. “The intensity and energy was amazing from everybody on our team. Just a great team win.”
Malvern Prep evened its record at 2-2 with a convincing 10-1 victory at Penn Charter. Junior Cam Conley (three hits) and sophomore Lonnie White (two) helped the Friars score six runs through the first three innings.
The pitching of a trio of juniors – Tristan Corcoran (five innings), Josh Paulina (one inning), and Jarod Wade (one inning) – kept the Quakers (1-2) off balance.
“We came out to compete our hardest and have a game-seven-type of mentality,” said senior Chris Newell, who homered in a three-run seventh inning. “When we find ourselves doing that, I really don’t see anyone beating us. We all know what is on the line every game from here on out, so we had to go out and get it.
Malvern Prep sits at 2-2 in InterAc standings with wins vs. Springside Chestnut Hill & Penn Charter - PSD Photo by John Knebels
“By starting 0-2, we know we have no more margin for error. We are like a hungry animal that has to fight and claw to stay alive, and that’s what we are going to keep trying to do.”
Standings (through April 26)
3-2 Springside Chestnut Hill
3-3 Haverford School
2-2 Germantown Academy
2-2 Malvern Prep
2-2 Episcopal Academy
1-2 Penn Charter
Friday Schedule
Episcopal at Malvern, 4:00
Penn Charter at Germantown Academy, 4:00