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Devon Prep cuts off rally, tops Holy Ghost

John Laprise peeked over his shoulder while waiting for leftfielder Rich Gallo's toss, saw Cole Long tagging up at third base and trying to score the tying run, and threw a perfect relay strike to catcher Nick Pancerella.

John Laprise peeked over his shoulder while waiting for leftfielder Rich Gallo's toss, saw Cole Long tagging up at third base and trying to score the tying run, and threw a perfect relay strike to catcher Nick Pancerella.

With that dramatic ending, Devon Prep held off Holy Ghost Prep, 5-4, Tuesday in a Bicentennial Athletic League baseball showdown at Ted Grabowski Field in Bensalem.

In addition to keeping alive their bid for a league crown, the Tide (12-1 overall, 9-1 BAL) beat the Firebirds (10-3, 9-1) for the first time since 1993.

"We've kind of turned the corner as a program in the last couple of years," Devon Prep coach Mark Aquilante said. "The kids have bought into all the stuff we've asked them to do. We have a lot of demands on them."

On game days, Aquilante offers optional batting practice at 7:30 a.m. Laprise, a junior shortstop who has committed to Virginia, is usually the one setting up shop.

"He's in there at 7:15, putting the cage down and getting the ball basket out," Aquilante said. "Nobody outworks him."

In the second inning, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound Laprise took an 0-2 pitch from lanky righthander Jim McDade and directed it over the left-field fence. His three-run blast gave the Tide a 4-0 cushion.

"He started me out with off-speed pitches," said Laprise, a lefthanded hitter and righty thrower. "He came back with a fastball, a little outside. I was just trying to protect the plate and put the bat on the ball."

Firebirds skipper Keith Smeraglio said McDade's pitch was "supposed to be at the batter's eyes and it was at his waist."

For the season, Laprise, a three-year starter, is batting .450 (18 for 40) with 17 runs and 17 RBIs. He has 12 stolen bases, three home runs, two triples, and two doubles.

Senior righthander Alex Pachella pitched shutout ball in the first six innings, scattering four singles and striking out five.

Down by 5-0, Holy Ghost Prep came alive in its final at-bat. With one out, Chris Crawford (two-run double), Derek Barrett (wind-aided double to center), and Joe Guenther (RBI single to right) fueled the comeback.

On Guenther's hit, Barrett came home on a throwing error to make it 5-4. That's when Aquilante called on righthander Paul Kubat to replace the imploding Pachella.

After Kubat walked Kevin Major, Andrew Whitten lined out to Gallo. After breaking for home on the pitch, Long had to dart back to third to tag up. Because of that, he was gunned down easily by the Gallo-Laprise-Pancerella relay.

The Firebirds were hurt by four errors. McDade, also the team's cleanup man, departed after 51 pitches because of an arm injury.

"It was something inside his elbow," Smeraglio said. "He said he couldn't extend his arm. We don't think it's anything serious."

Devon Prep   1300010 - 563

Holy Ghost Prep   0000004 - 494

WP: Alex Pachella. LP: Jim McDade. 2B: HGP-Chris Crawford, Derek Barrett. HR: DP-John Laprise.