Haverford bent on strong-arming its way into districts

HAVERFORD – Haverford High’s 2024 season is already being etched as a tale of resurgence under the guidance of second-year coach and alum, Brian Miller.

After some lean years, the upstart Fords are finding ways to pile up wins due in large part to their excellent starting pitching. They have three quality arms, a rarity at the high school level, in Jimmy Boyle, Will Hoffman, and Gavin McClafferty.

McClafferty tossed a gem Wednesday in a 4-1 victory over Ridley. The junior right hander registered 11 strikeouts in an impressive two-hit complete game. His 100th and final pitch was a swinging strike.

“I got into my rhythm and dialed in,” said McClafferty, who settled in after a walk and two errors helped Ridley take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. “The slider was working for me big time.”

Haverford (10-5-1, 8-4 Central League), which has won six of its last seven games, has held the opposition to three runs or less on 11 occasions. There was a three-game stretch April 18-24 when the Fords recorded three shutouts, their starters going the distance each time.

McClafferty’s outing was another example of the Fords’ dominance on the mound. In a 7-0 win against Harriton last week, Hoffman retired all 21 batters faced, striking out 15. It’s surprising when any high school pitcher throws a perfect game that isn’t shortened by the mercy rule. Hoffman went all seven frames, so it was a legit perfect-o.

In Monday’s 3-2 loss against Strath Haven, the Central League frontrunners, Boyle went toe to toe with All-Delco Luke D’Ancona, an awesome duel between two of the best hurlers in Delco. Boyle and D’Ancona threw all zeros after the teams combined for five runs in the first inning.

With their superb pitching, the Fords are aiming to clinch a berth in the District 1 playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Click HERE to read the full article.