Shanahan’s postseason heroics come to a halt versus Cedar Cliff
READING – Bishop Shanahan’s baseball season ended abruptly on Thursday, but the Eagles certainly made their mark in the last month.
No better than a .500 club during the regular season in the tough Ches-Mont league, the Eagles blossomed in the postseason, advancing to the Elite Eight in the state before falling to District 3 powerhouse Cedar Cliff, 11-0, in the PIAA 5A Quarterfinals.
“The wins are great, but it’s really about the journey,” said Shanahan head coach Brian Boyko. “You build relationships and I hold a spot for that.
“I told them not to ever forget the bonds they’ve made. Even in the butt-whoopings, don’t forget those because it builds character.”
The clash on Thursday at Muhlenberg High School lasted just five innings before the mercy rule was invoked. The Eagles (14-11 overall) just ran into a buzz saw.
“Cedar Cliff could flat-out hit,” Boyko said. “Every once in a while you run into a team like that and you have to tip your cap to them. They are very good.
“When you play a team that is that good, you have to be on it from start to finish.”
Thanks largely to some stout pitching — especially from twin brothers Anthony and Matt Bertolami — 11th seeded Shanahan made it to the District 1 final before bowing out 1-0 to Holy Ghost Prep. Anthony notched a one-hit 1-0 shutout in the opening round of states. But with Matt on the mound, the magic ended against the Colts, ranked No. 2 in the state by MaxPreps.
Bertolami lasted just two and two-thirds of an inning after surrendering nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits.
“We knew (Cedar Cliff) was a very good hitting team coming in,” Matt Bertolami said. “I went out there and did the best I could.”
Junior outfielder Derek Gibbs had the Eagles’ lone hit, which was quickly erased on a double play in the second inning. It also didn’t help that Shanahan committed three costly errors in the field.
“That’s probably the only thing we’ll look back on and say, ‘Oh shoot,’” Boyko said when asked about the miscues. “I always say we have to pitch, field and then try to scrape together a few runs.
“But if you can’t do a couple of those things, you usually struggle.”
The District 3 champions, Cedar Cliff (23-3 overall) sent nine batters to the plate and exploded for five runs in the second inning. In all, the Colts registered six hits including a two-run double followed by a two-run single.
And then in the next inning, Cedar Cliff pushed four more runs across to chase Bertolami. The Colts added three more hits and was aided by two Eagles’ errors — all with two out — and then added a pair in the fourth to make it 11-0.
“That shows you how good District 3 is,” Boyko said. “Red Land did very well against Holy Ghost (11-0 win in round one), and Cedar Cliff just beat up on us.”
Colts’ starter Trey Law fanned five in four innings and allowed just two baserunners. Outfielder Mike Prieto got into scoring position for Shanahan after a walk in the third inning, but was stranded.
“(Law) wasn’t overpowering or anything,” Gibbs said. “But he got in a groove and he was moving fast, and I think that threw us off.
“We’re not the biggest team physically. Our coaches just tell us to play defense, play the game the right way and steal a couple runs.”
Following a post-game talk, the Eagles gathered together one last time for a team picture.
“They battled,” Boyko said. “No one gave them a shot, and to beat a fantastic Marple Newtown squad in the district semis, then play a very good Holy Ghost team (in the final), and the one-hitter against Frankford, to see these kids go out and compete the way they did, I couldn’t be more proud.”
One of six senior regulars in the lineup, Matt Bertolami added: “The postseason was a lot of fun. We did some things that a lot of people didn’t think we could do.
“It was special and something we’ll never forget,” he added.
Cedar Cliff 11, Bishop Shanahan 0 (5 innings)
Bishop Shanahan 000 00 — 0
Cedar Cliff 054 2x — 11
2B – Whalen (CC).
WP – Law (CC). LP — M. Bertolami (BS).
