Father Judge defeated La Salle College High School 3-2 to win the 2023 PCL championship - PSD Photo by Kathy Leister
Photos/Videos: John Knebels, Jesse Garber, Kathy Leister & Mike Nance
By: John Knebels
ASTON, PA – As they took pictures, high-fived teammates, and embraced everyone in sight, someone dropped the shiny new plaque in a pile of mud near home plate.
On a day filled with superb pitching, patient at bats, and standout defense, it was a rare Father Judge miscue.
Minutes earlier, the top-seed Crusaders had defeated two-seed La Salle, 3-2, in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship May 27 at Neumann University. Judge’s first title since 2000 and 10th overall ignited celebrations that lasted well into the subsequent week.
With a first-round PIAA Class 6A state contest scheduled for Monday – courtesy of a 9-7 District 12 title victory over Central – the Crusaders are currently focused on earning the school’s first-ever baseball state title.
However, regardless of what occurs during the state tournament over (hopefully) the next two weeks, this season for the ages will never be forgotten by the players and coaches who forged an 11-1 PCL record, a 10-0 quarterfinal win over nine-seed St. Joseph’s Prep, a 5-1 semifinal victory over six-seed Roman Catholic, and a 3-2 triumph over La Salle that avenged a 7-2 loss in the PCL finale on May 10.
Father Judge vs. Central HS - PSD Photos by Jesse Garber
The individual memories will last forever.
“The amount of former players who have reached out to me has been unbelievable,” said Father Judge coach Mike Metzger, a 1987 alum who, in his senior year, starred in the Crusaders’ 6-2 PCL championship win over Monsignor Bonner. “There is a sense of community about it. We ALL won last Saturday.”
Metzger became the Father Judge coach in 2018. The Crusaders have been sniffing close to a title ever since. Among the disappointments was a 3-2 loss to eventual league champ La Salle in the 2019 semifinals that needed 13 innings to complete. In 2021, the seven-seed Crusaders pushed two-seed Archbishop Wood to the wire in a bitter 6-5 quarterfinal defeat authored by a walk-off grand slam by then-sophomore Joey Gale. Favored as a three-seed last year, the Crusaders were upset by six-seed La Salle, 6-1.
But from the very beginning, this year felt different.
Behind stellar pitching, the Crusaders won their first 11 league games. During a 10-game stretch from April 5 through May 8, Father Judge surrendered a miserly 14 runs.
Clearly, the Crusaders were the team to beat.
In the championship win over La Salle, two-time PCL pitcher of the year David Rodriguez saved one of his best performances for the most important game of his scholastic career. The junior fired a complete game, allowing one earned run, five hits, and two walks while striking out eight.
2023 PCL Baseball Championship - Father Judge vs. La Salle - PSD Highlights by Kathy Leister & John KNebels
“I expected this championship run from us,” said Rodriguez. “We are all close and families bond together almost every weekend. I would say my favorite memory was the Myrtle Beach Tournament because when we went there, we played a very good team and won, but then we played another team and lost. From that moment on, we took it to the heart, and we knew we would be a very successful team.”
Rodriguez’s catcher, senior Anthony Jakeman, shared his battery mate’s season-long enthusiasm.
“Winning did meet our expectations,” said Jakeman. “We had a good feeling we had a great team that was very special. One memory from this year is just being around my best friends every day and going out to compete, and especially getting the ’chip for our coaches.”
Aided by two of their three total hits, the Crusaders scored their three runs by stealing four bases and taking advantage of three La Salle errors, a hit batter, and four walks.
Judge senior third baseman Declan Foy got on base 3 times & fielded the final out in a 3-2 PCL Championship win - PSD Video by John Knebels
PCL Pitcher of the year David Rodriguez was typically fantastic in Father Judge's championship win - PSD Video by John KNebels
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by La Salle junior Kevin Schmidt, senior Liam Newhouse singled home a run.
“Winning the championship was kinda like a movie script and still is,” said Newhouse. “From Dave Rodriguez on the mound and (La Salle All-Catholic) Tim Schuler batting with a guy on second that could tie the game in the seventh, it was a very great matchup.
“Then the dog pile with my best friends was the best. Seeing all their faces, some with tears coming down their face in joy. It’s what we all dreamed of. It was a goal set as soon as we were together, and we accomplished it. We spoke it into existence from the summer leading into the season.”
Over the next few days, Newhouse said the communal response bordered on surreal.
“As a team we all went down the shore together and it was like we were famous,” said Newhouse. “People all over kept telling us congratulations. It was like a movie in a small town. We were at a dinner and somehow someone knew we played baseball and went to Judge, and he picked up our bill for us.”
Mike Metzger has now experienced a PCL title as both a Father Judge player & coach - Video by John Knebels
Judge senior Brooks Henderson ended up with game-winning RBI in 4th inning - Video by John Knebels
Judge senior Liam newhouse scored two runs in 3-2 PCL championship win - Video by John Knebels
Newhouse’s hit scored senior Jaden DeLuca, who had walked, stolen second base, and moved to third on a groundout.
“We really worked so hard for this and I think we deserved it so much more than La Salle did,” said DeLuca. “They are in this position every year and it means so much more to us since we haven’t won in 23 years. Our team has been together since we were eight years old and we have so much chemistry together. I’m so proud of our guys and how we overcame a lot of challenges this season.
“Our best memory this year was definitely Myrtle Beach. That opportunity was a great experience for us to build a strong bond as a team living together.”
With the game tied 1-1, junior Richie Lee broke the deadlock with a single to center field that scored Newhouse.
“To me, the last out of that championship game was the greatest moment of my life,” said Lee, the only underclassman position player returning next spring. “It felt as if all the hard work and effort our team had put in finally paid off.
“My favorite memory from the season was seeing all the seniors after the championship win and just to see how happy they were and what we accomplished.”
Father Judge senior Sean Moore caught final out of the PCL final - Video by John Knebels
Father Judge junior Richie Lee will help defend the PCL title next year - Video by John Knebels
Anthony Jakeman talks about catching for Judges' standout pitchers - video by John Knebels
After a Schmidt RBI single tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth, a two-out infield error put Newhouse at first. Walks to Declan Foy and Lee loaded the bases. From the leadoff spot, senior Brooks Henderson worked a third walk that scored Newhouse with what proved to be the winning run.
“The feeling of winning that plaque was like nothing I could have ever imagined,” said Henderson. “It still doesn’t feel real.
“My favorite memory of the whole day was when I finally found my mom and gave her a hug. All the hard work and emotions just poured out in that moment.”
The aforementioned Foy reached base on each of his three plate appearances. He was hit by a pitch in the second, walked in the fourth, and singled in the sixth.
But what the senior third baseman will undoubtedly recall most occurred on the field in the top of the seventh when La Salle had a runner on second with two outs.
“I am never going to forget that last play of the game,” said Foy. “Throwing that ball and getting that last out and seeing all my teammates come flying out the dugout . . . that was the greatest moment of my life. I am so proud of my teammates and so happy to be part of that team.
“Winning the championship met every expectation and more. I knew we had a great group of guys and a ton of talent on this team to win it all.”
2023 PCL Baseball Championship - PSD Gallery by Kathy Leister
The guy who caught the last out – senior Sean Moore – immediately placed the ball in his back pocket for safe keeping and, later, a special delivery to an unsung hero who will be mentioned later.
“This has been a dream for the team ever since we have played with each other since we were 10,” said Moore. “It felt like all the hard work – physically and mentally – paid off for us finally. It is truly the best feeling.”
In the fourth and sixth innings, senior second baseman Nick Shiffler registered the final outs by catching pop outs. But his most important contribution was when he fired a laser to Jakeman that forced out a runner at home in the second inning.
“When that (last) groundball was hit, everyone was holding their breath,” said Shiffler. “When the umpire gave the signal that he was out, it was like a rush of joy and relief that we finally did it.
“Seeing how emotional everyone got after the win was something everyone soaked in and will never forget.”
If the last out had not been recorded, sophomore pitcher Kaiden Laverty would have entered in relief.
Though he would have relished the opportunity, he had zero qualms about acquiescing to Rodriguez’s heroics.
“The whole game we were all locked in and ready to go,” said Laverty. “Everyone on the team wanted it so bad. We all worked so hard for this, especially the seniors over the last four years. Beating a team like La Salle makes it special.
Father Judge senior Sean Moore catches final out in 2023 PCL championship - PSD Photo by Mike Nance
“The memory that I will never forget was the excitement everyone had in the stands, and my teammates . . . just all of us coming together that game. It was a feeling I have never experienced playing baseball.”
Unable to pitch because he had exceeded his allowance in the semifinal win over Roman Catholic, junior Tim Gress watched from the dugout.
“I think this exceeded expectations by a mile,” said Gress. “We all have thoughts of what it would be like and what it actually was, but it was nothing that I ever expected.”
Back to Moore catching the last out and placing the ball in his back pocket . . .
Two-time PCL pitcher of the year David Rodriguez #24 celebrates after pitching a complete game in the 2023 PCL championship - PSD photo by Mike Nance
To show his – and his teammates’ – appreciation to longtime assistant coach Barry Kneedler, Moore had the ball framed and then presented to the humble mentor.
Kneedler, who had coached several Crusaders since they were eight years old, is beloved by players and coaches. Unprompted, numerous players brought up Kneedler when asked about their favorite memories of this championship season.
Metzger understands why the Crusaders hold Kneedler in such high esteem.
“There is nobody that works harder than Barry Kneedler,” said Metzger. “He is the first one at practice and the last to leave. Father Judge would not be where we are without him.”
As for the championship plaque . . .
When Metzger returned home, he painstakingly cleaned the trophy.
“Wet wipes,” he said.
That was one chore Metzger didn’t mind completing even a little bit.
************
The first round of the PIAA state tournament begins Monday.
The Philadelphia Catholic League is well represented.
In addition to Father Judge hosting Plymouth-Whitemarsh in Class 6A at 4:00, Bonner-Prendergast simultaneously meets West Chester Rustin in a 5A contest at La Salle High School.
In Class 4A, Archbishop Wood will welcome visiting Pope John Paul II at 4:00. In a 1:00 battle in Class 3A, Neumann-Goretti will take on Allentown Central Catholic at La Salle High School.
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)