MAY 20

NON-LEAGUE

GA 2, SJ Prep 1

GA 14, K-K 5
  As a warmup for the upcoming postseason, GA hosted the Catholic League leading Prep Hawks.  Colin Kish threw a complete game 4 hitter for the Patriots, letting up only one unearned run.  Despite the win, GA struggled in the field and at the plate, scraping only 4 hits against a solid performance by the Prep’s hurlers.

   Fortunately for the Patriots and the temperament of the coaching staff, GA came back to dominate against the Kenrick Wolverines, as Billy Vernon and Pete Rosa held K-K to 5 runs.  The Patriot bats returned from a week layoff, as Colin Kish hit an absolute shot home run to right in the 3rd to spark the rally.  On Kenrick’s field, the ball landed at the foot of the second fence, an estimated 390 feet.  To downplay his own success, Kish returned to the dugout claiming he saw, in person, Chris Lubanski hit a ball over the trees in right field.  To add perspective, over the trees (a good 50 ft tall alone) would mean over the first and second fences, an estimated 550 feet.  I think I also saw Josh Gibson, in person, hit a one handed homer in Philly that landed the next day in Pittsburgh.  Nonetheless, Kish’s shot was a bomb.
   But where does it rank in his accomplishments of the spring?  Unfortunately, nowhere near the top.  Why, you ask?  Well, a few weeks ago, driving to the Academy, Kish noticed a car clip an electrical pole, slide off the side of the road, and land upside down in a ditch.  While other cars drove by, Colin Kish, the hero, pulled over, calmly walked over to the car, ripped the door open with his own two hands, and disposed of the door with a simple Frisbee-like flick of the wrist.  Meanwhile, as Colin helped the surprisingly un-scathed woman to safety, Colin’s brother Keenan was fast asleep in the car.  It has been later said that the only reason the woman remained fine was because as Colin strolled out of the vehicle, he heard the slightest splash of a single drop of gasoline entering a soon-to-be combustible part of the engine.  The Academy taught Colin that fire and gas do not mix, so with that in mind, Colin turned on his 4.19 40 speed, punched through the car door, picked up the woman, and quickly covered her with his nearby Patriots #20 jersey and his muscle-laden body as the car exploded.  A man from Wissahickon high School said he heard the explosion from 25 miles away, but conflicting reports from Keenan say this is completely false, considering he was there and heard no explosion.  Then again, Colin claims Keenan is a heavy sleeper, and could have still been catching up on his shut-eye.  This is simply what I hear, and although I have also heard that Chris Lubanski hit a ball 625 feet, this may still be true.
   Anyways, all jokes aside, Colin really did save a woman from an overturned car on the side of the road, and he really did throw a gem against the Prep and hit a bomb against K-K.  When asked what would happen if his home run ball had hit the lights the right field, Kish simply said, “Then we must play in the shade.”

   GA begins the State Tournament Tuesday, at home.

MAY 18

Year to Date 

    Annnnnddd we’re back.  After being held down for almost a month by the powers that be, I have returned to fulfill my duties to my followers throughout the country.  A lot has happened over the past 4 weeks of baseball, both on the field an off. 

    The Patriots record stood at 12-4 and 3-2 in the Inter-Ac after a heartbreaking loss to Chestnut Hill and a dominating performance at the plate in a win over Germantown Friends.  On the mound on the first of May stood Ian Hoff to face off against the Friars who came in with a 3-1 league record.  To nobody’s surprise, Hoff threw another gem, allowing only 5 hits in his complete game effort.  DH John Barr, in his first game back from an injured shoulder, drove in the tying run (Hoff) and scored the winning run on an RBI single by BFF Tommy Coyle.  The huge league victory, along with a 6-5 win over North Penn, set the Patriots up at a 14-4 mark entering a climatic, all-important, key game against Episcopal, who had already defeated MLB prospect Mark Adzick earlier in the season.

    Alas, the sunny, Saturday weather could not bring an exhilarating game.  GA defeated the Churchmen 8-1 behind an excellent performance by Timmy Vernon’s brother Billy (3-1), who, like Hoff, gave up 5 hits, this time in 6 innings, allowing one run.  Colin Kish came in to close the game, striking out one in the 7th, Kish also added a triple to his spectacular day.  For a little behind the scenes storyline:  John Barr ended his season-long, 14 game hit streak.  On a day where the Patriots mustered 7 hits (two by freshmen), Barr wasn’t able to.  It’s ok John, 14 is a lot, Joe DiMaggio only did 4 times that…

    Next, the Patriots traveled down the Main Line to take on the Haverford Fords.  Whoever thought GA would overlook, looking ahead to those against the Penn Charter Charters and the Malvern Prep Verns, would have been wrong.  Let’s just count up the hits to prove my point: One, two, three, four...twenty-two.  Yes, twenty-two (22) hits in 7 innings.  For all the mathematicians out there, that’s just over 3 per inning.  Barr came back off his tough Episcopal game with two pop-ups that went over the fence.  Colin Kish and Sean Coyle had 4 hits; Tommy Coyle and Slater McCue had 3.  Ian Hoff threw another complete game to go along with 7 K’s to match Vernon’s record at 3-1.  Hoff also went 2-4 at the plate.

   That weekend, GA extended its win streak to 8 games, continuing its offensive output, defeating PC 9-6 and Lansdale Catholic 7-1.  PC was able to get to Vernon in his second time around, scoring 6 runs in 5 innings.  But Colin Kish entered the game in relief in the 6th to shut down the Quakers for the rest of the game.  Vernon was able to record the win as the Patriots took the lead in the bottom of the 5th, putting a three-spot on the board.  Barr’s tear continued as he went 3-3 with a double and 3 RBI.  Hoff also contributed from the meat of the order, going 2-4 with 2 RBI.  The following day, Steve “Big Guy” Boland chucked 6 shutout innings to log the win against LC.  Co-captains Barr and Joe Conaway chipped in by dropping bombs.

   So with a 7-2 league record, the Patriots were set to square off against Malvern for the league title.  Unfortunately, with two losses to rival CHA, GA had no control over its own destiny.  A Blue Devil loss would be necessary for GA to have any chance at the league title.  And on the mound for the Pats- none other than Ian Hoff -Friar killer.

   Although GA didn’t know this at the time, but Mark Adzick returned for PC to throw a 2-hitter en route to a Quaker victory.  So to add suspense to an already suspenseful situation, with a win GA steals the title.  But, despite Hoff throwing another gem (1 earned in 7 innings), the GA defense and bats couldn’t match his performance, as Malvern’s Tim Cooney and Chris Cowell held GA to only 5 hits, Slater McCue being the only Pat to have multiple hits.
    So GA lost its shot at a 4th title in 5 years.  But the State Tournament fast approaches, and with a 3 seed the Patriots are set for a tourney run.  First round game is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22.

APRIL 24

INTER-AC LEAGUE

GA 12, Haverford 3

GA 5, PC 2

Going into the week, GA was on a hot streak.  The Patriots had just defeated Episcopal in senior Ian Hoff’s first start.  They continued the Inter-Ac winning against Haverford, as they won at home, 12-3, behind strong pitching by Pete Rosa (5 IP, 2 hits, 1 BB) and Colin Kish.  Kish, out to prove that his Vernon Award wasn’t about hype, went 3-3 with 4 RBIs, finishing the day by striking out 2 in the 7th. Slater McCue, who every day further resembles GA grad Jason Davila, went 2-4 with 2 RBIs.  Fellow freshman Sean Coyle went 2-5 with 3 runs.  Finally, senior John Barr made sure I include his season-long hit streak, currently at 13 games.  Said Barr of his streak, “Every game I play, I get a hit.”
  GA then went on the road to Penn Charter with a much anticipated showdown with MLB prospect Mark Adzick.  Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately, for that matter), Adzick was off the mound and at first due to an oblique strain.  That left Mike Carroll on the hill to face to a potent Patriot lineup, featuring the likes of red-hot junior Joe Conaway and sophomore Tommy Coyle, of whose bat one scout described, “The kid can flat out rake.”
   But, it turned out to be GA 3rd baseman Nick Stampone to provide the initial spark for the Patriots, as his absolute bomb of a triple drove in Ian Hoff in the 2nd. GA then followed that up with 2 runs in the 3rd as Billy Vernon, Colin Kish, and Tommy Coyle joined the hit parade.  The 3 runs proved to be enough cushion for Vernon, as he brought a perfect game into the fourth.  Then, that dang Sammy Zeglinski figured he should destroy Patriot hopes again.  Turns out Sammy reckoned dropping a combined 63 points in 2 games wasn’t enough, so he joined the baseball team and this time dropped a perfect bunt down the first base line.  The Zeglinski family athleticism was too much for Vernon to handle, and the perfect game was gone.
   But it wasn’t until the late innings that PC got to Vernon.  Now up 5-1 (the “red-hot Conaway” stayed that way with a 2-run homer the previous inning) in the 6th, the meat of Quaker order got to Vernon.  Catcher Doug Fleming drove home Adzick with a double to the left-center gap.  The bullpen began to get some action.
   In the final frame, with the bags full and 2 out, Coach Craig Conlin picked up the phone and brought in the righty, Pete Rosa.  Now, maybe Rosa had a paper to write, or a show to TiVo, or a hot midweek date, but whatever the case may be, Rosa threw one pitch to Adzick and began to walk off the field, as the liner landed in the sure-handed glove of Rosa’s good pal, freshman Sean Coyle.  Hugs all around, as GA continues its Inter-Ac win streak, currently at 3 games.
  The Patriots stay on the road with CHA on the 25th.