CARPENTER CUP BASEBALL: Philadelphia Catholic falls to Burlington County in semifinals

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Catholic lost to Burlington County, 9-3, in the semifinals of the 39th Annual Carpenter Cup Classic Monday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Burlington County scored all nine of its runs across the final three innings. They took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning when Christopher Ahrens hit a two-out, two-run single. Brett Jackson extended the lead with an RBI triple in the sixth and scored on an Alex Odud single to make it 4-1. After Philadelphia Catholic got within 4-3, Burlington County pushed five runs across the plate in the top of the seventh.

Jackson hit another triple – this one to knock in three runs – to highlight the seventh. Jaylen Alverez had an RBI single and Jackson scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-3.

Philadelphia Catholic took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when David Perez (Archbishop Ryan) and Gavin Dirita (Bonner-Prendergast) hit back-to-back one-out singles. Ryan Friel (Bonner-Prendergast) followed with a groundout to second base and the attempt to turn a double play was thrown away, allowing Perez to score from second base.

The Catholic Leaguers added two more runs in the sixth. Jack Quinn (Cardinal O’Hara) and Luke Borgmann (La Salle) worked back-to-back walks to start the inning. Kevin Krause (Father Judge) plated Quinn with an RBI single and Will Henderson (Father Judge) knocked in Borgmann with a sacrifice fly.

Kayden Maybury earned the win for Burlington County. In two innings, he struck out two batters to two walks and allowed two runs on one hit. Connor Collora, Henry Radbill and Andrew Forster also pitched for BurlCo.

Chase Forrester (Conwell-Egan) took the loss for Philadelphia Catholic. In 1.1 innings, he allowed four runs on three hits with one strikeout to two walks. Jake Marchesano (Archbishop Ryan), Richie Bayachek (Archbishop Wood), Quinn and John LaSpada (Neumann-Goretti) also pitched for the PCL.

Local players

There were plenty of players local to the Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media area from Archbishop Wood, La Salle and Lansdale Catholic on the Philadelphia Catholic League team.

Four Archbishop Wood players appeared in the game – AJ Hopkins, Bayachek, Jimmy Casey and Caden Vacca. Casey had one of the PCL’s five hits in the semifinals.

Bayachek threw a pair of scoreless innings. The right-hander, who threw the third and fourth frames, struck out one batter to one walk and allowed one hit. He recorded his last out by covering third base on a ball hit to left field – past a diving third baseman and shortstop – and applying the tag.

“I was just working backwards,” Bayachek, who threw five scoreless innings combined in the PCL’s three games, said, “throwing my off-speeds and getting everything working. I let the guys make the plays because they made some great plays out there.”

Caden Schmidt, Borgmann and Brycen Clarke represented La Salle in the semifinal game.

Schmidt and Borgmann split the catching duties, like they did for the Explorers this spring. Schmidt threw out one of two baserunners attempting to steal second base. He picked off the one who was safe a few pitches later.

“It was pretty cool to show off the arm,” Schmidt, who mostly played right field for La Salle but took some innings behind the plate, said. “I just missed him on the throw down to second, but saw he would get a big lead, caught him lacking on a dirt ball and I knew my guys were going to be there.”

Ben Holdsworth represented Lansdale Catholic at third base.

While the loss ends their run for the Carpenter Cup title, the players enjoyed getting to team up with their usual rivals and earning a spot on the field at Citizens Bank Park.

“It’s been awesome,” Bayachek said. “Just running down from the bullpen, the whole experience, it’s just great.”

“It was extraordinary,” Schmidt added. “It was awesome. Playing at FDR (Park) is always fun and having the ability to come play at a field I come to every once in a while to watch the Phils – it’s an insane experience.”

Burlington County 9, Philadelphia Catholic 3

Burlington County 000 022 5 – 9

Philadelphia Catholic 000 102 0 – 3

WP: Kayden Maybury 2 IP 1 H 2 R 2 BB 2 K

LP: Chase Forrester 1.1 IP 3 H 4 R 2 BB 1 K

2B: BC: Z’Nichi Steave.

3B: BC: Brett Jackson 2.