Yesterday afternoon, No.3 Archbishop Ryan took on No.6 Lansdale Catholic in the quarterfinal game of the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs. Archbishop Ryan and Lansdale Catholic played earlier in the season, with the game being a blow out, 7-0, in favor of the Ryan Ragdolls.
“Well, we had played them earlier in the year, and you know, traditionally, you’re going to get better as the year goes on,” Crusaders coach Paul Suder said. “That’s the way we felt. We knew they hit the ball well so we figured we were gonna have to get 6 [runs] today to win, and Shannon [Hill] would have to hold them under what she did the last game.”
Ryan earned their second win against Lansdale Catholic to make it to the Catholic League semifinal game. (Kevin Murphy/Philly Sports Digest)
Unfortunately for Lansdale Catholic, all Ryan needed was four runs. Thanks to, not only a solid defensive performance all around, but also great individual plays Ryan held on for the 4-1 victory.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Archbishop Ryan had a 1-0 lead following a throwing error in the first inning, but hadn’t done much since. After the leadoff hitter popped the ball up to right field for the first out of the bottom of the inning, Isabel Hoch stepped up to the plate and pushed one down the left field line for a single.
In the next at bat, the pitcher Reilly Kerr hit one in the same general direction as Hoch’s, who tried to go for third, causing the left fielder to attempt to throw her out. Again, an errant throw flew past third base, and in to dead ball territory, scoring Hoch and putting Ryan up by two.
That would not be all for the Ragdolls that inning. Looking to pounce with another runner in scoring position and only one out, No. 23 Elliot, stepped up to the plate. For the third time in the inning, the Ragdoll stroked one down the left field line, this time for a RBI double, making it 3-0. Lansdale would get out of the inning allowing two runs.
A diving catch helped Reilly Kerr pitch out of trouble in the top of the sixth inning. (Kevin Murphy/Philly Sports Digest)
Aside from a big double hit to the wall in the top of the fifth inning by Nicole Passerini, Lansdale Catholic had yet to put much of any pressure on Ryan all game.
In the top of the sixth, the Crusaders got a runner on base with their first walk of the game, a good start for a comeback. The next two batters flew out and grounded out, failing to advance the runner after the leadoff walk.
With two outs, Maggie Wunder hit a ball to right field. The Ryan outfielder charged the ball but missed on the dive, for what would have been the third and final out of the inning. The ball fell into the outfield for a double for Wunder. That would not be the last influential dive of the inning.
With runners now on second and third, LC looked anxious to close the gap and make it a game. After the double, Kerr, bounced one off the ground and over the backstop for a wild pitch, which advanced and scored a runner for Lansdale Catholic making it 3-1.
With a runner on third and two outs, Kerr seemed to be rattled and walked the next batter Shannon Hill to put two runners on base for the Crusaders. The next batter, Rebecca Tiley simply needed to put to ball in play to help her team. She did a little more than that, roping one towards the left center gap. Having just watched her teammate miss a ball, and allow a double, Victoria Black laid out full stretch for the fly ball and caught it just before it hit the ground for the third and final out.
“It gets under her glove it’s a tie game there, but the momentum swings all their way,” said Suder. “That being said the girl made a great play on it. Their short stop played well catching a looper down the line, which would have kept the inning going. And, they had a couple balls just in fair. So it was just the way it went today.”
In the bottom of the sixth, Kerr made up for her trouble on the mound by one hopping a ball to the fence for a double. This start for the Ragdolls would eventually lead to an RBI single from No. 17 Cashman to give Ryan its run. Lansdale Catholic was unable to apply any more pressure in the final inning. The game ended 4-1, and with Archbishop Ryan advancing to the semifinals of the PCL playoffs.
“I think we played really well defensively, made some nice plays,” Archbishop Ryan coach John Kidwell said. “Center fielder made a great play to keep a couple runs off the board and you know, that’s what we try to do. Play seven solid innings of defense. We know we're going to face good pitching in the playoffs. We try to get a few runs, have better pitching and defense to try and control the game.”
Archbishop Ryan will play St. Hubert's in the semifinals come Monday. The PCL playoffs will be held at Arcadia University.
