Taylor pitches six strong as Chichester stays perfect

UPPER CHICHESTER —  Zach Taylor is very understated on the mound.

The Chichester sophomore doesn’t let anything bother him. Not even a sharp wind or driving rainfall can rattle his focus.

“I just want to make my pitches, make sure I’m not throwing them over the plate,”

Taylor kept visiting Springfield off-balance for six innings Friday. He scattered five hits and three walks while striking out four to lead Chichester to a 4-1 nonleague victory.

“Zach’s a kid who’s got ice in his veins,” Chi coach Dan Singley said. “He’s that kind of kid. He just doesn’t worry about anything, he’s a quality kid, all-around. In the classroom and on the field, he’s a great kid to have. We have a lot of them this year, it’s not just Zach. And the great thing is, they pull for each other.”

The Eagles’ collective character is one reason why they’re off to such a great start. Chi is 7-0 overall, 5-0 Del Val League. The Eagles have another nonleague tilt Saturday at Penncrest.

The Del Val League is severely lacking in quality high school baseball talent and there’s only so many 15-and 10-run-rule wins a team of Chi’s caliber can take. The league has been dominated by Chi and Interboro for years, and this spring is no different.

That’s part of the reason why the Eagles began the year at Universal Studios in Florida, scrimmaging against solid competition.

The Eagles also have games with Haverford High, Garnet Valley and Sun Valley. Filling up their open dates with competitive clubs could prove to be a fruitful decision for the Eagles. After all, remaining Del Val League teams lost four games after Glen Mills folded following a state of emergency amid allegations of abuse. That’s four wins the Eagles need to find somewhere, so why not do against area teams that will give you nine quality innings?

“We just want to play as many competitive teams that we can, that’s our goal,” Singley said. “That’s why we go to Florida every year also, so that we’re more ready than anybody else. That’s really important for us.”

Prior to Friday’s contest, Chi hadn’t allowed a run since a 7-3 win over Upper Darby March 29. In four Del Val games, the Eagles have outscored Academy Park, Chester, Interboro and Penn Wood 77-0.

Despite its youth, inexperience and struggles in the Central League, Springfield was a good match skill-wise for Chi.

While Taylor handled the Cougars’ bats, the Eagles’ bats went to work against pitcher Colin Newcomb, who was making his first start. After a three-game week against league rivals, the Cougars (1-9) were without their normal contingent of pitching options.

Chi senior Damian Thompson and Taylor led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back walks. Both scored on an error.

In the fifth, the fleet-footed Thompson ripped an RBI triple to the gap in left-center. He was held up at third base, even though he tasted a home run. Luckily he put on the brakes just in time.

“I overran his thoughts,” Thompson said, laughing. “It was definitely a shot.”

A three-sport athlete, who hopes to continue his football career in college, Thompson has been a productive player at the top of the order for the Eagles the last couple seasons.

“I’ve led off my entire life, basically. It’s nothing new,” he said. “I’m a contact hitter, I like racking up RBIs. I’d rather be like a No. 5 hitter, driving guys in, but I don’t mind leading off. I’m fast, I can score runs, that’s all I need to do.”

Ryan Boyers, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI, relieved Taylor in the top of the seventh. Springfield loaded the bags with two outs before Boyers struck out pinch-hitter Colin Shane to end the game.

Danny Ryan, a freshman, tossed a pair of solid innings in relief of Newcomb, who allowed two unearned runs on one hit, but walked five.

In the field and at the plate, Springfield’s top player this season is junior Casey Vaughan, who went 2-for-3 with a walk. Vaughan fielded every grounder that came his way and made a spectacular play when he slid in the hole, popped up and nailed a runner trying to score from third base.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Haverford School 9, Episcopal Academy 2 >> The Fords scored six runs in the first two innings and never looked back. Pat Toal hurled five-plus frames, allowing one earned run with six strikeouts to earn the win. ]

Connor Brala led the way at the plate for the Fords with two doubles, a homer and two ribbies. Calvin Costner collected three base knocks, including a dinger, and scored three runs. Luke Kania was a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish for the Fords, who pounded out 14 hits.

Jack O’Reilly was 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the losing cause.

In the Central League:

Garnet Valley 10, Upper Darby 2 >> Reece Malek and Cole Palis were quite a one-two punch at the top of the GV lineup. Malek smacked two triples to go with two walks, two RBIs and three runs scored. Palis had a single, a double, two runs, an RBI and a walk.

Nick Wiesendanger went 2-for-3 with three ribbies and a walk for the undefeated Jags (8-0). Darren Hagan added two hits, including a double, and scored three runs.

Jack Haveson pitched five innings with nine strikeouts for the win.

In the Ches-Mont League:

Sun Valley 14, Unionville 2 >> Vinny DeAngelo paced the Vanguards’ relentless offensive attack, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. He reached base in all four plate appearances.

Kenny Jensen (three RBIs), Dom Valente (three runs, two walks), Jack Youhouse (RBI, walk) and Camren Johnston (two RBIs) each smashed a double.

Jensen tossed five innings for the win, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out three.

In nonleague action:

Delco Christian 20, Collegium Charter 1 >> Tyler Rossini struck out seven and was the winning pitcher.