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Andres Cruz, seen making a play in an April 10 game against Springfield, hit a two-run home run in the Raptors' 11-0 victory over Interboro in a District 1 Class 5A first-round game Monday. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
Andres Cruz, seen making a play in an April 10 game against Springfield, hit a two-run home run in the Raptors’ 11-0 victory over Interboro in a District 1 Class 5A first-round game Monday. (PETE BANNAN-DAILY TIMES)
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GLENOLDEN — Andres Cruz stood at the plate with a count of three balls and no strikes in the third inning of Radnor’s District 1 Class 5A first-round game against Interboro Monday.

Cruz looked to coach Mark Jordan at third base for his sign. It was a take all the way, Radnor having scored four runs in the frame. Taking a pitch wouldn’t have been the worst thing for Cruz, but the slugging third baseman had other ideas.

Cruz sent the next pitch over the fence in right field for a two-run home run. The long ball capped a six-run frame as No. 10 Radnor steamrolled seventh-seeded Interboro, 11-0.

Next up for the Raptors is a date with No. 2 Unionville in the district quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon. Radnor (13-8) has won five straight games.

Cruz knew it was a homer right off the bat. Some Interboro fans marveled at the distance, saying they had never seen a ball go so far at South Avenue Athletic Complex.

“I felt it. I knew (it was a homer). I saw 3-0 and knew I didn’t miss,” Cruz said, flashing a sheepish grin when asked if he ignored the take call. “Yeah, I know I did,“ he said.

It took a couple of innings for Radnor to warm up against Interboro ace Owen Schimpf, who was sharp early, striking out six of the first seven batters he faced.

“In the first at bat, I struggled against him. I struggled with the timing,” Cruz said. “For the second at bat I was trying to go off the hand motion. I’m loading late and because he wasn’t throwing too fast, I was just reacting. I got a good pitch to drive.”

Radnor managed only five hits but coaxed five walks. Zach Fein delivered a bases-clearing, three-run double in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 9-0.

“(Schimpf) had a funky motion, for sure, but once we saw him a little more the team did a good job of adjusting and putting together good at bats,” Fein said. “Collectively I think we’ve been a lot better this year as a team. Last year we were more top heavy with our lineup, but this year everyone is contributing. And I think that’s a big part of our success.”

Since District 1 counts league contests only in their power ranking system (baseball is the only sport that doesn’t factor in overall records), the Raptors were the ostensible underdogs. While the Raptors managed a 9-7 record in the Central League, the Bucs finished 9-3 in the far-less-challenging Del Val. Radnor defeated Interboro, 8-4, during the regular season. It was evident Radnor was once again the superior team Monday.

Ryan McWilliams started on the bump, allowing two hits and striking out four in three innings. Danny Armstrong, Matt Zaslow, Dan Kellis and Blake Havertine combined to throw four no-hit innings of relief.

Radnor saved sophomore ace Austin Havertine for Wednesday at Unionville. It’s likely the Longhorns will counter with senior Nick Diehl, who is bound for Tulane University.

Shane West and Nate Rivera each singled for Interboro (8-11). The Bucs had the bases loaded with one out in the third when Evan Thomas launched a fly ball to Will Selbach in right field. Selbach unleashed a perfect throw to the catcher Fein, nabbing Rivera at home for the final out.

“I feel we’ve been playing good baseball the whole season and we have bonded really well as a team,” Cruz said. “We have to keep doing what we usually do to prepare for games, no matter who it is against. We have to keep within ourselves and continue to play as a team.”