Baseball: Olympic Colonial beats Burlco in Carpenter Cup
Kevin and Ryan Teschko bided their time in Wednesday's Carpenter Cup Classic opening game on Wednesday.
The junior twins from Gateway High School both sat out the first five innings and entered the game in a wave of substitutions for the second half of the nine-inning game at FDR Park in South Philadelphia.
"You just have to stay focused," Kevin Teschsko said of watching the first half of the game vs. Burlington County in a rare, first-round clash of South Jersey franchise.
The Teschko brothers came through in the later innings as each delivered an RBI single to help spark Olympic Colonial to a 6-2 victory on a warm, humid afternoon.
"It feel great," Ryan Teschko said. "Just trying to do a job for the team."
Olympic Colonial got strong pitching from starter Brian Hendry of Shawnee as well as relievers Matt Kennedy of Haddon Heights, John Stankiewicz of Cherry Hill West and Andrew Fehr of Audubon.
Olympic Colonial also played strong defense, turning four double plays, and displayed its team speed with eight stolen bases, including three by Eastern junior Jack Herman.
Stankiewicz was particularly impressive on the mound. The right-hander and Fordham recruit entered the game with the bases loaded, no outs and Olympic Colonial holding a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Stankiewicz faced six batters. He retired all six, including five strikeouts.
"I closed a couple games this season so I've relieved before," Stankiewicz said. "I like it. Coming in in a tough situation, it's always a good time."
Ryan Teschko broke a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the seventh. He knocked home Washington Township senior Alex Gattinelli, who singled and stole second base.
Olympic Colonial added another run in the eighth on Seneca junior Kevin Gsell's two-out RBI single that scored Lenape junior Jake Topolski, who doubled.
In the ninth, Olympic Colonial added a pair of insurance runs on Bishop Eustace sophomore Matt Orlando's sacrifice fly and Kevin Teschko's RBI single.
"It's just great to be part of a team like this," Kevin Teschko said. "We think we can win the whole thing."
OC advances to face the winner of Wednesday's second game between Suburban One League National/Bicentennial and Chester County in Monday's second round.
A victory Monday would advance Olympic Colonial to the semifinals Friday June 23 at Citizens Bank Park.
The title game is Saturday June 24 at Citizens Bank Park.
Tri-Cape, South Jersey's other franchise in the single-elimination tournament, opens play Thursday at 9 a.m. vs. Mercer County.
Olympic Colonial 000 200 112 -- 6 10 1
Burlington County 000 002 000 -- 2 4 2
WP: John Stankiewicz. LP: Kyle Marchetti.
2B: OC-Jake Topolski.
-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com
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