5 titles on line in area slugfest
The big matchup is the District 1 final between Henderson and C.R. North.
With five championship games on tap in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Thursday is a high school baseball lover's feast day.
The marquee matchup is the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA final between West Chester Henderson and Council Rock North, at 4 p.m. at Radnor High.
In District 1 Class AA, New Hope-Solebury and Devon Prep will battle in all-Bicentennial League final at 4 p.m. at Upper Merion.
District 12 offers a triple-header: Central meets Monsignor Bonner for top honors in Class AAAA, Franklin Towne Charter plays Archbishop Wood for the AAA crown, and Nueva Esperanza Charter and Kennedy-Kenrick square off to decide the Class A king.
The Central-Monsignor Bonner game is set for 2:30 p.m. at La Salle High. Franklin Towne Charter-Archbishop Wood and Nueva Esperanza Charter vs. Kennedy-Kenrick will be played at Richie Ashburn Field in FDR Park, at 2:30 and 5 p.m., respectively.
There are also District 1 Class AAAA consolation-round games Thursday: Great Valley and Owen J. Roberts will vie for third place at 4 p.m. at Perkiomen Valley; and Ches-Mont League members Avon Grove and Downingtown East will play for fifth place – and the district's final berth in the state tournament - at 4 p.m. at Glen Mills.
Council Rock North, 22-2 overall and ranked No. 3 in the area by The Inquirer, is making its second straight appearance in the District 1 Class AAAA final. The Indians bowed to West Chester East, 6-2, last year.
Henderson, of the Ches-Mont League National Division, advanced to the large-school classification final for the first time since 2002. That year, in Class AAA, the Warriors fell to Conestoga, 7-6.
North has been spurred on offense by Mike Tentilucci (.526 average, 30 runs, 24 RBIs), Dan Denton (.521, 17, 20), Ryan Hartley (.485, 25, 24), and Ryan Henritzy (.473, 22, 18).
Fifth-ranked Henderson (21-3) has been fueled by Sean McCormick (.400, 28, 11), Kyle Hooven (.408, 15, 19), John Iezzi (.423, 12, 17), and Chas McCormick (.373, 17, 20).
Coyle in Boston. Germantown Academy standout Sean Coyle worked out Wednesday for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The senior, projected to be a first baseman at the next level, is a possible early-round selection in next week's first-year player draft.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Coyle, a North Carolina recruit, reportedly was clocked at 6.49 seconds in the 60-yard dash, and hit three balls over the fence in batting practice.
Through last Friday, Coyle was batting .529 (45 for 85) with 50 RBIs, 39 runs, and 12 home runs.