Photos: Chelby Elam
By: Kayla Tidwell, Shipley School Jr. Reporter
PHILADELPHIA - This Wednesday, Shipley varsity baseball hosted Friends Select in the Friends School League (FSL) semi-final game, and it was not a game to miss. After securing their victory 11-1, causing the game to end early, Shipley is now headed to the FSL championship where they will face Friends’ Central on Saturday.
Shipley head coach Bryan Bendowski commented on the team’s progress throughout the season to achieve this crucial win.
“Our team goal is simple…get better every time you step on the field and to win the FSL championship,” said Bendowski. “We have been playing some good baseball this season, we beat two Inter-AC teams this year and came within an out of a third. I think the boys are hungry so hopefully we can get that accomplished.”
Shipley came out strong in the first three innings with outstanding performances from senior pitcher Jaden Skop and sophomore infielder Xavier Mahrt. Skop denied Friends Select a single base hit until the sixth inning and struck out two players without any contact on the ball. Great defense was shown from Mahrt with two back-to-back putouts in the top of the fourth. Mahrt also displayed exceptional offense with an RBI to bring senior teammate Ben Ford home during the sixth inning.
Although the Gators did not finish with a shutout, Friends Select’s sole run was achieved by a walk to push senior Bryan Dedmon home. Friends Select never seemed to get in a rhythm on defense, though, allowing Shipley to consecutively score up until the fourth inning and finish the game with eight combined runs between the fifth and sixth.
To go out with a bang, Shipley showed no mercy towards their struggling opponent during the last two innings. Freshman Jimmy Amplo’s breakout performance at bat helped the Gators widen their lead with two RBIs and a base hit. To follow him up, senior Noah Kline sent Amplo home to end the inning with three runs scored. Shipley officially set the result of the game with three RBIs by Ben Ford, Xavier Mahrt, and Jimmy Amplo sending Mahrt home in style with an in-the-park homerun, sealing the win.
Shipley vs. Friends Select - PSD Highlights by Kayla Tidwell, Shipley School Jr. Reporter
Shipley Baseball - PSD Gallery by Chelby Elam
“We came into this game knowing we had to take care of business. Our mindset was to be able to keep applying the pressure and everyone stepping up to do their job,” stated first-year Amplo after the victory. “We plan on preparing for this game on Saturday by keeping the momentum rolling and staying focused.”
“Our mindset for the FSL championship game and every game is to compete every pitch and every at-bat,” Bendowski communicated on the team’s plan for Saturday. “If we get in a tough situation during the game, we have the mindset that we can work out of it. If one player doesn’t get it done, then the next man up will find a way.”
Now ranked second in the Friends League, Shipley will travel to Friends' Central this Saturday for the Friends School League championship game. Previously this season, Shipley faced a tough loss from the number one ranked Phoenix 4-0, making the match-up one of the most anticipated this season.