Photos/Videos: Zamani Feelings & Mark Butler
By: Mark Butler, Penn Charter Jr. Reporter
HAVERFORD, PA - On Tuesday, May 23, in a PAISSA quarterfinal matchup, No. 6 seeded Penn Charter topped three-seeded Haverford School 5-2. The Fords took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning from a huge two run RBI double into left center field by senior Ryan Getz.
The game was well pitched throughout by Haverford School junior Fred Jordan and Penn Charter junior Christian Clauss, resulting in two scoreless innings until the top of the 6th when sophomore Garrett Mathias knocked in the first Quaker run. Then, senior Liam Rowan, captain of the Quakers, hit the go-ahead two run RBI triple to give the Quakers their first lead.
One they would never give back.
“When I got up to the plate, I was a little bit anxious, swung at a curveball in the dirt and as soon as I saw that fastball, I gave it a ride,” said Rowan, speaking upon his clutch hitting.
A ride it was, a beautifully hit ball that traveled right over the first basemen and into the outfield. The Quakers were also able to capitalize off of two Fords’ errors and score.
Senior pitcher Scott Doran earned the win coming in as the relief, pitching in 2 and ⅓ innings.
Penn Charter vs. Haverford School - PAISAA Quarterfinal Highlights by PSD's Mark Butler
“I came in confident. We’ve battled on this field a lot, so a 2-0 lead didn’t scare me. I knew I just had to do my job and my teammates would do the rest of the work and that’s what happened,” Doran said.
He definitely did his job, by not only securing the win, but also a shutout. The Quakers will advance and travel to Malvern to play the Malvern Prep Friars in the PAISSA semifinals on Thursday at 4 p.m.
WPC senior Liam Rowan talks about his clutch hit and Scott Doran discusses closing out the game in PAISAA win vs. Haverford - PSD Video by Mark Butler
WPC head coach Justin Hanley talks about staying composed, lauds seniors Liam Rowan and Scott Duran & talks about semifinal preparation - PSD Video by Mark Butler
Penn Charter’s head coach Justin Hanley is going to try and get his team ready, as the Quakers dropped two earlier regular season games to the Friars.
“It’s a quick turn around. We will put together a plan tomorrow. Any time you win a league game away you want to savor it a little bit. Whoever we get it will be a tough test, so back to work tomorrow,” said Hanley. “This team (Haverford) did the same thing to us last year beating us on our home field. It left a bad taste in our mouth and it stung a little bit. I wouldn't say it's a revenge game but it certainly played a factor a little bit. We knew we had to play every out, and that's what we did. Hopefully we can do the same next game.”
Doran and Rowan mirrored their coach’s mindset on the Quaker’s semifinal preparation.
“Good day of practice tomorrow, evaluate, make some adjustments, see what we’ve got to do and get right back to work,” Doran said.
“These are going to be our best games, let's keep it up,” added Rowan.
