Central routs Northeast for Public League title

As the battery mate for fast-working Central ace Steve Schall, Tom Capewell gets very little down time behind the plate.

"The only time he really stops is when he has to tuck in his shirt," the catcher said.

Yesterday afternoon, working in usual high-speed fashion, Schall fired a five-hitter as the Lancers blasted Northeast, 12-2, in the Public League championship game at Campbell's Field in Camden.

"I just like to keep things moving out there," Schall said. "I don't have the best stuff in the world, so it helps."

The 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior mixed a fastball, slider, and occasional curveball. When asked about the best clocking on his fastball, the righthander joked, "I don't think the radar gun goes that low."

After giving up two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first, Schall scattered three singles and kept the Vikings off the scoreboard the rest of the way. He threw 101 pitches, 60 for strikes.

"He's probably one of the easiest pitchers to catch," said Capewell, a senior cocaptain. "He pretty much throws everything I ask him to throw."

Making its fifth consecutive appearance in the league final, Central (16-4) won its first title since 2006 and third under 11-year coach Bob Barthelmeh.

Tonight at 7, the Lancers return to Campbell's Field to take on the Catholic League's St. Joseph's Prep for the PIAA District 12 Class AAAA crown. Both teams are guaranteed berths in the state playoffs. The Prep was a 4-0 winner over La Salle yesterday.

During the regular season, Northeast (16-2) beat out runner-up Central for top Division A honors.

"The fact is, this is what really counted," Barthelmeh said. "I told the kids before the game, 'This is when you redeem yourselves.' "

In the teams' first meeting, the Vikings triumphed, 12-9. With Schall tossing a two-hitter, Central gained revenge with a 13-0, five-inning rout.

"They won the division," Capewell said, "but we didn't think we were the underdogs. We were pretty confident coming in here."

The Lancers broke open a 4-2 game when Graham Johnston, the No. 8 hitter, ripped a three-run triple over centerfielder Chad O'Malley's head in the sixth. They added five runs in their last at-bat, highlighted by Zack King's two-run double to left.

Also providing punch at the bottom of the order were No. 7 batter Brian Burkett (solo home run in the second) and No. 9 man David Kremer (2 for 3, RBI).

Brian Susten, Northeast's ace southpaw, was hurt by 10 walks. He threw 58 pitches in the first two innings and left in the seventh with a count of 152.

"He had nothing left," Vikings coach Sam Feldman said. "He's never gone that long all season."

Schall (2 for 5, RBI) and Capewell (2 for 4, RBI) are headed for Penn State-Abington and Neumann University, respectively.

Central 013 003 5 - 12 12 1

Northeast 200 000 0 - 2 5 3

WP: Steve Schall. LP: Brian Susten. 2B: C-Zach Magdovitz. 3B: C-Graham Johnston. HR: C-Brian Burkett.