ASTON, PA- Bonner Prendergast scored three runs on five hits to lead Neumann-Goretti in the first inning on Wednesday. But Neumann has had experience coming back from a slow start.
The Saints went 1-4 in their first five Catholic League games and will now play for a PCL championship following their 9-3 semifinal win over Bonner.
“Honestly to pick one thing is tough, obviously two out hitting comes to mind, obviously an unbelievable gutty performance from a senior captain,” said Neumann head coach Kevin Schneider, when asked what he thought was the turning point for his team Wednesday.
In the semifinal and all year Neumann has relied upon gritty pitching performances, clutch two-out hitting all through the line-up, and a constant energy exuberating from the dugout.
Senior pitcher Ethan Pritchett earned the win Wednesday, pitching a complete game and allowing no runs after those three in the first inning.
“To be honest with you it’s been a crazy year,” said Schneider. “We have had to make a lot of changes and we have grown up fast, a lot of younger guys have grown up fast and that’s kind of just Neumann-Goretti baseball.”
One of those younger guys growing up fast is sophomore second baseman Aidan Baur. Baur was reliable in the field and batted in four runs against Bonner.
“At first, I was a little nervous but then as the game settled in I started to calm down after the first couple innings and I relaxed and stayed relaxed,” said Baur.
He relishes at the chance to play St. Joe’s Prep for the Catholic League title on Saturday.
“I saw my brother play in the championship so I’ve always wanted to do it.”
NG senior Ethan Pritchett pitches a complete game leading his team to the PCL Championship Final (photo Joe DiSipio)
NG's Nicky D'Amore went 3-3 scoring twice and driving one home
Baur’s older brother Albert is a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and won a Catholic League Title with Neumann-Goretti in 2009.
Pritchett and the other seniors on the team have their own experience winning the league as sophomores in 2014.
They also remember last year’s loss to Wood quite well.
“We still have that bad taste in our mouths from last year losing to Wood,” said Pritchett.
“I don’t think I need to do anything else to get amped. If I’m not amped for the championship, I don’t know.”
Neumann has no problem bringing the energy. Throughout the game, and the season, the dugout was difference maker.
“Our energy, we talk about it all the time. Baseball is a game of momentum switches,” said Schneider.
He embraces how involved his entire team is and said, “Again that’s something we preach all the time, guys buying in and accepting their roles. Knowing maybe they’re not on the bump or in the lineup but they’re still a huge part of our team and our success.”
NG's Ethan Pritchett pitching to BP's Steve Furman for the final out of the game
In order to win another PCL championship when they face the Prep at noon on Saturday at Immaculata University, Neumann will have to keep finding that energy, keep having fun, and keep playing the Neumann-Goretti way.
“These are the ones; the seasons you are proud of the most. We’re not just running out the best nine guys in the league but we are really being a team, doing the little things right,” said Schneider.
Schneider continued, “I am just proud of everybody from start to finish, just overall Neumann-Goretti toughness and Neumann-Goretti baseball.”
Bonner Prendergast
Evan Raiburn 0-3, BB, SB
Danny Shepherd 2-4, R
Steve Furman 1-3 BB, R
Tim Dougherty 2-2, BB, RBI, R, SB
Brian O’Neill 1-2
Ryan George 1-2, BB, RBI, SB
Matt Headley 0-3
Matt Staiber 0-1, 2 BB
Nick McDonald 0-2
Anthony Martinelli 0-1
Dom Dellabarba 0-1
Pitchers:
Eli Chase 2 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3BB
Joe Nessel 2 1/3 IP, 5 H, 5R, BB
Kevin Zimmerman 2/3 IP, 3H, 2 R
Nick McDonald 2/3 IP, 0H, 0R, K
Neumann-Goretti
Brian Veratti 2-3, BB, R
Colin Eiser 2-4, 2R
Nicky D’Amore 3-3, BB, 2R, RBI
Jarred Healy 2-3, BB
Aidan Baur 1-3, BB, 4 RBI
Louis Testa 1-4, R
Joe Lafiora 1-3 R
Ethan Pritchett 1-3
Jeff Ciocco 0-2, BB
Pitchers
Ethan Pritchett CG 7IP, 8H, 3R, 6BB, 3K