With scouts watching, Kirsch lifts Marple Newtown

Calling Marple Newtown's Chris Kirsch a late bloomer is putting it mildly.

Just two years ago, his pitching wildness had his teammates ducking for cover in batting practice. "Yeah, he was all over the place," said Jim Balk, Marple Newtown's third-year pitching coach and the former 36-year boss at Radnor.

A little more than a year ago, with the assistance of Balk, Kirsch, pretty much a junior varsity outfielder as a sophomore, began what has been a remarkable turnaround.

Taking another step toward cementing himself as one of the area's elite pitchers, Kirsch scattered four hits and struck out eight as the host Tigers pummeled Conestoga, 12-2, Friday in a well-attended Central League showdown that lasted 1 hour, 50 minutes. The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule.

"Coach Balk did a complete overhaul on my mechanics," the southpaw said. "My delivery is a lot smoother now, and I'm able to throw strikes."

Kirsch, a cleanup hitter, helped his cause by delivering a three-run, inside-the-park homer to center field in the first inning. He went 3 for 4, adding singles in the second and fifth innings.

There were 10 to 12 professional scouts, cross-checkers and college recruiters watching the 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior. The Phillies, Twins, Royals, Giants, Diamondbacks and Mets were among the pro clubs represented.

"Every game it's getting bigger and bigger," Kirsch said. "I think I'm getting used to it. I'm doing a better job with it now."

The lefthander mixed a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, curveball and change-up. In the first inning, he was clocked at 88 m.p.h. on one radar gun. His comfort zone was in the 83- to 85-m.p.h. range.

"They made the plays in the field, and Kirsch pitched them out of trouble," Conestoga coach John Vogan said. "He throws a nice fastball, and has a good curveball to go with it."

Marple Newtown, ranked No. 3 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, improved to 12-0 overall and 11-0 in the league. Conestoga slipped to 9-4 and 8-3.

"We're averaging 11 runs per game," Tigers coach Mark Jordan said. "Top to bottom, one through nine, we hit the ball. We just keep scoring runs."

Kirsch threw 107 pitches, 59 for strikes. His biggest streak of wildness came in the second inning, when he opened with seven straight balls and walked two. "It was an off day, but I'll be fine," he said.

College interest - no scholarship offer yet - has come from Temple, La Salle, Villanova, Virginia Commonwealth, Maryland, and North Carolina State. Coaches from Marist and Lackawanna Community College checked him out against Conestoga.

Said Jordan: "I've never seen the field this crowded. The fans, the coaches, the guys with the radar guns. All of that can be unnerving for an 18-year-old."

For Marple Newtown, trying for its first Central League crown since 1996, leadoff man Mario Dioguardi highlighted a five-run second with a two-run double to left-center. No. 2 batter and fellow outfielder Austin Severino went 3 for 3 and scored three runs.

Conestoga   00200 - 245

Marple Newtown   35112 - 12120

WP: Chris Kirsch. LP: Slater McCue. 2B: C-McCue; MN-Mario Dioguardi 2. 3B: C-Luke Mogle. HR: MN-Kirsch.