Kennedy’s gem lifts Ambler

Right-hander throws complete game one-hitter to lead Brewers past Royersford

ROYERSFORD » Colin Kennedy was simply dominant Monday evening.

The Ambler right-hander threw a complete game onehitter in an 8-1 Perkiomen Valley Twilight League win over Royersford at the Spring-Ford 9th Grade Center.

Kennedy struck out 10 batters to just one walk while allowing one unearned run.

“I felt like my fastball going in-and-out, switching up locations and whatnot,” Kennedy credited for his success. “My curveball was definitely my out-pitch tonight. I think guys were really biting at that. It felt really good. I felt my most success was working off my fastball and getting the bite off the curveball and I think that really helped me out tonight.”

“He’s hitting spots left and right,” Ambler playermanager Pete Moore said. “It’s like a video game where you can call whatever you want and setup wherever you want and you expect him to hit that spot and he expects it of himself. The ability to continue to pound both sides of the plate with his fastball, a little bit of increased velocity, he’s done a great job for us in his three starts this year and we look for him to be a big part of the rotation moving into the playoffs.”

Kennedy took the mound already holding a two-run lead in the first inning and that was all he needed. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning — with the only blemish a second-inning error. He hit a batter with one out and that was followed by another error. With two outs, Tom Fogerty hit an RBI single to breakup the no-hitter and shutout.

“I know with these guys that this year we haven’t really gotten the timely hit that we want to be able to score runs,” Kennedy said of getting the early lead, “but I know once we scored in the first inning there’s no looking back for these guys. I know they are all behind me ready to hit the ball whenever. I know they do a good job at the plate. It felt really good going out there in the first inning being up 2-0 already.”

Kennedy improved his record to 3-0 this season and has allowed one earned run in 20 2/3 innings — a 0.34 ERA.

“My hat’s off to Colin Kennedy,” Royersford manager John DeBrigida said. “He’s got some of the best stuff in the league. For him to be doing that at the age that he is, he’s going to be a stud for years to come. He was phenomenal tonight. He was getting the outside corners and he kept throwing it there and they kept calling it a strike. Hat’s off to him. He did a great job.”

He is coming off his freshman year at La Salle University. He posted a 1-7 record with an 8.87 ERA.

“My biggest thing this year in school was I couldn’t really locate my off-speed,” Kennedy said. “It was kind of up in the zone a little bit. It didn’t look as sharp as it has been this summer. This summer I’ve really been focusing on getting my changeup working, my slider, curveball working low, getting more in on the hands when I go inside with my fastball. Just trying to be more of a locational guy, especially with my off-speed pitches, trying to get those down.”

He definitely showed off his inside fastball Monday, breaking a handful of Royersford bats.

This is Kennedy’s second season playing for Ambler. After finishing up his senior year at Hatboro-Horsham High School, he joined the Brewers and Moore, who was also his high school coach.

“He calls me Pete now instead of Coach Moore,” Moore joked of how their relationship has changed over the past year, “so that’s a step in the friend direction. A bunch of these guys I’ve had that same relationship with. Player-coach then it turns into friends and teammates. It’s a natural progression. Colin is a mature kid so that didn’t take very long.”

“I’ve always had the respect for Pete and to have him be able to go from coaching me and calling pitches off to the side to being able to sit back there (catching) and call pitches for me,” Kennedy added, “I know he’s a great player and a great coach. It feels good to have him back there. Obviously I do call him Pete now, it’s another step in the more friends and teammates direction than coach.”