McConnon lifts Haverford School past Perk School

RED HILL >> James ‘Mac’ McConnon plays wise beyond his years.

“We call him grand pop,” said Haverford School head coach Bob Castell. “He’s one of the only guys still here that played when we won the tournament in 2013. He’s a veteran.”

On Saturday afternoon, McConnon bought himself a little bit more time with The Haverford School baseball team. The senior catcher, a Saint Joseph’s commit, came up in the clutch, delivering a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning as the Fords downed The Perkiomen School in the semifinals of the PAISAA playoffs at Upper Perkiomen High School.

“I’ve been itching to get back to the championship game ever since we won it my freshman season,” said McConnon. “I was sitting first-pitch fastball in that last inning. He gave me a good pitch to hit, so I turned on it and drove it into left field.”

McConnon’s clutch drive comes as nothing new.

On Thursday night, he delivered the game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Haverford beat Springside-Chestnut Hill to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

“He’s a guy we can always rely on,” said Castell. “He comes up with clutch hits when we need them and he calls the show for our pitchers behind the plate.”

Mike Warnick got the start for Perkiomen School, lasting four innings before he gave way to Tommy Bagnell and Justin Meyer in relief. Meyer took the win, allowing two hits and an unearned run across 4-2/3 innings.

Lead-off man Tommy Toal and Bryan Hyland each had two hits in the win.

Perkiomen School’s quest for its first since PAISAA title since the 2000 season came up just short a year after the Panthers fell to Malvern Prep in the final.

Senior right-hander Levi Stoudt battled through an injury on his pitching hand and delivered seven solid innings Saturday where he limited Haverford to three runs on five hits and four walks to go along with nine strikeouts. Josh Cruz took the loss, letting three runs cross in the bottom of the ninth.

Left fielder Marlon Lindsey delivered a clutch double to left to score Cruz and push extras in the bottom of the sixth while right fielder Brett Ciocari and Cruz each finished 2-for-3 on the game.

“There were plenty of opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of,” said Perk School head coach Ken Baker. “That’s the way the game goes. It’s one of those situations where — two good teams face off — who’s going to blink? Unfortunately for us, we blinked in the ninth.

“The last inning shouldn’t take anything away from what these guys accomplished this season. They’ve all worked so hard just to be here, so I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.”