Prep Baseball Report

Game Recap: Salisbury Township vs Neumann-Goretti



By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

Salisbury Township Falcons 6, Neumann-Goretti Saints 2 (8 innings)

Salisbury Township exploded for five runs in the top of the eighth inning to unceremoniously bounce Neumann-Goretti from their first class AA state tournament. The Falcons advance to face Hughesville in the class AA quarterfinals on Thursday, June 6 at Noon at Walter M Stump Stadium in Pine Grove.

The contest was a pitcher's duel through regulation between N-G's Marymount-bound John LaMotta and ST's Moravian-bound Nicolas Ampietro. The Falcons scored first, on three straight two-out singles in the top of the fourth inning. The Saints tied it in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out single from 2014 DH Charlie Jerla.

Both teams ran themselves out of opportunities to take the lead in regulation. N-G's 2016 OF Brian Verratti doubled to right-center with one out in the sixth and advanced to third base on a groundout, bringing up 2014 1B Josh Ockimey (verbal commitment to attend Arkansas). With Ampietro poised to begin his wind-up, Veratti tried to time Ampietro's rocker step for a steal of home, but broke for the plate too early. Ampietro calmly stepped off the rubber and threw Verratti out at the plate. Not to be out-done in the incredulity department, ST's pinch runner Anthony Dee was picked off of second with two out in the top of the seventh on an inside move by LaMotta.

AungstIn the top of the eighth, Salisbury Township got BB-1B-BB-BB to plate the go-ahead run. Then 2014 IF/RHP Justin Aungst (right), who also picked up the win after coming on in relief in the seventh inning, stroked a bases-clearing double to left-center. Two batters later, 2013 OF Zachary Seitz (3-for-4, 2 RBI) drove in Aungst to complete the scoring in that frame. Neumann-Goretti would tally one run in the bottom half, but the game ended on a 4-6-3 DP off the bat of Ockimey.

Prospects to Watch

+ 6-foot-1, 175-pound Aungst throws a lively fastball and flashes a solid 11/5 CB. No velos available today, but he has shown very good velocity out of a high-3/4 slot in the past.

+ Right-handed hitting Verratti took quality swings throughout the day and appears to be at least an average runner already. His classmate, 2016 IF Nicky D'Amore, has a strong frame and solid defensive actions.

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

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