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By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Early season affairs often involve lots of walks and more than a handful of errors as players begin to knock the rust off from months spent working out indoors. Yesterday was no different as a pair of independent schools locked up in a non-conference affair at Episcopal Academy on a sunny, 70 degree day that had the feel of a late May game as opposed to one played in late March. The two teams combined on 12 walks, two hit batters, seven errors and a walk-off 6-5 win for the home team in extra innings. 

Around the expected wildness from a group of six pitchers that toed the rubber was some stellar defense and timely hitting. Episcopal Academy wasted little time jumping out to a lead as Georgetown commit A.J. Lotsis walked to lead off the game advanced to third on a single from Will Phillips and scored on a throwing error. Penn State commit Kyle Virbitsky then extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run to left field.

After the Friends' School offense managed to plate a run in the top of the second NJIT recruit Alex Burman laced a two out single to plate two staking the Churchmen to a 5-1 lead heading to the third inning.

Following a three run uprising by the Phoenix in the top of the fourth junior right-handed pitcher Alec Andrews moved to the mound and quieted the Episcopal Academy bats for the next four frames. 

Senior Michael Norconi's one out single in the top of the seventh inning plated Gil Dreyfuss who had started the inning with his third hit of the game to tie the game at five setting up extra innings.

The Churchmen used three walks sandwiched around an infield error to plate the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning with Virbitsky drawing a bases loaded, one out walk for the walk-off victory.

Virbitsky (2-3, 2 BB, 3 RBI, HR), Phillips (2-4, BB) and Burman (2-4, 2 RBI) led the Churchmen offense. Chris Annas (2-5), Dreyfuss (3-4, BB), Norcini (2-3, BB, RBI) and Robbie Winward (2-4, RBI) powered the Phoenix offense.

The early season PBR scouting tour will continue today with an 11:00am start in West Chester (Garnet Valley vs. Henderson) followed by a 4:15 first pitch an hour to the east when Spring Grove visits Penn Manor. 

SEASON PREVIEW SCHEDULE

3/2 - PAISAA
3/3 - PIAA District V
3/4 - PIAA District IX
3/5 - PIAA District VI
3/6 - PIAA District IV
3/7 - PIAA District X
3/8 - PIAA District III (Class A & AA)
3/9 - PIAA District VII (Class A)
3/10 - PIAA District VII (Class AA)
3/11 - PIAA District II
3/12 - PIAA District XI
3/13 - PIAA District I (Class A, AA & AAA)
3/14 - PIAA District III (Class AAA)
3/15 - PIAA District VII (Class AAA)
3/16 - PIAA District I (Class AAAA)
3/17 - PIAA District III (Class AAAA)
3/18 - PIAA District VII (Class AAAA)
3/19 - PIAA District XII
3/20 - PAISAA Preseason Fab Four
3/21 - PIAA Class A Preseason Super 16
3/22 - PIAA Class AA Preseason Super 16
3/23 - PIAA Class AAA Preseason Super 16
3/24 - PIAA Class AAAA Preseason Super 16