By: Marc Narducci
PHILADELPHIA --- Robby Grasso’s work on both offense and defense went a long way toward the Philadelphia Catholic League earning a trip to Citizens Bank Park.
The St. Joseph Prep senior’s work at the plate and in centerfield was vital in the Catholic League’s 6-4 Carpenter Cup quarterfinal win over South Jersey’s Tri-Cape at FDR Park’s Richie Ashburn Field on Thursday afternoon.
The four quarterfinal winners will now advance to Monday’s semifinals at Citizens Bank Park. In the 9 a.m. game, Chester County will face Delaware County, while the Catholic League will meet South Jersey’s Burlington County at 12:30.
The championship is 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park.
The Catholic League was in a pitcher’s duel with Tri-Cape until scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 6-1 lead.
Part of that five-run inning included a two-run double by Grasso, who will take his talents to Lehigh next season.
St. Joe's Prep senior Robby Grasso caught the game-winning out with bases loaded to send the Philadelphia Catholic League to the Carpenter Cup semifinals - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
“A four-pitch walk the at-bat before, I knew a fastball was coming and I was ready for it,” Grasso said. “We needed those runs, needed the insurance and I was happy to get it done.”
Down to its last at-bat in the top of the seventh inning, Tri-Cape showed why it has been one of the better Carpenter Cup teams recently.
One note, this was the first year the Carpenter Cup teams played seven-inning games. The games were nine innings during the previous 38 seasons.
Tri-Cape, which won consecutive Carpenter Cup titles in 2021 and 2022 and lost to Inter-Ac/Independents in last year’s championship, put on a furious rally.
The franchise, which consists of teams from South Jersey’s Tri-County Conference and Cape Atlantic League, scored three runs to cut the lead to 6-4 and had the bases loaded with two outs.
That is when Grasso saved the day with a diving catch in centerfield to end the game. Initially, it appeared as if the ball would drop, but Grasso made the difficult catch and then showed the ball to the umpires that he indeed held on. It will go down as one of the more impressive catches in Carpenter Cup history.
“The wind was blowing straight out to center so the ball was hanging up there all day and I knew it was going to be there, so I just went out and made a play,” Grasso said.
What a play it was.
This was actually a big day for the Grasso family.
Chris Grasso, the brother of Robby and a sophomore third baseman from St. Joseph’s Prep, was 1-for-1 with an RBI triple and a run scored.
Robby Grasso's 2-run double and game-ending catch with bases loaded - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
St. Joe's Prep senior Robby Grasso is thrilled to get the opportunity to play at Citizens Bank Park - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
La Salle junior catcher Luke Borgmann and Lansdale Catholic shortstop Ben Holdsworth were also 1-for-1 with a run scored and RBI, while Neumann-Goretti second baseman Richie Rosati was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Two Conwell-Egan pitchers, sophomore Brady Guzzie and senior Chase Forester, each pitched two scoreless innings and Archbishop Wood senior Richie Bayachek earned the win with one scoreless inning.
This is the Catholic League’s first trip to Citizens Bank Park since 2019.
“It feels amazing,” Robby Grasso said. “I’ve been waiting four years for this, and I am super excited.”
Chester County ousts Inter-Ac/Independents
The defending champion Inter-Ac/Independents suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Chester County in an earlier quarterfinal.
Chester County advanced to the semifinals by winning two 4-3 games, beating Mercer County in eight innings in their first game.
Against Inter-Ac/Independents, Chester County trailed 3-2 and had nobody on with two outs in the seventh inning before rallying for the win.
Haverford School senior catcher Patrick White was 1-for-2 with an RBI for Inter-Ac/Independents, while Episcopal Academy junior Roman Notaro pitched two scoreless innings.
Tag(s): Home Schools Philadelphia Catholic Inter Academic League Baseball Philadelphia Catholic League Arch. Carroll Baseball Arch. Ryan Baseball Arch. Wood Baseball Bishop McDevitt Baseball Bonner & Prendie Baseball Cardinal O'Hara Baseball Conwell-Egan Baseball Father Judge Baseball La Salle Baseball Lansdale Cath. Baseball Roman Catholic Baseball Saint Joseph's Prep Baseball Neumann/Goretti Baseball Devon Prep