SEPT. 5
TEDBIT
  In early August, Anthony Valucci stepped down as Roman's coach and before the end of the month . . . he was being hired as the coach at St. Joseph's Prep! Recently, a list of CL coaches over the last 40 years was posted. WITHIN those 40 years, nine guys coached at two CL schools and six combined to win 12 championships. Rich Papirio was fortunate enough to pull off the titles-at-both-schools feat -- two at Ryan, one at Conwell-Egan. Anthony is very dedicated to his players and we wish him the best at The Prep!   

AUGUST 26
ST. ​ JOSEPH’S​ ​ PREP​ ​ NAMES​ ​ VETERAN​ ​ PCL​ ​ MANAGER​ TO ​ HEAD​ ​ BASEBALL​ ​ PROGRAM​
By Bill Avington

​ ​PHILADELPHIA ​ --​ ​ St.​ ​ Joseph’s​ ​ Prep​ ​ has​ ​ ​announced ​ that​ ​ Anthony​ ​ Valucci​ ​ will​ ​ be​ ​ the​ ​ new​ baseball​ ​coach.​ Coach​ ​ Valucci​ ​ has​ ​ a​ ​ wealth​ ​ of​ ​ ​experience ​ ​in ​ coaching,​ ​ ​including ​ serving​ ​ as​​ the​ head​ ​coach​ ​the​ ​last​ seven​ ​ years​​ at​ ​ Roman​ ​ Catholic​ ​ High​​ ​School​ where​​ ​he ​ led​ ​​the ​​team​ ​to​ ​the postseason ​ five​ ​ times​ ​ and​ ​ into​ ​ ​the ​ PCL​​ championship​ ​ once.​ ​ In​ ​ addition,​ ​ Coach​ ​ Valucci​ spearheaded ​​several ​ fundraising​ ​ campaigns​ ​ ​for ​ ​the ​ baseball​ ​ program​ ​ and​ ​ also​ ​ organized​​ a​ pre-season ​ trip​​ ​to​ Vero​​ ​Beach​ Florida​ ​ ​for​ ​the​ ​past ​​two​ ​years.

​ ​“I​ ​am​ ​excited​ ​by​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​Coach​ ​Valucci​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Prep,”​ ​says​ ​Prep​ ​Athletic Director ​ Dennis​ ​​Hart.​ ​“I​ ​had ​​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​coach ​against​​ ​his​ ​teams ​​in​ ​my​ ​role​ ​as​ ​an assistant ​ coach​ ​ for​ ​ the​​ ​Prep​ ​and​ ​always​ ​respected ​​his ​​baseball​ ​acumen​ ​and​ ​his​ ​method ​​of coaching. ​ My​ ​ appreciation​ ​ for​ ​ Coach​ ​ ​Valucci ​ grew​​ last​ ​ year​ ​ when​ ​ I​ ​ ​served ​ as​ ​ Philadelphia​ Catholic ​ League​ ​ ​moderator ​ for​ ​ baseball,​ ​ ​working ​ closely​​ with​ ​ Coach​ ​ Valucci​ ​ on​ ​ the​ ​ ​daily operations ​ for​ ​ the​​ ​league. ​ When​​ the​ ​ head​​ coaching​ ​ ​position​ ​became​ ​available,​ ​I ​​was​ ​extremely excited ​ that​ ​​Coach​ ​Valucci​ ​was ​​interested​ ​in​ ​the​ ​position ​and​​ ​I ​​jumped​ ​at​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​bring him ​ in​ ​ for​ ​ an​ ​ interview.”​

​ ​In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​his​ ​time​ ​at​ ​Roman,​ ​Coach​ ​Valucci​ ​spent​ ​years​ ​coaching​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Roxborough​ ​Rox Babe ​ Ruth​ ​ program​ ​ and​ ​ has​ ​ ​learned ​ ​under​ ​the ​ tutelage​​ of​ ​ two​ ​ outstanding​ ​ coaches,​​ PA​ Baseball ​ Hall​ ​ of​ ​ Famer​ ​ Terry​ ​ ​Morris, ​​brother ​​of ​ our​​ own​ ​ legendary​ ​ Speedy​ ​ Morris,​ ​ and​ ​ Rick​ Norwood​ ​from​ ​the​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Texas. ​ He​ ​ has​ ​ studied​ ​ how​ ​ to​ ​ run​ ​ an​ ​ outstanding​​ high​ ​ school​ program​ ​and​ ​I​ ​am​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​have​ ​him ​ at​ ​ the​ ​ ​Prep.

​ ​“I​ ​am​ ​very​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​new​ ​head​ ​coach ​ of​ ​ St.​ ​ Joseph’s​ ​​Prep,”​ ​says ​​Valucci, ​​who​ ​was​ ​an assistant ​ coach​ ​ for​ ​ the​ ​ 2013​ ​ Carpenter​​ Cup​ ​ team​ ​ and​​ ​also ​ worked​ ​on​​ ​the​ ​staff​ ​at​ ​Lansdale Catholic ​ and​ ​ Kennedy-Kenrick.​ ​ “I​ ​ have​ ​ ​been ​ fortunate​​ to​ ​ learn​ ​ from​ ​ creative​ ​ baseball​​ ​minds​ on​ the ​ best​ ​ ways​ ​​to​ ​run​ ​a​ ​program.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​looking​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​the​ ​chance​ ​to​ use​​ ​that​ ​knowledge ​at​​ ​the Prep.”

AUGUST 22
TEDBIT
  Release by John Thiel about Justin Hanley, Penn Charter's new baseball coach . . .
  William Penn Charter School is pleased to announce that Justin Hanley will coach the Quakers next year as head baseball coach.
  Justin has served since 2013 as the varsity pitching coach/associate head coach at Penn Charter. During his tenure at PC, our pitchers have finished in the top tier ERA/WHIP stats leaders in Southeastern Pennsylvania, highlighted by a 1.31 ERA in 2017 en route to the school’s second Inter-Ac championship in four years. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, Justin was an assistant coach for the Inter-Ac / Independent All-Stars in the Carpenter Cup Classic, an annual tournament showcasing the best high school baseball players in the tri-state area.
  After a standout career at Wyomissing Area High School in Berks County, Justin majored in business management and played college baseball at West Chester University, where he was a four-year starter and co-captain. Justin was a starting left-handed pitcher on a staff that finished #1 in the nation in ERA in 2004, and fourth in 2005. In four seasons at West Chester (2002-2005), the Golden Rams set school records for victories, and played in multiple NCAA Division II Championships.
  Justin is co-founder and director of baseball operations for Miller Baseball, a travel baseball organization with teams from 10U to 17U focusing on player development.
  Outside of baseball, Justin works for Rittenhouse Ventures, a Philadelphia-based venture capital firm. He and his wife, Shawna, live in East Falls with their two children.
John Thiel
Director of Athletics and Planning

AUGUST 18
TEDBIT
  This list, like the Catholic League version six days ago, includes Inter-Ac League football/basketball/baseball coaches with lengthy stints within the last 40 school years. Of course, some of these men began their careers before the 1977-78 school year. The leader is ex-Penn Charter baseball boss Rick Mellor, who was the head man for 33 seasons. He was the co-coach in a 34th year, but declines to count that one. There are two mixture guys. Bill Gallagher coached football and hoops at PC and Craig Conlin, now Episcopal's basketball coach, formerly guided Germantown Academy's baseball squad. There are 12 men on the list -- four football, five basketball and five baseball (counting the sports of Gallagher/Conlin).

AUGUST 14
SHIFFBIT
  Former website writer John Shiffert is about to open a running store in Flourtown, Montgomery County. Please check out a press release he wrote in preparation. Best of luck, John!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Shiffert - wissvalleyrun@gmail.com -- 215-948-3316 - @WissValRun

-- 

AUGUST 12
TEDBIT
  Being able to put together a list of Catholic League baseball coaches over the last 40 seasons led to this one: CL baseball/basketball/football coaches with lengthy stints within the last 40 school years. Of course, some of these men began their careers before the 1977-78 school year. One thing that forever provides amazement: Baseball coaches who stick with it "forever." I'm thinking that sport has to provide twice as many frustrations as the others when you factor in weather issues and the fact that some games can take a l-o-n-g time to finish and cause you to get home way after dinner. Anyway, the list below includes 31 coaches -- 12 basketball, 10 baseball and nine football. Not all coaches guided teams straight through. Special mention to John Mooney. He guided St. James' baseball team for 39 seasons (1955-1993) and stepped away only because the school closed. He was also the Bulldogs' basketball coach for four seasons (1961-64) and the long-time athletic director. In St. James' last year, he was a vice principal, business manager and maintenance director. He also taught one period of English, spent another period supervising the lunchroom and published newsletters (alumni/principal).
  UPDATE: McDevitt's Jack Rutter (bask) has been added. Sorry for the mess-up. Thanks to Jack for emailing up.

AUGUST 7
TEDBIT
  After a one-year break, we can inform you that a school has earned a berth on this special list. Annnnnd . . . it's a first-time honoree! Thanks to three football players and one guy apiece in basketball and baseball, Archbishop Wood produced first team All-City honorees in the three major sports during the 2016-17 school year. The list below now covers 40 school years. Congrats to these special Vikings. 

AUGUST 1
SASBIT
  This was submitted by Gerry Sasse, an assistant to Penn Charter's athletic directors. Thanks, Sas.
  He noted that Tom McClain (RIP) was inducted into the Philadelphia Softball Association HOF in 1990. Here's the bio that appeared in the program.

Tom McClain - (Umpire)
  Tom McClain has been officiating for 30 years. He has umpired approximately 2000 softball games, including the 1960 Philadelphia Catholic League Championship, the 1984 PIAA State Championship, the 1981 Ivy League Championship, ASA regional tournaments from 1965-1972 and the Women’s Class-A National in Utah. He is the PIAA State representative for District-1. Tom has worked as a football official and has done games for Army, Syracuse, Miami and Notre Dame, plus Philadelphia Catholic and Philadelphia Public League Football Championships. He doesn’t relax in the winter, but does high school and college basketball, where he has also had State High School Playoff Games and College League Championship Games. Tom has always been highly respected in al three sports and coaches say they are always happy to see him appear at their games. They know that they will have a knowledgeable, constantly hustling official. Tom Resides in Bridesburg and works for Admiral transportation Company.

JULY 21
TEDBIT
  My report on a crazy day from the 2000 season . . .
MAY 8, 2000
CATHOLIC LEAGUE
Carroll 25, West Catholic 3
  Frustrating day on the trail, folks. I started in Norristown, hoping to see Neumann/Kennedy-Kenrick, but the game had been switched to Neumann's home field. My next thought was to rush to La Salle and catch the Explorers' game with Dougherty. En route, though, I got stuck in traffic on Germantown Pike and I was fearful of not getting there by 3:30. Last alternative? Hop on the Blue Route and go to Carroll. Oh, brother. West got there late and then proceeded to struggle big-time. Carroll scored two in the first, nine in the second, zero in the third (hooray!) and eight in the fourth. I'm not sure how the total got to 25 because I had to leave to cover a basketball all-star game in nearby Conshohocken. By the way, the Carroll folks called in the score to the Scholastic Scoreservice as 15-3, even though two reporters were in attendance. Why do guys do that? The West kids knew they lost by 22 runs. (This isn't the first time Carroll has under-reported a victory margin; it happens in the Public League, too.) Let's say a score is under-reported. I guarantee this happens at the losing school the next day. "Hey, I saw you lost by 10 runs," a non-player says to a player. "Ten? It was really 20," the player responds. Then they have a good laugh and take another bite out of their hoagies. Kids are so resilient. Here's another reason coaches should be discouraged from under-reporting scores: It can make papers look bad. If the Norristown paper covers the game and, of course, publishes the correct score, the Inquirer and Daily News will look bad if they publish the fabricated score. We don't need that. And vice versa. Anyway, before I left, sr. SS Mick Hannan and sr. CF John Zamichieli hit three-run homers, sr. 1B Ted Piotrowicz picked up three RBI on a pair of singles and sr. C Jim Gillin had three RBI on a single, triple and fielder's choice. Sr. RHP Dave Omlor allowed just one hit in the first five innings, a solo homer to jr. 2B Greg Scannapieco. The lefty swinger sent a blast two-thirds of the way up the trees in dead centerfield.

JULY 10
TEDBIT
  My report on a crazy game in a crazy week from the 2003 season . . .
MAY 1, 2003
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Washington 24, Northeast 23 (click here for boxscore, and here for Randy's tidbits)
   Hmmmm. What are the chances that I own a national sports writing record for highest-scoring games seen in a week? The other day it was 36 runs, as Ryan beat O'Hara, 20-16. Today it was 47 runs!! Amazing!! The first two innings gobbled up 87 minutes and the game in total took 4 hours, 6 minutes. It ended at 7:24 as jr. 2B Adam Eisman (five RBI) lined a single to left to score pinch-runner Justin Presley and set off a wild celebration. Jr. 3B-P Ken Radziak opened the home seventh with a single to right and yielded to Presley. Sr. 1B-P Harry Parfitt fanned on a pitch in the dirt and, with first base occupied, was automatically out. But he dashed toward first and sr. C Brandon O'Malley, momentarily duped, made an offline throw, enabling Presley to advance to third. Eisman followed with his hit. As he was being mobbed, he bellowed, "Let's play another one!" Let's not and say we did (smile). This game was often brutal, but since it became such a memory-maker with so many twists and turns and comebacks and blown leads and such, I didn't mind being there for so long. DN sports writer Mike Kern arrived at 4:45 from a round of golf in South Jersey thinking he'd see two innings. He saw five! His son, Steve, is GW's sr. SS. They were 40 hits, 8 doubles, 2 triples, no homers, 23 walks, 3 hit batsmen, 17 stolen bases, 14 errors and 8 wild pitches. Twelve of the runs were unearned. Only three half-innings were scoreless. In seven, at least nine players batted. Northeast sr. Steve Sandberg was scratched as the starting pitcher because of arm tenderness and a hamstring problem. He played first base, then later relieved. Off a full outing Monday, Lihotz pitched twice in relief and went 4 1/3 innings total. Parfitt, who also pitched Monday, got the win by going 2 2/3 innings. At 5:56, with only the fourth inning about to end, Northeast soph DH Dennis Heebner departed for a doctor's appointment. For Washington, sr. CF Marcus Kennedy reached base all six times with three hits and three walks, jr. RF Brian Morgan went 4-for-6 with a double and three RBI, sr. handyman Dennis Massott went 3-for-4 with two walks and three RBI, sr. DH Bruce Bauer had a double and triple en route to six RBI, and Radziak went 4-for-6 with three RBI. For Northeast, jr. SS Joe Cross collected two hits, three walks and two RBI, jr. P-OF Bryan Adamson went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and four RBI, and jr. OF Jay Banks had two hits and two walks en route to three RBI. Northeast blew leads of 8-0 and 15-8.

JUNE 21
TEDBIT
  This is Year No. 40 for All-City Baseball Teams -- man, where has the time gone! -- and four guys have earned Player/Pitcher of the Year honors. Penn Charter sr. RH Joey Lancellotti now owns a spot on the list and he's the first to be honored NOT in consecutive seasons and while representing different schools; he played for Archbishop Wood in 2015. If Joey had not pitched this season, he would have been a strong contender for Player of the Year. The first baseman when not hurling, he hit .487 (38-for-78) with six doubles, two triples, 10 homers and 36 RBI. He's headed for the University of North Carolina . . . This year's Player of the Year, Neumann-Goretti sr. SS Jared Healey, was the Catholic League's Defensive Player of the Year and a major factor on offense. Plus, he was at his best during the Saints' eight-game run to CL, CT and state championships. He went 11-for-20 (.550) with three extra base hits, five RBI and eight runs scored. He's headed to Chestnut Hill College.

JUNE 18
TEDBIT
  The Pellegrini and Zolk families are forever linked. In 1978, having freshly arrived from St. Joseph's Prep, Gaspare "Gamp" Pellegrini (RIP) steered Malvern Prep to the Inter-Ac League football championship and went on to enjoy wild success during his 31 seasons as the Friars' coach. His son, Kevin, was his replacement and also won a championship (shared) in his first season. Meanwhile, Mike Zolk became Neumann-Goretti's baseball coach in 2012 and guided the Saints to the Catholic League championship. His son, Mike, a k a "Zoom", took over the program this season and likewise produced a CL champ. These Saints also forged ahead to win a state crown at the Class 2A level.

JUNE 16
TEDBIT
  Can't imagine too many basketball/baseball combos in any state have experienced this kind of success, let alone in Pennsylvania. Since the Catholic League joined the PIAA for the 2008-09 school year, N-G has captured nine state titles (seven bask/two base) and racked up a record of 58-8 (.879). Plus, seven of the eight setbacks have featured deficits of no more than five points/runs. Plus, part two, the combined record over the last four years is 33-2 (.943). The breakdown is right below.

JUNE 13
TEDBIT
  Here's some advice: Don't do research while trying to watch the NBA finals (ha ha). Hopefully, the list below is complete, but Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, LeBron James, etc., provided many distractions so please speak up if other teams deserve to be on it. Yesterday, two-run singles by winning pitcher Phil Sanborn, shortstop Jared Healey and catcher Eric Nardini helped to power Neumann-Goretti to 10 runs vs. Bellwood-Antis in a Class 2A state semi. In the quarterfinal, Healey's three-run homer was the highlight in a 13-10 win over Old Forge. This is the ninth time (maybe) a Catholic League team has scored at least 10 runs in a postseason game. Neumann/N-G has pulled off the feat four times. The efforts by La Salle and N-G in 2013 and '14 occurred in the CL's double-elimination playoffs.
  UPDATE: Not a surprise, folks. We have an update! (smile). In 2013 a double-elimination format was in effect and I neglected to include La Salle's 10-0 win over SJ Prep in the overall final. Three in a row for the 'Splorers! Thanks to then-coach Joe Parisi for speaking up.

JUNE 8
TEDBIT
  The baseball season for Catholic League teams rolls along and rolls along and rolls along and then you reach that day where, geez, it could come to a sudden end. Only St. Joseph's Prep (6A) and Neumann-Goretti (2A) are still alive and both will play today in state quarterfinals. There's a new format this year -- six classifications instead of four; the CL has never been involved with 1A -- and the record in first round games was 2-3 while the runs for-runs against numbers were 15-19. Since joining the PIAA in the 2008-09 school year, CL schools are 29-22 and the RF-RA numbers are 166-172. Three state titles have been won: La Salle in 4A in 2012 and 2014 and N-G last year in 2A. Good luck to the Hawks & Saints today! The breakdown is below . . . 
  UPDATE: The chart below has been updated through the 2017 state playoffs. The CL is eight games over .500, but is still being ever-so-slightly outscored.  

JUNE 3
TEDBIT
  It's the bottom of the seventh and your team needs a clutch base knock to win the game. Which player would you love to see step into the batter's box? Jones? Williams? Smith? Johnson? Hitman? . . . Thought you'd go with that last guy (smile). Max Hitman is a freshman infielder at Archbishop Carroll and his scholastic career is off to an impressive start. On the Coaches' All-Catholic Team, The Maxster received second team honors. In this century he's the seventh frosh to earn A-C honors. Mark Donato, who then transferred to Neumann-Goretti, was honored as a pitcher AND first baseman while playing for Roman in 2007. Mike "Zoom" Zolk, N-G's current coach (and an alumnus), was honored while playing for North Catholic in 2008. He remained at North through '09, but was not around for the school's final season in '10. Wood's Kyle McCrossen, the lone first-teamer on the list below, maintained that status all the way through his high school career. Meanwhile, if Hitman is the coolest name ever for a baseball player, this one might deserve that honor for hoops: Rodney Basketbill. He was a starting guard for McDevitt in the 1974-75 season.

JUNE 2
TEDBIT
  The Catholic League no longer owns wins in EVERY City Title since the Catholic-Public showdowns were resumed in 2009. In fact, for the second consecutive year, the Pub has triumphed in the highest classification -- 4A in 2016 (Olney over Judge) and 6A in 2017 (Frankford over SJ Prep). The CL has won the other 25 showdowns and the average victory margin now stands at 9.2 runs. The breakdown is below. The original series -- one game each year -- lasted for 35 years from 1945 through '79. The Pub twice put together three-game winning streaks -- 1947-49 (Southern each time) and 1959-61 (Southern, then Bartram twice).

APRIL 3
  Ryan 9, Bonner-Prendie 3: Robbie McWilliams (three RBI) and Dom Young (two hits) supported winner Pat Reilly and Jason Keen.
APRIL 5
  Ryan 3, Neumann-Goretti 2: In an emergency start (the original guy hurt himself during warmups), junior Brennan Hatala went 6 1/3 innings and soph Anthony Giordano locked down the save. Brian Yost provided the lead with a two-run double in the visiting seventh. Dave Delvecchio had Ryan's earlier RBI. He and Adam Estrada halved four hits.
APRIL 10
  Wood 3, Ryan 1 (8 inn.): J.R. Gifford won it with a two-run double. Dan Trimber pitched the final two innings, allowing no hits/runs. Jack Colyar allowed three hits over the first six.
APRIL 12
  Ryan 2, Lansdale 1: Pat Reilly pitched a four-hitter with eight whiffs, the RBI went to Dave Delvecchio and Cory Hunter, and Brian Yost doubled twice.
APRIL 17
  Ryan 12, SJ Prep 5: At Ryan, with B-P as the home team, Jason Keen picked up the win while Dave Delvecchio and Andrew Costello halved six hits/six RBI.
APRIL 19
  Roman 4, Ryan 2: Aidan Welch spun a two-hitter with seven punchouts. Dom Gillaspy notched two hits and Billy Dougherty scored three runs.
APRIL 24
  Ryan 3, Conwell-Egan 2: Jason Keen (six innings, nine strikeouts) upped his record to 3-0 and Brennan Hatala claimed the save. All five runs were unearned. Nick Glebocki knocked in the game-winner off a fielder's choice.
MAY 1
  Ryan 1, Carroll 0: Jason Keen fanned five and scattered eight hits in 6.2 innings and had to leave due to the pitch-count rule with the bases loaded. Brennan Hatala notched the save. Carroll's Tyler Kehoe allowed four hits. Ryan scored on Adam Estrada's fifth-inning single.
MAY 2
  Ryan 7, Judge 6: The Raiders overcame a 5-1 deficit as Adam Estrada (double) and Dom Young (single) thumped hits worth two RBI apiece. Reliever Brennan Hatala (five innings) picked up the win.

2012
MAY 16
  SCH Academy 4, Penn Charter 0: Matt "Squeeze" Kozemchak scattered six hits and halved 4 hits with Sam Feirson. Zach Jancarski and Matt Caldwell posted RBI doubles.
2013
APRIL 23
  SCH Academy 3, Penn Charter 1: Ross Mintzer spun a three-hitter while improving his record to 5-0.
MAY 10, 2013
  SCH Academy 16, Penn Charter 1: Major support for Michael Hayes came from Matt Caldwell (two doubles, two RBI), Zach Jancarski (three runs), Mike Melady (four RBI) and Matt Rowland (two RBI).
2014
APRIL 9
  SCH Academy 7, Penn Charter 5: Jake Silverman's single to left field scored the go-ahead run for Springside Chestnut Hill in a four-run visiting seventh. A.J. LaBella tied it on a double. Craig Alleyne had two RBI and played strong defense at shortstop. Gunnar Hayes worked 2.1 innings in relief for the win.
APRIL 29
  SCH Academy 11, Penn Charter 8: Frosh Andrew Singer went 3 for 3 with two RBIs.
2015
APRIL 7
  SCH Academy 5, Penn Charter 1: Gunnar Hayes threw four scoreless innings and struck out three.
APRIL 23
  SCH Academy 11, Penn Charter 6: AJ LaBella went 3-for-4 with a double, sac fly and four RBI while Dan Shubert went 2-for-4 with a walk and three RBI. The teams combined for 22 hits. PC's headliners were frosh Mike Siani (double, homer, three RBI), Kenny Bergmann (double, triple, one) and Dillon Malandro (3-for-3, double, walk, two).
2016
APRIL 15
  SCH Academy 4, Penn Charter 1: Aidan "Curly" Frye scattered five singles (two infield variety) over 6.2 innings and Bryce Cunningham logged a one-batter save. Danny Shubert and Ian Diaz stroked RBI singles and second baseman Chris "Bubba" Alleyne made two great defensive plays.
MAY 19
  SCH Academy 8, Penn Charter 7: With the bases loaded, nobody out and the infield up in the home seventh, reliever Aidan "Curly" Frye sent a groundball single up the middle to give himself the win. The Blue Devils (6-3) trailed by 6-1 after 3 1/2 innings. Ian Diaz went 3-for-4 with four RBI and his two-run, fence-clearing homer to dead left created a 7-7 tie in the sixth. PC's Kenny Bergmann went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI.
2017
APRIL 12
  SCH Academy 1, Penn Charter 0: Aidan "Curly" Frye pitched a three-hitter with five whiffs (three in the last two innings) and became a winner when Sam Aslansan drew a two-out, bases-loaded, five-pitch walk in the home seventh to bring home pinch-runner Pat Elliott. The 1-0 win was Frye's third in Inter-Ac play in his three-year varsity career; he's just a junior. PC's Joey Lancellotti also allowed four hits and recorded 12 strikeouts.

MAY 2, 2017
  Ryan 1, Carroll 0: Jason Keen fanned five and scattered eight hits in 6.2 innings and had to leave due to the pitch-count rule with the bases loaded. Brennan Hatala notched the save. Carroll's Tyler Kehoe allowed four hits. Ryan scored on Adam Estrada's fifth-inning single.
  Neumann-Goretti 2, Wood 0: Phil Sanborn fired a one-hitter (two-out single in the sixth), walked one and struck out seven and RJ McGettigan stroked two hits.
APRIL 5, 2005
  Conwell-Egan 1, La Salle 0 (9 inn.): Joe Marziano's pinch-hit single scored winning reliever Matt Burns (double) in the home ninth. Ryan Geiss pitched seven no-hit innings with eight strikeouts. La Salle's Matt Zielinski pitched eight innings with seven whiffs.
  Carroll 1, SJ Prep 0 (8 inn.): Brian Rorick's walk-off homer, hit high and deep to dead leftfield, made a winner of reliever Dan "The Vulture" Ritter (one-third of an inning). Rorick had two of the game's six hits and worked the first five innings (one hit, 10 Ks). Brian Puliti went 2 2/3 innings (also one hit).
APRIL 21, 2004
  Dougherty 1, Wood 0: Mike McCann struck out nine in a two-hit shutout and won when Josh Guevara scored on a third-inning groundout. Losing pitcher Chris Kirk threw a nine-strikeout one-hitter.
   Conwell-Egan 2, La Salle 0 (8 inn.): Matt Burns pitched a five-hitter and Alex Szathmary drove in the winner on a sacrifice fly. La Salle's Matt Zielinski fanned eight.
 
MAY 1
TEDBIT
  Not often do Catholic League games take place on a Saturday, but there was one two days ago and it provided inspiration for this nugget. Reason? Andrew Cossetti hit a grand slam as La Salle beat Wood. Now, there has been at least one slam by a Catholic or Inter-Ac player, in a league game or City Title, in every year in this decade. The list is below. La Salle guys have hammered six and the most notable was launched outta here by Tyler Kozeniewski in 2012; it helped to give then-coach Joe Parisi his 400th win in 26 seasons. Some other extras: In 2013, La Salle's Pete Auteri posted two grand slams. Josh Ockimey's slam for Neumann-Geumann vs. Philadelphia Academy in 2014 was the first in City Title history. The 2012 dinger by Roman's Matt Simon upstaged an absolutely outrageous performance by Ryan's Matt Graber, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles and eight RBI. In 2011, Wood's Brett McCrossen went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in addition to the slam for seven RBI. Oh, and his brother, Kyle, turned two homers into four RBI. In 2010, Germantown Academy's Greg Guers, at that time a part-timer, went 3-for-3 with a two-run double, a three-run homer and the slam for nine RBI. The opponent was Penn Charter. Geez, did I have to mention that? (smile) If you know of other slams that aren't mentioned here, and can provide confirmation, please speak up. Thanks!