Devon Prep knocks off Holy Ghost Prep
Even though his father, Dave, flourished as a competitive swimmer and his 13-year sister, Colleen, is now doing the same, Sean Phelan only enjoys leisurely dips in the pool.
Even though his father, Dave, flourished as a competitive swimmer and his 13-year sister, Colleen, is now doing the same, Sean Phelan only enjoys leisurely dips in the pool.
"It just isn't my thing," the Devon Prep first baseman and pitcher said. "I've always liked sports that use a ball."
As he showed in Thursday afternoon's Bicentennial Athletic League Independence clash against archrival Holy Ghost Prep, Phelan is most comfortable on the diamond.
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior doubled twice and earned a save as the host Tide, ranked No. 7 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, posted an 8-6 triumph over the previously undefeated and No. 1 Firebirds.
"All day at school we were talking about pulling the upset," Phelan said. "Every time we play them, the game has a state-championship feel. There's s lot of energy and intensity there."
Phelan, a fourth-year starter and cleanup man, ripped a two-run double to right field in the first inning and added a leadoff double to left-center in the sixth.
The Tide (11-1 overall, 10-0 BAL) entered the seventh with an 8-3 advantage. After the Firebirds (10-1, 8-1) cut the gap to 8-5 with one out, Phelan, a lefthander, came on and induced a pair of grounders to shortstop (a run scored on the first) to seal the victory.
"I've done it my whole life," Phelan said of being a reliever. "I like the pressure. There's no better feeling than the adrenaline rush you get with the game on the line."
Through Tuesday, Phelan, a Penn recruit, was batting .600 with 22 RBIs and 14 runs. "He's such an intense competitor," Tide coach Mark Aquilante said. "Sometimes, almost, he can be too competitive."
With five or six major-league scouts looking on, Devon senior catcher and Boston College recruit Dominic Hardaway went 4 for 4 with three runs and two stolen bases. "It's awesome for him to be getting that kind of attention," Phelan said.
Tide senior righthander Pat Rohr (3-1) held the visitors scoreless through four innings. "He kept them off balance and kept us in the game," Phelan said.
For Holy Ghost, which had outscored its first 10 foes by a combined score of 98-5, Ryan Malloy preceded Phelan's mound appearance with a two-run single up the middle.
Holy Ghost Prep 000 030 3 - 6 7 0
Devon Prep 204 110 x - 8 11 2
WP: Pat Rohr. LP: Tim Brennan. 2B: HGP-Nolan Jones 2, Luke Duris, Chris Pawluczyk; DP-Sean Phelan 2, Dominic Hardaway, Tony Gallo.
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