BY JEREMY GOODE
(Photos by Lennie Malmgren)
BRYN MAWR, PA--A hit parade broke out in Bryn Mawr, Pa. for the Friends' Central Phoenix against Shipley Gators on Apr. 21, 2023. The Phoenix overwhelmed the Gators with a strong Friends League win on the road, 11-7.
“They are an incredibly worthy opponent,” Friends' Central head coach Jon Rubin said. “Coach Bryan does a great job; manages the game really well; we always know it’s going to be a tough battle, and this was no different than any other game between us.”
The Phoenix started putting bat to ball party early and often. Ironically, it would come after the first two batters for Friends' Central flew out to center field and lined out to the pitcher. But then with two outs in the top of the first, Pablo Spielman-Rodriguez blasted a solo home run over the left field wall.
The Phoenix then played small ball for the rest of the inning. Julian Abreu followed with a slap single to left field. Brendan Aiken dropped in a single to left center that moved Abreu to third. Aiken then took second on the throw-back to the infield. Shane McGarry followed by singling to left center field, scoring both runners, giving the Phoenix a 3-0 lead as McGarry took second on the throw to home in an attempt to throw out Aiken. Caleb Bachman stepped up and doubled to the right center wall, scoring McGarry, giving the Phoenix a 4-0 lead that they would take into the bottom of the first.
“I knew none of the stuff they were throwing at me was going to blow me away,” Spielman-Rodriguez said. “The first guy was throwing a lot of off-speed, so I was really just waiting for that thing to get deep, and happened to put a good swing on the ball.”
Matt Hamilton took the hill for Friends' Central. After giving up two runs in the first inning, Hamilton would settle down and only give up a run per inning through the fourth.
Friends' Central School vs. Shipley School (video/ Jeremy Goode for PSD)
After getting into a jam in the bottom of the fifth with runners on second and third and no outs, Hamilton forced two strikeouts and a flyout to center field, keeping the game tied at five going into the top of the sixth.
At a point during the fourth inning, Friends' Central had already seen three pitchers from the Shipley roster. While that could be a product of the Phoenix’s ability to get runners on and eventually score, Aiken thought it was a strategic move by the Gators to deal with Friends' Central's preparation for different looks from Shipley.
“I think they were trying to switch it up a little bit since they did not want to go through the order with the same pitcher," Aiken said.
Even without his best stuff, such as he had in his seven-shutout innings against Malvern Prep last week, Hamilton was able to bear down during different parts of the game. The Gators would never lead during the game, a testament to Hamilton’s steady effort. Regardless, Rubin was pleased that the offense was able to pick up Hamilton and ultimately earn him the win.
Friends' Central's Pablo Spielman-Rodriquez gets bats rolling with solo home run. (Video/ Jeremy Goode for PSD)
“Matt Hamilton has been a phenomenal pitcher for us… he did not have his best stuff today, but he just really knows how to pitch and it was great to see him battle without his best stuff” Rubin said. “So, I thought our guys did a great job staying in the game.”
After getting out of the fifth inning jam, the Phoenix would use the top half of the sixth to break the tie, take the lead and not look back. Spielman-Rodriguez led off the inning with a double down the third base line. Abreu walked. Both runners moved up a base to second and third after a passed ball.
Aiken would then break open the game with a triple to left center field, scoring both runs, giving Friends' Central a 7-5 advantage. They would score two more runs that inning, giving the Phoenix a commanding 9-5 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
“I got a pitch up that I could handle and I just swung, did not really think about it, saw it in the gap and thought to get running,” Aiken said.
Friends' Central would add another two runs in the top of the seventh, taking a strong lead into the final half inning up by six. Michael Mamaluy would close out the game, giving up two runs but capturing the final out via strikeout.
When asked about the offensive fireworks on display today, Spielman-Rodriguez was pleased to get a competitive win against a top team in the Friends League with their bats.
Friends' Central's Brendan Aiken put game away with the triple that scored two in the 6th. (Video/ Jeremy Goode for PSD)
“It was awesome because that’s honestly been a struggle of ours as a team (getting hits together, back-to-back),” Spielman-Rodriguez said. “So, it was awesome to finally have that especially against a league rival.”
The seven innings of play was competed in three hours and two minutes, comparable to a Major League Baseball game before the introduction of a pitch clock. In those three hours of baseball, both teams combined for 18 runs, emphasizing the stakes of a game between two top Friends’ Leagues teams.
“I think our hitting is clicking a little bit better than it was last week and I think we have to bring that into next week,” Akin said. “If we can do that, we’re just going to keep riding; keep winning.”
The game’s outcome had a major impact on Friends League play. Both teams are at the top of league standings, and the win gives Friends Central a bit of separation over Shipley in the hunt to clinch the one-seed for the Friends’ League playoffs. Aiken noted that if they play Shipley again in the playoffs, they’ll have home field advantage, a major win they’ll take away from Bryn Mawr.
Friends' Central in game vs. Moorestown Friends. (Photos by Lennie Malmgren for PSD)
It is an important win for Friends' Central, one even Spielman-Rodriguez said was circled on the calendar before the beginning of the season. After relying on the arms of Lucas Frattone and Mamaluy to squeeze by Westtown a few days earlier in conference play, Akin appreciates how much the offense has been able to help earn wins like the 11-run outburst against Shipley.
“I think our hitting is clicking a little bit better than it was last week and I think we have to bring that into next week,” Akin said. “If we can do that, we’re just going to keep riding; keep winning.”