La Salle slugs its way past Lansdale Catholic in PCL playoffs
SPRINGFIELD >> La Salle’s “hard-luck” hitter broke out in a big way Saturday.
“I tried to put a barrel on the baseball,” Joe Cattie said of his three-run home run in the first inning at sunny Ward Field. “We had some great hits today and I snuck one over.”
Cattie’s deep shot was part of a 2-for-3 performance that included a pair of runs scored and four RBIs.
The top-seeded Explorers bolted to a 12-0 lead in the first and went on to an impressive 18-0, Philadelphia Catholic League Playoff victory in two and a half innings over visiting Lansdale Catholic.
“We were all pumped up, ready to go,” Cattie said of the postseason. “We’ve been working really hard, grinding all season. It’s just something different when that playoff mentality comes.
“You’re ready to go, firing on all cylinders. Everybody’s on board, ready to go. We”ve really been looking forward to these games, just bringing a different mentality.”
The win sends La Salle to a Wednesday matchup against either St. Joe’s Prep or Devon Prep, back at La Salle. The Explorers batted around in the first, with Jake Whitlinger (2-for-2), Mason Sermarini (two doubles), Justin Machita, Nick Astolfi and Jefferson Hadson-Taylor all driving in runs.
The Explorers had a second home run in the second, with Danny Wagner’s three-run shot.
“Sometimes, you have those days. You start seeing balls jump off the bat and it gets a little contagious,” Explorers coach Kyle Werman said. “It’s exciting to see that. We have good balance in our lineup where, that can happen, and it was nice to see that come out in the first inning, be emphatic about how our offense is working.”
It was a particularly satisfying start to the postseason for Cattie.
Said Werman of the right fielder: “Joe was probably a tough-luck guy for most of the year. He’s been in the middle of the order for us, for the top team in the league. So he doesn’t get recognition and part of that is a small sample size.
“Part of it is some tough luck, some hard-hit balls. He’s been the guy on our team that has had that all year. And it was nice to see him break out with those balls falling today.”
Right hander Kevin Kell got the shutout on the mound for unbeaten La Salle (13-0).
Anthony Barbosa took the loss for the Crusaders (12-10).
Paul Moretski, Ethan Mellinger and Ryan Martinez all had hits for LC.
“I have a great group of guys. La Salle is just a phenomenal team, extremely well coached,” Crusaders coach Brian Ferko said. “It wasn’t our day today but we battled. I couldn’t be more proud of our guys for the season we put in.”
It was a tremendous season for the Crusaders, one that included the program’s first ever PCL Playoff win.
“(Thursday) was our first win in the PCL Playoffs ever, and to win it at home, to have Paul Moretski, Second-Team All-Catholic, throw a complete game was awesome,” Ferko said. “It was great to get that win and we wanna build on that as we go forward. One win this year, maybe two next year, and we go from there.”
