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Recap of State Quarterfinal Doubleheader Action

June 7, 2013

By Frank Cooney
Eastern PA Area Scout

North penn 11, coatesville 1

NadeauThe North Penn Knights continued their postseason run with a methodical, mercy rule shortened,11-1 victory over the Coatesville Red Raiders. Coatesville starting pitcher CJ Martinez struggled to locate his fastball, particularly early in the contest, and the North Penn lineup took advantage.  

2016 OF Mason Nadeau drew a walk to start the third inning for the Knights. Nadeau’s walk was immediately followed by a booted ground ball and another walk, loading the bases with nobody out. The Knights then executed back to back perfect safety squeezes with their two and three hitters, Millersville recruit Brad Bertucci and Binghamton recruit Ed Posavec. Already up 2-0, the Knights continued to pour it on scoring three additional runs in the frame on two sacrifice flies and a hit batter.  

Anthony Cameron began the Knights 4th inning with a beautiful bunt down the 3rd base line for a single. Brady West, a Misericordia recruit, followed with an RBI double to left. A two run double from Bobby Scott pushed the North Penn lead to 9-0.  

Coatesville was able to scratch out a run of their own to cut the deficit to 9-1, but Bobby Scott struck again when he delivered another two-run double in the 6th, giving the Knights the ten run rule victory.

See the Pennsylvania Scouting Blog for more detailed notes and measureables.

west york 2, holy ghost prep 0

A capacity crowd at Spring-Ford stadium was on hand for what turned out to be one of the best games of the spring. The result was in question until the final pitch as West York, the defending Class AAA state champions advanced with a 2-0 win.  

West York looked poised to jump out to an early lead in the first inning, as Holy Ghost 2015 RHP Curtis Staropoli struggled to find his command. The first four batters of the game reached base for the Bulldogs, with 3 walks and a single, but a caught stealing kept them off the board. With one out and the bases loaded Staropoli found his rhythm, escaping the jam with a weak ground ball and a strike out.  

Much like West York, Holy Ghost also threatened in their half of the first inning. The Firebirds got things started when leadoff hitter Bobby Reading drew a walk. A perfectly executed bunt and run from 2015 Tim Brennan allowed Reading to move to third base with just one out. Reading attempted to score on a wild pitch, but was ruled out on a close play at the plate. That would be the last scoring chance for either team for quite some time as Staropoli and his counterpart, 2013 LHP Brandon Kinneman, each settled into dominant outings the rest of the way.   

Carson FriesHoly Ghost threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, when an error to open the inning was followed by a sacrifice bunt from Bobby Reading, advancing a Firebird into scoring position for the first time since the opening inning. West York went to their closer Carson Fries with the winning run on second base and one out. Just as he had done in the previous game against Monsignor Bonner, Fries delivered for the Bulldogs. The 2014 RHP struck out back-to-back batters to end the the Holy Ghost threat. 

Staropoli appeared to be cruising along in the 7th inning, retiring the first two batters in order before running into trouble. Back to back singles from West York were followed by Staropoli issuing back to back walks, forcing in the first run of the game. A wild pitch would allow the second West York run to cross the plate, ending Staropoli’s stellar outing, and giving West York a 2-0 lead. 

Refusing to surrender without a fight, Holy Ghost began the bottom half of the seventh inning with back to back singles and a hit batter, loading the bases with nobody out. Carson Fries buckled down from there, fanning three consecutive Holy Ghost batters to complete the Houdini like escape act, preserving the 2-0 win for West York.

See the Pennsylvania Scouting Blog for more detailed notes and measureables.

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