Haverford High edges Garnet Valley in league opener

Longtime Haverford High baseball coach Paul Bogosian showed up at school Saturday afternoon and found infielders Nick Cerelli, Dylan Resnick, and Luke Marmer taking extra batting practice.

That dedication paid off in the Central League opener Tuesday, with the trio combining for five of the Fords' eight hits in a 4-3 victory over top-notch hurler Mike Bechtold and Garnet Valley.

"We have the bats to do well this year," Cerelli said. "Another thing is, we're real connected as a team. We have good chemistry."

Cerelli, who moved from shortstop to third base in the offseason, went 2 for 3 from the cleanup position. He impressively handles three short-hop grounders that went his way.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior prepared for the position switch by playing the hot corner for the American Legion's Haverford Heat last summer.

"I played a lot of different positions growing up, so it wasn't a big deal," Cerelli said. "I'm pretty comfortable at third."

Cerelli also dropped about 20 pounds by watching his diet, running, and lifting weights. "He's worked hard all the way around for this season," Bogosian said.

Bechtold, a senior righthander and James Madison recruit, kept Haverford (2-0 overall) scoreless on three hits through five innings.

"He was throwing hard and mixing in a good curveball," said Cerelli, who batted .393 last season while earning second-team all-Central honors.

Haverford's five-hit, four-run sixth erased a 1-0 deficit. Marmer hit a one-out single; Resnick and Cole Humes each slapped RBI doubles to left field; and Drew Fowler and Kenny Kissinger followed with RBI singles.

The Jaguars (1-1) threatened with two runs in the seventh, but Humes, a southpaw who replaced starter Corey Hunt with two out, induced a liner that struck Matt Burba (one-out walk) on his way to third.

Hunt, a junior righthander, allowed five hits and three runs in 62/3 innings. "He threw great, did a nice job of making them put the ball in play and letting his fielders do the rest," Cerelli said.

Garnet Valley 000 100 2 - 3 5 2

Haverford 000 004 x - 4 8 1

WP: Corey Hunt. LP: Mike Bechtold. 2B: GV-Alex Fisher; H-Dylan Resnick, Cole Humes.