BY JOHN KNEBELS
(Photos by James Quinn, Ryan Nix, Lennie Malmgren, Mike Nance & Jack Verdeur)
In the standings, two teams remain alive in their pursuit of capturing an Inter-Academic League baseball title.
At 4 PM Friday, Malvern Prep and visiting Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy prepare to meet for what amounts to an Inter-Ac championship. Malvern is 7-2, and Springside-Chestnut Hill is 6-2. A Malvern win would clinch the juggernaut’s 10th league title since 2011, three of which were shared. Since 1980, the Friars have dominated the league with 16 overall titles and eight shared.
A win by SCHA guarantees the Blue Devils at least a share of the title. A victory over Malvern followed by win over visiting Penn Charter on May 16 would secure the school’s first outright crown since 2019 and fifth overall. The Blue Devils have also shared five titles.
The only blemishes for Malvern Prep were a 5-2 loss to Episcopal and a 10-7 defeat against Haverford School. The Friars’ 6-2 record comprises four wins by four runs or more. Key victories include an 11-1 blitz over Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy along with nail biters over Episcopal and Haverford School by an identical score of 4-3.
Springside Chestnut HIll Academy in game vs. Penn Charter. (Photos by James Quinn for PSD)
Malvern Prep In game vs. Germantown Academy. (Photos/ Ryan Nix for PSD)
Malvern Prep First-Half Most Valuable Players:
In 61 at bats, senior Tim Dickinson has batted .377 with 11 walks and a .494 on-base percentage, 14 runs batted in, 18 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases.
In 53 at bats, junior Tague Davis has hit .358 with a .534 on-base percentage and .774 slugging percentage, 17 walks, six homers, 20 runs batted in, and 17 runs scored.
In 26.1 innings pitched, senior Charlie Oschell has corralled a record of 2-0 with three no decisions and only four earned runs allowed for a 1.06 earned-run average, 31 strikeouts, and 12 walks.
Sophomore shortstop Andrew "Juice" Pellicciotta has hit .438 with an on-base percentage of .541 - both team highs. He's also first in runs scored with 26 and third in RBI with 17.
“We've had an uncharacteristic year from a consistency standpoint with the bats, but Timmy and Tague have really stepped up for us and continued to make big swings and put together really good at bats and come up with big hits time and time again,” said Malvern coach Freddy Hilliard. “Tague has been really patient and has forced pitchers to make pitches and has taken his walks when they haven't given him anything to hit. And he's had some really big hits and driven the ball really well with his power numbers.
Malvern Prep vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren
“Timmy is our best two-strike hitter and just is relentless at the plate and seems to always get a good swing off. He's also been on base a ton and has created a lot of runs for us with both his bat, his legs, and his ability to get on base consistently.
“Chuck has been our ace on the bump for the second straight year and has kept us in every game he's pitched and given us a chance to win. He really should have five wins, but unfortunately, our offense has struggled in many of his starts. But he's done his part to keep runs off the board and continues to make great pitches and give our offense a chance to find ways to win games late. It's really nice when he's got the ball because you know exactly what you're going to get.
"Juice has really been a huge boost in our lineup. Not only has he ignited the offense with his bat and speed, but he has also been great defensively. For a soph to hop in and immediately put up the offensive numbers he has, while also playing a pivotal defensive role, shows a lot about his makeup and abilities."
Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy is 6-2 and has allowed three or fewer runs in six of its eight games.
First-Half Most Valuable Player:
Senior Sean Finn has hit .591, with a .609 on-base percentage and an a crazy 1.654 OPS, with 13 hits, one double, three triples, a homer, nine runs batted in, and seven runs scored. As a pitcher, he is 2-0 and has allowed two earned runs over 8.1 innings pitched with 12 strikeouts.
“Sean has been our leader, both on and off the field,” said SCHA coach Joe Ishikawa. “His commitment to Ohana Culture (team values) is having a significant impact on the freshmen that have been forced into action due to season ending injuries to key starters.”
Springside Chestnut Hill in game vs. Germantown Academy. (Photos by James Quinn for PSD)
To label Haverford School’s season as “unique” would be putting it mildly. While handing both of the top two teams – Malvern Prep and SCHA – one of their two losses, the Fords were victims of Germantown Academy’s only two wins by a composite score of 13-2.
First-Half Most Valuable Player:
Through 23 games, senior catcher and Cornell University-bound Mark Quatrani has only amassed 63 official at bats. That’s what happens when you’re almost always pitched around (16 walks, 9 hit by pitch). Despite pitchers being super careful, Quatrani has hit .587 with an unreal .697 on-base percentage and has struck out a ridiculous three times in 89 plate appearances (37 hits, 16 walks, 9 hit by pitch, one sacrifice fly, only 26 outs). His astounding 1.143 slugging percentage comprises eight homers, seven doubles, and two triples. He has scored 27 runs while knocking in 32. His batting average with runners in scoring position stands at .600.
Haverford School in game vs. Episcopal Academy. (Photos by Mike Nance for PSD)
“Mark is an intense competitor who has always prepared to bring his best every time we play,” said Haverford School coach Bob Castell. “He’s a student of the game who displays a high baseball IQ . . . ‘Q’ sets the tone for our team on offense and behind the plate.”
Episcopal Academy can attest to similar frustrations. Though owners of a mediocre 4-5 league record, four of those defeats came via walk-off, and in the other, the Churchmen led by a run heading into the seventh inning.
“The end result isn’t what we prefer, but the fight is admirable,” said Episcopal coach Tom Grandieri. “I’m proud of them and their resilience."
First-Half Most Valuable Player:
Senior shortstop and captain TJ Cadden is hitting .345 with a .435 on-base percentage. However, lightning speech and smart base running is what separates Cadden from the rest, as he has successfully stolen each of his 16 steal attempts.
“TJ Cadden,” said Grandieri, “is the heart and soul of the Churchmen on and off the field.”
Episcopal Academy in game vs. Germantown Academy. (Photos by Jack Verdeur for PSD)
Though 3-5, Penn Charter has played competitively in almost all of its games. The Quakers’ offense exploded in a 14-7 win over Haverford School, and their pitching shined in a 3-1 win over Episcopal and a 4-1 win over Germantown Academy.
First-Half Most Valuable Players:
Senior centerfielder Liam Rowan has batted .318 with a team-leading 19 runs batted in.
"Liam is by far our best athlete and can do anything on the field,” said Penn Charter coach Justin Hanley. “His aggressive style of play inspires everyone in our dugout."
Senior pitcher Scott Doran has recorded a 2.41 earned run average with 42 strikeouts over 37 2/3 innings.
"With Scott on the mound we feel as though we can beat anybody,” said Hanley. “He brings the toughness and unflappable confidence that you want out of a number-one pitcher."
Penn Charter in games vs. EA & GA. (Photos by Ryan Nix & James Quinn for PSD)
Though Germantown Academy has scuffled for wins with a 2-7 record, their two victories came at the expense of third-place Haverford School by scores of 7-0 and 6-2.
In a 7-0 win on April 20, the Patriots scored in four of the six innings and rode three-hit, shutout hurling by junior winning pitcher Micah Wells (three innings, four strikeouts), sophomore Shane Tronoski (one inning, one strikeout), and freshman Sean McGettigan (three perfect innings for the save).
The Patriots upended Haverford again, 6-2, on May 9. An outstanding effort by junior pitcher Aidan Von Zuben (6.2 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, one walk, 6 strikeouts), combined with balanced hitting by senior Aidan Zakarewicz (2-3, 3 RBI, double, homer); junior Eric Cross (1-3, RBI); junior Will Irons (2-3, RBI, walk), and junior Roan Harrington (1-4, double, run scored) impressed Germantown Academy coach John Bernhardt.
Germantown Academy in game vs. Episcopal Academy. (Photos by Jack Verdeur for PSD.)
“I’m definitely happy with our effort and toughness,” said Bernhardt. “We’re a bit banged up injury wise and ended up playing two freshmen in our lineup who have had to grow up pretty quick playing in the Inter-Ac. Bottom line is that we made plays in big spots and hit in big spots.
“Von Zuben was phenomenal on the mound, and any time you have a guy like Aidan Zakarewicz, who hits a three-run homerun in the top of the first inning to give you a 3-0 lead, that definitely helps big time to get early momentum.”
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)