NEWTOWN SQUARE — Strath Haven isn’t fooling around at the start of the 2024 season. The Panthers are swinging the bats well and pitching lights out in late March, looking every bit as dangerous as the 2023 squad.
The Central League and District 1 Class 5A champions are determined to run it back this spring.
Luke D’Ancona was brilliant on the mound, and the bats were cooking early in Monday’s 7-0 victory at Marple Newtown.
The Panthers (3-0) have started the new campaign with wins over Devon Prep, The Haverford School and Marple Newtown – all quality programs.
“The thing I was most impressed with today was the way we swung the bats early on,” Strath Haven coach Brian Fili said. “We had six straight hits. That’s earning it, too. … We usually start a little slow offensively. Even in both of our scrimmages, we didn’t hit the ball real well, but I think The Haverford School game (last Friday) woke us up a little bit. Some of our first-time varsity players got some confidence in that game.”
The Panthers batted around and scored four runs in the first inning against Tigers starter Jack Maholick. They strung together six consecutive singles, including RBI knocks by Matt Kane, Jack Shuster, D’Ancona and Will Thompson.
“This is a game we were all looking forward to because we know it’s going to have a big impact in the Central League,” said junior second baseman Ben Milligan, who had a single, double and walk. “So, to be able to make a statement in these early games, it’s really going to build our confidence for the season. It definitely has helped us get rolling.”
With D’Ancona dealing, all the Panthers needed was one run. The junior right hander and All-Delco struck out eight and gave up two softly hit singles over six innings of work. The Boston College commit finished with 81 largely stress-free pitches.
“Getting the fastball down is a big key,” D’Ancona said. “Coach Fili and coach (Bill) Kane are always telling me don’t miss and get the ball down. We obviously have one of the best defenses, if not the best defense, in the Central League. I really trust my guys. I rolled a lot of ground balls today and they really backed me up.”
D’Ancona helped his cause with a pair of RBI singles and a walk.
“When everyone is hitting, you don’t want to be the guy that gets an out,” he said. “I’m a pitcher first in my mind, so if I’m pitching that day and I get out hitting, it doesn’t really knock me down because my job today is to be a pitcher. But if you get a hit while you’re on the mound, it definitely is like a double confidence booster.”
D’Ancona showed off his newest pitch, the sweeper, which generated a handful of whiffs and weak contact.
“That was a huge pitch today,” he said. “I threw it in the bullpen and it wasn’t looking so hot, I was kind of leaving it up and I was pulling it all the way to the side. But you know, when I get on the mound I really dial in and I trust my pitches.”
D’Ancona retired the first seven hitters he faced before Noah McIntire hit a single up the middle with one out in the third. Bennett Cox reached with an infield hit with two outs, putting runners on first and second, but D’Ancona struck out Lucien Burger to retire the side. It was the only threat the Tigers mounted all game.
“As soon as we saw this game on our calendar, we had it circled. Going to Marple, first league game of the year, it’s obviously going to be tough,” D’Ancona said. “The bats came out smoking hot. … Against one of the best teams in the league, it was definitely huge to get the season started this way.”
Aidin Curran gave the Tigers (0-1) 3.1 innings of strong relief. The hard-throwing righty struck out seven and allowed a run on three hits.
“We struck out 11 times and left 10 guys on base. I’m not happy about that,” Fili said. “But Luke was locked in all game and we scored four runs in the first inning. That’s a big confidence builder. We fielded the ball for him, too, so that was good. Especially with him, they’re going to have a hard enough time, but if we’re fielding the ball behind him it’s going to be really difficult to score off him.”
Elsewhere in the Central League:
Ridley 3, Haverford 2 >> Sammy Brooks paced the Green Raiders with two RBIs. Nick Radomile smacked a double, and pinch runner Zach Bloom scored the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Chris Kimmel, who pitched six strong with four strikeouts to earn the win, had a bunt hit to move Bloom into scoring position. John Teehan (two K’s) got the save.
In nonleague action:
Radnor 7, Grayslake North (Ill.) 0 >> Austin Havertine pitched a gem to lead the Raptors to victory at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Havertine struck out seven and scattered six hits over six innings.
Andres Cruz and Blake Havertine had two hits apiece for Radnor (1-1). Daniel Kellis caught a line drive in center and fired to first base to complete an 8-3 double play, extinguishing a Grayston rally.
Springfield 8, Chichester 3 >> The Cougars erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a 3-0 deficit.
Ethan Marshall went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Sean Williams smacked a double and drove in a pair of runs. Matt Bean and Colin Treude combined for 6.1 innings with 13 strikeouts.
Trevor Goschler led the Eagles with a double and two RBIs. Cole Sanford had two base knocks.
Episcopal Academy 10-4, Stillwater (N.Y.) 4-2 >> The Churchmen swept their doubleheader and achieved a perfect 4-0 record during their spring break trip to Fort Pierce, Fla.
In Game 1, Tyler Beaulieu had a homer and double. Jack Hurda added a hit and two RBIs.
Gavin Terzoglou finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs in the second game. August Corcoran tossed three innings of scoreless relief, striking out three, to get the win.
Devon Prep 11, Delco Christian 1 >> Reid Darnall had the lone hit, a double, for the Knights.
Haverford School 5, Father Judge 3 >> Ian White dominated on the mound, racking up 11 strikeouts in four innings. Connor Scanlan (three hits) and Brenner Green each had a pair of doubles for the Fords (5-1-1). Green threw two innings to earn the save.
