PHILADELPHIA, PA- It’s finally the time everyone has been waiting for, the playoffs.
#9 Cardinal O’Hara took on #8 St. Joseph’s Prep Wednesday afternoon at La Salle University on a relatively gloomy day.
The Lions started off hot early on.
Brendan Till led off the game with a first pitch single, and was followed by a walk from Jack Coleman. Two pitches later, Jack Quinn drove in the first run of the game on a single to drive in Till. With one out, Sean Vaughn singled to drive in Coleman and make it 2-0. Jason Coury then got out on a sac fly to drive in Colin Thomas, courtesy runner for Quinn, and give O’Hara an early 3-0 lead after half an inning.
After giving himself some run support, Quinn went out and pitched a shutdown early on to hold the lead for O’Hara.
The Lions could not cross the plate in the top of the second after having two men on and one out, and the lead remained 3-0.
Chris Grasso led off the bottom of the second by reaching on an error for the Hawks. With one out, John Sitler doubled to set up a scoring situation for the Hawks. Jack Keenan hit a sac fly to center which drove in Grasso, helping St Joes cut into the deficit at 3-1. Tommy Murthan then walked, which was followed by a base hit from Danny Matthews to make it a one run game at 3-2 after two inning.
Grasso then went out and threw a shutdown inning to set up more scoring for the Hawks.
With one out in the inning, Robby Grasso ripped a triple to set up a chance to tie the game for his brother. Chris Grasso then drove in Robby on a sac fly to tie the game at three a piece after three innings.
Chris Grasso then went back out to the mound and struck out side, giving the Hawks a chance to take the lead.
With the bases loaded and one out in the inning for Patrick Vezza, who ripped a double to drive in two and put St Joes up 5-3, their first lead of the game. Quinn was taken out of the game and replaced by Adam Schreiber.
Chris Grasso then went back out and threw his third straight shutdown inning, also striking out three this time out. This would also be his last inning, as his final line was five innings, three hits, three runs, and 11 strikeouts.
Eddie Dingle came in for Grasso, and went two innings and allowed only one run, which came when O’Hara threatened in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded, but got out of it and secured a first round win for St Joe’s.
Schreiber went two and two thirds for O’Hara, allowing no runs and no hits. Quinn is credited with the loss while Grasso gets the win.
Cardinal O’Hara sees their season come to an end at a 6-13 finish and 6-7 in the PCL. It was a good season overall but they have to be feeling a bit disappointed after a 5-1 start in the league
St Joe’s Prep will move on in the PCL playoffs and will face #2 Archbishop Wood on Saturday
The Hawks could have played either Archbishop Wood (#2) or La Salle (#1), but with Devon Prep’s (#10) win over Neumann-Goretti (#7), Devon Prep will face La Salle while St Joe’s Prep will face Wood.