RADNOR, PA — If you look up the definition of clutch, you might find a picture of Dan McNally next to it.
The Carroll catcher delivered what may very well be the swing of the season so far for the Patriots as his two-out, three-run double led Carroll to a 7-6 victory over Shipley.
The game was scoreless after one and Shipley scored in the top of the second, but Carroll answered back with an RBI single from Jack Benner.
Carroll then built on that momentum when they scored three in the bottom of the third. Drew Mulligan had an RBI single and Dylan Burns had a two-out, two-run single to make it a 4-1 game.
Shipley stormed back to tie the game up at 4-4 in the top of the fifth, with all three runs being unearned due to an error.
That would be the end of the day for Carroll starter Max Barnes, who threw really well with five innings pitched and one earned run.
Shipley scored on an error in the fifth and a double in the top of the seventh to put Carroll down two runs in the bottom of the seventh with just three outs to work with.
With one out, Jalyn Tidwell was hit by a pitch. Cole Tancredi was walked, and after Drew Mulligan flew out, Matt McGaughey was walked to load the bases up for Dan McNally, who already had a hit in the game.
McNally found himself down 1-2 in the count, but it didn’t matter.
He ripped a line drive into center field that would clear the bases, bringing home all three runs and giving the Patriots an improbable 7-6 win on their last breath.
It has been amazing to see the turnaround that first year Head Coach Pat Dunn has had on this team. This team was 2-17 last season and 1-11 in the PCL.
In 2025, they are 9-8 overall and 4-6 in the PCL, and that is with Duke recruit Bennett Bishop being unable to pitch this year. He is hoping to be back for next year, which could help Carroll’s ascent even more.
The Patriots will have a massive Delco-on-Delco matchup on Monday as they host Bonner (6-5 in PCL) where they can clinch a playoff spot with a win.
If they lose, their fate depends on Devon Prep. If Devon Prep loses to O’Hara on Monday, Carroll is in.
If Devon Prep beats O’Hara and Carroll loses to Bonner, Devon and Carroll would play on Thursday where the winner would get the #10 seed, and the loser’s season would end.
Talk about drama.