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Coppola, Prep romp in PCL baseball semifinal

John Coppola says his late-season tear is not because of extra trips to the batting cage. "I think I've been taking less batting practice, actually," the St. Joseph's Prep senior first baseman said. "I just try to end on a positive note when I do."

John Coppola says his late-season tear is not because of extra trips to the batting cage.

"I think I've been taking less batting practice, actually," the St. Joseph's Prep senior first baseman said. "I just try to end on a positive note when I do."

With Coppola staying hot, the No. 7-seeded Hawks racked up 13 hits and topped No. 6 Cardinal O'Hara, 14-9, Wednesday afternoon in a Catholic League semifinal at La Salle High.

Coppola went 3 for 3 with three RBIs, three runs, two RBIs, and a pair of walks in a contest that dragged on for 2 hours, 42 minutes. His two-run single highlighted a five-run sixth inning and produced a 12-7 advantage.

The 6-foot, 180-pounder is 9 for 10 with six RBIs and five runs in three playoff games. He went 4 for 4 with a double and two RBIs in a 6-3 triumph over Lansdale Catholic in a first-round matchup Sunday.

"He's really been carrying us," Hawks skipper Joe Falcone said. "You need your best players to perform well to advance, and he's done that."

St. Joe's Prep (11-12) will try for its first Catholic League title since 2008 when it meets No. 5 seed Neumann-Goretti (14-6) at noon Saturday at Immaculata University.

"It's been a team effort," Coppola said. "Everybody's been staying in the game, including the guys on the bench. And we're a team that fights the entire game. We don't let up."

Coppola, who earned first-team all-Catholic honors, is batting .507 from the No. 3 hole. He can also switch to second base when needed.

"He leads by example, he's steady, and he's flexible in what position he can play or where he can bat in the order," Falcone said. "He started the year as our leadoff hitter."

Against O'Hara, which was seeking its first league crown since 2003, junior second baseman and Villanova recruit Jeff Manto went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two walks.

Leftfielder Luke Donaphan (three runs, RBI single), third baseman Keith Flaherty (two RBI singles, two runs), and designated hitter Joe DiProsperos (2 for 4, two runs) also ignited the Hawks.

After three Prep hurlers gave up a combined 11 walks to the Lions (11-10), Falcone will happily turn to ace Colin Scanlon, a junior southpaw, Saturday against N-G.

Coppola, of Newtown, will study business at Villanova and attempt to earn a roster spot when he plays fall baseball for the Wildcats.

St. Joseph's Prep 012 245 0 - 14 13 2

Cardinal O'Hara 012 040 2 - 9 9 2

WP: George Stewart. LP: Kevin Sessa.

2B: SJP-John Coppola, Jeff Manto, Joe DiProsperos.