By Brielle Berry
Videos by Brielle Berry
PHILADELPHIA – Though certainly a team game, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCHA) senior Jonathan Bautista put on quite a one-man show in the Blue Devils’ 8-2 Inter-Academic League win over visiting Haverford School Tuesday afternoon.
In addition to allowing only five hits and one earned run and coming within one out of a complete game, Bautista belted a single, double, and a home run. He knocked in three runs and scored twice.
The win avenged a 2-0 loss at Haverford School back on April 16.
SCHA vs. Haverford School game highlights by Brielle Berry
“For the first time all season we played as a team and it felt amazing,” said Bautista, who next year will play at the University of Pittsburgh. “I understand we are at the bottom of the totem pole right now, but if we keep it going, we are going to end the season very good.”
The Blue Devils (3-3 in the Inter-Ac) scored a run in each of the first two innings. They opened the floodgates in the fifth, scoring four times – aided by a Bautista triple – to go up by a commanding 6-0. Haverford School broke the shutout bid with a run in the sixth, but SCHA responded with two of their own.
SCHA senior Jonathan Bautista commends his team for getting the victory against the Fords.
Other key offensive contributions came from Dickinson commit (football) Bobby Markey (2-3, 2 RBI, run scored), Sean Finn (2-4, RBI, run scored), and Kutztown Univ. commit Brian Finn (1-3, two runs scored, RBI).
Blue Devils' Bobby Markey talks about the pivotal 5th inning.
Senior Brian Finn Kept it plain and simple: They played great baseball.
In the seventh, Haverford managed another run. With two outs, Bautista gave way to Jakob Runkel, who induced the final out.
Despite the loss for the Fords, whose only RBI came courtesy of Will Ferris, they aren’t letting this game define them. Haverford School is 5-2 in the league and 17-4 overall.
“This is a tough league, you can win or lose any game,” said Haverford senior Eric Genther. “We just gotta come back strong on Friday. We’ve got a tough Malvern team coming in back at home and look to get back on the winning track.”
Next up for the Blue Devils is an away contest Friday against Germantown Academy while the Fords will host Malvern Prep.