Rickards rewards Fili’s faith for Wayne

Wayne manager Brian Fili had a feeling Wednesday evening that Josh Rickards was on his game. And for seven innings, the former pro hurler lived it for Wayne.

Rickards scattered three hits over seven sterling innings as Wayne scored a 2-1 win over Concord in Game 1 of the Delco League semifinal series.

Rickards, in his first season with Wayne, struck out 10 to help second-seed Wayne draw first blood. Dan Williams doubled for Wayne, which was limited to just three hits. Jim Vankoski drove home a run with a sac fly, and Wayne built a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a run scored on a passed ball and an error.

Nate Sides went 2-for-4 for Concord, which can even the series in Thursday’s Game 2. Senior EDCO Scoring hasn’t exactly abounded in EDCO final.

After 13 innings yielded just one combined run Monday and — thanks to the rain — into Tuesday night, the offenses stayed in their slumber Wednesday, thanks in large part to Collin DiGalbo.

DiGalbo tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering four hits and striking out six as Briarcliffe evened the best-of-5 series with Marple in a 1-0 win.

DiGalbo was just barely better than his opposite number, Kevin Sessa. Sessa also went the distance, striking out three and allowing three hits. But he was beaten for a run in the second inning when Corey Cahill hit a fielder’s choice that scored Russ Trojan.

The series resumes Thursday at Ashland Avenue for Game 3, another chance for the Senior the bats to awaken.

Delco League Little League 9⁄10s

The Ridley Area bats didn’t slow down, pounding out 22 hits to advance to the winners’ bracket final at the Pennsylvania championships with a 20-4 drubbing of Keystone in five innings.

Sean Williams led the parade with a 4-for-4 day with a grand slam and six RBIs. Jaxon Kehoe went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, and Jake Shaak drove in two runs with his two hits. Michael Floirendo homered and got the win on the mound, and Connor Scanlan powered a decisive fourrun first inning with a twoout RBI single.

Ridley awaits the winner of Lehigh and Bellefonte Thursday night at 7.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Concord’s Cole Gamber scores with a belly slide as Wayne pitcher Josh Rickards tries to grab a throw. The play, which started on a third strike passed ball, produced Concord’s only run, but Wayne and Rickards would register a 2-1 victory at Radnor High...