BASEBALL: With Three Games Remaining in the Inter-Ac, The Outright Title is Close in Grasp

Photos: Zack Beavers, Lennie Malmgren, Mike Nance, Ryan Nix, Jose Rincon Pena & Jack Verdeur

By: John Knebels

PHILADELPHIA – Drama and intrigue usually intersect with Inter-Academic League baseball. Not so this year.

With three games remaining for each of the league’s six squads, Malvern Prep is but a stone’s throw away from securing yet another outright title.

Standing firm at a perfect 7-0, the Friars could clinch as early as Friday when they visit Haverford School. A loss, however, could technically open the door for both Haverford School and Springside-Chestnut as Inter-Ac title contenders.

That’s why Malvern, despite its 24-1 overall record (including 8-2 non-league win over Holy Ghost Prep on Wednesday) and 15-game winning streak, isn’t looking past any opponent.

“We just take ’em one at a time to be honest,” said Malvern coach Freddy Hilliard. “There are no ‘big’ games. We just have to play our game. Our goal is to play our best game regardless of who the opponent is or the opponent’s record.

“I’m sure it’ll feel a little different for the guys because they know they can lock up another crown, but we gotta just focus on playing our best, as simple as that may sound.”

Malvern Prep vs. Haverford School - PSD Gallery by Jack Verdeur

Statistically through Monday, Malvern’s offense includes eight players who have monumentally excelled with 62 plate appearances or more.

It’s difficult to imagine the angst of opponent hurlers when facing the likes of senior star Tague Davis (.411 batting average, .545 on-base percentage, 4 homers, 24 runs batted in), senior Jon Holt (.469/.576/ 15 RBI), senior Cole Kirschner (.451/.532/ 21 RBI), senior Mason Clark (.404/.547/ 21 RBI), junior Chase Ecker (.397/.479/ 21 stolen bases, 23 runs scored), sophomore Jackson Melconian (.316/.379), junior Andrew Pellicciotta (.303/.398/ 22 runs scored), and sophomore Brady Abate (.245/.479/ 21 stolen bases, 23 runs scored).

In 28 innings on the mound, Davis is 5-0 with a 1.00 earned-run average. Senior DJ Peterson (3-0, 2.00), junior Will Oschell (3-0, 1.69), sophomore Jack Herbein (3-1, 1.62), and senior Jack Ploszay (3.0, 0.00) add scarily gaudy numbers to a loaded staff on which 10 different players have earned at least one win.

But it isn’t only their pursuit of maintaining a stronghold on the Inter-Ac championship (six outright titles, four shared in last 12 seasons) that keeps the Friars motivated.

Malvern Prep vs. Penn Charter - PSD Gallery by Zack Beavers

In the long history of the Inter-Ac that began in the, gulp, late 19th century, there have only been eight teams that have finished with a perfect league record, only four in the past 43 years, and two since 1986. Malvern’s 2012 crew was one of them.

“We said from day one that we felt we had the team that could do it if we stayed focused,” said Hilliard. “But we also stressed there’s a reason it doesn’t ever happen in this league, so we’ll have to be ready each time out. It’s really hard to do.

“Look at today (April 30). Germantown Academy is in last place, but Aidan von Zubin is a dude on the mound, and he gave us all we could handle to survive and get out with another (2-0) win. Pitching is like a good goaltender in hockey. It can neutralize ya.

“Plus, we know we are always gonna get everyone’s best punch, too, with our history. It’s tough to match it every day when opponents make it their World Series."

In second place at 5-2, Haverford School must defeat Malvern on Friday to have any shot at a crown.

A victory would create some tension atop the standings, and should Haverford School run the table while Malvern loses one of its final two games, the Fords would earn a share of the title.

Not including results from Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to Springside-Chestnut Hill, several Fords have excelled. Senior Connor Scanlan is hitting .474 with four homers, 16 RBI, and 24 runs scored. Junior Brenner Green’s .390 average includes three home runs and 24 RBI. Sophomore Jaidyn Rivera leads the team in homers with five to go along with 12 RBI and 20 runs scored. Junior Zac Fuscaldo has scored 13 runs while knocking in 10.

Leading the pitching are seniors Ian White (5-2 record, 2.68 ERA, and 56 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched), Kevin Reavey (3-1. 3.00, 38 strikeouts in 28 innings), and Fred Jordan (3-0, two saves).

Haverford School vs. Springside Chestnut Hill - PSD Gallery by Mike Nance

Haverford School vs. Penn Charter - PSD Highlights by Lennie Malmgren

At 4-3, Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy remains a mathematical possibility – albeit a long shot – for a championship share, especially since the Blue Devils still have one more game against Malvern.

SCH kept those hopes alive by defeating visiting Haverford School, 5-4, on Tuesday. Solid starting pitching by senior Tucker DeLisle (10 strikeouts over five innings) and two innings of relief by sophomore Joe Pieczynski made senior Rory Finn’s two RBI stand up.

“The most challenging thing to do in the Inter-Ac is scoring runs,” said SCH coach Joe Ishikawa. “The pitching in the Inter-Ac is ruthless; every guy that takes the mound is a stud.

“For us, the season highlight was game six of the Inter-Ac schedule (13-2 win at Germantown Academy on April 26). It was the first time this year that our preseason lineup was entirely in place, with our five seniors – Tommy Markey, Rory Finn, Jamie Neris, Ha'oa Bode, and Bobby Filler – manning the top five spots. Offensively, our players were in the most optimized position for success. Before that, we heavily depended on Tucker DeLisle and Ha'oa Bode (combined ERA of 1.14) to win our games.”

Springside Chestnut Hill vs. Penn Charter - PSD Gallery by Ryan Nix

Springside Chestnut Hill vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Photos by Jose Rincon Pena

An underclassmen-dominated Episcopal Academy doubled its win total in glorious fashion on Tuesday by besting Penn Charter, 3-2, when a walk-off single by junior Will Cohen scored senior Alex Barrist (hit by pitch, stole second). The pitching trio of freshman Hunter West, eighth-grader Mike Schaeffer, and junior Logan Correll combined to allow four hits and no earned runs.

Two weeks earlier, those three were also on the mound – surrendering three hits and two runs – when the Churchmen scored a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh and edged Germantown Academy, 3-2.

Freshman Gavin Terzoglou knocked in two runs. Sophomore Owen Peiffer (lead-off hitter with a .404 batting average) had two hits and scored the game-winning run on a throwing error.

“The vast majority of our team is young,” said EA coach Tom Grandieri, referring to a roster that includes only four seniors. “As I like to say, we don’t have many cars in the parking lot at practice. We have some experience, so I wouldn’t say I expected a struggle. But the pitchers in the league this season have been some of the finest in a while, and that’s saying a lot.”

Episcopal Academy vs. Haverford School - PSD Photos by Ryan Nix

Penn Charter’s best four-day stretch celebrated a 3-0 win over Episcopal and a 5-4 walk-off victory over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. In the former, an unflappable junior Cole Stocks allowed only one hit and three walks in seven innings while senior Joey DiBenedetto tripled in two runs as part of a three-run first inning.

In the latter, an electric two-run double in the bottom of the seventh by junior Garrett Matthias (four RBI) scored junior Tazio Perkins and junior Kyle McKernan and honored the pitching of senior Will Vierra (six innings, two earned runs, eight strikeouts) and junior Ryan Conrad (one inning, three strikeouts).

“In our walk-off win, we had the unenviable task of trying to solve Springside-Chestnut Hill ace Tucker DeLisle, who may be the best pitcher in the league,” said Penn Charter coach Justin Hanley. “As a coach, there's no better feeling than seeing your players persevere. They had plenty of opportunities to pack it in, but they stayed confident going into the seventh. They executed the seventh-inning plan to perfection. I'm so proud of them.”

Penn Charter vs. Haverford School - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren

Germantown Academy’s record might be 1-6, but a run here or there would have changed that mark dramatically. Take away a 10-0 loss at Malvern and a 13-2 defeat versus Springside Chestnut Hill, the Friars have lost close games against Episcopal (3-2), Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (4-0), Haverford School (10-8), and, on Tuesday, Malvern (2-0).

In the Patriots 2-0 win over Penn Charter on April 23, senior Aidan von Zuben struck out 10 and surrendered three hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings. Senior Cooper Paule followed with 1 1/3 innings of one-hit relief for the save. Senior John DiLello plated in both runs with RBI hits in the first and third innings.

“It was a big win for us when we really needed one against a good team,” said GA coach John Bernhardt. “Definitely a positive atmosphere after the win and you can tell all of the players thought we were finally moving in the right direction. Definitely a good effort and we showed fight.