(photo of Springfield’s Nolan Dulski via Jake Bachman)

SPRINGFIELD, PA — Springfield spotted West Chester East a three run lead in the first and had to battle back, but the Cougars did exactly that — taking the lead for good in the sixth and holding on for a 5-3 win Thursday, punching their ticket to the PIAA State Tournament in the process.

West Chester East came out swinging right away. Chase Rudderow reached on an error to start things, Dan Zytkowicz singled to score him, Derek Rozzi doubled to move Zytkowicz to third, and Sean Buckley singled to score Zytkowicz and push Rozzi to third. Then Jonah Trueman flew out to center but Rozzi tagged and scored to make it 3-0 before Springfield even got to bat. Three runs on three hits and an error — a brutal way to start.

Springfield chipped away. Danny Meakim singled in the first to load the bases and set the table, but the Cougars couldn’t cash in right away. They finally got on the board in the third — Owen Keough got hit by pitch, Meakim walked, Nick Corse singled, and a pitcher error let a run score on a pickoff throw. TJ Valletti then continued a great playoff run as he doubled to score Corse and make it 3-2. Just like that, Springfield was back in it.

The sixth inning was where the Cougars took over for good. Still trailing 3-2, Sean O’Reilly came off the bench and doubled, Shane McCaffrey singled, and Kai Scheetz also came off the bench and lined one to left to score O’Reilly and tie it at 3-3.

Danny Meakim came through in the clutch — singling on a ground ball to center to score McCaffrey and Scheetz with two outs and flip the lead to 5-3. Two runs on one hit and the game was Springfield’s.

Nolan Dulski gutted it out on the mound for the Cougars — six innings, six hits, three runs with only one earned, two strikeouts, and two walks. He kept Springfield in it long enough for the offense to bail him out. Drew Kraus came on and picked up the save after coming into two inherited runners and retiring all three hitters that he faced.

That’s two sophomore pitchers getting it done for Springfield.

For West Chester East, Gabe Gianni started but had to leave early due to an injury. He threw two innings with one hit and one run allowed. Carter Reed took over and gave up four runs on seven hits across three innings before handing it off.

Meakim was the story offensively going 2-for-3 with two RBI and delivering the go-ahead hit when it mattered most. Dan Zytkowicz and Sean Buckley each had two hits for West Chester East but the Cougars’ pitching staff held firm when they needed to.

Springfield takes the win and moves on to the PIAA State Tournament. They will take on Southern Lehigh next Monday. The time/location of that game should be announced shortly. This is the first time that Springfield has made the state tournament since 2017.

As for West Chester East, their season comes to an end here. A tough way to go out, but the Vikings gave it everything they had.

(picture of Haverford’s Jimmy Boyle via Shelby Kauffman/DBN)

HAVERTOWN, PA — With their season on the line, Haverford turned to some familiar faces.

Haverford High took down Henderson 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel that was decided by a single run in the fourth — and with the win, the Fords have clinched a spot in the PIAA State Tournament for the first time in program history.

Both starters came out dealing. Jimmy Boyle and Henderson’s Jackson Ciarmello were locked in from the first pitch — neither team could get much going offensively, and it had the feel of a game where one swing was going to be the difference.

That swing came in the fourth. Shane Durkan doubled to right, and after Rocco Kelleher grounded out to move him to third, Sam Sturman lined one to left to score the courtesy runner and make it 1-0 Haverford. That was all that Boyle would need on the mound.

Because from there, Boyle just shoved. The righty went the full seven innings, gave up just two hits — a first inning single by Gabe Reinheimer and a fifth inning single by Cole Ryan — walked three, and punched out 11. Henderson had baserunners here and there but never got anything going. In the seventh Boyle hit Wilding, intentionally walked Alex Cortes to set up a double play situation, and then struck out Ryan Simpson looking to end it. Pure filth from start to finish.

It’s been that kind of year for Boyle. He has been an absolute workhorse for the Fords all season and this outing was just the latest reminder of how good he’s been — going the distance in a win or go home game, not giving up a single run, and willing his team to a historic result.

Ciarmello was nearly as good on the other side — six innings, four hits, one run, five strikeouts, three walks. On another day that line wins you a ballgame. Durkan was the only Haverford hitter who could really solve him, going 2-for-3 on the day and providing the extra base hit that set up the only run of the game.

A 1-0 win in the District 1 6A quarterfinals, a trip to states, and a piece of Haverford High history. The Fords will next face Downingtown West on Thursday at home to determine seeding heading into the state tournament.

The winner of that game will be the #5 seed out of District 1, and the loser will be the #6 seed.

(photo of Haverford’s Jimmy Boyle via Alex Geibel)

HAVERTOWN, PA — Haverford High punched its ticket to the District 1 quarterfinals Wednesday, taking down Boyertown 7-2 in the round of 16 behind a dominant outing from Jimmy Boyle that was never really in doubt after the fourth inning.

Boyertown actually got on the board first in the top of the first. Gavin Trainer singled and stole second, and Tilman Henley lined one to right to score him and make it 1-0. But, Haverford settled in quickly and didn’t flinch.

The Fords tied it in the second when Vinny Angelucci singled, moved up on a wild pitch, and Owen Klick lined one to center to bring him home and even it at 1-1. Then in the third, Rocco Kelleher doubled, and Sam Sturman followed with a single to center to flip the lead, 2-1 Haverford.

The fourth inning is where Haverford put the game away for good. Six straight hits, five runs, and a complete takeover. Charlie Pusztay singled to start things, Bobby Menear singled to score him, Klick singled to score Menear, Durkan singled to score Klick, Kelleher singled to score another, and Sturman capped it off with yet another single to push it to 7-1.

It was a clinic — six consecutive singles, five different guys driving in runs, and Boyertown’s pitching staff had no answers.

Boyertown got one back in the fifth on a Trainer double that scored C.J. Cressman to make it 7-2, but that was all they’d get as Haverford took this won 7-2 in a game that was called in the bottom of the sixth for weather.

Boyle was the story on the mound from start to finish. The righty went all six innings, struck out 10, surrendered just six hits and two runs, and didn’t walk a single batter. In a win-or-go-home game, that’s exactly what you need from your ace. For Boyertown, Chase Waibel got the start and lasted just three and a third innings, giving up three runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks before handing it off.

Haverford spread the hits around all day — Klick, Angelucci, Kelleher, Menear, and Sturman all went 2-for-the-day, with Klick and Sturman each driving in two. Twelve hits as a team, and nobody had to do too much.

Haverford moves on to the District 1 6A quarterfinals where they will host #8 Neshaminy on Friday at 4:00 PM.

If Haverford wins that, they’d play the winner of Pennsbury and Garnet Valley/Spring-Ford in the semifinals on Tuesday. If they lose, they are not out. They would enter the “states playback” tournament to try and win their way back into states.

(PW picture via Molly Feinberg)

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — #23 Lower Merion came in with some early momentum, but #10 Plymouth-Whitemarsh had too much firepower Monday, rolling to an 11-1 win in the District 1 6A Championship first round that ended the Aces’ season.

The Aces actually drew first blood in the top of the first. Brendan O’Gara hit a solo shot to center field to put Lower Merion up 1-0 right out of the gate. Promising start — but it didn’t last.

PW answered in the second and never looked back. The Colonials strung together a bunt single from Dominic Criscuolo, a catcher’s interference, and a Michael Bongard single to load things up. Brody Stump walked to force in a run, and then a Mason Eagland ground ball found a hole and an error let two more score. Just like that it was 3-1 Plymouth Whitemarsh, and Lower Merion never recovered.

The fifth and sixth innings were where Plymouth-Whitemarsh really buried it. The Colonials sent a parade of runners to the plate — walking, singling, and taking advantage of every mistake. Spencer Rosen tripled in the fifth to score three, and Plymouth kept piling on through the sixth with a sac fly, two more singles, and another run crossing to push the final to 11-1.

Bobby Pasquarello was the story on the mound for Plymouth. The righty was flat out dominant — six innings, four hits, one run, ten strikeouts, and three walks. Ten punchouts in six innings in a win or go home game is a special outing, especially for a sophomore. Lower Merion’s Brian Heck had a rough go of it, lasting four innings and giving up six runs, though only three were earned, on three hits with four strikeouts and five walks. The walks hurt him all day.

Rosen led Plymouth Whitemarsh’s offense with four RBI going 2-for-4, doing the damage from the seven hole. The Colonials were patient all day with seven walks as a team, never letting Lower Merion get comfortable. Plymouth-Whitemarsh also ran well, stealing five bases, and didn’t commit a single error behind Pasquarello all game.

For Lower Merion, O’Gara’s homer was the lone bright spot in an otherwise tough afternoon. The Aces finish the day with just four hits and fall 11-1, ending their season in the first round of the District 1 6A Championship. It’s a tough way to go out, but that’s playoff baseball.

#10 Plymouth-Whitemarsh advances to play #7 Owen J. Roberts on the road Wednesday.