Streaking Frankford to meet Northeast in baseball semifinal
Frankford's baseball team did not enjoy a smooth beginning to the season. "We had to battle through some injury and discipline issues," ninth-year skipper Juan Namnun said. "It hurt, but we're better for it now."
Frankford's baseball team did not enjoy a smooth beginning to the season.
"We had to battle through some injury and discipline issues," ninth-year skipper Juan Namnun said. "It hurt, but we're better for it now."
Namnun and the slow-starting Pioneers have rebounded and are two victories away from their first Public League title since 2013 and ninth in the last 14 seasons.
"We haven't had the success we're accustomed to in the last couple of years," Namnun said. "We're happy to be in a position to get back on top."
Frankford (10-5) will take on Northeast (11-3) in a Public League semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Friday at South Philly's FDR Park. The Pioneers fell to the Vikings, 3-2, in eight innings in a rainy regular-season matchup.
Frankford, which has won eight of its last nine games, is led on offense by Dioanny Mejia (.500 batting average, 18 runs, 10 RBIs, seven doubles), Joshua Pagan (.467, 12 runs), Xavier Sanchez (.438, nine RBIs), and Edgardo Bernard (.410, 16 RBIs).
Mejia, a sophomore middle infielder and pitcher, was named USA Baseball's Mid-Atlantic player of the week for hitting .909 (10 for 11) from April 18 to 25.
Pagan is a rock-solid junior backstop. "He's come through with clutch hits in so many games," Namnun said. "He's been a force."
Sanchez, a senior, doubles as a shortstop and pitcher. "His bat control is phenomenal," Namnun said. "He has a bunch of opposite-field singles."
Bernard is a rightfielder, first baseman, and lefthanded hurler. Namnun said the power-hitting senior has drawn the interest of several Major League Baseball clubs, including the Brewers, Mets, and Phillies.
"Unfortunately, he's not getting a lot of pitches to hit this season," Namnun said. "He's been intentionally walked six times."
Bernard batted .489 with 28 RBIs, 22 runs, and seven doubles last season. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder has committed to play at New York's Monroe College, a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.
Bernard's brother, Esteban "Shortie" Meletiche, starred as a shortstop and pitcher for Frankford (Class of 2008) and went on to play at Keystone College in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a Division III first-team all-American in 2012.
Sanchez is expected to start on the mound against Northeast. Frankford's other righthanded hurlers are Mejia, Giovanni Burgos, and Jose Romero. Romero is also a utility infielder and cleanup batter.
The Vikings, who are seeking their first league title since 1999, will likely counter with senior righthander Mike Angelilli.
In the Public League's other semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Friday, at FDR's next-door field, Olney Charter will take on Franklin Towne Charter.
PCL final. No. 7 seed St. Joseph's Prep (11-12) will face No. 5 Neumann-Goretti (14-6) for top Catholic League honors at noon Saturday at Immaculata University.
The Hawks will throw junior southpaw Colin Scanlon (3-1, 3.85 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 361/3 innings). The Saints will send senior righthander and Western Kentucky recruit Jeff Ciocco (5-1, 0.65 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 431/3 innings) to the hill.
If the Prep can claim its first title since 2008, it will also earn the right to represent the league in the PIAA District 12 Class 4A final. A loss to N-G would mean that playoff berth goes to regular-season champ Father Judge.
The Crusaders would advance by virtue of earning more power points with an 11-1 regular-season league showing.
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