Rich Scarcella: Exeter, Fleetwood face challenges in PIAA baseball openers
Jun. 5—Justin Freese couldn't find much information on Upper Dublin, Exeter's baseball opponent Monday in the first round of the PIAA Class 5A Tournament.
Rolland Green wishes he hadn't found much on Monsignor Bonner-Archbishop Prendergast, Fleetwood's opponent in 4A.
"They're probably the best team in the state," said Green, the longtime Tigers coach. "They're loaded from what I've seen and from what I've heard."
Fleetwood (10-13), the third-place team from District 3, will take on the Friars (23-1), the District 12 champions, in a 4A opener Monday at 1 p.m. at Lincoln High School in Philadelphia.
Bonner-Prendergast features three Division I commits: pitchers Michael Anderson (Rhode Island) and Kevin Henrich (North Alabama) and shortstop Kevin McGonigle (Auburn). Its team batting average is .359, and its team ERA is 1.93.
The Friars have nine starters back from last year when they reached the PIAA semifinals.
"Our kids know what they're getting themselves into," Green said. "I just told them we need to keep things simple. They're expected to win, so we just need to play baseball, have some fun and see what happens.
"Everybody knows we have very little chance of winning, so we have nothing to lose."
Fleetwood earned its first berth in states since 2008 by shutting out third-seeded Susquehanna Township 1-0 in the District 3 third-place game behind a combined six-hitter by Jake Karnish and Ryan Moser. The Tigers also beat top-seeded West Perry 2-0 in the quarterfinals behind them.
Bonner-Prendergast presents a much more difficult challenge. Anderson is 7-0 with a 2.06 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 37.1 innings for the Philadelphia Catholic League champs, and Henrich is 7-0 with a 1.30 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 43 innings.
McGonigle, a junior, is batting .438 with 43 runs scored, 29 RBIs, four doubles, three triples and 11 home runs. The Friars' only loss came against Moorestown (N.J.).
"I want us to continue doing what we've been doing," Green said. "If we can do that, I'll be happy with whatever the outcome is."
In Class 5A, District 3 No. 5 seed Exeter (18-7) will meet first-time District 1 champion Upper Dublin (16-3) at 4 p.m. at Villanova Park at Plymouth.
The third-seeded Cardinals beat Bishop Shanahan 3-2, Marple Newtown 4-3 and then Strath Haven 3-2 for the District 1 title. They finished second in the Liberty Division of the Suburban One League.
Nick Harley, Jared Levis, Tristan Cairnes, Nick Lombardo and Kyle Rizzo are among their leading hitters. But Freese, the veteran Eagles coach, knows little else about Upper Dublin.
"We just do what we always do," he said.
Exeter is making its first appearance in states since 2013 and its third overall. After losing to Muhlenberg in the Berks League semifinals, the Eagles edged Twin Valley 3-2, lost to Ephrata 14-7, beat Gettysburg 9-3 and then Red Land 2-0 in the District 3 fifth-place game on Luke Weller's six-hit shutout.
Junior right-hander Deven Sheerin picked up the wins over Twin Valley and Gettysburg, striking out 24 and allowing just seven hits in 12.1 innings.
"He's been our top dog for the last month," Freese said. "He gives us as good a chance as anybody to win."
Exeter is looking for the first PIAA Tournament victory in the program's history.
"They were the loudest they've been at practice all year (on Sunday)," Freese said. "They're wound up. They're fired up. They want to play. They're excited. They're pumped."
