Prep Baseball Report

Southeastern PA Recap



By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

catholic league championship

St Joseph's Prep 0, La Salle 10 (5 innings)

DomA pitcher's duel through three and a half innings quickly unraveled for the Hawks, as the Explorers posted back-to-back five-spots in the fourth and fifth frames (all runs scoring with two outs) and earned the right to defend their PIAA AAAA title from a year ago. La Salle 2014 RHP Dom Cuoci gave his typical steady effort: working fast, throwing strikes, and getting ground balls (12 of his 15 outs came on the ground).

La Salle 2015 OF Jimmy Herron and 2013 DH John Fabriziani both reached base in all four of their plate appearances (each went 3-3, BB, 2 RBI). Herron started the scoring in the fourth with a bases loaded chopper that caromed off the third base bag, while Fabriziani delivered the walk-off hit in the fifth that triggered a celebratory dogpile at home plate.

The Explorers will face Public League champion Frankford in the District XII AAAA championship game on Thursday at Ashburn Field.

district I AAAA quarterfinals

S-4 Coatesville 5 @ N-1 Central Bucks East 0

Coatesville prevented the Suburban One League from making a clean sweep on the day and will represent the Ches-Mont in the state finals. The Red Raiders will play CR North on Tuesday for a spot in the district title game.

N-7 Council Rock North 9 @ N-3 Methacton 8 (10 innings)

CR North captured the wildest game of the day (they scored five runs in the top of the 10th and held on as Methacton came back with four of their own) to earn one of the district's four state final berths. The Indians will face Coatesville on Tuesday for a spot in the district title game.

N-12 North Penn 5 @ S-1 Strath Haven 0

North Penn scored early (three runs in the 1st) and late (two in the 7th), while Brian Maher was in complete control on the mound, as the Knights punched their ticket to the state tourney. Strath Haven came into the contest unbeaten, but their first loss proved to be untimely, as their season ends one win shy of the state tournament.

Consecutive two-out RBI singles from 2015 1B Jared Melone, 2014 DH Bobby Scott, and 2013 CF Zillur Rahim gave the Knights the early lead. Strath Haven starter Kevin Bosco settled down with five straight shutouts innings, giving his offense a chance to get back in the game, but Maher wouldn't allow it. Pitching mainly with his fastball against an aggressive Panther line-up, the 2013 RHP never faced more than four batters in an inning, allowing only four hits and no free passes in a complete game effort. 2013 SS David Splain was the only Panther to solve Maher, picking up two line-drive singles in a 2-for-3 effort.

The Knights will face Pennridge on Tuesday for a spot in the district title game.

N-10 Pennridge 4 @ N-6 Boyertown 1

A three-run sixth inning provided the winning margin and a bid in the state tournament for Pennridge.  The Rams will face North Penn on Tuesday for a spot in the district title game.

district I aa championship

#2 Springfield Township 8 vs #1 Bristol 1

Springfield Township blew open a close game late and will face Neumann-Goretti from the Catholic League in the District I/XII Subregional on Tuesday at Great Valley HS. The winner will play Public League champ Prep Charter on Thursday at Ashburn Field in the District I/XII Subregional championship.

district I A semifinals

#6 Plumstead Christian 2 vs #2 Calvary Christian 3

The Cougars triumphed in the completion of a game suspended earlier in the week and will face #1 Devon Prep in the title game on Wednesday at Temple (Ambler campus).

district XI AAAA semifinals

#3 Parkland 3 vs #2 Pocono Mountain East 0 

#4 Stroudsburg 3, vs #1 Whitehall 11

It'll be an all-LVC North affair in the championship game (May 29, 7:00pm, Coca-Cola Park), as the Trojans and Zephyrs will face off for a fourth time this spring. Whitehall won two of the three previous meetings.

district XI AAA semifinals

#3 Southern Lehigh 5 vs #2 Pottsville 3 

#4 Lehighton 1 vs #1 Tamaqua 6

The Spartans and Blue Raiders will square off in the championship game on May 28 at 7:00pm at Coca-Cola Park.

district XI AA semifinals

#3 Notre Dame Green Pond 4 vs #2 North Schuylkill 0

#5 Pine Grove 5 vs #1 Salisbury Township 6

STHS & NDGP have met three times this year, with the top seed coming out victorious all three times.  The Crusaders will get one last shot against the Falcons on May 29 at 4:30pm at Coca-Cola Park.

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