FORT WASHINGTON, PA- Their postgame celebration may have been somewhat subdued but the Malvern Prep Friars clinched their sixth straight Inter-Ac baseball championship with a 9-2 win over Germantown Academy.
The Friars excelled behind the stellar pitching of Sean Flynn and Jimmy Kingsbury as well a strong batting performance from the top to the bottom of the line-up.
If there was ever a day to start following the race for the Inter-Ac baseball pennant, today was the day.
Through the thuds of bullets echoing over the field from a nearby shooting range, first baseman Bill Brittingham knocked his own solo shot to right-center in the second.
The Patriots burst into a roaring celebration and for a moment it seemed Brittingham might have delivered a shot right through the heart of Malvern’s championship hopes as well.
But that moment did not last too long.
In the third inning, the rapid fire Friars responded scoring a total of four runs in the inning. Junior outfielder Nick Li evened the tally after being walked then stealing second and third base.
Soon after Matt Daller knocked in two more runners with a deep triple, the he scored on a wild pitch.
The Patriots were only able to steal one more run off of starting pitcher Sean Flynn in the fifth as the Friars’ bats continued to heat up.
By the end of the game, the Friars had scored nine runs spread throughout the line-up in a real team win to seal at least a share of the 2016 Inter-Ac championship.
Just as Thursday’s game was challenging, the road to this sixth championship was not always easy.
“I think this year was a really big year for us after we lost 15 seniors. We have a lot of young talent. At the beginning of the year, we weren’t sure if we were going to be able to fill the holes from last year,” said senior captain Brent Greeley, a Tufts University commit.
“But we had a ton of young and old guys step up which led us to win the Inter-Ac again this year. It just speaks volumes about our program and how hard we work each and every day.”
MALVERN PREP vs. GERMANTOWN ACADEMY
It is an understatement to say there is history within the Malvern baseball program. It would also be a mistake to say there is not pressure upon the team to continue that winning tradition.
“I felt like because of our past history we needed to do it. And no one wants to be "that class" that doesn't win it,” said senior pitcher and captain Mason Abate.
“We know we have a reputation to uphold and that's our main goal every season and it's just so awesome to see so much hard work and lengthy practices and dedication pay off,” Abate said.
The Friars have topped the Inter-Ac the past six seasons and have won the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship three out of the previous four seasons.
That tournament, which includes teams from the Inter-Ac, the Friends School League and independent schools from across the state, will begin next Tuesday.
For now, though, the Friars will only focus on this Friday.
After relief pitcher Jimmy Kingsbury recorded the final out, the Friars lined up and congratulated each other in an orderly manner.
Malvern knew they had clinched at least a share of the Inter-Ac title, but winning an outright championship would depend on the outcome of the Springside Chestnut Hill and Penn Charter game.
Malvern Prep celebrates their Title win
SCH prevailed 8-7. That means that Friday’s rescheduled game between Malvern Prep and Springside Chestnut Hill would act as a de facto championship game.
If Malvern wins, they claim an outright championship. If they lose, they share the title with SCH Blue Devils.
“It’s all we can ask for. Our fate is in our own hands,” said Greeley. “We have a game plan and if we stick to it then I think we have a really good chance of winning and being the outright champs.”
Junior Jalen Wade will take the mound Friday and there certainly is still work to be done for the Friars.