Bertolami shuts down Frankford as Bishop Shanahan reaches state quarters

PLYMOUTH >> If you are going to pick a time to step up and carry your team to victory, then the first round of the PIAA Class 5A playoffs is about the best time you can get. 

Bishop Shanahan starting pitcher Anthony Bertolami dazzled Frankford on Monday, giving up just one hit, walking just two batters and striking out six Pioneers. He also started the winning rally with a single in the fourth inning that led to the game’s only run, as the Eagles defeated Frankford, 1-0. 

Bishop Shanahan will now play highly regarded Cedar Cliff in Thursday’s quarterfinal round at a time and place to be determined.

“Anthony was very, very good today,” Bishop Shanahan coach Brian Boyko said. “He kept them off balance and they were an aggressive team at the plate. He threw all his pitches for strikes and got his offspeed stuff over for first pitch strikes also. I tell the kids if we pitch, field and then execute we can be successful and that is what happened today.”

Bertolami frustrated the Pioneers (16-5) by stranding runners in both the first and second innings before retiring the Pioneers in order in the third. The Eagles (14-10) were having trouble of their own against crafty Frankford lefty Luis Ramos, who allowed just three Bishop Shanahan hits.

The Eagles stranded runners in the second and third innings with Ramos starting a nice double play to quell the Shanahan rally in the third. But, Shanahan struck in the bottom of the fourth inning with Bertolami helping his own cause.

Bertolami led off with a single to center field to start the fourth and was replaced on the bases by pinch runner Anthony Falk. Derek Gibbs laid down a bunt, which Ramos fielded and looked at second base before throwing late to first, and the Eagles had runners on first and second with no one out.

Kurt Pollard laid down another perfect sacrifice bunt and the runners advanced to second and third with one out. Ken Kunzman knocked in Falk with a sharp ground ball to second base and Bishop Shanahan had a 1-0 lead at the end of four innings.

“When we got that run in the fourth inning I knew I could hold them,” Bertolami said. “I felt really good today and I was just trying to throw strikes with my fastball and my curve ball was good. I also got some of my breaking balls over. We could have used some more runs but I just trusted my fielders to make the plays and they did a great job behind me.”

Frankford had two runners on in the top the fourth inning courtesy of the only two walks Bertolami allowed, but the Eagles senior got out of that jam and he sailed through the fifth and sixth innings, retiring Frankford in order in both frames.

Bishop Shanahan had a chance to break the game open in the bottom of the sixth inn as the Eagles loaded the bases with one out, but Ramos retired Kunzman and Will Ciarlone to keep it at 1-0, going to the seventh inning.

Ramos led off the inning and Bertolami induced him to ground out to second base for the first out. Daniel Rivera made the second frank ford out by popping out to Kunzman and Bertolami got the final out when Jose Camillo popped out to short and Bishop Shanahan was on its way to Thursday’s quarterfinals. Bertolami retired the last nine Frankford batters he faced.

“We really had to battle today but this team feels like we have something special going on right now,” Bertolami said. “Playing in a league with so many tough teams really prepares us to play these state games. We see really good teams in the Ches-Mont. This is a really good run we are on right now. there is just a special kind of feeling in the dugout.”

Bishop Shanahan 1, Frankford 0

Frankford 000 000 0-0

Bishop Shanahan 000 100 x-1

WP: Bartolami. LP: Ramos.