Springfield Township captured the District 1 4A title with a win over top-seeded Lower Moreland. Photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#1-2 Springfield Township 7, #1-1 Lower Moreland 1
Spartans’ coach Dennis Primavera couldn't have asked for more from his pitching staff this week.
First, junior Ethan Hamilton threw a complete game in the district semifinals as the senior-laden Spartans made sure they would get to the district final. Friday, junior Jackson Campbell was just as good, needing only 88 pitches to throw a three-hit complete game and shut down the defending district champion's potent offense.
"We're coming together at the right time," Primavera said. "We just had two playoff games and two complete games by my pitchers. We've been hitting the ball pretty well lately but it wasn't happening today.
"It was one of those games where we were trying too much so we went to small-ball, these guys have some talent and you saw what we did there in the sixth inning."
Lower Moreland lefty Matt Haggerty did his part to flummox the Springfield Township hitters for the first five innings, which prompted the switch to the array of bunts and squeeze plays the Spartans broke out late in the game. The Lions, who scored 13 runs in their semifinal win, got off to a quick start with Haggerty using just five pitches to retire the side in the top of the inning and a Connor Duddy double plating a first inning run.
From there, Campbell and his defense shut the door and didn't allow another runner to pass second base. The junior right-hander wasn't overpowering, only striking out one, but he jammed hitters constantly throughout the game.
"I didn't know they scored 13 runs in their last game, I was just pitching to do my thing," Campbell said. "Threw a lot of curve balls and tried to keep them off balance."
Springfield tied the game in the second inning thanks to the start of what would be a big day for senior catcher Brian Murphy. Murphy, who caught every pitch and had two key defensive plays as well, reached base all four times he went to bat with a second inning single and three walks.
All four times, he was lifted for a courtesy runner in sophomore Gabe Franzcyk. It's a deal Murphy is fine with and Franzcyk scored three runs, including the second inning tying run off a Lower Moreland error.
"I know he’s going to make something happen, I love that kid and I’m happy he’s the one running the bases for me,” Murphy said. “I’m not too fast, so it’s nice to get that speed on the bases. He puts us in better position to be scoring runs.”
Murphy initiated a pickoff that led to an inning-ending rundown in the third inning, a frame that started off with a superb play by third baseman Kevin Keown on a Lions bunt. Springfield's entire defense was locked in, and Murphy had another key out when he hopped on a Lower Moreland sacrifice bunt, went for and threw out the lead runner in the fifth inning.
Springfield took the lead in the fourth inning when Campbell's RBI groundout scored Franzcyk and the Spartans never looked back.
"I just had to make my pitches and keep the ball down," Campbell said.
Still, a one-run lead didn't feel all that safe and with the hitters not quite finding the ball, Primavera decided to go small.
After Murphy and shortstop Ryan Deal walked to lead off the sixth, the bunts started to come. Max Doll put down a sacrifice bunt, but reached on an error that also scored Franzcyk. Campbell walked, loading the bases for nine hitter Joey McLaughlin.
All the senior second baseman did was put down a picture-perfect squeeze bunt that scored Deal and put the Lions on their heels.
"We work on it every day in practice," Primavera said. "Those guys at the bottom of the order, I know what they can do because they work hard at it. I know they can do it, so that gives us the option to do it."
Perry felt McLaughlin's squeeze bunt was the deciding moment of the game. It forced the infield in just enough that when Perry came up after McLaughlin in the sixth, he was able to loop a two-run single into shallow right field to break the game open.
“I came up, was able to drive in a couple runs and we were really firing on all cylinders," Perry said. "Momentum’s been huge for us all year. In the first half of the year, we didn’t have much but we started to get some hits and put it together, so it’s really been a big part of our season.”
Friday's outcome was a redemption of sorts for the Spartans, who started eight seniors in the district championship game. It's been an odyssey for the senior class, who missed out on the playoffs entirely as sophomores then suffered a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals a year ago.
"It was for the seniors," Primavera said. "We had a rough time last year with a good bunch of guys and it just seems we'd always gel at the end of the season but just couldn't put it together. They had the moxie to go ahead and win and they've done that for the past month."
"We want to keep going and keep grinding," Perry said. "We have all the talent in the world, we feel like we can go far with this."
Murphy described the journey his class has been on and admitted he felt the weight lift off as Campbell fielded a comebacker for the final out of the game.
"This means so much to me and I know it means a lot to our other seniors too,” Murphy said. “It’s incredible, it’s the best feeling on the earth right now. Being able to win this game, it means a lot to me, I was tearing up, I was a little emotional but it’s an awesome feeling sharing it with these guys.”
Springfield Township 010 104 1. 7-6-0
Lower Moreland 100 000 0. 1-3-2
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