PA – Central Athletic League | Archive | June, 2016

MIDDLETOWN >> James Spence is a difference-maker for Springfield in the crease, as any team in the Central League can attest. The junior isn’t one to often maraud beyond it, but when Spence was presented the opportunity to extend his influence Tuesday night, he took the chance to help his Cougars secure a monumental win. In addition to 12 saves in a steady outing between the posts, Spence extinguished pressure on a clear with his feet, lofting a pass to Mike Vent for the goal that helped seal Springfield’s 8-5 win over Strath Haven in the PIAA semifinal at Penncrest Tuesday night.

The win advances Springfield (19-7) to Saturday’s PIAA final against La Salle, which drubbed Manheim Township, 10-2, in the other semi. That game is at West Chester East at 2:30 p.m. Strath Haven (19-7) sees its program-best season end.

Vent had just set up Nick Martin for the goal that put Springfield ahead for good at 8:25 of the fourth quarter. Four minutes later, as Strath Haven pushed frantically for an equalizer, chaos reigned. Springfield’s Kyle Long rang a shot off the crossbar, and the rebound trickled to the other end of the field, leaving a trail of scrums in its wake.

Eventually, Spence came ambling out of the crease to pocket the groundball, then turned upfield. He got near midfield on the near sideline and feathered a pass over a leaping defender to Vent. The midfielder gobbled up open real estate and slotted home a leaping shot past goalie Will Brake while sliding parallel to the goal line, contorting his body in midair to stay out of the crease and make it 7-5 with four minutes left.

“I always try to be as much of an asset to my team as I can, inside the cage and outside the cage,” Spence said. “… No one was open, so I had to kind of beat me guy. I kept on looking up, found Mike Vent, so I pushed to him, and it turned out he made a great play and Mike Vent had a great goal.”

“I’m just looking to get up and maybe get a pass from him,” Vent said. “We’re just trying to get the ball out safely. We’re not trying to rush or anything. He got the pass to me, and I was just open, and I saw it and I took the shot and luckily it went in.”

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Silver Spring >> Conestoga senior Monica Borzillo, headed to her high school graduation ceremony just a few hours after the Pioneers rolled past Mount Lebanon, 20-5, in the PIAA Girls’ Lacrosse Championships semifinals Tuesday afternoon, said, “Honestly, I feel right now like I’d rather stay with my team [tonight]. There were so many contributors today – this was an awesome win. There’s been so much stuff going on this year for us.”

Borzillo scored three goals and dished out eight assists in the semifinal held at Cumberland Valley High School, including her 100^th assist of the season. Earlier this season, she set the school record for career assists.

“Assists are like a team award,” said Borzillo. “You need your teammates coming through to get your assists.”

Conestoga senior Sondra Dickey, who scored four goals, added, “Monica and I have played together on every team since we were in third grade. When we play [the championship final] on Saturday, this will be our last game together. I think on Saturday, our team will let it all out on the field, giving it full force and not letting up.

“I think we’ve played every game this season like it’s the state championship.”

Earlier this season, Conestoga head coach Amy Orcutt said, “I think this team is unique …. They all get along and have a lot of fun together. They are always laughing and dancing and having a good time together. We play music at practice during warmup and I think it relaxes them.”

Conestoga came out on fire in Tuesday’s state semifinal, jumping out to a 13-2 halftime lead. After the game, as the Pioneers headed for the team bus, the other PIAA state semifinal (Radnor vs. Conestoga) was still five hours away from the opening draw.

Radnor handed Conestoga its only loss this season (in the district quarterfinals); while Garnet Valley deprived the Pioneers of their first-ever PIAA state championship last spring, beating Conestoga in the finals.

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Conestoga’s Monica Borzillo (left) dished out her 100th assist of the season Tuesday, during the Pioneers’ 20-5 state semifinal win against Mount Labanon. (Pete Bannan photo/Digital First Media)

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LOWER MERION >> Mike Gerzabek hasn’t had time to count the games over the months. But the number doesn’t come as a surprise. When the Springfield senior takes the field at Penncrest Tuesday night for a PIAA boys lacrosse semifinal contest against Strath Haven, it’ll be his 73rd game wearing the blue and gold script “S” in 2015-16. Tuesday marks game No. 26 of the lacrosse season, adding to the 23 appearances as the goalie for a boys soccer team that made the PIAA Class AAA semis and 24 on a hockey squad that played for the Flyers Cup Class A crown. All told, Gerzabek’s teams have won 55 games, a healthy .764 winning percentage. But Gerzabek doesn’t have time to reminisce just yet, not with more history potentially around the corner.

“I keep looking forward,” Gerzabek said. “I can’t look back yet.”

The tantalizing matchup of Central League rivals is plenty to look forward to. It’s the third time the teams have hooked up this season. Haven (19-6) took advantage of Springfield’s sluggish start in a 7-5 win, April 5, which seems like a lifetime — or two lacrosse seasons — ago. Springfield (18-7) gained a modicum of revenge in the District One third-place game, springing a fourth-quarter comeback for a 5-4 win on a Nick Martin goal with six seconds to play on the Penncrest turf 12 days ago.

Both teams enter with credible chip-on-their-shoulder mentalities. Springfield, the 10th seed in the District One tournament, will be wearing home jerseys for the first time since May 17, it’s district opener. The Cougars started the season 1-5, losing their first three Central League contests.

Yet the 2015 District One champions find themselves in the state semis for a second straight season, hoping to atone for being routed by another Central foe, Radnor, 12-5, last year at Haverford.

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Springfield’s Mike Gerzabek reacts after one of his three first-half goals in a 7-6 Cougars win over Avon Grove in the PIAA quarterfinals Saturday. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)

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NEWTOWN SQUARE >> Emily Mathewson and Jaguar head coach Jenny Purvis first arrived at Garnet Valley High School together four seasons ago. Mathewson, then a freshman looking to leave her mark and Purvis, preparing for her first year as varsity head coach, have come a long way since. And if things continue to go the Jaguars’ way, Mathewson could graduate Garnet Valley a three-time defending state champion.

The senior midfielder was masterful Saturday, notching a game-high seven goals — including the 300th of her career — in Garnet Valley’s 15-6 win over Owen J. Roberts in the PIAA quarterfinal round at Marple Newtown’s Crozer-Keystone Stadium.

“Coming into this game, my goal was for us to win and advance to the next round,” said Mathewson, a Vanderbilt commit. “Then, as the goals started trickling in, I thought ‘Oh, I could get this today.’ It was really special. To be able to score my 300th goal in a state playoff game…it’s hard to put into words.

“The most important thing for us, though, was getting to semis. Everything else that happened was a bonus.”

Staring down OJR keeper Claire Hampton at 299 career goals, Mathewson waited for the whistle, saw her chance and flicked it into the net for No. 300 to make it 14-4 with just under 10 minutes left in regulation. Within seconds, the she was surrounded by her teammates on the field during the ensuing timeout. As she toed the line, she kept a shooter’s approach in the back of her mind.

“Halfway through the season, Coach Purvis told me to take an approach like Steph Curry,” she said. “Every time he shoots, he knows it’s going in. So that was my mentality. When I was on the line, all I was thinking was ‘We got this, Em.’”

For Purvis and her coaching staff, that moment served as a tribute to the work their four-year starter has put in over her career. “I felt like a freshman when I was in my first year coaching here,” said Purvis with a laugh. “I feel like I’ll always have a bond with Emily and the rest of my seniors because we started this together. They’re all incredibly special to me.”

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Garnet Valley’s Emily Mathewson poses with ball used to score career goal No. 300 after leading the Jaguars past Owen J Roberts in the quarterfinal round of the PIAA tournament. (Tom Nash – Digital First Media)

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ASTON >> David Shore’s plan for the 32nd annual Joseph J. Barrett Memorial All-Star Game changed soon after he arrived in the Central League dugout at Neumann University’s Bruder Field.

“I kind of expected to catch four or five innings and take it easy the rest of the game, have a nice day,” said Shore, a Strath Haven product. “But then I saw I was the only catcher here and at first I was surprised, but it was good. I like to play.”

Shore enjoyed himself plenty in a 9-2 Central League win over the Del Val League all-stars. He went 2-4, including a double, scored two runs and knocked in one on his way to MVP honors. Perhaps more impressively, Shore caught all nine innings and called pitches for a group of hurlers that combined for 14 strikeouts.

“Just get ahead in the count, start with the fastball,” said Shore of his strategy. “Most of the pitchers here have enough stuff so they can throw secondary pitches for strikes. That was really important today.”

Garnet Valley’s Mike Bechtold set the tone with a blistering two innings of work. He was nearly untouchable. Bechtold retired all six batters he faced with five strikeouts, four of them looking. Shore was happy to be a battery mate rather than an opponent.

“That’s the first time I’ve gotten to catch him. I was really impressed,” said Shore. “We faced him in the season and he shut us down.”

The duo thrived together with a little help from home-plate umpire Art Woods, who stretched the strike zone three or four inches on the outer half.

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David Shore had himself quite a day at — and behind — the plate, in being named the Barrett All-Star Game’s MVP. The Strath Haven catcher went 2 for 4, scored twice, drove in a run and handled a pitching staff that struck out 14. (Courtesy photo/Paul Bogosian)

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LOWER MERION >> Hunter Mazur’s tone in postgame interviews differs from the self-assuredness he has carried unfailingly to the X this season for Strath Haven. When it comes to managing the emotions of an occasion like Saturday’s PIAA quarterfinal at Harriton, Mazur is sheepish and reserved in describing his, well, lack of reservations about showing his joy on the field and how the swings help dictate his play.

“I don’t know if you can notice, but I go kind of crazy when we score a goal and I’m on the field, or if I get a goal, it’s the greatest thing ever,” Mazur said. “So, yeah.”

Usually, the United States Military Academy-bound junior is used to generating offense with his success on draws. Saturday, the junior worked in reverse, but he still had a big hand in powering a 10-9 upset of District One champ Upper Dublin. Mazur provided two goals and an assist, and those offensive contributions from a player far more complete than the typical face-off-get-off mold helped shift what started as a lackluster day at the X. The first half belonged to UD’s All-American defender Jack Rapine, who won nine of the first 15 draws. But Mazur rallied, and when he surged, so did the Panthers (19-6), who go on to play Central League rival Springfield in Tuesday’s eastern final.

Mazur set the tone in the second quarter, when Upper Dublin (21-3) used three goals in 1:09 to accrue a 5-2 lead. Mazur ripped home a goal in transition off a Will Huestis feed, then won the ensuring draw for Huestis to capitalize on an extended possession and send the teams into half at 5-4. Rapine regained the upper hand in the third period, as the Cardinals again threatened to run away with the game, Michael Sowers setting up Max Winebrake for a goal that reinstated the three-goal spread at 7-4 with 7:38 left in the quarter.

But Haven wouldn’t go away. Jake Ross scored off a pass from a largely muted Jeffrey Conner, Jack Borbee finished a Huestis feed and Mazur won the ensuring faceoff, dishing to Ross for a second goal in six seconds to tie matters at 7. When Sowers, who finished his storied high school career with four goals and two assists, nudged UD ahead early in the fourth, Mazur answered with a dodge and a rip through the five-hole of an otherwise outstanding Dillon Lojeski to knot matters at eight. Mazur won the next draw — part of a 5-for-6 final quarter that raised his tally to 12-for-23 on the day — and 70 seconds later, Borbee deposited the game-winner, an audacious one-handed effort with a defender draped all over him as he snuck out from behind the cage to Lojeski’s right.

Though Borbee is quick to downplay the importance of his return after missing 12 games (including districts) with a concussion, it was precisely the kind of game-changing play that earns him the “X-factor” status.

“I know I needed to come up big,” Borbee said. “We were tied and I wanted to step up and be a leader on our team. Thankfully I did that, got a hold in my hand and let it rip with one hand. Thank God it went in.”

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Strath Haven’s Jack Borbee (7) is congratulated by Will Huestis (20) after scoring in Saturday’s 10-9 upset of District One champion Upper Dublin in a PIAA quarterfinal. (Digital First Media/John Strickler)

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LOWER MERION >> Kyle Long ended the first quarter Saturday at Harriton High School sitting dejectedly on the bench, water bottle in hand and an animated tirade from coach Tom Lemieux ringing in his ears. Three quarters later, with the game on his stick, Long made sure the mood on the bench was decidedly more jubilant.Long supplied a goal and two helpers, including the game-winner with 41 seconds left, to stem the tide of a feverish Avon Grove comeback and help the Cougars knock off the District One runner-up, 7-6, in the PIAA quarterfinals.

Springfield (18-7), the third seed from District One, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal to meet Central League rival Strath Haven in a repeat of the district third-place game. Long rode a roller coaster of emotions Saturday, with one too many forced passes leading to turnovers and a vehement lecture from Lemieux late in the first quarter.

“Me and coach Lemieux, sometimes we get after it a little bit,” the sophomore said. “I think it’s good for both of us at times. I wish I came out and played a little better at the start, but he knows that he’s trusting me to get it done in the end, and that’s what we do usually.”

The reprimand helped Long shake the cobwebs from a sluggish start, though the Cougars fared fine without him. They led 3-1 after a quarter when Nick Martin caused a turnover and fed Joe DeBernardi for a rip with nine seconds left on a possession where Long was confined to spectator. Springfield held a 4-2 edge at half without Long finding the score sheet, thanks to a hat trick by Mike Gerzabek, who picked up the slack one lightning quick shot at a time.

“It’s not a sense of stepping up,” the senior attackman said. “It’s that everyone has to play hard throughout the game, every single second. If one person is slacking, you’ve got to pick him back up. We picked Kyle back up, and he came up big for us at the end.”

When Long roused from his slumber, Avon Grove (19-3) was in trouble. He fed Mike Vent twice in the third quarter, once man-up, to stretch the cushion to 6-2. The suffocating Springfield defense appeared to have Avon Grove subdued, until Beau Kush showed up. Muted for three quarters, the senior scored three goals in two minutes in the fourth, all on the same move, taking a behind-the-cage screen, sneaking to goalie James Spence’s right and rifling a shot under the bar.

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Avon Grove’s Doug Jones walks off the field as Springfield celebrates a 7-6 win in the PIAA quarterfinals Saturday at Harriton High School. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)

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MARPLE >> Haverford High quarterback Jack Donaghy and Marple Newtown receiver Abel Hoff shared their excitement upon learning they would play on the same team at the 40th Delaware County Hero Bowl All-Star Game. One record-setting quarterback throwing to the county’s single-season reception leader. The possibilities seemed endless. Fans in attendance at Cardinal O’Hara were in for a treat.

“It’s really fun playing with a quarterback who is that good,” Hoff said. “He deserved every bit of the Delco (Daily Times) Player of the Year. I see tonight why he won, why he is so good.” Donaghy and Hoff connected right away.

“When we found out we were on the same team, we texted each other back and forth, saying that we were really excited about it,” Donaghy said. “There was almost a built-in chemistry between us in practice, and that sort of carried over into the game.”

Donaghy’s 9 of 13 passing for 208 yards and three touchdowns led the Red team to a 28-23 victory over the Blue squad in Thursday’s Hero Bowl. Donaghy was named offensive MVP of his squad, while Haverford School All-Delco linebacker Mickey Kober earned MVP honors on defense. Taking home the MVP awards for the Blue team were Upper Darby wide receiver Brandon Morton and Penn Wood lineman Jordan Johnson. Ultimately, the Hero Bowl is all about its tremendous cause every year. Proceeds from the event benefit the Hero Scholarship Fund of Delaware County, Inc., which provides scholarship support to the children of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

“We wanted to come out here and respect the tradition, respect ourselves and respect the other team,” said Hoff, who caught a pair of Donaghy passes for touchdowns. He had four receptions for 113 yards and five carries for 28 yards. “Everyone really took the game seriously. We know that in the past, there was some fighting and stuff, so we wanted to play a clean game.”

When Hoff was younger, he would attend the Hero Bowl every year and dream about the chance of one day playing in the game.

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Haverford High quarterback Jack Donaghy — the 2015 Daily Times Player of the Year — passed for over 200 yards with three touchdowns to lead the Red team to a 28-23 victory over the Blue squad in the 40th Delaware County Hero Bowl All-Star Game at Cardinal O’Hara Thursday night. Donaghy earned offensive MVP honors for his team. (Robert Gurecki/Daily Times)

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RIDLEY TWP. >> Matt Ries’ short frame makes him tough to pick out of a crowd. But once you find him, the stark difference between him and his fellow high schoolers stands out. His compact stature is packed with muscle, more like a coach’s than the average high school lacrosse player’s. He exudes uncommon maturity for his age, whether he’s organizing teammates for a game of bowling on a Sunday evening or sorting players in the box as they shuttle on and off the field. And there’s something ineffable about his demeanor, a seriousness that gives way to outbursts of humor that his friends revere. Whether he and his teammates are bonding on a laid back evening or engrossed in battle on the field, Ries’ presence is significant. Within the Springfield community, he’s embodied the bonds that unite the town’s core of families and the outpouring of support that it is capable of.

“That’s probably the strongest kid I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Springfield midfielder Zac Methlie said Sunday. In the eight months since the loss of his father, Ries’ situation epitomizes the family spirit that has carried Springfield to such heights, from last spring’s District One title to a second straight PIAA tournament appearance that starts Wednesday with a trip to Lake Lehman High School to meet District 2 champion Delaware Valley.

“We always talk about family on our team, and the guys really, really stick together and buy into that philosophy,” coach Tom Lemieux said. “… That’s just great for our community. And this is a really great place to be.”

Ries and his family have leaned on the community to a degree few could’ve imagined. It began last September when Ries’ father, John, passed away unexpectedly. That tragedy sent shockwaves through the community, which rallied to the side of Ries, his mother Missy and younger sister Laura, a sophomore at Cardinal O’Hara. The response from neighbors and family friends was instantaneous. They arranged homemade meals to be delivered four days a week for months, tapering off just a few weeks ago. They offered their time and homes to Laura and Matt for any kind of distraction to help them cope, even if it was for just a few hours.

“Springfield is a really small place, and the kids all grew up with each other, whether it was from first grade or kindergarten,” said Barb Spence, a close friend of the Ries family whose sons James (junior) and Jack (freshman) are on Springfield’s lacrosse team. “When anything happens to anyone, everyone takes it to heart.”

“All the kids on the football team and lacrosse team have been like a second family, so it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be,” Matt Ries said. “All the kids on the team are looking out for me.”

Sports became Ries’ refuge. He’d spend his days engaging in any kind of athletic activity he could scrounge up enough teammates for. James Spence, one of Ries’ oldest friends, would have him over for fiddle lacrosse in the backyard, pickup hoops games, touch football, anything that got them out and laughing another day away.

“It just took our minds off of everything,” James Spence said. “And it really kind of just gave us all something to look forward to for the weekends and just have fun with and kind of lose track of everything that happens in life.”

Ries’ most vivid memory in the aftermath of his dad’s passing was the Cougars’ next football game, the day of a funeral that drew hundreds of mourners from the town to support his family. Garnet Valley romped past the Cougars, 34-18, on a windy, rainy evening. But the game meant more to Ries than the scoreboard could tabulate.

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After losing his father unexpectedly, Matt Ries (25) has poured everything he has into athletics at Springfield. The Cougars open the PIAA boys lacrosse tournament Wednesday against Delaware Valley. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)

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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)

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