ARDMORE, PA- In a day full of big games, this one is no exception.

Garnet Valley and Lower Merion played this game with both teams not necessarily needing the win, bun wanting the win as the winner has their first round bye hopes stay alive.

Garnet Valley got going early, scoring three in the first inning. With two runners on and one out, Harrison Maull drove in one on an error. This was followed up by a base hit from Kyle Klein which drove in two runs to make it a 3-0 game early.

Ryan McGhee then went out and set down Lower Merion on only eight pitches.

Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth, where the Jags tacked on another three. The first batter of the inning walked, and was followed by three straight singles from McGhee, Brady Thompson, and Maull. Thompson and Maull’s singles both drove in a run to make it 5-0. Ashton Yau then hit a sac fly to drive in another, making it 6-0.

Lower Merion got one back in the bottom of the fifth, making it 6-1 thanks to a RBI double from Matt Hartstein, his second hit of the day.

In the top of the sixth, Garnet Valley tacked on another three thanks to a leadoff hit by pitch followed by four straight singles. It was 9-1 Jaguars heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Neither team scored for the remainder of the game, as Ryan McGhee finished what he started in the bottom of the seventh to help the Jaguars keep their first round bye hopes alive. He finished with six hits, one run, and six strikeouts in his complete game and lowers his season ERA to 1.98.

Garnet Valley wraps up Central League play at 11-5 behind only Radnor and Haverford, who have tied for the Central League title, both at 15-1. Garnet Valley will finish their season against against West Chester East on Wednesday at 4:00. Things will likely change, but at this exact moment, Garnet Valley would be the #1 seed in districts and host #23 Spring-Ford.

Lower Merion finishes 10-6 in the Central League and have fallen out of contention for the first round bye, but are still on track to host a playoff game. They will finish their season away against Archbishop Wood on Wednesday at 4:00.

If the bracket did not change again, Lower Merion would be the #14 seed and host #19 Central Bucks West in the first round.

Playoff baseball is right around the corner, and we at Delco Baseball Now will have all the stories all postseason long.