PHILADELPHIA – If there’s one reason Delaware County looks like a legit contender in this year’s Carpenter Cup, it’s sitting 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate: The pitching.
Radnor’s Austin Havertine, Garnet Valley’s Ryan McGhee and Radnor’s Ryan McWilliams each tossed two clean innings before Conestoga’s Ryan Bauer shut the door in the seventh as Delco blanked Berks County 6-0 in Monday’s Carpenter Cup opener at FDR Park.
Delco’s next game is Thursday at 10:30 a.m. against Delaware North, again at FDR Par.
One of the few changes to the tournament this year is no more nine-inning marathons, the games adhering to the high school standard of seven innings. Not that Berks stood much chance had Monday’s game lasted longer.
McWilliams retired all six batters he faced and struck out a pair to close out his first frame. Not a surprise that two Radnor kids were lights-out on the bump. It was Havertine who spun the gem in the District 1 Class 5A championship game last month.
“It’s amazing how deep our pitching is,” McWilliams said. “It’s a really good group of guys.”
McWilliams’ stuff was sharp.
“My fastball felt good today,” he said. “I was trying to work that for strikes early and drop some curveballs in early, too. But it was mostly fastballs for strike three.”
McWilliams enjoys bouncing ideas off his buddy Havertine, who allowed one soft single and fanned three in his two innings.
“He knows a lot about pitching,” McWilliams said. “It’s fun to talk to him and spend a lot of time around him.”
McGhee had to work through a little early trouble after walking two to start the third, but he got some help. After fanning Brenton Feather and inducing a flyout to Haverford’s Ryan Cassidy in left, Cassidy turned in the play of the day. Janser Paredes laced a two-out single to left. Cassidy charged, collected and fired a strike to catcher Eli Price of Strath Haven to cut down Anthony Manogue at the plate.
“It felt great. Just looking to help in any way I can,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy, one of the Central League’s most complete players and a key reason Haverford split the league crown with Radnor, batted leadoff and went 1-for-3 with an infield single and a stolen base.
Team Delco is on a mission. A chunk of the roster returned from last year’s squad that made it to the semifinals at Citizens Bank Park before falling to Tri-Cape.
“I think we’ve molded a lot better this year,” McWilliams said. “Everybody feels more comfortable with each other, especially after last year. And I think it’s going to show. I think we’re going to win the next round.
“Everybody wants to get back to the Bank. Playing there, being on that field — it’s just surreal. Everyone wants to get there and the ultimate goal is to win there.”
Bauer made quick work of Berks in the seventh, striking out two. Bauer was a late addition to the roster, replacing Radnor’s Daniel Kellis. Haverford’s Jimmy Boyle — who got the start at CBP last year — was also unavailable this time around due to injury.
“It feels like, if we can score three or four runs, we’re going to win,” Cassidy said. “They all just throw strikes … and it’s just great to play behind them.”
Teddy Monahan missed out on the CBP experience last year because of travel ball commitments. The Radnor slugger, who delivered the walk-off hit in last month’s District 1 title game, made the most of his lone at-bat Tuesday. Monahan crushed a ball to deep center in the sixth inning, driving in Lower Merion’s Charlie Parsons and Sun Valley’s Jackson Messick, who both drew walks, to give Delco a 6-0 cushion.
“I saw fastball in and I just turned out it,” Monahan said. “It’s super nice to have those two (Havertine and McWilliams) pitching for us. Austin dominates every game and Ryan throws strikes. You couldn’t ask for much better.”
Delco got on the board in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Haverford’s Nishan Elvanian led off with a single and Lower Merion’s Nicholas Dragut walked. With one out, Price singled to load the bags. Havertine then hit a ground ball to second that did the job, scoring Elvanian from third.
Delco sent eight hitters to the dish in the third inning against Manogue, plating two runs after he retired the first two hitters. Durkan and Elvanian kept the inning alive with back-to-back singles, and Durkan came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. Ridley’s John Teehan followed with an RBI single to bring home Elvanian for a 3-0 lead. Then a misplayed grounder off the bat of Price allowed Dragut to cross the plate, stretching it to 4-0. And with Delco’s superb pitching, that was more than enough.
In another Carpenter Cup game:
Inter-Ac/Independents 11, Phila. Public 0 >> It was a dominant debut for the reigning Carpenter Cup champs.
Episcopal Academy’s Owen Schuh went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Fellow Churchman Roman Notaro pitched a scoreless frame with one strikeout.
Tommy Sergio (Malvern Prep) and Frankie Decembrino (Springside Chestnut Hill Academy) each finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Inter-Ac/Independents plays Chester County Thursday at 9 a m.
The Philadelphia Catholic League opens play Tuesday against Southeastern Pennsylvania at 1:30. The PCL team includes Cardinal O’Hara’s Brendan Till and Bonner & Prendergast’s Michael Coleman, Gavin DiRita and Ryan Friel.
Source: Berkshire mont
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