(photo courtesy of Josh Krautzel/DBN)

HAVERTOWN, PA — Haverford will be taking on Muhlenberg on Monday.

In today’s matchup for the PIAA District 1 6A state playback round, we had the Haverford Fords versus the Downingtown West Whippets collected the win in this one in a 12-9 victory. Both teams had already clinched their spot in the state tournament, this game just decided who will be the #5 seed out of District 1 and who will be the #6 seed.

The Whippets were the first to get on the board in this one in the top of the first after a single, a hit by pitch, and a walk made it bases loaded for Brandon Shaw. He hit a ground ball and reached on an error, which scored two runs. 

The Fords struck back fast in the bottom of the first after a double from Rocco Kelleher, then Sam Sturman singled, scoring Kelleher.

A sacrifice fly by Luke Dovidio extended the lead for the Whippets’ lead to 3-1 in the top of the second inning. 

The Fords captured the lead in the bottom of the third, making it 4-3. Owen Klick singled, scoring one, then an error by the Whippets scored two more.

The Whippets flipped the lead again at the top of the fourth as they scored five runs on three hits, making the score 8-4. The big blow of the inning was a double by Ben Lindros that drove in three. The Fords tied the game at eight in the bottom of the fourth after Klick hit a grand slam.

The Whippets captured the lead again in the top of the fifth for good, making it a 12-8 game. They scored on an error, and Brandon Shaw doubled, scoring two runs. 

The Fords scored one run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run to right field by Bobby Menear, but the damage had already been done.

Shaw began the game for the Whippets, the starter allowed two hits and one run over two innings, striking out four and walking one.  Jude Manni earned the win for the Whippets. The reliever gave up one hit and one run over two and a third innings, striking out four and walking two. Jayden Luistro started for the Fords in this one, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) over two innings,  striking out three and walking three. Lucas Rothstein earned the loss for the Fords, going one inning and allowing five runs on three hits, striking out three and walking two. Benny Cary collected the save for the Whippets. 

The Whippets piled on 10 hits in the game, with their number nine hitter, Devin Manning, showing the depth of the Whippets and leading them in the game, collecting three hits on four at-bats. Lindros and Slade each drove in three runs for the Whippets. 

The Fords collected nine hits in the game. Klick drove the lineup for the Fords, leading them with five RBIS. Klick and Kelleher each collected two hits for the Fords. 

The Whippets look to extend their winning streak as they will play Chambersburg in the first round of states, and the Fords look to bounce back after the loss as they take on Muhlenberg.

Both of those games will likely be Monday at 4, just TBD on what location.

(photo courtesy of Josh Krautzel/DBN)

DOWNINGTOWN, PA — The Garnet Valley pitching staff did their job today, but the offense couldn’t quite get things going as their season came to an end in the state playback round.

Both of the teams were very strong on the bump today, but Downingtown West defeated the Jaguars 3-1. Blaise Bonnell started the game today for DTown West and threw six innings while allowing just one earned run and recorded six strikeouts.

The Whippets were first to get on the board as Ben Lindros hit a sacrifice fly to score one run in the second inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Whippets’ bats were on fire. Jake Downie doubled on a fly ball to center field, and Danny Kershner singled on a line drive to center. Downie scored on an error, and Luke Dovidio hit a sacrifice fly to give the Whippets a 3-0 lead.

Colton Turner started on the mound for the Jaguars. He gave up two hits and three runs (one earned) over three innings. He struck out one and walked three. Ryan McGhee ended a great Jaguar career with three scoreless innings and five strikeouts.

Nick Chiti came in relief for the Whippets. He gave up two hits, striking out one and walking one to get the save. 

Kershner went 2-3 at the plate to lead the Whippets in the hits category. Dovidio and Lindros each drove in one run for the Whippets. Kershner stole two bases in today’s game.

Ryan McGhee, Cole Lombardo and Harrison Maull were strong in the lineup today for the Jaguars as they both collected two hits, and Cole Hoffacker had their only RBI.

Garnet Valley sees their season come to an end at 16-8, while Downingtown West will head to Haverford on Thursday for a game that will determine seeding in the state tournament. Whoever wins will be the fifth ranked team in District 1, and whoever loses will be the sixth ranked team.

PENNSBURG, PA — Upper Perk swung the bats from start to finish in this one.

In this matchup for the semifinals of the District 1 5A Playoffs between the Springfield Cougars and the Upper Perk Indians, the Cougars had trouble keeping up. 

The Cougars opened up the scoring when TJ Valletti hit a single to score a run in the top of the first.

Upper Perk gained the lead after an error by the Cougars, and Lincoln Fijalkowski flew out, each scoring one run making it a 2-1 game. 

The Indians added another run in the second after Jordin Dice singled to the left side. 

TJ Valletti delivered again in the top of the second for Springfield when he singled to center, which helped the Cougars tie it up at three in the top of the third. 

In the bottom of the third, the Indians broke up the tie game when a error scored a run then a double play followed to extend the Upper Perk lead to 5-3. They would really pull away from this one with three in the bottom of the fourth, and added two more late in the sixth.

Lincoln Fijalkowski earned the win for the Indians. The righty gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits over five innings. He struck out seven and walked four. TJ Valletti took the loss in this one allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in one inning. He struck out none and walked none. Drew Kraus started the game for the Cougars allowing three hits and three runs (one earned) in two innings. He struck out one and walked none. 

Landan Ragan, Denny Monstra and Nick Russo all pitched in relief for Springfield. Jake Lennon and Jake Lehman added hits.

Ben Sands and Ben Godshall both had two hits each for Upper Perk.

Springfield’s season is not over, as they enter the playbacks round of the state tournament. The PIAA takes three teams to the state tournament, so the third place game means a lot here. Springfield will play the loser of Saturday’s WC East vs WC Rustin game on Tuesday. If it is against Rustin it will be at Rustin on Tuesday at 4, if it is against WC East it would be at Springfield on Tuesday at 4.

The Upper Perk Indians advance and look to win the district championship as they play at Villanova Ballpark in Plymouth Meeting on Tuesday, May 26th. They will play the winner of that WC East/WC Rustin game and have already clinched their spot in states.

PENNSBURG, PA — The Strath Haven bats may have used up all of their runs for the week on Monday.

After taking down Penncrest 11-7 in a slugfest on Monday, the Strath Haven offense was held scoreless on Wednesday at Upper Perk.

Upper Perk got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning after a double by Jordin Dice, and Zane Saeger singled, each scoring one run.

The Indians added one more to the board in the bottom of the third inning as Grayson Sabo knocked in a run on a groundout

Sabo also earned the win for the Indians. The starter allowed two hits and zero runs over five innings of play, striking out four and walking five. Travis McDonough took the loss for the Panthers. The starter threw five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits. He struck out four and walked two. Ben Godshall got the save for the Indians. 

Atticus Bean led the way for the Panthers, collecting two hits in four at-bats. Zach Milligan helped the Panthers collecting two walks, while Connor Musemici had a double and a walk. The team overall was very patient at the plate, collecting eight walks through the game, but they were unable to have any runners cross the plate.

Jasper Hals threw a scoreless inning of relief for Strath Haven. 

Benjamin Sands, Jack Rieg, Lincoln Fijalkowski, Sabo, Seager, Dice, and Godshall all collected one hit for the Indians. Sabo, Rieg, Saeger, and Dice all drove in one run for the Indians. The Indians had hot hands today as they did not make an error throughout the game, and Ryan Cairns made seven plays. 

Strath Haven’s season comes to an end at 10-12. It was a rebuilding year for the Panthers, yet they still found a way into the playoffs and won a game.

Upper Perk now advances to the District 1 5A semifinals, where they will play the winner of Springfield/Upper Moreland. That game will be finished on Thursday with Springfield leading 7-0 in the top of the fourth.

(photo of TJ Valletti via @christyphotos64 on Instagram)

SPRINGFIELD, PA — On this hot May afternoon, Springfield wins their first playoff game since 2017 as they take down the defending state champion Upper Dublin Cardinals.

TJ Valletii drove in four runs on two hits to lead the Cougars. Valletti hit a home run to right field in the first inning, which scored three runs, then singled in the third inning to score one more. A single by Anthony Hammill put the Cardinals on the board 1-0 to start at the top of the first before that happened.

Valletti’s homerun gave the Cougars the lead 3-1 in the bottom of the first. Eddie Stoffel singled to center field, which helped the Cardinals tie the game up 3-3 in the top of the second. 

In the bottom of the third inning, the Cougars went back in the lead after a single down the left field line from Valletti, and Johnny Hopkins doubled down the right field line, which scored one run each bringing the game to 5-3.

Jake Lennon singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Tamiem Mosley in the fourth as well.

Nolan Dulski earned the win today for the Cougars. The lefty gave up seven hits and five runs (three earned) over six innings, recording one strikeout and one walk. Luke Caron took the loss for the Cardinals. The tall righty went 5.2 innings, giving up six runs on 11 hits, striking out four, and walking one. Drew Kraus collected the save for Springfield. 

The Cougars collected 12 hits in the game. Jake Lennon and Dylan Sheridan each collected three hits for the Cougars. Nick Corse collected two hits for them as well. 

Stoffel went 1-3 on the day and led the Cardinals with 2 RBI’s. Noah Watson led the Cardinals with two hits in three at-bats.  

The Cougars look to take this win to the next level as they play #2 Upper Moreland in the second round of the playoffs on Wednesday at Upper Moreland with a 4:00 PM first pitch.