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Catching in the blood for Devon Prep's Hardaway

Most days, Dominic Hardaway wakes up at 4:30 a.m., has a quick breakfast, and then heads to the garage of his family's Manayunk home for soft-toss batting practice. He hits tennis balls thrown by his father, Vincent, into a net.

Most days, Dominic Hardaway wakes up at 4:30 a.m., has a quick breakfast, and then heads to the garage of his family's Manayunk home for soft-toss batting practice. He hits tennis balls thrown by his father, Vincent, into a net.

That type of commitment has helped the 17-year-old catcher from Devon Prep earn a scholarship to Boston College, and make him a possible selection in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft in June.

Hardaway, a four-year starter, is a major threat as a No. 3-hole hitter for the Tide, which last season went 16-8 and captured the program's first PIAA Class A state title.

"After what we accomplished last year, we know we have a target on our back," the 5-foot-11, 205-pound senior said. "Everybody is coming for you. We have to play every game like it's our last."

Catching is in Hardaway's blood. His father was a backstop at Martin Luther King and Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. "I really didn't have an option of playing any other position," Dominic said with a laugh.

Last season for Mark Aquilante's squad, Hardaway batted .439 with 28 RBIs and 25 runs while earning Inquirer third-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania honors.

"I love playing catcher," he said. "You're the field general. It's your job to run the team. And it's important that all the pitchers are comfortable with you."

Hardaway, with an elite pop time of 1.87 seconds to second base, has also shined while playing in the summer and fall for the Philadelphia Angels. The showcase team is guided by Aquilante's father, Con.

Devon Prep's lineup also features senior first baseman and southpaw pitcher Sean Phelan. The Penn recruit was batting .636 with nine RBIs and six runs through five games.

Other key contributors at the plate are second baseman and centerfielder Tony Gallo, third baseman Eric DiPietro, and shortstop Matt Bevilacqua.

The Tide's pitching staff is headed by Pat Rohr, Dan Brace, John McSurdy, and Pat Gallagher.

Of Rohr, Hardaway said, "His strong suit is his control. He pounds the outside of the plate." And McSurdy? "He has a nasty breaking ball."

Hardaway chose Boston College over Indiana, Penn State, and Seton Hall. "I don't know what will happen with the draft," he said, "but I'm excited about it."

Extra bases. Though seven games, Harriton outfielder Tristan Kevitch was hitting .368. On the mound, he was 1-1 with a 0.77 ERA. ... Haverford School second baseman Kevin McGowan is batting .450 with 13 runs and 12 RBIs. Teammate and pitcher Ben Tracy is 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. ... In West Chester Rustin's 8-0 start, Charlie Concannon, a first baseman and St. Joseph's commit, hit .536 with 12 RBIs and 11 RBIs. ... Neumann-Goretti righthander Gino Tripodi is 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA and 24 K's in 16 innings. ... Holy Ghost Prep has been sparked on offense by Tom Merrigan (.600 batting average), Nick Payesko (.467), Nolan Jones (.462), and Pete Oline (.444). ... Roman Catholic shortstop Noah Clement was hitting .765 with six doubles through Tuesday. Teammate and third baseman Connor McKenna was hitting .444 with six RBIs. ... Upper Dublin's Conor McFadden and Justin Horn were batting .611 and .591, respectively, through seven games. ... Perkiomen School's Christian Del Toro was hitting .636 through Tuesday.

robrien@phillynews.com

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