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BASEBALL: In PCL Action, Lots of Teams Remain in the Mix as Season Reaches Halfway Point

By John Knebels, 04/26/23, 10:15AM EDT

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Photos/Videos: Zack Beavers, Donna Eckert, Ryan Nix, Tommy Muir, Jahmir Dunbar, John Knebels, Lennie Malmgren, James Quinn 

By: John Knebels

 

PHILADELPHIA – In the course of a season in Philadelphia Catholic League baseball, most results seem predictable and, though exceptions exist, upsets rarely occur. 

This year, however, a question has arisen: With about one half of the schedule nearly complete, what exactly constitutes an upset?

In yesterday’s action, for instance, a 0-6 team defeated a 3-3 team while a 1-5 team stunned a 5-2 squad. Outside of undefeated Father Judge, every team has at least two losses, and six of the league’s 13 teams currently enjoy a winning record.

Of the PCL’s 13 teams, Father Judge has garnered the most attention, and for good reason.

In a key meeting yesterday at Archbishop Wood, the Crusaders improved their record to 7-0 with a 3-1 win. While reigning Pitcher of the Year David Rodriguez came one out shy of a complete game, teammates Anthony Jakeman and Brooks Anderson supplied Judge’s only two hits, but they were big ones. The former homered in the first and the latter did the same in the seventh.

 

Father Judge vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Highlights by John Knebels

The Crusaders also drew six walks and a hit batter, but they left eight runners on base. No worries. Rodriguez, a junior, commanded full control, allowing four hits, three walks, and no earned runs while striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings.

Sophomore Kaiden Laverty, who later said he was “eager” and “hyped” to contribute, entered the seventh with two on and two outs and elicited a game-ending strikeout.

In 3-1 Father Judge win over Wood, Dave Rodriquez (left) did the heavy lifting; Kaiden Laverty the mopping. (video/ John Knebels for PSD)

Solo homers by Anthony Jakeman (left) and Brooks Henderson helped Father Judge Edge Wood, 3-1. (Video/ John Knebels for PSD)

“I knew that if I threw strikes and pounded the stroke zone, I had my great defense behind me,” said Rodriguez. “Throw strikes and they made the plays, and that’s how you play baseball.”

Having already defeated defending champion Bonner-Prendergast and Roman Catholic – both on the road – the Crusaders are now 3-0 against teams with a winning record.

The electric Rodriguez is the main reason why.

In the 6-0 win over Bonner-Prendergast, which ended the Friars’ 17-game league winning streak dating back to 2021, Rodriguez allowed only two hits while striking out seven. Of his 74 pitches, 58 were strikes.

Rodriguez also dominated Roman Catholic, surrendering five hits and one earned run. A second-inning, three-run homer by Nick Shiffler fueled the victory.

“The PCL is always competitive,” said Judge coach Mike Metzger. “There are so many great players and coaches in our league. Anybody can beat anybody; your record means nothing.”

With a staff comprised of Rodriguez, Tim Gress and Laverty, Metzger is confident that the Crusaders will continue to play inspiring ball.

He admitted that the win over Bonner-Prendergast was special.

“Yes, it’s always a great atmosphere playing at Bonner,” said Metzger. “Their games are well attended and they’re such a talented team. Steve (DeBarberie) always has them ready to play.”

Speaking of special victories . . .

Before they lost to Judge, Archbishop Wood was involved in a classic battle last week with always-potent La Salle, winning 6-5 in 10 innings in a regular-season game for the ages.

After tying the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth, La Salle scored two runs in the top of the ninth. Down to their last out, Wood’s Logan Pietrzak singled and Brian Klumpp followed with a walk.

Senior J.P. DiGuiseppe stepped up and slammed a ball in the gap, scoring both runners and eliciting craziness outside the Vikings’ dugout. In the bottom of the 10th, Sean Burke belted a long homer over the right field fence to give the Vikings a thrilling 6-5, 10-inning victory.

“I felt it off the bat,” said an emotionally spent Burke, wearing a Viking horns helmet on his head. “Just get on base and trust the guys behind me. Just trying to play and win the baseball game.”

DiGuiseppe’s heroics set up Burke’s walk-off.

“It was fantastic,” said DiGuiseppe. “I knew I had to go up there and relax and just be myself, and I did that. Just hit a line drive; the guy on first (Klumpp) is fast. And it all worked out.

“Off the bat, that gap was wide open. I know we have speed and I know with two outs in that situation, coach is sending him.”

That coach – Jim DiGuiseppe, Jr. – just happens to be his father. And his grandfather is an assistant coach.

In other words – lots of quality reminiscing in the DiGuiseppe family took place over the next few days.

“It can be both good and bad at times,” said the younger DiGuiseppe. “A lot of pressure on me if I don’t perform. ‘Why is this this kid here? He’s the coach’s kid.’  I think I’ve done a good job of ignoring that. I think that’s all I really can do.”

Though DiGuiseppe, Jr. has coached multiple hundreds of baseball games, this particular triumph will never be mitigated.

Archbishop Wood senior J.P DiGuiseppe's 2-run double with two outs in 9th inning set up eventual victory. (video/ John Knebels for PSD)

Estatic archbishop wood head coach Jim DiGuiseppe JR. LAUDS HIS TEAM'S DRAMATIC COMEBACK AGAINST LA SALLE. (VIDEO/ JOHN KNEBELS)

Offering his summary during an intermittently emotional postgame analysis, DiGuiseppe, Jr. mentioned his son’s heroics, Burke’s surreal homer, strong pitching, and a spectacular defensive effort among, in particular, first baseman Braden Kelly (several tremendous snares on throws low and high), senior centerfielder and winning pitcher Joey Gale (over-the-head snare in dead center that saved two runs in the first inning), and third baseman Klumpp, highlighted by a fantastic catch in the 10th inning.

ARCHBISHOP WOOD SENIOR JOEY GALE PICKED UP PITCHING WIN WITH 5 INNINGS OF RELIEF - TALKS ABOUT TOTAL TEAM EFFORT (VIDEO/ JOHN KNEBELS)

archbishop WOod's Sean Burke describes his walk off home run in bottom of the 10th. (Video/ John Knebels)

“That was classic,” said Wood coach Jim “What a great game. Very happy for J.P. Certainly not easy to be the head coach’s son. I’m really happy for him and really proud of him. He came up for us in a big moment there. He’s earned it. Happy for him. Happy for our team.

“Mason (starting pitcher Mason Burlingame) gives us five and change. What a great job by him. We play fantastic defense. We keep batting. And then Joey Gale (in relief). The way he sucked it up for us there. He just kept battling and competing. Our defense . . . Brian Klumpp an incredible catch in the 10th; Joey makes one in the first.

“Keep playing to the last out. You gotta show up with your ‘A’ game every day. If you don’t, you can get stuck with a loss. It’s a grind. It’s showing up every game and always putting your best foot forward.”

Despite a 4-for-5, home run effort by Tim Schuler and a clutch pinch-hit, two-run double by AJ Owad that tied the game in the sixth, the loss dropped La Salle to 4-3 (they defeated Conwell-Egan yesterday) and gave the Explorers their first PCL losing streak since the final two contests of 2017, a total of 66 games.

As he always does, La Salle coach Kyle Werman focused on the big picture.

Wood vs. La Salle game highlights (Video/ John Knebels for PSD)

“There certainly seems to be more parity in the league this year,” said Werman. “A lot of teams are returning starters from a year ago and the experience they bring is making for more competitive games.  A solid performance on the mound can put anyone in the position to win.”

Through its first seven games, defending champion Bonner-Prendergast faced the PCL’s most difficult schedule, with their opponents owning a 25-19 collective record.

Now at 6-2 largely behind pitchers Harry Carr and Bryan Henry (combined three runs allowed over past 24 innings) and star shortstop Kevin McGonigle (.588 in PCL with two homers), the Friars no longer are deemed unbeatable since their 17-game winning streak was snapped.

Maybe more a blessing than a curse?

“It would of been nice to keep the streak alive longer, but it didn’t work out,” said B-P coach Steve DeBarberie. “We understand the importance of being the number one or number two seed in the playoffs, so that is still our main focus right now.

“I think the league is as deep as it has been in a long time. There are several teams capable of winning it all this year. If you don’t come ready to play, any team can beat anyone on any given day.”

Nothing surprises DeBarberie when he sees the PCL results every Monday and Wednesday.

“I think the league is as deep as it has been in a long time,” he said. “There are several teams capable of winning it all this year. If you don’t come ready to play, any team can beat anyone on any given day.”

Neumann-Goretti brings a 6-2 record into the second half of the season.  

“Have to get hot at the end and play your best ball headed into the playoffs,” said Saints coach Nick Nardini. “PCL is ultra competitive and it is exciting that there is a lot of parity in the league . . . a lot of very good baseball being played by a number of good teams.

“This makes for a very fun end of season for positioning in the standings. Excited to get our group playing our best ball by the season’s end.”

Roman Catholic sits tied for fifth place at 5-3. No win was more satisfying – and exciting – than the Cahillites’ 2-1 win over visiting Bonner-Prendergast.

After a scoreless initial six innings, B-P went ahead, 1-0, in the seventh. Roman senior Tommy Flaherty opened the bottom half with a single. After a sacrifice bunt by Taj Davis and a strikeout, Petey Crespo worked a walk.

Swinging first pitch, Santino Harwood singled home Flaherty with the tying run. After Harwood stole second, Nate Bryant drilled a walk-off single to left field that scored Crespo with the clincher.

“Seeing the ball come off the bat was kind of surreal knowing that we had just won,” said Bryant. “I wasted no time celebrating. The whole team sprinted out of the dugout and I got attacked with hugs and high fives. I remember being exhausted in the handshake line after all the celebrations were over with.” 

Harwood faced even more pressure one bat earlier. 

“My approach was just to attack, attack, attack,” said Harwood. “I was looking for a mistake to be thrown and I got it, then executed to bring the tying run in.

“It was definitely a defensive game and hard fought. We just had to stay patient and wait for our inning to come then it came. Definitely is up there with one of the most fun games I had, and hopefully we can keep executing and doing what we do best.”

Flaherty said it’s “always a great feeling when you win a game on a walk-off, so it’s definitely up there for PCL wins.”

Roman Catholic coach Bob Hill, whose Cahillites will face St. Joseph’s Prep at Trenton Thunder Stadium 7:00 on May 5 and believes the event will be “a memory that they will remember forever,” assessed the rest of the league.

“Big week ahead for some of the teams,” said Hill. “PCL is loaded with talent, led by Dave Rodriguez at Judge and Kevin McGonigle at Bonner. Ton of talent at Judge and Bonner and Wood. La Salle has a lot of quality arms.

“We have some talent this year, and our top 10 can compete with anyone in the league. This senior group has been on the varsity the last few years, so experience plays a role.” 

Roman Catholic vs. Archbishop Carroll - PSD Highlights by Lennie Malmgren

At 3-4, Archbishop Carroll is tied with Cardinal O’Hara for seventh place.    

“I think the PCL is awesome,” said Carroll coach Jonathan Grosse. “I believe it is the best league in the state, and having so many of us jammed up in the middle is only going to make the stretch run even better.”

Cardinal O’Hara served notice that last year’s struggles (2-10, though misleading) were behind the Lions after a 6-4 win over La Salle.  

O’Hara coach Rob Benedict, whose Lions lost three games by one run last year, and two in extra innings against playoff teams LaSalle and Neumann-Goretti, is happy for his players that their hard work is being rewarded in the standings.

“I think there is a lot of parity this year,” said Benedict. “You’re seeing a lot of close games that could go either way. It seems every team is coached well and has good pitching, which is key. You can’t take anyone for granted. I think it’s good for the league. Should be interesting the rest of the way.”

Belying their 2-4 PCL record, St. Joseph’s Prep went on the road and upended LaSalle, 4-3. That win could very well make the difference of finishing among the top 10, which would give the Hawks a first-round playoff opportunity.

“The last couple of years, I believe the league was top heavy,” said Prep coach Anthony Valucci. “You wouldn’t see many teams in the bottom half of the division beating teams in the top half or even keeping it close.

“Looking at the scores daily, you see almost all tight games in the later innings. It’s been great for our league. I believe a lot of good baseball players want to play in the PCL and make an impact right away, where in the past it would take time before they’d make their way up to varsity. It has balanced out the league a bit and makes for an even more competitive atmosphere each day.” 

Lansdale Catholic notched a huge 1-0 win over Roman Catholic yesterday behind a brilliant performance by Mark O’Brien. Not only did the senior hurl a complete game shutout on 65 pitches, allowing only five hits, he also knocked home senior Geno Bianco with the game’s only run in the first inning.

“We played a great game today against a very good Roman Catholic team,” said O’Brien, who credited sophomore catcher Dan Grosch for calling “a great game” from behind the plate. “We were able to capitalize on having runners in scoring position in the first inning.

“I was thinking during my at bat to put the ball in play hard and do my best to get the run across the plate. On the mound, I trusted my defenders and they had my back the whole game. I think playing clean baseball and having the energy today helped us get the win.” 

Lansdale Catholic coach Brian Ferko complimented both teams, particularly the two “excellent” starter pitchers. In defeat, Roman’s Tommy Flaherty allowed two base runners and then recorded 18 consecutive outs over six innings, 11 of them via strikeout.

“Philadelphia Catholic is one of the most competitive leagues in the state and for years has sent teams deep into state playoffs,” said Ferko. “Playing against such great competition raises all the teams, and the league is fortunate to have a number of really good coaches who get the most out of the kids.

Last but far from least, Archbishop Ryan celebrated its first win of the year yesterday, stunning visiting Archbishop Carroll, 3-2. Thus ends a 20-game losing streak dating back to May 10, 2021, when the Raiders defeated – ironically – Archbishop Carroll, 9-5.

Upon closer inspection, however, Ryan’s win should not be considered that surprising. Among their six losses was a 1-0 decision at Father Judge and a 3-2 defeat at Roman Catholic. Those two teams currently own a combined 12-3 record.

“I love my guys and I’m so incredibly happy for them,” said second-year coach Eric Brooks. “They deserve this. These kids work extremely hard every day.”

“We have had some really heartbreaking losses this year. We finally got one today. A huge day for our kids and our program as a whole. I am extremely proud of their resilience.”

 

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

PCL Baseball Standings

(Through April 24)

 

7-0 Father Judge

6-2 Bonner-Prendergast

5-2 Archbishop Wood

5-2 Neumann-Goretti

5-3 Roman Catholic

5-3 LaSalle

3-4 Archbishop Carroll

3-4 Cardinal O’Hara

2-4 St. Joseph’s Prep

2-5 Lansdale Catholic

2-5 Conwell-Egan

1-6 Archbishop Ryan

1-7 Devon Prep

 

Tag(s): Home  Schools  Philadelphia Catholic  Baseball  Philadelphia Catholic League  Arch. Carroll Baseball  Arch. Ryan Baseball  Arch. Wood Baseball  Bonner & Prendie Baseball  Cardinal O'Hara Baseball  Conwell-Egan Baseball  Father Judge Baseball  La Salle Baseball  Lansdale Cath. Baseball  Roman Catholic Baseball  Saint Joseph's Prep Baseball  Neumann/Goretti Baseball  Devon Prep 

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