WALLINGFORD, PA — While the Garnet Valley offense has typically been the headline for the last few seasons, it was all pitching today.
Ryan McGhee has been excellent for the Jaguars this season, and Tuesday was his best performance yet as he went six shutout innings while allowing just one Strath Haven hit and striking out five.
The game was played in Wallingford due to field conditions but Garnet Valley remained the home team. We were scoreless through 2.5 innings until the bottom of the third when Zach Gordon reached on an error to lead off the inning. Nolan Carroll gave Strath Haven a taste of their own medicine with a sac bunt to get him over.
Cole Lombardo then singled to center field, but Strath Haven center fielder Alex Selverian came up firing an nailed courtesy runner Branden Capone at the plate to keep the game scoreless.
With Lombardo at second base, Strath Haven wanted no part of facing Richmond commit Chris Schaller with that empty base, so he was intentionally walked.
Harrison Maull took that one personally.
Maull stroked a double to left on an 0-1 count and brought both of them in, giving Garnet Valley a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. These were the only runs scored all afternoon off of Rob Mattai and Strath Haven.
Ryan McGhee went out to try and complete the shutout, but he walked Quinn Kell and Patrick O’Connor to call for Garnet Valley head coach Rudy Shiller to go to Joe Anzalone out of the bullpen. After a sac bunt from Wolf Boswick, the Panthers had second and third with one out.
Anzalone would then hit Caden Shuster with a pitch, loading up the bases. Matt Caputo had some tough luck as he lined out to right field in the next at bat to put Strath Haven down to their final out.
Ben Milligan the leadoff hitter was the final test for Anzalone and he passed, getting him to groundout right back to the mound to wrap up this game and get a huge win for the Jags.
Garnet Valley improves to 4-2 in the Central League and will head to Marple Newtown (3-3) on Wednesday afternoon for their next game.
Strath Haven now sits at 4-2 in the Central League as well after this one and will host Lower Merion (5-1) Wednesday afternoon. Quinn Kell had the only Strath Haven hit in this one.