Roman Catholic's Lang shuts down Carroll
If Temple still had a baseball program, Bobby Lang would be a walk-on candidate with the ability to serve as an extra arm on weekends.
If Temple still had a baseball program, Bobby Lang would be a walk-on candidate with the ability to serve as an extra arm on weekends.
But since the Owls discontinued baseball and six other interscholastic sports last year, the Roman Catholic righthander will have to settle for playing at the club level and studying secondary education on North Broad Street.
"I played in a lot of tournaments last summer, but, unfortunately, I really didn't get any looks," Lang said.
Lang held Catholic League rival Archbishop Carroll to one hit and struck out eight through six innings, and the visiting Cahillites triumphed, 6-2, Tuesday afternoon in Radnor.
"Bobby locates his pitches, keeps every ball down, and doesn't allow himself to get hurt," Roman skipper Anthony Valucci said.
Lang tired in the seventh, allowing four hits and two runs. Sophomore Santino Nave came on and ended matters with a strikeout. Lang struck out nine and allowed five hits in 62/3 innings.
Roman (9-5 overall) improved to 6-4 in the Catholic League and clinched a berth in the 10-team playoff tournament that begins May 16. Roman's goal now is to improve its postseason seeding.
Lang, also a golfer and soccer player, dropped about 15 pounds over the winter. "I worked out a lot, did a lot of running," the 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior said. "I feel like I have a lot more energy."
For the season, Lang, who lives near the Five Points intersection of Cottman, Rising Sun, and Oxford Avenues in the Northeast, is 3-0 with 32 strikeouts in 31 innings. The 18-year-old has allowed seven earned runs.
With Carroll (8-7, 5-5) committing two errors in both the second and third innings, Roman built a 3-0 lead. Junior shortstop Noah Clement (3 for 4, two RBIs, two runs) and senior centerfielder Jonathan Stoffere (2 for 4, two runs) sparked an 11-hit attack.
Stoffere, a leadoff man who came in batting .364 with 15 runs, made a quick dash and splendid grab in left-center to rob Kevin Bier of an extra-base hit in the sixth.
Next for Roman is a clash Thursday with defending champ Neumann-Goretti (8-2 league) at 26th and Moore. Last year, the Saints ousted the Cahillites from the playoffs.
"It's a big game for us," Lang said. "Aidan Welch, who's from South Philly, is going to pitch for us. I'm sure he's excited about it."
Roman Catholic 012 111 0 - 6 11 0
Archbishop Carroll 000 000 2 - 2 5 4
WP: Bobby Lang. LP: Max Frederick. 2B: RC-Noah Clement 2, Jonathan Stoffere; AC-Rich Melito.
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