Devon snags title in nine-inning thriller

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Earlier this season, when its top two pitchers were unavailable because of injuries, Devon Prep appeared to have a bleak shot at major success.

But Mark Aquilante's squad held its own in the Bicentennial Athletic League, captured the District 1 championship, and then, averaging eight runs, won its first three state playoff games.

That run peaked Friday night in the PIAA Class A final against undefeated Elk County Catholic, and with Chris Bauers' ninth-inning steal of third base and frantic dash home, the Tide claimed state gold with a 2-1 triumph at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

"It's kind of unbelievable," senior righthander Zach Schellenger said. "We achieved what we set out to do at the beginning of the year."

Schellenger, who is bound for Seton Hall, was shelved in early April with a strained flexor muscle. Junior lefthander Sean Phelan was unavailable for a period because of elbow tendinitis.

"We were like, 'We can still make a run at this,' " said Bauers, a senior centerfielder. "It's not one or two players who win a championship."

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Bauers reached base on a fielder's choice grounder and then stole second. While he was stealing third, ECC's third baseman failed to handle the throw from the catcher, and Bauers scurried home.

"After I took third, I heard [third-base coach Pat] Kane saying, 'Go, go, go,' " Bauers said. "I took his cue and went for it."

Devon starter Pat Rohr, a junior righthander who came in with an 8-2 record and a 1.25 ERA, gave up five hits in eight innings. Phelan handled the ninth and was credited with the victory.

Crusaders starter Brandon Schlimm, a St. Bonaventure signee with a fastball clocked in the mid-80s, held the Tide (16-8) to one hit over seven innings. He threw 111 pitches, 74 for strikes.

With two outs in the seventh, Devon's Tyler Klicka drew a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. But the hard-throwing Schlimm ended the threat with a strikeout.

ECC (26-1) had grabbed 1-0 advantage in the fourth. Jonathan Dippold's single past a drawn-in infield drove home Ivan Wortman.

In the sixth, the Tide forged a 1-1 tie. With the bases loaded and one out, Phelan's bloop into shallow left field drove in C.J. Kohlbrenner. It was ruled a fielder's choice when a runner was forced out at third base.

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WP: Sean Phelan. LP: Ryan Childs. 2B: ECC-Vincent Jacob.