Malvern Prep 2022 Inter-Ac League Champions
Malvern Prep 2022 Inter-Ac Champions (photo/Malvern Prep Athletics)
By John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – Malvern Prep needed one more win to clinch yet another Inter-Academic League crown.
Unfortunately for Springside-Chestnut Hill, the Blue Devils were standing in their way.
After scoring eight runs in the second inning and three more in the third, the Friars coasted to a 14-1 victory and an outright league title, their 9-1 record one game better than 8-2 Episcopal Academy.
This from a Malvern team that, in 2021, graduated six of their eight field players and tied Penn Charter with an 8-2 record in the Inter-Ac and then defeated the Quakers in a makeshift postseason tournament scheduled in lieu of the traditional PAISAA tournament cancelled because of COVID concerns.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure that comes with playing with the friar emblem on your chest,” said junior Charlie Oschell. “I think this year’s team was really successful for a couple of reasons.
“We had a team full of guys who were all working hard towards a common goal and just wanted to do their job. Not to mention the great leadership from our players and coaches that created an environment of accountability and winning.”
Rarely has the Inter-Academic League baseball been so dominated by two teams. Subtract Malvern Prep and Episcopal, the remaining four squads finished a composite 12-26. So it would be fair to say that the league’s only drama concerned the two games between the Friars and Churchmen.
Malvern Prep junior pitcher Charlie Oschell. (photo by Lou Rabito for PSD)
But not quite.
With two games remaining and on a six-game winning streak, Episcopal appeared destined for a share of the title. But on May 13, Haverford School expunged any plans for a later celebration with a stunning 6-4 win over the visiting Churchmen. Though Haverford finished with a 3-7 record, the Fords had also pushed Episcopal to the limits on April 26 before the Churchmen prevailed, 7-6, in 11 innings.
“There was definitely some excitement around that game from our guys,” said Oschell, referring to Haverford School’s upset. “We were happy to have our fate in our own hands.
“However, as a team, we know that we can only control the things we can control, and those are the things that we focus on.”
The clincher over SCH enveloped strong pitching by sophomore Tague Davis, who allowed two hits and struck out six over three innings, and a deluge of offense behind junior Tim Dickinson (2-for-4, 3 runs batted in, 2 runs scored), sophomore Jonathan Holt (3-4, 2 RBI, RS), sophomore Mason Clark (1-2, 4 RBI, RS), junior Trey Tiffan (2-2, 2RBI, 2 RS), and Davis (home run).
Malvern’s slugging display was symbolic of season-long domination both on the mound and with the bat. The other league coaches couldn’t help but notice, as evidenced by a bevy of all-league selections including first-teamers Jadan Smith (Most Valuable Player), Davis, Tiffan, and Oschell; and second teamers Dickinson and junior Cam Marcum.
“They’re a very coachable group that’s extremely selfless in that they trust each other and could not care less who gets the credit or who is the star of the game that day,” said Malvern coach Freddie Hilliard, who has won or shared nine Inter-Ac titles since taking over in 2010. “They just want to play for each other and find ways to win.
“Every day they come to practice with focus and energy, and they want to get better. Not a complacent group despite their success, which is difficult sometimes.”
Oschell concurred that complacency is not included in Malvern’s baseball lexicon.
Malvern Prep head coach Freddy Hilliard. (Photo by Lou Rabito for PSD)
Malvern Prep vs. Germantown Academy. (Photos/ Ryan Nix for PSD)
“In our league, we have to approach every game like a playoff game,” said Oschell. “Every team is talented, and when they see Malvern on their schedule, there’s an added motivation to take us down.
“The important thing for us was to stay within ourselves and play the best brand of baseball we know how.”
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
