(cover photo of Ryan McGhee courtesy of Dylan Johnson/Delco Baseball Now)

GARNET VALLEY, PA- Can’t choose one player as a key contributor when everyone did something.

It was a beautiful day for some playoff ball, I bet Garnet Valley would agree as they took down #23 Spring-Ford by an 11-2 final. They will now take on #7 WC Henderson Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 as the game was moved because of Wednesday’s forecast.

Garnet Valley ace Ryan McGhee took the bump to kick off their first playoff game. He walked two in the first inning, but managed to limit damage and got all three outs through strikeouts.

For Spring-Ford, Ethan Freed took the bump, and got the first runner out before walking back-to-back batters. Brady Thompson then singled, but the runner at second was nabbed at home to keep it scoreless. It was 0-0 after one.

In the top of the second, Spring-Ford took the lead on a base hit from TJ Schultz to put the Rams up 1-0.

However…this would be the only lead they would have the whole game.

Kyle Klein led off the bottom of the second with a walk. Joe Anzalone then doubled with one out to put Klein at third with one out. Cole Hoffacker then singled to tie it up at one apiece. Nolan Carroll then grounded out to give Garnet Valley the lead 2-1 with two outs.

Back-to-back walks set up a bases loaded situation for Brady Thompson. Thompson delivered, clearing the bags on a huge double to break it open at 5-1 Garnet Valley after two.

McGhee went out and threw a big shutdown inning to help Garnet Valley maintain their lead after the top of the third.

Freed was pulled for Dom Ruggiero. Freed’s final line was two innings, four hits, five earned runs, five walks, and two strikeouts while being credited with the loss.

In the top of the fourth, the Rams chipped into the four run deficit, as Ryan Fields drove in a run to make it 5-2, but that’s all they got as McGhee got out of the jam.

Garnet Valley broke it open in the bottom of the fourth.

Carroll and Cole Lombardo both singled to start the inning before Spring-Ford managed to get two outs. Harrison Maull then singled to make it 6-2 and have runners on the corners. Klein then ripped a double and drove in both runners to make it 8-2 Garnet Valley after four.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Jags tacked on another, as McGhee drove one in on a fielder’s choice to make it 9-2 after five.

McGhee was pulled after the fifth inning. Another excellent day from Garnet Valley’s ace, as his final line was five innings, eight hits, two runs, and five strikeouts while getting the win.

Dylan Orr took over in the sixth and got out of the inning after allowing a runner to move to third.

The Jags tacked on two more in the bottom of the sixth, as Anzalone drove in Klein to make it 10-2, and then scored on an error to make it 11-2 heading to the top of the seventh.

Connor Criswell closed out the game, setting down the Rams 1-2-3 to secure an outstanding win for Garnet Valley.

Spring-Fords season comes to a close, finishing with a 8-11 record.

Day one of the playoffs is off to a great start, as other games around the area have been nothing short of great.