McFadden, Upper Dublin top Plymouth Whitermarsh for SOL American win
UPPER DUBLIN >> Under normal circumstances, the story of Friday’s Suburban One League American Conference game between Upper Dublin and Plymouth Whitemarsh game would revolve totally around Upper Dublin pitcher Conor McFadden.
The game, however, featured both teams chipping in for a greater cause. Both teams were seen sporting gold laces in their spikes as part of the Go4thegoal initiative to raise awareness for pediatric cancer.
“We do a lot of stuff in the community,” Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall said. “(Suzanne Swiger) has been coordinating that for the last couple years and this was something I suggested to her as a good opportunity and she took it and ran with it.”
“I talked to (Plymouth Whitemarsh coach) Chris (Manero) and Chris is a great guy and was more than willing to help out with such a great cause,” Wall continued. “To have both teams work together like this is special. Its really nice when you come together for something like that.”
As far as the play on the field it was all about McFadden in the Cardinals’ 7-0 victory. The senior righty tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits, walking three and striking out six as he kept the PW lineup off balance all day. Two of the three times PW did actually get runners on McFadden forced it to roll into a double play.
“I think I was locating my fast ball real well, especially later in the game” McFadden said. “Curve(ball) was definitely dropping today. That was my pitch.”
As if his performance on the mound wasn’t enough, McFadden was getting it done at the plate as well. McFadden reached safely in all four of his plate appearances, singling in his first three.
McFadden’s first two at-bats resulted in RBIs and his third would have as well had Cole Swiger not scored on a passed ball a couple of pitches before McFadden’s hit. McFadden finished the day 3-for-3 with three singles, two RBIs and a walk. Swiger scored four runs in the game.
“I wanted those ones, but its good to see them come home,” McFadden said of his squandered opportunities to pad the stats.
The top of the lineup for Upper Dublin produced greatly Friday afternoon, which is something that hasn’t necessarily been typical for the Cardinals this year, but would go along way to a successful season to really get them going especially because there is a lot of varsity experience at the top of the Cards’ lineup.
“At the beginning of the season we had a tough time getting going and the bottom of the order carried us,” Wall said. “Today was great to see. Play a compete game offensively, all seven innings and have some fun out there.”
Upper Dublin’s one through four hitters, Justin Horn, JT Breslin, Swiger and McFadden, combined to go 9-for-12 with four RBIs and scored all seven of the Cards’ runs and accounted for nine of the team’s 10 hits.
“I think veterans have definitely stepped up,” McFadden said. “Cole, myself, Justin Horn, really big hitters this year. JT Breslin, he’s doing real well in the two spot right now and the other players are really stepping up at the bottom of the lineup. I think overall (we are) solid.”
