PW notched a Senior Day win in Saturday’s non-league game. (Photos provided courtesy of Cindy Manero/PW baseball)
Non-league
Plymouth Whitemarsh 5, Penn Charter 3
The Colonials celebrated Senior Day on Saturday with a non-league win over the Quakers, and appropriately, it was the seniors playing starring roles in the win.
“Senior Day is one of the great high school baseball traditions, and it is always a special day in our program,” PW coach Chris Manero said. “We had big contributions today from seniors up and down our lineup.
“I was so happy for Eddie (Stanton) and the job he did to open for us today, and Brady (McGrain) followed that up with the bulk of our innings. Both of those guys haven’t had as much time on the mound this year as they would probably like, but they took advantage of the opportunity today and pitched like seniors. Coop (Cooper Jones) closed it out and continues to be pitching at the best level he has in high school.
“Behind these pitchers was Chase Olszyk, who has been our rock behind the plate for two years and handles the pitching staff about as good as anyone I’ve seen.”
Penn Charter scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning, but the Colonials got those back, scoring a pair in the bottom of the inning.
Chase Fisher got the ball rolling with a ground single to right field. He advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw and scored when J Giordano singled to center. C Strunk’s sacrifice bunt advanced Giordano to second, and he scored when C Brady lined a single to center.
That 2-2 score stood until the top of the fourth when Penn Charter scored a run to take a 3-2 lead.
The Colonials answered with a two-out rally in the fifth inning. Olszyk got things started with a single to center, and his courtesy runner – K Hegarty – scored when Fisher lined a double to left field. Giordano’s single to left plated Fisher, giving the Colonials a 4-3 lead.
In the sixth, R Moore drew a lead-off walk, and he was still on first with two outs when he advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Gavin Moore’s clutch double to left field for a 5-3 PW advantage that held the rest of the way.
Fisher’s 3-for-3 day at the plate led the Colonials and included a double, RBI and two runs scored. Giordano was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
“We had big hits from Brady and Giordano, and Chase Fisher had himself a day,” Manero said. “It was exactly how we would have wanted to write it up.
“Sophomore Gavin Moore helped us tack on a big insurance run, driving in his senior brother Ryan. That was obviously a special senior day moment. And Christian Strunk’s diving play at third base late in the game was the kind of play you want to see a junior make in that big spot.
“We were glad to pick up a win today as we head into the final game of the regular season and prepare for district playoffs.”
Eddie Stanton started and threw 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and two runs (both unearned), and he was relieved by Brady McGrain, who notched the win on the mound. McGrain allowed two hits and one run in 2.1 innings. Cooper Jones closed it out with a 1-2-3 inning. The trio did not have a strikeout, and they did not walk a batter.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-4, 13-2 SOL) will host Wissahickon in its regular season finale on Tuesday. A win will ensure the Colonials – who are tied atop the Liberty standings with Quakertown – of at least a share of the division title. The Colonials are second in the latest District 1 6A rankings.
Penn Charter 020 100 0 3-4-1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 020 021 x 5-9-2
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