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BASEBALL: Inter-Ac/Independents Takes Down Delaware North in the First Round of the Carpenter Cup

By Jake Gabel, 06/16/22, 3:30PM EDT

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Photos/Videos: Lennie Malmgren, Lou Rabito & Jake Gabel

By: Jake Gabel

PHILADELPHIA - Summer is here and bats are still swinging for high school students in South Philadelphia. In the inaugural game of the 36th annual Carpenter Cup, the Inter-Ac/Independent team defeated Delaware North 8-5. The Carpenter Cup Classic is presented by both the Philadelphia Phillies Organization and Nike. It aims to showcase the best baseball talent in the Tri-State area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The top players from their respective districts team up and face off against some of the best players in the area. There have been many notable names to play in the Carpenter Cup, including former 12x MLB All-Star catcher Mike Piazza and Mike Trout, current centerfielder and 3x MLB MVP for the Los Angeles Angels.

“It’s a lot of fun and I’m getting to know players that I had not previously met or have only faced in high school. So you can imagine there is a lot of joking around about that,” said Friends’ Central coach Jon Rubin. Rubin is one of eight coaches in charge of the Inter-Ac/Independents team comprised of players from nine different Inter-Ac League and Friends School League schools. 

Starting on the mound for the Inter-Ac/Independents was senior Jakob Runkel from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Pitching for Delaware North was Tyler August from Delaware Military Academy.

In the top of the first inning, the Inter-Ac/Independent team got on the board first as sophomore Tague Davis from Malvern Prep hit a sacrifice-fly to score senior Friar teammate Jaden Smith from third. Smith had reached base on a walk to leadoff the game.

Inter-Ac/Independents vs. Delaware North Carpenter Cup Highlights by Jake Gabel

Moving to the bottom of the second inning, Delaware North would load the bases with one out. Then junior catcher Riley Burroughs would hit an RBI single to tie the game. Sophomore shortstop Andrew Firko would score on a passed ball the next at-bat to make it a 2-1 Delaware North lead.

Caravel Academy sophomore Zane Bohn would follow up with a two RBI double to give Delaware North a 4-1 lead after two innings. Burroughs and Wilmington Friends senior Nathaniel Huxtable would score on Bohn’s double. Scott Doran would come in to pitch for the Inter-Ac/Independent’s, ending Runkel’s outing.


Malvern Prep junior pitcher Charlie Oschell closed out the game to give the Inter-Ac/Independent’s their first Carpenter Cup victory - PSD Photo by Lou Rabito


Friends' Central head coach Jon Rubin is one of the assistant coaches for the Inter-Ac/Independent squad - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

The Inter-Ac/Independent’s would explode in the top of the third inning, loading the bases. Haverford School sophomore Connor Scanlan would draw a walk, which would lead to Smith’s second run of the game. Springside Chestnut Hill senior Chuck Norton would then hit a two RBI single to tie the game up 4-4.

It would not stop there for the Inter-Ac/Independent offense as Friends’ Central junior catcher Ajejandro Flores would hit an RBI double to take the lead 5-4. Teammate Aidan Zakarewicz, a senior from Germantown Academy, would follow up with a double of his own, this time scoring two. The Inter-Ac/Independent’s would leave the top of the third with a 7-4 lead. Sophomore Truman Auwerda from Caravel Academy would replace August on the bump for Delaware North.

Doran would pitch three scoreless innings for Inter-Ac/Independents, with six strikeouts as well. Doran, a junior from William Penn Charter, was able to pitch for the same players he normally has to face.

“Scott Doran was incredibly effective for us today,” Rubin said. “He was nine up, nine down as a pitcher. We faced him earlier in the year and I did not know him at all. It’s just fun to be rooting for him.”

In the top of the fifth, the Inter-Ac/Independents would again load the bases. Tower Hill School junior Marty Coyne would then replace Auwerda on the hill. Episcopal Academy sophomore Tyler Beaulieu would hit into a double play, but Norton would score, increasing the Inter-Ac/Independent’s lead to 8-4.

There would not be any more action until the bottom of the ninth. It would be Delaware North’s turn to load the bases. St. Mark’s junior Garrett Quinn would hit into a double play, but William Penn junior Brandon Grygo would also score, making it 8-5. The next at-bat would be the last as Inter-Ac/Independent’s closing pitcher Charlie Oschell, a junior from Malvern Prep, would get Matthew Trout to flyout to end the game.

“I am incredibly grateful that the Phillies continue to do this,” Rubin said. “It is a unique event where it is like a Philadelphia Area High School All-Star Game, backed by our Major League franchise, the Phillies.”

The Inter-Ac/Independents will move on and face Delaware County in the second round on Friday June 17 at 9 a.m. at Ashburn Field in FDR Park. Delaware County beat Philadelphia Public 8-0 in their first round game.