By: Cole Nowak
PHILADELPHIA- It was a gorgeous day for baseball on Tuesday afternoon, as The Haverford School traveled to Ralph F. Palaia field to take on William Penn Charter. Coming into Tuesdays match-up, Haverford had yet to drop a game in league play.
The game was a pitching duel. Penn Charter's starting pitcher Andrew Healy set the tone. The first six outs recorded were all via the strikeout. While Haverford’s starter Ryan Reed was a strong as one could be. After working out of a bases loaded jam to conclude the first, he would strikeout five of the next six hitters.
Penn Charter junior Vince Fattore talks about his walk-off home run and his team's energy at attributed to the win:
Penn Charter junior Vince Fattore - Photo by Zamani Feelings
“Throughout the season, I seem to have gotten better as the game went on. So, I was not rattled and was able to keep my head going in the later innings, as well as my composure,” said Reed.
The Fords were able to break through in the top of the third and score the game’s first runs. Ryan Getz kicked off the inning by legging out an infield single, then was moved to second due to a timely sac bunt by the Fords leadoff hitter Jonny Flieder. Will Ferris singled to right to bring Getz home from 2ndand put the Fords up 1-0.
They were not done yet, as Eric Genther tacked on another single to right to put runners on first and second with one out. Two batters later, Jake Stacey ripped one back up the middle to plate the second run for the Fords. PC’s Healy was able to force a flyout to right and stop the damage there.
“I just wanted to throw strikes and do my best. I did not do too well early on, but I bounced back and learned from my mistakes,” said Healy.
And that is what Healy did. Over the next three and 2/3 innings, he only allowed one hit. In conjunction with five strikeouts, and two 1-2-3 innings to keep the Fords bats in check.
The Quakers were unable to capitalize in the first six innings. They left seven runners on base, while four of those were in scoring position. Credit to Reed, he worked all four quadrants of the zone in order to work his way out of jams. Through six Reed was remarkable registering 11 strikeouts while only giving up two walks on six hits.
But it all changed in the bottom of the seventh.
“Defiantly energy, our dugout was a little quiet towards the middle and beginning of the game. Give credit to Siani for getting the boys fired up,” said Penn Charter's Vince Fattore.
Tim Ford kicked off the bottom of the seventh with a deep flyball to right that just squirmed out of the outstretched glove of the right fielder that yielded a triple. Followed up by a fielder’s choice ground out to short which plated a run and cut the deficit to 2-1, bringing Reed's night to an end, as he was replaced by Colby McNeely.
McNeely would walk the first batter he faced to bring up Fattore with 1 out and 1 on. Fattore would take two balls and patiently wait for a mistake. That mistake would come on 2-0 and he belted a long fly ball over the fence in left center field to complete the comeback and top the Fords 3-2.
“I got pitched off-speed the entire game, he threw me two curveballs to start the AB. I was looking fastball and got a fastball, and got a good piece of it,” said Fattore.
Fattore mentioned this will be a solid boost of momentum as Penn Charter looks to continue the win streak against Malvern Prep this Friday April 30th.