By Peter DiGiovanni
pdgiovanni07@gmail.com
@PeteDLNontwitter
MALVERN >> At a sun-splashed Malvern Prep field, the host Friars continued their winning ways with a convincing 9-1 win over Haverford School, Tuesday in Inter-Academic League action.
The Friars broke the game open in the bottom of the first inning, scoring six runs, then watched pitcher Tague Davis tame the potent Fords attack. Malvern (3-0 Inter-Ac, 15-1 overall) stayed unbeaten in the Inter-Ac as they knocked the Fords (2-1, 6-5-1) from the unbeaten ranks in the league.
“Tague was fantastic for us today,’ Malvern coach Fred Hilliard said. “He did not worry about punch outs. He just pitched to soft contact and let his fielders did the job. He filled up the zone with strikes and he did what leaders do. He got a lead and threw strikes and got the guys back in the dugout.”
Malvern sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning against Fords starter Ian White. Chase Ecker led the inning off with a walk and went to third base when Davis doubled to right field. Andrew Pellicciota then knocked in both runners with a hard double to right center field.
After Brady Abate struck out, Mason Clark was hit by a White pitch. Jon Holt walked and then Grant Kennedy and Jackson Melconian hit RBI doubles against White. Cole Kirschner knocked in another Friars run with a sharp groundout to short. When the carnage was over, Malvern had a commanding 6-0 lead.
Davis was in total command of the Fords attack as he allowed just three hits while striking out three batters and walking just three in his complete game win.
Malvern added to their lead by scoring three runs on four hits against Fords’ reliever Kevin Li in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kennedy started the Friars rally with a one-out double to right field. Kirschner then ripped an RBI single to make it a 7-0 Friars lead. Ecker singled in Kirscnhner, then stole second base and scored when Davis ripped an RBI single.
“My mindset on the mound is that the game is zero to zero,” Davis said. I just try to focus on the next batter and throw strikes. Today I felt good on the mound and my changeup was real good. I was getting ahead with the sinker and they hit some soft grounders and my fielders did a great job for me.”
The Fords avoided the shutout when Jayden Rivera led off the sixth inning with a double and came around to score to make it a 9-1 game. But, Davis then set the Fords down in order in the top of the seventh inning.
“We feel good about the way we are playing right now,” Davis said. “But, this league is very tough — you cannot take a day off because every team has (good) players. We have a target on our backs also so we have to come to play every day.”
Malvern Prep 9, Haverford School 1
Haverford School 000 001 0-1
Malvern Prep 600 030 x-9
2B-Rivera, Davis, Pelliciotta, Kennedy 2, Meloconian.
WP-Davis. LP- White.
