Catholic League Wins 9-2

Kevin Gillen of St. Joseph's Prep pitched three shutout innings and Archbishop Wood junior centerfielder Brian O'Grady had three hits and two RBIs as the Philadelphia Catholic League beat Chester County, 9-2 in today's opening round Carpenter Cup baseball game.

The Catholic League will play Mercer County in Friday's 9 a.m. quarterfinal game at the University of Pennsylvania's Meiklejohn Stadium.

The Catholic League broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead to 9-2.

In the fifth inning, the Catholic League received a two-run double by Neumann-Goretti junior Michael Riverso and a two-run single by O'Grady.

Chester County cut the Philadelphia Catholic League's lead to 5-2 on a two-run triple in the top of the fourth inning to rightfield by sophomore leftfielder Thomas Spitz of West Chester East.

The Philadelphia Catholic League took a 5-0 lead with four runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Neumann-Goretti junior Albert Baur hit a 2-run double to rightfield to start the scoring in the third inning.

After Baur's hit, Chester County changed pitchers, bringing in junior righthander Colin Taylor of Avon Grove.

LaSalle's Tyler Freeman greeted Taylor with a two-run single.

St. Joseph Prep senior righthander Kevin Gillen pitched three shutout innings for the Catholic League.

A pitcher is allowed to throw no more than three innings per game according to Carpenter Cup rules.

In the first inning the Catholic League scored an unearned run for the game's lone run.

FINAL MERCER COUNTY 8, DELAWARE SOUTH 1

Mercer County used a balanced attack and excellent pitching to defeat Delaware South, 8-1 in today's opening round Carpenter Cup baseball game.

Starting pitcher Kyle Reed of West Windsor Plainsboro North earned the win, allowing one run in three innings. Junior lefthander Colin Holmes of Ewing followed with three scorless innings.

Senior righthander Brian Witkowski of Notre Dame pitched two hitless innings while junior Kevin Fitzell of Lawrence added a scoreless frame.

Senior second baseman Tyler Cignarella of Hopewell went 2 for 2 with two RBIs for the winners.

Mercer County advances to Friday's 9 a.m. quarterfinal against the winner of today's later game between the Philadelphia Catholic League and Chester County.

Trailing 1-0, Mercer County took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Cignarella hit a two-run triple and scored on an RBI single by his Hopewell classmate Ben Meer.

Delaware South righthander Tommy Dill, a junior from Poly Tech, pitched three shutout innings and left with a 1-0 lead.

According to Carpenter Cup rules a pitcher is able to throw a maximum of three innings per game.

Delaware South sophomore shortstop Devon Reed of Milford singled, stole second and third and scored on a groundout by first baseman Jeff Fleetwood of Delmar in the bottom of the first inning.

BURLINGTON COUNTY 11, DELAWARE COUNTY 8 - FINAL

Burlington County has advanced to the second round of the Carpenter Cup baseball tournament with today's 11-8 win over Delaware County.

The winners will meet Jersey Shore in Thursday's 12:30 p.m. second round game at the University of Pennsylvania's Meiklejohn Stadium.

Lenape senior rightfielder Ryan Fletcher went 3 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBIs for Burlington County.

Delaware County sophomore catcher Norm Donkin of Ridley went 3 for 3 with two runs scored while Garnet Valley freshman Joe DeCarlo hit a solo home run.

Leading 7-6, Burlco scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Cherokee's Tyler Power contributed his second sacrifice fly of the game for the ninth run. Delco has been hurt by its defense, having committed four errors.

Delaware County scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut Burlco's lead to 7-6.

Delco got a sacrifice fly from Garnet Valley senior Kyle Davis and an RBI groundout from Springfield Delco senior Mike DeLaney.

Burlington County took a 7-4 lead with four runs in the top of the seventh.

Burlco tied the score 4-4 on an RBI single by Fletcher.

A sacrifice fly by Powell to deep centerfielder gave Burlco a 5-4 lead.

Burlington County then scored on a fielder's choice and a wild pitch to extend the lead to 7-4.

Delaware County scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead.

Garnet Valley's DeCarlo hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score and Garnet Valley junior Jake Dickerson just hit an RBI single to give Delco the lead.

A two-run single by Fletcher in the top of the fifth inning had given Burlington County a 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning.

Delco scored two runs in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by Dickerson and an RBI single by Strath Haven junior Mike Raimo.

Delaware County righthander Slater McCue, a junior from Conestoga, was extremely impressive, throwing three  scoreless innings.

Seneca sophomore righthander looked sharp in pitching two shutout innings for Burlington County.