Pope John Paul II blasts Phoenixville but loses title shot

It wasn’t surprising that the Golden Panthers took the field in Phoenixville with a bit of a chip on their collective shoulders.

After all, despite winning five of their last six games, including a last at-bat comeback win at Perkiomen Valley on Wednesday night, the Pope John Paul II squad was informed shortly before it boarded the buses to Phoenixville that the PAC-10 tie breaking system had left them out of the mix for the conference's final four, regardless of the outcome of their game with the Phantoms.

“It really pissed us off,” said third baseman Paul Mills. “After last night all any of us talked about all day at school was what we had to do today and winning the PAC-10 title. It’s a weird situation because if Boyertown had won last night we would be in.”

The Phantoms were reduced from a potential spoiler to a foil for the Pope John Paul II squad's frustrations, which they vented in a 17-4 shellacking of the home team.

”They came in here with a burr under their saddle since they heard they weren’t in the final four and they took it out on us,” said Phantoms manager Jack Sturgeon. “That was a good old fashioned butt whooping. They beat us in every aspect of the game. Hitting, pitching, and fielding. I can’t say it simpler than that.”

 The Golden Panthers, who improved to 11-7 in league play and are an absolute to lock qualify for the PIAA District One tournament, wasted no time taking out their frustrations on Phantoms starter Shane Allen as they posted five runs on four hits in the opening frame, including doubles by Mills and starting pitcher A.J. Koscelansky.

“We were so disappointed when we heard about the tie breaker,” said Koscelansky. “We have all worked so hard and have really gotten it together when it counts. It’s a shame we won’t even get a chance to play to get it. We didn’t have our best games when we played Spring-Ford and it cost us big time.”

Tyler Mikell and Mills both drove in four runs on the day as the visitors exploited the expansive outfield of Kennedy Field. They logged seven extra base hits including a two-run triple by Mills in the sixth inning, when PJP2 sent 12 men to the plate and scored seven runs to put the game out of reach.

“I think the turning point for us was the second Methacton game when we beat them," added Mills. “We really started playing well after that and believing in ourselves. Our intensity really picked up and it has been amazing how far this team has come together in just one season. We will keep working and hopefully get to show what we are capable of in districts.”

Pope John Paul did more than dominate with the bats. Koscelansky had outstanding stuff, combining excellent movement on his fastball with a curveball and a changeup to keep the Phantoms off balance all afternoon. Phoenixville dropped to 8-10.

The junior right-hander scattered ten hits, striking out seven and walking none in a complete game effort.

“It’s different playing in a park like this,” added Koscelansky. “The outfield is huge. I just wanted to make sure I made them keep it in play. I watched some of the balls we hit in the first inning and was thinking, 'Wow, what do I do to keep them from doing that too?'"

“They really outplayed us,” added Sturgeon. “As weird as it sounds at this point in the season, but we are still looking at which direction we are heading in. We need to play better defensively against a team like them. Even plays that weren’t really errors, we need to make the plays to prevent extra runners. I have to give them credit. That is about the most complete team game I have seen anybody have all year. They really kicked it up.”

Pope John Paul II                      5  1  1  3  0  7 –17

Phoenixville                                 1  0  1  0  2  0 -  4

Pope John Paul II                 AB            R            H            RBI

DiPrinzio  cf                              3            2            2            1

Evans  ss                                     3            2            0            0

Mills  3b                                    5            2            3            4

Carr  c                                        5            1            0            0

Zbryszinxki  2b                     5            2            2            2         

Koscelansky  p                       5            1            2            3

Weiss   cr                                   0            1            0            0

DiGenova  1b                           4            3            2            1

Mikell  rf                                  4            2            3            4

Cotellese  rf                              4            1            2            2

                        Totals               38            17            17            17

Phoenixville                         AB            R            H            RBI

Kaye  rf                                      3            0            0            0

Arney  ph                                 1            0            0            0

Yenchick  rf                              3            2            2            1

Hershey  ph                              1            0            0            0

Romano  cf                               2            1            1            0

Wheel  3b                                3            1            2            1

Allen  p  ss                               3            0            2            2

Ammon  1b                              3            0            1            0

Naile ss  2b                              3            0            1            0

Ashburn  c                                3            0            0            0

Kawchak dh                             3            0            1            0

                        Totals               29            4            10            4

Pitching                      IP          R           ER           H            K            BB

Koscelansky   (W)    6            4            3            10            7            0

Allen  (L)                      3            7            6            6            0            3

Fina                              2.3            10            8            10            3            0

Ferguson                      .6            0            0            1            1            0