They say that baseball is a marathon and not a sprint, but in the Inter-Ac, that’s not really the case.

The conference season is just ten games, playing each other team twice. There are no league playoffs (lame) so whatever team finishes with the best record wins the league. Even if that means multiple champions (extra lame).

It is true that all the Inter-Ac teams are dropped into the same PAISAA State Tournament that is independent from the PIAA state tournament and also has some other teams like Friends Central, Shipley, Westtown, Perkiomen and more. It is typically an Inter-Ac team that wins that title, but still, it’s nice to have a conference title game like the PCL and the Friends Schools League.

Regardless, with today’s win over The Haverford School paired with Episcopal’s loss to Germantown Academy, Malvern Prep is in the driver’s seat to win another league title.

Malvern Prep 7, Haverford School 1

By: Brendan Ricciardi:

This game was quiet through the first three innings with both Malvern Prep’s Jack Herbein and Haverford’s Gabe Danisi trading zeroes, but Malvern exploded for seven runs in the middle innings to take over this game.

In the top of the fourth, Grady Forsberg singled in Jackson Melconian, who is fully back from injury, and singled to reach base. After a Bryan Cogliano base hit, Cole Scarbinsky blew this game open with a three-run homer to make it 4-0 Friars.

Forsberg struck again in the top of the fifth, this time with a two-run single to score Brady Abate who was hit by a pitch and Jackson Melconian who walked.

Haverford scored their lone run of the game on a Caleb Siever sac fly to score Danny Getz.

Cole Scarbinsky ended up with four runs batted in on the day, while Forsberg had three. Bryan Cogliano had three hits and Tommy Sergio walked three times.

Jack Herbein scattered six hits across seven innings with just one earned run allowed and six strikeouts. Even with a lineup that features an NC State recruit, a Wake Forest recruit and a Vanderbilt recruit, the unbelievable starting pitching has been what has made this team tick all year whether it be Herbein, the Romanczuk brothers, Paul DiBona, Tyler Ryan, Kayden Wallace, you name it.

For the Fords, Matt Borden threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with just a hit allowed and two strikeouts. Danny Getz and Braydon Scanlan both had two hits.

Malvern now sits at 6-1 in the Inter-Ac and will need to go 0-3 over their last three games to not earn a share of the Inter-Ac title. I think there’s a better chance that I hit a triple in my MSBL game this Sunday than that happening. They will travel to Episcopal on Friday for their next game.

As for Haverford, they have now lost four in a row after a 12-4 start and are 3-4 in the Inter-Ac. They will travel to Penn Charter on Friday for their next game.

Chichester 18, Chester 0

By: Brendan Ricciardi:

Have a day, Gavin Derrickson!

The Chichester left fielder reached base all four times, including a double and a homer, while driving in six runs.

Chichester scored in each of their four plate appearances; they scored seven in the first, four in the second, one in the third and six in the fourth. Logan Werley drove in three runs on two hits, while Luke Werley also drove in two runs and pitched two scoreless innings. Josh Stephenson drove in two runs as well.

On the mound, Chichester also got scoreless innings from Zach Murray and Cole Sanford. Bryant Smith had the lone hit on the day for Chester.

Chichester continues their Del Val dominance as they improve to 10-0. Next up for them is a home game against Penn Wood.

Chester falls to 4-5 in the Del Val and will look to rebound on Thursday at Interboro.

Academy Park 10, Penn Wood 0

By: Brendan Ricciardi:

Sean Murphy has been excellent on the mound this season for Academy Park, and this may be his best work yet.

Murphy did not allow a hit over five innings in this game, striking out 11 Penn Wood hitters in the process.

Academy Park scored in all five of their at bats. They got two in the first, two in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth. A very well-balanced offense.

Lucas Gilbert drove in two runs in the win. Gilbert, Zahmir Latimore and Zion Abney all had hits. The Academy Park defense also did not make an error in this one either.

For Penn Wood, Anthony Amoroso threw 3.1 innings with one earned run and eight strikeouts in the loss.

Academy Park improves to 2-7 in the Del Val and will be off until next Tuesday when they host Chester. As for Penn Wood, they fall to 1-8 in the Del Val and will head to Chichester on Thursday.

Friends Central 2, Central 1

By: Jonah Casel:

Friends’ Central came up with a closer-than-expected win at home over Central today. Lucas Abreu was able to outduel Drew Steiner in an intense pitching showdown.

Abreu has been on the most incredible stretch of his high school career, and at the right time for Friends’ Central. Today he threw five innings, allowed no earned runs, and struck out five on the mound. The senior also had the Phoenix’s only extra base hit, stole three bases, and scored both of the home team’s runs.

Abreu’s first run was scored after he forced a throwing error by the catcher when stealing third. The throw reached the outfield, and the speedster claimed his free base. The second run was knocked in by freshman slugger Blake Davis in the fourth inning.

On the other side, Steiner was effective but ultimately earned the loss. He pounded the strike zone, throwing 73 pitches in his 6 innings of work. 

Several clutch defensive moments defined the win for Friends’ Central. Miles Mammele’s glove has been a magnet in right field as of late, and he showed off his arm today as well. The freshman recorded an outfield assist on a throw to the plate to gun down what would have been the go-ahead runner in the second inning.

In the sixth inning, the Phoenix brought in David Manfre to secure the save. Manfre did exactly that, going two innings, allowing only one baserunner on an error, and striking out three. The Phoenix improve to 12-9 on the season and travel to Penn Charter Wednesday for what should be another close non-conference matchup.

Germantown Academy 3, Episcopal 1

By: Brendan Ricciardi:

Germantown put three runs on the board in the bottom of the third, and that was ultimately all that they would need to jump into a tie for second place in the Inter-Ac with Episcopal.

Episcopal scored their lone run on a Baxter Schuh sac fly in the top of the fourth to answer the three runs from GA, but that was all that they could get in this one.

Ty Cohen had two hits in the loss for EA. Dillon Walls and Trey Schwaninger also had hits for the Churchmen.

Both pitchers threw well for EA. Hunter West allowed three runs over four innings with five strikeouts while Charlie Smith threw two scoreless and hitless innings in relief.

If Episcopal wants any chance of winning the league, they have to beat Malvern Prep on Friday at home to do so as they now sit at 4-3.