PENN STATE UNIVERSITY –
The team simply knows how to win.
On Friday night at Penn State University, Neumann-Goretti High School defeated Bishop McCort, 7-4, and captured its second consecutive PIAA Class 2A state championship.
Like every game along the season’s journey that included a second straight Catholic League title in comeback fashion, the Saints finished on top even though, on paper, it didn’t seem feasible.
“We put a lot of pressure on the opposition,” said Phil Sanborn, the winning pitcher against McCort, one of four post-season victories by the senior left hander over a team-leading 30 2/3 innings pitched. “We bring out the intensity that gets other teams nervous.”
That’s as good an explanation as any.
The Saints (23-4) mustered seven hits, but it was the seven walks, wild pitches, and key errors by McCort that provided the winning margin.
The Neuman-Goretti Saints celebrate after winning the 2A State Title vs. Bishop McCort - photos courtesy of NG team players RJ McGettigan, Joe Messina & Jared Healey
Similarly, in the CL win over Wood, the Saints took advantage of numerous walks and wild pitches to forge their offense.
That’s what winning teams do. They find a way.
But early struggles seemed to indicate that this spring wouldn’t be anywhere close to what it ultimately became. The Saints lost their first three games, including two league games.
Then they won a few. And a few more. They only dropped one more league game, tied for first place, blitzed through the CL playoffs, then districts, and then states for a 23-1 finish.
In the first round of the state playoffs, the Saints nipped Dock Mennonite, 4-3, almost blowing a 4-0, seventh-inning lead in the process.
NG pitchers Joe Messina and Phil Sanborn - photo courtesy of Joe Messina
RJ McGettigan hoists the PIAA 2A State Title Trophy - photo courtesy of RJ McGettigan
From Left to Right: Jared Healey, Aidan Baur, Brian Reynolds and Steve Pizza - photo courtesy of Jared Healey
Joe Messina and head coach Mike Zolk - photo courtesy of Joe Messina
Jared Healey flanked by coaches on left and right - photo courtesy of Jared Healey
Against Old Forge in the quarterfinals, the Saints scored six runs in the fifth inning – highlighted by senior Jared Healey’s three-run homer and junior Colin Eiser’s five hits, home run, and three runs scored – for a 13-10 comeback win.
The semifinals included more craziness. N-G led comfortably, 10-4, before Bellwood-Antis tallied five runs in the seventh and had the tying run at third. A brilliant play by senior second baseman Steve Pizza preserved the lead and the win.
In the championship win over McCort, a 7-3, seventh-inning lead was trimmed to 7-4 with the bases loaded before a three-pitch strikeout by sophomore Joe Messina halted the rally.
Neumann-Goretti was state champion once again.
“It's honestly the greatest feeling in the world, achieving the goals we set out in the beginning of the year,” said Healey, who slugged a team-best .550 in the postseason. “I was a part of the last one, but I can tell you that winning it as an underclassman is great, but winning it your senior year, there's nothing that compares.”
Junior RJ McGettigan, who hit .400 with seven runs scored and six RBI, also compared the two titles.
“It feels phenomenal,” he said. “Compared to last year, this had more of an impact because I felt I contributed more all season, and the bond I had with my teammates was stronger.
“It is hard to believe we struggled so early on, but we all believed we would bounce back and get back to where we were last year.”
Senior George Mascuilli contributed two wins and a 2.80 earned-run average over 15 innings.
“Winning another state championship feels like the world was lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I was a part of last year’s championship, but only as a base runner for the pitcher and catcher. But being in the starting lineup every game leading up to (the championship) makes me feel accomplished.”
Mascuilli lauded head coach Mike “Zoom” Zolk.
“We wouldn't have changed our season around after our struggles if it wasn't for Coach Zoom,” said Mascuilli. “He brought us together as a team. What I mean by that is telling us to go out and have fun doing whatever it is as a whole team. Once we started to do that, the wins started to pile up and we knew we weren't gonna lose anymore.”
Messina won two games and added a pair of saves.
“My father’s been an assistant coach here for the past seven years,” said Messina. “Coming to all the practices and games and being around the team, I couldn't wait to get the chance to be a part of this because of how special and close the community is.
“Getting this opportunity to close out our second state championship title as a sophomore is indescribable. This was the culmination of all our blood, sweat, and tears that each and every member of this team poured out for the past 10 months. I couldn't be happier to do it with this special group of guys that I consider brothers.
“I was part of the last one as a freshman last year. I feel as if both championships are unique in their own way. Last year, we had the two senior pitchers (Jeff Ciocco and Ethan Pritchett) who led the way, as well as leading seniors like Brian Verratti and Nicky D'Amore, who were the heart and soul of this team. This year, we had guys who never played varsity baseball before step in and compete and become leaders on our team, like Phil Sanborn and Georgie Mascuilli, who became two of our workhorses in the rotation.
“This was a combined effort from everybody in this program, coaches to bench guys who gave everything they had all year. Even after our early struggles, there was never a doubt in our minds that we would end up back here at Penn State.
“This is what you call a family. We all consider ourselves brothers, and this mark will never leave us, even after graduation. Players who graduated from years’ past still make it out to practices and games and support the program. It's hard to explain how tight this small Catholic school from South Philly is if you aren't apart of it.”
Messina just explained it, and explained it well.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)