Baseball: Pairings, results, recaps for the Philadelphia Catholic League playoffs
It's time for the high school baseball playoffs, highlighted by the Philadelphia Catholic League first round that began May 15.
Here are the pairings with recaps and previews:
Philadelphia Catholic League
Semifinals, Wednesday
(1) La Salle 3, (6) Father Judge 0: Senior Matt Gannon's two-out, two-run single keyed the Explorers' three-run bottom of the fifth inning at FDR Park, then Gannon scored on a wild pitch. Senior Logan Potter threw 5⅓ innings and senior Cole Kochanowicz came on with two runners on in the sixth and got consecutive strikeouts to halt the threat, then earned the save by closing out the game against defending 6A state champion Judge.
(2) Neumann-Goretti 4, (5) Bonner-Prendergast 3 (11 innings)
Finals, Saturday
(1) La Salle vs. (2) Neumann Goretti at Widener University, 11 a.m.: The Explorers' only PCL regular-season loss was to Neumann Goretti (5-2). They are going for their first PCL title since 2021, when they also won the 6A state championship.
First round, May 15
(7) Archbishop Ryan 3, (10) Devon Prep 1
Thursday
(9) Archbishop Wood 9, (8) Cardinal O'Hara 2: Senior Patrick Gozdan contributed four RBIs and junior Richie Bayachek earned the complete-game pitching victory as Wood advanced to Saturday's quarterfinals vs. top-seeded La Salle. Bayachek allowed five hits, walked one and struck out 10. Gozdan contributed two hits, as did senior teammate Braden Kelly (double, RBI). Junior Zach Neeld, like Kelly, scored two runs. Wood scored in five of the seven innings, including three runs apiece in the top of the third and fifth innings, with seven of its nine batters having at least one hit.
The Vikings, who reached the PIAA Class 4A semifinals a year ago, dropped a 3-1 decision to O'Hara in their PCL regular-season opener.
Quarterfinals, Saturday
(2) Neumann-Goretti 10, (7) Archbishop Ryan 0
3 seniors play key role at Conwell-Egan: Help Eagles to a much-improved baseball season
(6) Father Judge (6) 4, (3) Conwell-Egan 2: Junior Chase Forester started, then senior Kyle Tuthill and freshman Brady Guzzie pitched in relief for the host Eagles against defending PIAA Class 6A state champion Judge. Senior Zach Linn had a two-run single in the third inning to close CEC's deficit to 3-2. Senior David Rodriguez went the distance for Judge.
Conwell-Egan, which ended up 9-3 in the PCL, outlasted defending 6A state champ Judge 1-0 in nine innings on May 8. Sophomore Julian Grotz singled home sophomore Keegan Johnson in the top of the ninth for the Eagles, who received seven innings of two-hit ball and nine strikeouts from Forester.
Sunday
(1) La Salle 7, (9) Archbishop Wood 0: Senior Frank Provenzano had three RBIs and junior Jack Pye threw five shutout innings to propel host La Salle past Wood. Provenzano had two hits, including a two-run double. Pye struck out seven, walked none and gave up just two hits. Senior Cole Kochanowicz and junior Chris Cavalcante each pitched an inning. Senior Kevin Schmidt added two RBIs, while senior Matt Gannon and junior Aimon Chandler contributed two hits apiece.
The Explorers downed Wood 10-3 during the regular season. They went 11-1 in the PCL, falling only to Neumann-Goretti. La Salle outscored its Catholic League opponents 97-31, reaching double-digit runs in each of the final four regular-season games.
He's more than a pitcher for La Salle: Cole Kochanowicz excels in more than baseball
(5) Bonner-Prendergast 7, (4) St. Joseph Prep 2
PIAA District One Class 6A
(top six advance to states)
First round, May 20
No. 17 at No. 16
No. 24 at No. 9
No. 20 at No. 13
No. 21 at No. 12
No. 18 at No. 15
No. 23 at No. 10
No. 19 at No. 14
No. 22 at No. 11
Second round, May 22
No. 16/17 winner at No. 1
Quakertown's Qualteria is on the run: Senior shortstop keeps racking up school stolen base records
No. 9/24 winner at No. 8
No. 13/20 winner at No. 4
No. 12/21 winner at No. 5
No. 15/18 winner at No. 2
No. 10/23 winner at No. 7
No. 14/19 winner at No. 3
No. 11/22 winner at No. 6
Quarterfinals, May 24
TBA
Semifinals, May 28
TBA
Final, May 30
Semifinal winners
Class 5A
(top three advance to states)
First round, May 20
No. 9 at No. 8
No. 12 at No. 5
No. 10 at No. 7
No. 11 at No. 6
Quarterfinals, May 22
No. 8/9 winner at No. 1
No. 5/12 winner at No. 4
No. 7/10 winner at No. 2
No. 6/11 winner at No. 3
Semifinals, May 24
TBA
Final, May 28
TBA
Class 4A
(winner advances to states)
Semifinals, May 21
No. 4 at No. 1
No. 3 at No. 2
Final, May 23
Semifinal winners
Class 3A combined District One/11
(top two advance to states)
TBA
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Class A
(winner advances to states)
Semifinals, May 21
No. 4 at No. 1
No. 3 at No. 2
Final, May 23
Semifinal winners
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Catholic League Baseball Playoffs: Matchups, scores, recaps
