Aston’s win comes with shots of a different kind
Leading by an 11-4 margin and batting in the top of the sixth inning Monday, Aston Valley looked to be on its way to comfortably clinching a Delco League playoff spot at Kerr Field.
Before it sealed that, though, a moment of discomfort was required.
The game with Upper Darby was abruptly halted in the sixth inning when Blue Sox outfielders and field umpire Lou Acello heard what they thought to be gunshots, an admitted first for all involved.
“You heard like a pop, pop, pop,” Aston Valley outfielder Steve Maloney said. “I was just sitting in dugout, so I didn’t think anything of it. Then the Upper Darby outfielders heard it, and they had Lou call the game.”
“We heard something,” Upper Darby manager Dave Jerdon said. “We just didn’t know what was happening.”
Maloney and Jerdon said it was difficult to ascertain where the noises were coming from at Yeadon’s Kerr Field, which is abutted on two sides by Septa train lines and wooded areas near Cobbs Creek. The noises, though, sounded like they were emanating from the neighborhood.
“It just seemed like it was something random,” Jerdon said.
During the game, Aston Valley did enough to clinch the playoff spot behind five strong innings from Tyler Campbell on the mound. Julian Kurych finished a triple shy of the cycle. Kendall Small and Max Carney supplied two hits and three RBIs each, and Maloney added two hits.
As far as how to process something so unusual … well, that’s maybe better left until tomorrow.
“We didn’t really get in the dugout” to talk about it, Jerdon said. “We got out of there. We took off.”
Also in the Delco League: WAYNE 6, MIDDLETOWN 3 » Dan Williams batted 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Ed Paparella roped a tworun double to provide more than enough support for winning pitcher Matt Eiel, who fanned five and scattered five hits over five innings. Dave Splain added a pair of hits for Wayne, which clinched a playoff berth with the win. SPRINGFIELD 5, CHESTER 1 » Reliever Tom Osenbach, Norm Donkin (two runs) and Joe Sheeran (RBI) picked up two hits each to back winning pitcher Paul Sheppard. chipped in and a run Colonials. Mike Smith a hit, one RBI scored for the
Senior EDCO
Sean Elison delivered a walk-off single, capping a three-run eighth-inning rally that gave Garnet Valley a 5-4 victory over Folcroft in the opening game of their best-of-3 quarterfinal series.
Steve James pitched a complete game to earn the win, striking out seven while chipping in two hits and a run scored. Scott Scherer had a pair of hits and drove in a run for Garnet Valley. Brandon Ortiz went the distance for Folcroft. Game 2 is Tuesday at Folcroft. MARPLE II 3, RIDLEY 2 » Chris Caltabliano fanned eight in tossing a three-hitter for the win.
Eric Tannenbaum tied it with a solo home run in the third inning and Patrick Devlin Mohan’s line drive brought home Mike Schiavello with the deciding run in the fourth. BRIARCLIFFE 12, BROOKHAVEN 0 » Starter Jared Morris (eight strikeouts) combined with reliever Kev George on a onehitter, and Briarcliffe broke the game open with a ninerun second-inning outburst.
Ty Bluford led the offense with three hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Russ Trojan was 2 for 2 with a pair of RBIs for Briarcliffe, which can clinch the series at home Tuesday. ASTON VALLEY 13, MARPLE TIGERS 7 » Winning pitcher Christian Bateman joined Eric Stewart and Vinnie Carter in producing four hits apiece, while Richie June went 3 for 4.
Game 2 of the best-of-3 series is Tuesday at Aston Valley.
District 19 LL
Ridley Area hit five home runs while allowing just one hit in toppling Taney, 17-0, in four innings in an 11U mismatch.
Michael Floirendo (3 for 3, 5 RBIs) and Jack Sharer (3 for 4) each homered twice and Larry Rose connected for a two-run shot. Sean Williams went 4 for 4 with four RBIs and Jake Shaak added two hits and three RBIs for Ridley Area, which has banged out 13 homers in three games.
Ridley Area moves on to a Wednesday night clash with Aston-Middletown.