Muntz’s 3-run blast lifts Malvern Prep over Springfield in comeback win

MALVERN >> Malvern Prep senior catcher Shane Muntz has spent three-plus years making big plays when his team needs them.

So when he came to the plate in the sixth inning Thursday afternoon with his team trailing by one and two men on base, what happened next was incredibly dramatic, even if it wasn’t all that surprising.

With the count at 1-2 against Springfield-Delco lefty Mike Smith, Muntz launched a titanic three run homer over the right center field fence for a game winning blast that gave the Friars a come-from-behind, 6-4 triumph over a very good Cougars club.

“I hit a fastball a a little out over the plate,” Muntz said. “I was sitting on something offspeed but I saw the ball really well and took it out to right center for the home run. We fought really hard today and really one through nine we have a very dangerous lineup. It was real intense on our bench in the late innings.”

Springfield (5-2) took a 4-1 lead in the top of the second inning off Malvern starter Connor Dillion. The Cougars got a big two run double from Smith and Springfield scored three runs on four hits in the inning to take a 4-1 lead after an inning and a half.

Malvern came back in the bottom part of the inning to score one run when the Friars’ (6-3) Vince Sposato hit a towering blast of his own over the left field fence to cut the Springfield lead to 4-2 after two.

Malvern pitching got tough from there as the Friars’ relief duo of Jimmy Kingsbury and Billy Corcoran held the Cougars without a run and allowed just one hit over the last four innings. And that clutch pitching allowed the relentless Friar attack to come back on the Cougars.

Down 4-2 going to the bottom of the fifth, Malvern mounted a rally. Jack Carpenter opened the inning by getting hit with a pitch. Muntz then walked to put two men on with no outs. Chris Newell popped out to second for the first out. But walks to Will Burgess and Sposato gave the Friars an easy run and Malvern closed the gap to 4-3 after five innings.

“We held their lineup intact pretty well,” Springfield coach Brian Francis said. “But we did allow too many walks and you cannot do that against a lineup that good.”

With Corcoran striking out the Cougar side on 12 pitches in the top of the sixth inning, the Friars came to the plate with intentions of coming back and taking the nonleague affair. But, Brady Deveraux struck out looking for the first Malvern out. Connor Offshack then laced a sharp single to left field before Carpenter laid down a perfect bunt that the Cougars could not handle, putting two men on with one out and setting up Muntz’s heroics.

“If you want to be a big time player you have to get hits like that,” Malvern prep coach Fred Hilliard said. “And Shane has done that for us many times. And Jack Carpenter laid down a perfect bunt and Connor got us going with that single. We really picked up the intensity on the bench and at the plate late in the game. We really had a sense of urgency.”

Springfield only had one hit after the second inning and the Cougars had to face Friar ace Corcoran in the top of the seventh down a run. Lanny Kelly led off with a tapper back to Corcoran, who threw him out at first. Smith then hit a two-hopper to shortstop for the second out, and Corcoran ended the game by striking out Dave Bingman.

“We really battled today,” Francis said. “We knew Muntz was a real good hitter and we did a good job on him the first three times he was up but he got us when it counted. But, we battled a real good team for the entire 21 outs and I am proud of my kids effort.”

Malvern Prep 6. Springfield (Delco) 4
SPR    ab    r    h    bi    MAL     ab    r    h    bi
Smith lf    4    1    1    2    Offshack 3b    3    2    1    0
Bingman 3b    3    0    0    0    Dillion p    2    0    0    0
Todaro c    3    0    0    0    Kingsbury p    0    0    0    0
Kennedy cr    0    0    0    0    Corcoran p    0    0    0    0
Morris dh    3    0    0    0    Crpnter cf    1    2    1    0
Paulus 1b    2    1    1    1    Muntz c    3    1    1    4
Quinn rf    3    1    1    0    Newell rf    4    0    2    0
Chccchio ss    3    1    1    0    Burgess dh    3    0    1    0
Conran 2b    0    0    0    0    Li cf    3    0    1    0
Huk lf    1    0    0    0    Sposato lf    3    1    1    2
Strawley p    2    0    1    0    Andress 1b    3    0    0    0
Kelly 2b    1    0    0    0    Wolfe 2b    2    0    0    0
Dveraux ph    1    0    0    0
Totals    25    4    5    3    Totals    27    6    7    6
Springfield (Delco)     130 000 0 — 4
Malvern Prep     110 013 x — 6
2B – Smith. HR – Paulus, Sposato, Muntz.
IP    H    R    BB    SO
Springfield
Strawley    2.2    3    2    2    1
Smith, L    2.2    4    3    3    1
Conran    .1    0    0    0    0
Malvern Prep
Dillion    3    4    4    0    2
Kingsbury    2    1    0    1    2
Corocoran, W    2    0    0    0    4