skip navigation

BASEBALL: Shutouts...Comebacks...a No-Hitter...and a Walk-Off Homer Highlight This Weeks PCL Roundup

By John Knebels (photos by Geneva Heffernan and Kathy Leister), 05/05/21, 3:00PM EDT

Share

By John Knebels

Photos by: Kathy Leister, Geneva Heffernan & Mike Nance. Video/ Alex Duda

PHILADELPHIA – When the weather cooperates, and there are no issues with the coronavirus, Catholic League baseball teams can finally find a groove at the plate, on the mound, and in the field.

A rare full slate on May 3 offered a slew of highlight-reel performances and a bevy of strange-but-true occurrences.

Take, for instance, La Salle’s 7-3 win over visiting rival St. Joseph’s Prep. A quick look at the post-game box score warranted some investigation.

Sure enough, the undefeated Explorers (8-0) really did only have two hits. They also drew . . . 14 walks. Senior Connor Bogansky picked up the win by firing five innings and allowing five hits and one earned run. Senior lead-off hitter Jake Whitlinger reached base four times and scored three runs.

“Yeah, a crazy stat line,” said La Salle coach Kyle Werman. “From an offensive standpoint, it can be a challenge to find rhythm and get comfortable at the plate when the opposing pitchers are struggling to find the zone. You have to make the most of the pitches that are over the plate and not try to do too much.'

“We struggled to string things together and get the key hit to break things open. Fortunately, we got enough runs across and our pitching held steady to get us the win.”

Archbishop Wood also remained undefeated with a 6-2 win over visiting Roman Catholic. For the first time in eight league games, the Vikings actually trailed when the Cahillites scored a run in the top of the first. 

Not a problem.

While junior pitcher Mike Trommer dominated by striking out 13 and allowing four hits and one earned run over six innings, the Vikings took full advantage of four walks and numerous Roman. Seniors Ryan Albin and Alex Neeld scored two runs apiece. Senior Luke Cantwell, junior Pat McKinney, and junior Aiden Myers supplied one RBI each.


Wood junior Mike Trommer. (Photo by: Mike Nance for PSD).

A week earlier, the Vikings blanked Conwell-Egan, 10-0, as senior John Gori tossed a five-inning no-hitter, walking one and striking out 10.

 “It’s definitely something special,” said Gori. “It was my first one ever, and what made it more special was that it was on senior night.

“To be honest, I didn’t know that I had a no-hitter going. I was just doing my job and making the pitches that I had to make and when they put the ball in play, I had one of the best defenses in the league behind me making the plays. I felt like everything was working well, but it was just an all-around team effort.”

The unconventional no-no was cemented when Cole DuHaime clobbered a two-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth, ending the game by virtue of the 10-run mercy rule.


Wood senior pitcher John Gori. (photo by: Kathy Leister for PSD)

Making his first-ever game-clinching hit even more memorable was finding out later that his mom had videotaped the mammoth shot that cleared the left-field fence by plenty.

When I hit the ball, I was thinking, ‘That’s going kinda far,’” said DuHaime. “I started running to first, and once I rounded first, I saw it go out. I was like, ‘Wow. That actually just happened.’

“When I reached home, my teammates seemed pretty excited for me. I don’t think any of us expected me to go yard this year since I’m not a power hitter. It was great to help John get the no-hitter. He pitched a great game.” 

Wood senior Cole Duhaime slams his first varsity home run, clinching a 10-0 victory over Conwell-Egan. Teammate John Gori gets credit for his first career no-hitter. (video-courtesy Siobhan Duhaime)

Neumann-Goretti improved to 6-2 with an 11-0 victory over Lansdale Catholic. The Saints set a school record by plating 10 runs in the first inning.

Seven players knocked in at least one run. Senior Gavin Verbitski, senior AJ McGettigan, junior Jameson Masino, and junior Sal Laimo (two doubles) engineered a composite 7 for 10 with five runs scored and six runs batted in. Senior Kevin Opanel (three innings, one hit, six K’s; also a hit, two runs scored and an RBI) and junior Joey Brasky (two innings, one hit, one walk, three K’s) combined for

“It isn’t hard to get ahead of ourselves because every game in the Catholic League is a battle,” said Masino. “We take our season day by day, and game by game. You never want to get ahead of yourself, because that’s where the mistakes on the field happen.

“We’re looking to earn the best position for our team in the playoffs, and it starts with every game, and every pitch. We’re excited to be on the field every day working for our main goal. We know where we want to be in the playoffs, but we must take care of business and treat everyday like it’s our last, because nothing is guaranteed."


Neumann-Goretti gets ready to take the field in game vs. St. Joe's Prep. (Photo by Geneva Heffernan for PSD)

Also at 6-2 is Bonner-Prendergast. Back to back shutouts included a 10-0 win May 4 over Archbishop Carroll. With junior pitchers Kevin Henrich and Ryan Kearney combining for nine strikeouts, junior Mike Anderson (two doubles), junior Jim Sousa, and freshman Austin Cannon each knocked in a pair of runs.  

“This was our most complete game thus far,” said B-P coach Steve DeBarberi. “Offensively, we had some timely extra base hits. We ran the bases well, made all the plays in the field, and competed on the mound.

“It was a good start to a very tough week for us – three tough PCL games with Judge and Prep Wednesday and Friday.

Bonner-Prendergast junior Kevin Henrich at the pitcher's mound in game vs. Wood. (video/John Knebels for PSD)

The craziest result on May 3 was Archbishop Carroll’s 11-10 win over visiting Conwell-Egan. The Patriots trailed 10-2, but a surreal eight runs in the bottom of the fifth forged a 10-10 tie. After a regulation tie, Carroll captured the win when senior Evan Bruder led off the eighth with a single and eventually scored via two wild pitches and a passed ball.   

“It was just a testament how special this team can be,” said Carroll coach Joe Liciardello. “We have fought a tremendous amount of adversity.

“We knew yesterday was going to be tough coming off another 17-day Covid shutdown. We didn’t let that be an excuse. We came out a bit sloppy. They rallied together, and we got massive contributions from everyone. It was a great team win.”

Junior Harold Ivery, sophomore Mike McCafferty, and sophomore James Brown each knocked in two runs. Junior pitcher Sam Benvignati earned the victory with 3.1 innings of one hit ball.

In Father Judge’s 6-0 decision over Cardinal O’Hara, Dave Rodriguez hurled the best game of his career, going the distance for the first time. He surrendered only three hits and no walks while striking out seven.

The top of the Crusaders’ lineup made life miserable for the Lions. The sophomore trio of Brooks Henderson, Nick Shiffler, and Sean Moore combined to go 6 for 10 with six RBI and three runs scored.

“Everything was working great, especially the off-speed pitches,” said Rodriguez. “The point that I knew things were going my way was after fourth inning when they still had no hits and no runs scored, with a solid infield and outfield behind my back making all the plays.”

FJ's Brooks Henderson discusses team goals for rest of the season. (video/Alex Duda)

Father Judge vs. Cardinal O'Hara game highlights. (video by: Alex Duda for PSD)

Devon Prep busted open a tight game with seven runs in the third en route to a 10-0 win over Archbishop Ryan. Junior Mason Lindley and senior Tommy Kent both went two for three with two runs batted in.

Senior Bere Bauers fired a five-inning complete game, allowing only two hits and one walk while strikeout out 10 for the Tide, who have won three straight.

“It’s definitely easier to pitch with a lead,” said Bauers. “We are just playing good baseball right now, and we just need to keep that going.”

 

(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)