Penn Charter nips Malvern Prep in baseball
Alex Cohens sacrifice fly in the seventh plated the lone run in the Inter-Ac battle.
Penn Charter baseball coach David Miller said an all-for-one approach has been key to the team's successful season.
Take Alex Cohen, for example. The senior starts at first base only when ace righthander Joey Lancellotti is on the hill.
"Every time I'm in the lineup, it's important that I make the most of every chance I get to make a play," Cohen said.
Cohen, a third-year varsity member, did just that Tuesday afternoon in an Inter-Ac League showdown with Malvern Prep.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder produced an RBI sacrifice fly to right field in the seventh inning as the visiting Quakers, ranked No. 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by the Inquirer, edged the No. 2 Friars, 1-0.
"He's embraced his role," Miller said. "When he's playing, he does his job. When he's not playing, he supports his teammates. It's great to have a kid as unselfish as him."
Penn Charter escaped junior righthander Billy Corcoran and company by the same score for the second time in the last three weeks.
Lancellotti tossed a five-hitter with eight strikeouts as the first-place Quakers (19-1, 7-1 Inter-Ac) took a huge step toward claiming their first outright league crown since 2009.
"We haven't taken any games for granted," Miller said. "But we knew, if we won this one, we controlled things."
Malvern Prep, which has won or shared top Inter-Ac honors the last six years, slipped to 15-5 and 5-2. "Just like the last time we played them, they battled us until the end," Cohen said.
Corcoran, a Pittsburgh recruit, hurled a four-hitter and whiffed seven while going the distance.
"He's an absolute monster," Miller said. "I'm heartbroken for the kid that he took a one-run loss again despite pitching so well."
Sammy Siani opened the Quakers' seventh with a double to left-center and James Gabor followed with a bloop single to right. After a fielder's choice grounder kept Siani pinned at third base, the Friars intentionally walked Steve Lorenz to get to Cohen.
Cohen, also a sidearm hurler, came through by sending a Corcoran curveball to right and plating Siani.
The Friars had baserunners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but Lancellotti, who threw 116 pitches, escaped with a strikeout and double-play grounder to shortstop Adam Holland.
Cohen's second-inning RBI single was the difference in the teams' first meeting. The 17-year-old from Newtown Square and senior teammate Brendan Pell, a second baseman, are headed to Dickinson.
Penn Charter 000 000 1 - 1 4 1
Malvern Prep 200 000 0 - 0 5 1
WP: Joey Lancellotti. LP: Billy Corcoran. 2B: PC-Sammy Siani; MP-Tommy Walters.
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