I’m not sure how you can argue that any team other than Springfield is the surprise team of 2026.
I could see the argument for Penncrest, but there was a lot of talent there and they were so good in 2024. Springfield had not made the playoffs since 2022 and went 3-13 in the Central League last year.
They’re already 7-3 this year.
They are likely one win away from clinching a playoff berth if they haven’t already, but these guys should have their sights aimed a little bit higher than that.
Springfield 4, Lower Merion 3
By: Bryson Ungar:
The thrillers kept coming this afternoon as TJ Valletti walks it off for the Cougars in the bottom of the ninth. The Cougs continue to prove themselves in the Central League, winning seven of their last eight league games.
Springfield struck first after a fielder’s choice off the bat of Nick Corse gave them a lead in the bottom of the first. The Aces got on the board the exact same way after Ryan Scholz grounded into a fielder’s choice tying the game.
It was pretty quiet until the bottom of the sixth. Danny Meakim singled, scoring two, making it a 3-1 Cougar lead. Lower Merion kept finding answers as James Given hit a sac fly and Brendan O’Gara doubled, with O’Gara’s tying the game with two outs in the seventh.
Then in the bottom of the ninth, Owen Keough walked, and Nick Corse was intentionally walked. A near perfect opportunity for Valletti with runners aboard, and it’s safe to say he seized the moment, delivering a walk-off single.
This game had pretty much everything you could ask for. Drew Kraus earned the win for the Cougs, and Nolan Dulski started the game only allowing 3 hits and one earned run over 6.1 innings. Brian Heck got the nod for the Aces. Heck had a solid outing allowing six hits on three runs. Defense for both sides was also fantastic.
Springfield tallied nine hits. Meakim led the way going 2-5. Peyton Spiegler had two hits for the Aces.
Springfield (7-3 in CL) will take on Garnet Valley (6-4) next Monday as they look to continue their momentous season. Lower Merion (4-6) will face their rivals in Harriton (3-6) next Monday as well.
Haverford 3, Strath Haven 0
By: Blake Karabin:
A beautiful day for baseball brought in a nice crowd to watch today’s matchup between the Panthers and Fords. Today, Strath Haven hosted Haverford for what was an excellent day on the mound for both sides.
The Fords got the win in this tight matchup behind a fantastic five inning start from Sean MacGillivray. Through five innings he notched seven strikeouts, allowed four hits, and walked one, but allowed no one to score. Jimmy Boyle then came in for the two inning save in which he also didn’t allow anyone to score.
Boyle threw an astounding five strikeouts in two innings with no hits, walks, or runs allowed.
The offensive efforts were headed by Jimmy Boyle, Kelleher, and Gavin Andrewson. Boyle went 2-4 with an RBI single in the sixth to extend the lead. Kelleher and Andrewson both went 1-3 on the day with a walk and RBI. Kelleher hit an RBI single and Anderson hit an RBI double.
Kelleher’s RBI single was the knock that got the day going for the Fords in the first and from there, they never looked back.
For Haven, the pitching was the strongest element of the game today. Patrick Burke started and Travis McDonough came in relief. Burke pitched a solid four innings. He allowed two runs, while striking out three and walking and allowed six people on base via a hit. McDonough threw three innings, struck out two, walked two, and allowed one run. He also allowed three hits.
You know what is usually the result of a great outing for one side? Quiet bats for the other.
Strath Haven only recorded four hits as a team, two from Eli Price and two from Patrick Burke. Both Price and Burke each went 2–3 with two singles.
With today’s outcomes Haverford maintains their first place lead in the Central League standings, while Strath Haven falls back to below .500. The Fords are now 11-2 and 10-0 in Central League play. Haven is 6-7 and 5-4 in the Central League.
The next matchup for Haverford is a home game vs Marple on Monday. As for Haven, they will be on the road against Ridley, also next Monday.
Garnet Valley 3, Harriton 2
By: Bryson Ungar:
What looked like a rain-filled day turned into a beautiful afternoon for baseball in Rosemont, PA. It even went into extras!
It was tight early on as both teams picked up a few hits in the first few innings, but nothing catalyzed until the top of the fourth when Garnet Valley got on the board. Dylan Orr got things started with a single, and after an error put runners in scoring position, Cole Hoffacker delivered an RBI single to give the Jags a 1-0 lead. Zach Gordon then reached on another error, allowing Garnet Valley to push across a second run and take a 2-0 lead.
Harriton responded quickly in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Eli Bloch was hit by a pitch and Calvin Costello followed with a walk. Gaven Bowman then ripped a double into left-center field, bringing home a run. Sam Bohnenkamp followed with a groundout to first, but it was enough to drive in the tying run and even things up at 2-2.
Not much else brewed until we hit extra innings, and sure enough in the top of eighth, Zach Gordon singled to left giving Garnet the late lead.
Colton Turner earned the win for Garnet Valley, allowing no runs on one hit through four innings of work. For the Rams, Sam Bohnenkamp took the loss, going seven and two thirds only allowing one earned run on 102 pitches thrown.
Offensively, Ryan McGhee led the Jags going 2-4 on the day. Gaven Bowman was the ignition for the Rams going 2-3. Calvin Costello got one to fall as well.
With the late stretch of the season coming sooner than we all wanted, the Rams need to pick it up quickly, as they sit at 3-6 and face Marple Newtown tomorrow, who is also 3-6.
For the Jaguars, they improve to 6-4 in the league and they will look to keep on winning as tomorrow they take on an always dangerous Malvern Prep team in an out of conference matchup.
Ridley 5, Marple Newtown 0
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
What a performance by Ridley’s Jared Pugh, who allowed just two hits over six shutout innings on the road.
Ridley gave him some early run support before he even touched the field. Jayden Davis, our reigning hitter of the week, drove in Aidan Wong on a sac fly before a Jayden Carney RBI single made it 2-0. Wong knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice in the second to extend that lead to 3-0.
Ridley put the finishing touches on this one with a two-run Evan Nangle triple to blow it open at 5-0 in the fifth.
After Pugh went six innings in just 67 pitches, Brendan Soper threw a clean seventh to wrap up a massive win for Ridley. Kevin Agger and John Matthews had hits in the loss for Marple Newtown.
Ridley won’t go away just yet in this District 1 6A playoff race as they improve to 4-6. The Raiders will host Interboro on Saturday at 11 AM for their next game, where we will be doing a dollar dog day if the weather holds off. We were told if the game was canceled it may be rescheduled to Saturday, 5/9 instead.
As for Marple Newtown, they fall to 3-6 in the Central League and will host Harriton under the lights at 6:30 on Thursday for their next game. They aren’t out of it yet, but if they lose on Thursday, they are in big time trouble.
Radnor 10, Upper Darby 0
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
Radnor was shut out by Garnet Valley on Monday, but their offense bounced back in this one against Upper Darby.
They opened up the scoring with a Hayden Goldenberg sac fly to score Austin Havertine in the bottom of the second, but really took control with four in the bottom the third. Goldenberg also tripled, driving in two in the game. Andrew Quigley had two hits as well.
Wake Forest recruit Daniel Kellis made his first appearance of the season on the mound, going two scoreless innings with no hits and two strikeouts. He also had a hit at the plate, two walks and drove in two runs.
Sean Mutschler and Jack Ertel both threw two hitless innings as well, as the Raptors threw a combined no-hitter in six innings.
Radnor improves to 6-3 in the Central League and will be off until they head to Conestoga on Monday.
As for Upper Darby, they fall to 0-10 and will host Delco Christian on Friday for a Delco-on-Delco non-conference game.
Penncrest 11, Conestoga 9
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
Despite a 9-2 Penncrest lead after four, Conestoga battled back to make things interesting in this one.
Penncrest quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Braden Davis hit a two-run double to score Andrew Luber-Solic and Henry Murphy, M Simone doubled in Davis in the next at bat, and Sander Robinson ended the inning with an RBI single.
With a 6-2 lead in the fourth, Henry Murphy really blew this game open with a three-run homer to left, scoring Murphy and Sergio Hernandez.
Liam Wray threw four innings with two earned runs allowed and three strikeouts as he got the start for Penncrest.
Conestoga trailed 11-5 going into the seventh but found some offensive rhythm. Kurt Tharnish’s RBI single made it 11-6, and Landon Jones drove in two with a single to make it 11-8. Luke Hunter’s sac fly made it 11-9, but that’s as close as they’d get.
Braden Davis and Henry Muprhy both drove in three runs for Penncrest, Sander Robinson drove in two. Davis also closed the game out on the mound.
For Conestoga, Kurt Tharnish had three hits and drove in a run. Landon Jones, Finn Nieberle and Luke Hunter both drove in two runs, while Jones and Brendan Soura had two hits.
Penncrest wins to improve to 6-4 in the Central League and will travel to Upper Darby on Monday.
As for Conestoga, they fall to 4-6, and they will host Radnor on Monday for their next game.
Devon Prep 9, Judge 0
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
It’s been a HUGE week for Devon Prep, who has put themselves right back in the mix for a PCL playoff spot after a 1-5 start.
They took down Bonner on Monday and follow it up with a rout of Judge.
Liam Jung allowed just four hits over five shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Colin Carey and Caleb Tesfaye both threw scoreless innings in relief for the Tide.
At the plate, Alex Hannah, Joe Gabrielle, and Johnny Doogan all had two hits. Austin Conaty drove in three runs, but more importantly, had an inside-the-park homer to center field as well that scored two.
The Tide scored three in the first, one in the second, two in the fourth and three in the sixth to bring home a massive win.
Devon Prep is now sitting at 3-5 in the PCL and will head to Germantown Academy for a non-conference game on Saturday if the weather holds up.
Episcopal 4, Westtown 3
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
Fresh off of a DBN Game of The Week win over The Haverford School, Episcopal hangs on late to take down Westtown for their sixth straight win.
JD Amoroso led this game off with a bang, homering in the first at bat of the game to put the Churchmen up 1-0. Dillon Walls then added an RBI double in the third to double that lead to 2-0, scoring Michael Schaffer who singled.
Schaffer then continued a monster start to the season at the plate, sending a two-run shot to left field to drive in Spencer Schuh and put EA up 4-0.
Westtown, who might have the best team name in the area as they are the “Moose” got two back in the bottom of the fifth to make this thing interesting.
Matt Roberts came in to close this thing out, and despite a run on a sac fly from Westtown, he finished it up to get the win.
Charlie Smith started on the mound for Episcopal and was stellar, throwing five innings with three hits, two unearned runs and three strikeouts.
This was a non-conference game so EA still sits at 3-2 in the Inter-Ac, but they are now 12-5 overall on the year and will host Penn Charter on Friday for their next game. The Churchmen fell 3-1 to Penn Charter on Inter-Ac Opening Day back on April 7th.
This team looks a lot more confident than that team.
Delco Christian 16, Collegium Charter 0
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
The Delco Christian offense keeps rolling as they have now scored 10+ runs in five straight games, going 4-1 in that stretch.
This time, they needed just three innings to score 16 runs to hit the mercy rule. The Knights scored six in the first, two in the second and eight in the third to take home a Bicentennial Conference win.
Nathan Burd led the offense has he went 3/3 with an RBI and scored three runs. Maden Longley, Gabe DiGregorio and Matteo DeBellis all had two hits, with DiGregorio’s both being doubles.
DiGregorio, Longley, Justin Ma and Cyrus Mulder all drove in two runs.
On the mound, Josiah Lyren was quick and efficient as he allowed just two hits over three scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
Delco Christian improves to 5-2 in the Bicentennial League and will head to Upper Darby on Friday for a Delco on Delco non-conference matchup.
Rustin 9, Sun Valley 0
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
The tough times continued for Sun Valley, as they dropped their 11th straight game.
This time they had the pleasure of facing Vanderbilt recruit AJ Calio, who struck out 16 with just one hit and one walk allowed. Calio also struck out 16 in a no-hitter against Marple Newtown in districts last year, he just may be the top pitcher heading into the 5A bracket.
Luke Williams had the lone hit for Sun Valley in the loss.
The Vanguards fall to 1-11 in the Ches-Mont and will head to Unionville on Monday looking to snap the streak.
Wood 14, Carroll 3
By: Nicholas Mastripolito:
Archbishop Wood bounced back from a crushing 13-1 loss to La Salle on Monday with a 14-3 victory over Archbishop Carroll. Although Archbishop Wood is not a Delco school, they did play one today.
The top of the order dominated for the Wood Vikings, especially their leadoff bat Chase Cavallaro. Cavallaro went 4-4 with 2 doubles, 2 singles, and 3 RBI.
Archbishop Carroll started Max Barnes, who had some struggles finding the zone. Barnes gave up 1 earned run in the first inning that was followed up by some more defensive struggle for the Patriots that gave Wood 3 runs. Carroll answered back in the second with a double from Gavin Moore, Moore came home to score that same inning.
Woods offensive dominance continued in the third inning. The Vikings batted around in the inning and tacked on 5 runs. The Patriots did get 2 runs back with a 2 RBI single from Gavin Moore. Moore’s single was the final run scored by Archbishop Carroll in the game.
Archbishop Wood pitchers Andrew Unrath and Jack Coughlin were great all game, not allowing the Carroll offense to catch momentum.
The Vikings scored 5 more in the 4th inning and put the mercy rule in place. Archbishop Wood fulfilled the potential mercy rule by putting the Patriots down in order in the bottom of the 5th inning, ending the game and giving Archbishop Wood a bounce back victory.
Next up for the Archbishop Wood Vikings is when they take on Germantown Academy on the 27th.
For Archbishop Carroll they prepare to take on Monsignor Bonner on the 27th as well sitting at 3-6 in the PCL.
Egan 15, O’Hara 0
By: Brendan Ricciardi:
Not really too much to write about in this one. Virginia recruit Brady Guzzie was absolutely nasty, striking out 13 O’Hara hitters while throwing five hitless innings.
The Eagles had a well-balanced offense, scoring four in the first, three in the second, four in the third and four in the fourth to win in mercy rule fashion.
Things have been tough for O’Hara after a nice start as they have lost six in a row and fall to 3-6 in the PCL. They will be back in action for a home non-conference game Saturday against Pope John Paul II.