RADNOR, PA — If you don’t know the name Johnny Doogan yet, you better learn it.
The Devon Prep sophomore lefty and Broomall native was brilliant in his first ever PCL Tournament start, throwing a complete shutout in a 4-0 Devon Prep (#10) win over Neumann-Goretti (#7).
Oh, and did we mention that Neumann-Goretti won a state championship last year?
The Tide offense broke out for three runs in the top of the second off of NG starter Anthony Coppola which would be more than enough to get the win. After one-out walks by Liam Jung and Hudson Swan, Billy Degler singled to load the bases up.
Christian Leckman then delivered what would ultimately be the game-winner with an RBI single to center field to score Jung and make it 1-0.
The fun was just getting started for a Devon Prep team that is playing with house money and is showing that with their energy. Caleb Flannery, one of five sophomore starters, singled to center field to extend that lead to 2-0.
Next up was Alex Hannah, and new hitter same result for the Tide, this time a single to left field to make it 3-0. Two fly outs ended the inning to prevent the game getting out of reach, but the Tide had taken full control.
With the way Johnny Doogan looked on the mound, 3 runs felt like 300.
The score stayed 3-0 Devon until the top of the sixth when Caleb Flannery knocked in his second run of the day on a fielder’s choice, giving a nice cushion that was not necessarily needed.
Doogan would ultimately finish this game off needing just 83 pitches, 55 of which were strikes. He had just one walk, allowed three hits, and struck out four in the process.
The Saints threatened with two runners on in the seventh, but Doogan got a flyout to Stephen Land to wrap up the win.
This Devon team is just an absolute pleasure to watch.
They are young and hungry, and are going to be a force in the coming years, if not right now. First year Head Coach Mike Palumbo, who came over to the Tide this season after serving as the pitching coach at The Haverford School, has done an incredible job at getting the best out of his guys.
The Tide were 4-8 in the PCL last season and 1-11 the year prior. This is such a great first step at turning the program into a legitimate contender regardless of what happens in Saturday’s PCL Quarterfinal game against La Salle.
Every game these guys play is a learning experience, and we’ll see if the Tide can shock the world against the reigning PCL Champion Explorers Saturday at noon.