Phil Anastasia: Audubon's Roldan can talk - and play

The four folding chairs in front of the Audubon bench are seats of honor.

When the Green Wave are at bat, one belongs to coach Rich Horan. Two belong to assistant coaches.

The fourth is where senior catcher Matt Roldan sits when he's not at the plate or preparing to hit.

"Being up with the coaches, I can be louder," Roldan said. "It keeps my head in the game."

Roldan reached base twice, knocked in one run, and scored another yesterday as Audubon beat Camden Catholic, 5-3, in the opening round of the 14th annual Ralph Shaw Memorial Classic.

Roldan also guided two pitchers through the Camden Catholic lineup on a warm, sunny afternoon at Audubon's Hank Greenberg Field.

Most notable, Roldan set the tone for the Green Wave - talking it up on the bench, on the field, and in the middle of the postgame huddle down the left-field line.

"He knows he's a senior and that this is a young team," Horan said. "He's one of those extra-special kids who is completely into the game. He knows his role. He knows he has to take control of the game."

Junior righthander Wade Geis worked 51/3 strong innings to get the win for Audubon (3-1). Geis allowed two runs and three hits, with eight strikeouts.

Junior righthander Tim Crawford pitched well for Camden Catholic (0-4). Crawford allowed three runs in the third inning - when Audubon hit just two balls out of the infield - but threw zeros in his four other innings of work and finished with seven strikeouts.

"Both pitchers threw well," Camden Catholic coach Bob Moffett said. "We're just not hitting. We're scratching."

Roldan, Audubon's leadoff hitter, drove in the game's first run with a single in the third inning. He took second on the throw to the plate and scored when John Flacco dropped a bunt single that produced an off-line throw to first base.

Roldan also walked and stole second in the sixth.

"We're a young team, and we get runs as we can get them," Roldan said. "We have pretty good pitching. We'll be OK if we play defense and start to hit the ball."

Roldan was a captain and standout wide receiver for the Audubon football team. He's a captain of the baseball team as well.

Roldan said the leadership came naturally to him, especially as a senior. Plus, he's in the ideal spot as a catcher.

"It's like the perfect position because you are allowed to be loud," Roldan said.

Roldan said his role as Chief of Chatter on the bench was passed down to him, like a legacy.

"When I was a sophomore and I would come up to the varsity, we had a catcher who was really loud," Roldan said. "The coaches liked that, and I figured if I was going to earn a spot, I should be that way."

Horan said Roldan was a top athlete who understood the tradition of Audubon sports. As a senior catcher, Roldan is in the perfect position to serve as a team leader.

"We've got a lot of young kids, and Matt's the kind of guy who will get them to understand what this program is all about," Horan said. "He'll make them understand where it is we want to be."

Roldan said his best sport was football. He plans to attend Wesley College in Delaware and play wide receiver.

That means this season likely marks the end of his baseball career.

"Sadly," Roldan said.

The Green Wave have a chance to make this a memorable season. They'll have a great opportunity for a big moment this afternoon when they play undefeated Bishop Eustace, the No. 1 team in The Inquirer's Top 10, in the championship game.

Bishop Eustace, which defeated Riverside, 9-1, in yesterday's first game, has won the last four Ralph Shaw championships and five of the last six. Audubon last won its own tournament in 2002.

"I'm pumped up," Roldan said. "We haven't won this tournament in a while. Now we get a chance to play for the trophy."

He'll be in perfect position to make the most of it, too - in the lineup, on the field, and in the front row of the bench.

Audubon 003 001 1 - 5 8 2

Camden Catholic 001 002 0 - 3 4 2

WP: Wade Geis. LP: Tim Crawford.

2B: Tyler Urban, A; Tyler Friola, Steve Fallon, CC.