(cover photo of Gavin McClafferty via Nate Witzel/DBN)
HAVERTOWN, PA – In a battle for a spot in the PIAA state playoffs, the Pennsbury Falcons are traveling to Delco to face the Haverford High Fords.
Taking the mound for Haverford will likely be senior Gavin McClafferty. McClafferty threw four strong innings in Haverford’s win over Souderton last week, allowing two runs and striking out six. Jimmy Boyle is unavailable for this game due to an injury.
Junior Lucas Rothstein will likely throw a long relief appearance once McClafferty’s day is done. Also, look out for sophomore Cam McCormack to pitch late in the game like he did against North Penn as well.
Junior Keller Bradley will likely get the ball for Pennsbury. This kid is unreal.
Bradley’s fastball reached an absurd 94 mph, and he throws it along with a mid-80s changeup, a low-80s slider, and a low-80s curveball.
The Vanderbilt commit was lights out in his start last week against Lower Merion. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out eleven. Not to mention, the kid is 6 feet 6 inches.
Pennsbury’s lineup features a few notable college recruits. Senior Evan Hawkes (Swarthmore commit) hits leadoff and controls center field. Dylan Hirsh (Bloomsburg commit) hits third and sits behind the plate. WPI commit Ben Seidler is in left field.
Rounding out Pennsbury’s list of position players is shortstop Ryan Webber. Webber is committed to Army West Point, and he had 3 RBI in the win over Lower Merion last week.
Junior Sam Sturman had a good day at the plate for the Fords in their loss to North Penn on Friday, hitting three singles.
Haverford will rely on its upperclassmen against a tough arm. Seniors Ryan Cassidy and Nick Elvanian, along with Sturman and junior Shane Durkan, are at the top of the lineup. Cam McCormack provides the thump in the middle of the order, he hit a three-run homer in the second round win over Souderton.
The Fords will need a strong pitching performance to win. Keller Bradley will not give up many runs, so Haverford needs to limit mistakes defensively and with their pitching.
The game is being played at Haverford. The loser’s season will be over. The winner will earn a bid to the state tournament and will play for seeding against the winner of Methacton and Perkiomen Valley on Thursday where the winner of that game gets the #5 seed and the loser gets the #6 seed.