BASEBALL: Philadelphia Catholic League Savors the Experience of Playing in the Carpenter Cup at Citizens Bank Park

Photos: Jake Law

By: Marc Narducci

PHILADELPHIA – There were no long faces, no heads were down, and the Philadelphia Catholic League was clearly upbeat. The baseball players and coaching staff had every right to be feeling good about themselves despite a 9-3 semifinal loss to Burlington County during the 39th annual Carpenter Cup.

Teams that win their first two Carpenter Cup games at Philadelphia’s FDR Park, earn the extra carrot of getting to play the semifinals and finals at Citizens Bank Park.

While any of the 16 teams in this single-elimination tournament have dreams of winning the coveted championship, talk to most of the players and they say their immediate goal is to get to play where the Phillies call home.

Winning is important, but in this instance, it isn’t everything.

Many of these players travel all around the country, playing at finely manicured fields, but there is something about competing at a professional venue that is truly magical.

Philadelphia Catholic League vs. Burlington County - PSD Carpenter Cup Highlights by Marc Narducci

And more than anything else, what the Phillies have done by sponsoring this tournament since its inception, is to give the youngsters the experience of a lifetime.

And it extends beyond the players. The coaches, even some who have been around the game their entire lives, are also gratified to share a dugout occupied by Phillies manager Rob Thomson and his troops.

So, hold the tears and cherish the memories, that was the message clearly echoed by the Catholic League following its semifinal defeat.

“You saw the kids when they came out here, one of the kids said to me ‘this is a dream come true,’” said, longtime Catholic League manager Jim DiGuiseppe Sr., the former Archbishop Wood head coach who now assists his son Jim Jr. for the Vikings. “Now, that may seem corny to people, but just the beauty of this, you know me, I’m not about losing, but they played so hard.”

It would be difficult to find anybody who detests losing more than DiGuiseppe and no doubt, his stomach will likely be churning when recapping some of the more difficult plays of this game, but that didn’t take away from the experience of emulating the big leaguers for a day.

“It’s all about having such a great experience and that is why it is such a great thing the Phillies do year after year.,” DiGuiseppe said.

This was a game that was closer than the final score indicated. The Catholic League led 1-0 after four innings and trailed just 4-3 at the end of six. Burlington County, which eventually won this year’s Carpenter Cup title with a 4-0 championship win over Chester County, then put the semifinal away against the Catholic League with five runs in the top of the seventh.

The main reason the PCL led 1-0 after four innings was the fact that seniors Jake Marchesano of Archbishop Ryan and Richie Bayachek of Archbishop Wood each pitched two shutout innings. (Carpenter Cup rules allowed pitchers to throw a maximum of two innings per game).

Marchesano, a Delaware commit, started the game and allowed two hits, while striking out two and walking none.

“This was great, it was a dream come true to be able to pitch on a field like this and a ballpark like this, so I loved being here, loved doing this…” he said.

Bayachek, who allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one, expressed similar sentiments.

“It was unreal, honestly, just going out, running out from the bullpen, it was a good experience,” Bayachek said.

One of the offensive standouts for the Catholic League was Father Judge senior outfielder Kevin Krause, who had an RBI single in his lone at bat that preceded a sacrifice fly by his Father Judge teammate Will Henderson that cut the Burlington County lead to 4-3 in the sixth inning.

Archbishop Ryan senior pitcher and 2024 PCL MVP Jake Marchesano pitched two shutout innings at Citizens Bank Park - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

Father Judge senior Kevin Krause talks about getting the opportunity to play at Citizens Bank Park - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

Archbishop Wood senior pitcher Richie Bayachek also pitched two scoreless innings in the Carpenter Cup semifinal - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

“It was awesome, a once-in-a-lifetime experience and just happy to be here and play with a bunch of my friends,” Krause said.

That is the other benefit of this tournament. During the season, these players fiercely compete against each other. Then they get to bond as teammates at the Carpenter Cup.

This is something that the players and coaches will never forget. It was the Catholic League’s first appearance at Citizens Bank Park since reaching the semifinals in 2019. Ironically, that appearance resulted in a 3-2 loss to Burlington County, which went on to win the Carpenter Cup that season.

PCL vs. Burlington County - Carpenter Cup Semifinals - PSD Gallery by Jake Law

Every time the players or coaches attend a future Phillies game, or watch them playing at the Bank on TV, they will no doubt have great memories, knowing they occupied the field for one day.

There is also an appreciation as to how difficult it is to reach the semifinals and get a chance to play in a Major League stadium.

“Getting here is a great thing, and you know they (Burlington County) were a good team,” DiGuiseppe said. “You’ve got to tip your hat to that team.”

And while at it, a tip of the hat goes to the Catholic League and the other teams that played at Citizens Bank Park.

In the competitive culture we live in, all that seems to matter to people are accumulating the W’s.

No doubt, that is important because nobody plays to lose, but the Carpenter Cup once again showed us that youngsters can experience sheer joy in an event, regardless of the outcome.