High School Baseball: Panthers are Golden as They Pound Phoenixville

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

Despite winning five of their last six games—including a last at-bat comeback win at AAAA Perkiomen Valley on Wednesday night—the Pope John Paul II squad was informed shortly before it boarded the buses to Phoenixville that due to a “less than special” tie-breaking system, they had been left out of the mix for the Pac-10 final four. This would stand regardless of the outcome of Thursday’s tilt with the Phantoms.

“It really pissed us off,” said third basemen 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.”

With the vengeance of a gunslinger left standing in the street, as high noon had come and gone, and his opponent was a no-show, the Golden Panthers unleashed a unmerciful 17- hit barrage on 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 lock to 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 PJP2 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, recording seven extra base hits, including a two-run triple by Mills in the sixth inning, in which PJP2 sent 12 men to the plate putting the game out of reach with a seven run frame.

“I think the turning point for us was the second Methacton game when we beat them," added Mills. “We really started playing well after than 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 II did more than dominate with the bats. Koscelansky had outstanding stuff—excellent movement on his fastball and confidence in his curveball. It made the change-up that he dangled all day that much more difficult to adjust to as the Phantoms, who dropped to 8-10, could not get that one hit with men on to get back into the game.

The junior right-hander scattered 10 hits, while striking out seven without issuing a free pass in a complete game effort for the Golden Panthers.

“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,” said Sturgeon. “As weird as it sounds at this point in the season, ... we are still looking at which direction we are heading in. We need to play better defensively against a team like them (PJP2). Even plays that weren’t really errors, we need to make the plays to prevent extra runners. I have to give them (PJP2) 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