Baseball: Collings makes sure Marple Newtown’s fun continues

PERKIOMEN TWP. >> The equation was pretty simple for Ricky Collings Tuesday afternoon. The Marple Newtown shortstop was playing in what could’ve been his last high school baseball game, the third such potential capper in nine days. And that fate was to be avoided at all costs.

“I’m just taking the most of what I can get from high school baseball,” Collings said. “I’m just trying to make it as fun as possible, and having fun is winning games.”

Collings ensured the Tigers enjoyed at least one more day, setting the early tone with three hits and two RBIs in powering No. 9 seed Marple to a 5-2 win over No. 5 Perkiomen Valley in the playback semifinal round of the District One Class AAAA tournament. Marple Newtown (17-7) advances to Thursday’s fifth-place game, where it will play for the district’s final PIAA tournament berth. The Tigers will take on No. 10 Spring-Ford — which drubbed No. 3 Upper Dublin, 9-0 — at West Chester Henderson at 4. Perkiomen Valley (18-6) is eliminated. Collings played a starring role from the first inning, when his double down the left-field line plated Alden Mathes. Scott Hahn followed with a towering sac fly to center to double the margin to 2-0.

In the third, Collings led off with a single and scored when pitcher Cameron Mathes grounded out. Then the Widener-bound shortstop singled home Alden Mathes in the fourth, Hahn following with an RBI base knock that opened up a 5-1 lead.

“I’ve been having trouble sitting back a little bit this year on slower pitchers, and I was just sitting back and waiting for a good pitch to drive,” Collings said.

That offense was all that Cameron Mathes required on the mound. The junior masterfully hit spots in a complete-game gem. He scattered seven hits, striking out six and walking none, needing 99 pitches to finish the job and improve his record to 7-2. Most importantly, his mix of curveballs and changeups avoided the fat part of Perk Valley’s potent bats. He delivered first-pitch strikes to 18 of 29 batters, consistently staying ahead and keeping hitters off-balance.

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Marple’s Ricky Collings, seen in a regular season game against Strath Haven, collected three hits and two RBIs to lead Marple to a 5-2 win over Perkiomen Valley in a District One Class AAAA playback semifinal Tuesday. (Digital First Media/Robert J. Gurecki)