Catholic League tops Chesco in Carpenter Cup

Kevin Gillen took his job as a tone-setter seriously. The St. Joseph's Prep righthander pitched three shutout innings and earned the win yesterday as the Philadelphia Catholic League defeated Chester County, 9-2, in the opening round of the Carpenter Cup baseball tournament at Penn's Meiklejohn Stadium.

The Catholic League will face Mercer County in Friday's 9 a.m. quarterfinal.

Carpenter Cup rules limit a pitcher to three innings per game, and Gillen made the most of his appearance. He allowed two hits and struck out two against a Chester County team that has the most wins (35) in the 24-year history of the tournament.

"I feel good and felt it helped set the tone for the game," said Gillen, who is headed to Johns Hopkins.

Archbishop Wood centerfielder Brian O'Grady was 3 for 4 with two RBIs. La Salle shortstop Tyler Freeman was 1 for 2 with two RBIs.

Mercer County earned its quarterfinal berth with yesterday's 8-1 win over Delaware South.

In the first game yesterday, Burlington County beat Delaware County, 11-8, and will meet Jersey Shore tomorrow in a 12:30 p.m. quarterfinal at Meiklejohn Stadium.

Unlike many of his Burlington County teammates, Lenape rightfielder Ryan Fletcher will be finished with baseball after the Carpenter Cup. Headed to East Stroudsburg, he will not play this summer or in college.

"That is why this means so much for me to be here," said Fletcher, who went 3 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs.

Conestoga righthander Slater McCue began the game with three shutout innings, allowing two hits and two walks and striking out one.

Burlco 000 120 431 - 11 10 1

Delco 002 020 202 - 8 13 4

WP: Jim Goodwin. LP: Matt Hanser. 2B: B-Eric Sellitto, Ryan Fletcher, Shaun Flynn; D-Jake Dickerson, Evan Cline, Norm Donkin. HR: D-Joe DeCarlo.

Mercer County 000 301 013 - 8 15 1

Del. South 100 000 000 - 1 6 5

WP: Kyle Reed. LP: James Smith. 2B: M-Eric Patterson, D-Derrick Parker, Tyler Kromka. 3B: M-Tyler Cignarella.

Chester Co. 000 200 000 - 2 5 4

Catholic 104 040 00x - 9 12 0

WP: Kevin Gillen. LP: Christian Duclos. 2B: PCL-Al Baur, Michael Riverso. 3B: CC-Thomas Spitz.