O’Donnell makes most of Carpenter Cup chance
Nate O’Donnell wasn’t expecting to play at all in the Carpenter Cup.
The North Penn junior made the SOL American/Continental as a reserve player but the day of the team’s first game, he went to the gym instead of South Philly. A fortunate check of his phone and mad dash to FDR Park followed and now, O’Donnell has been a key player for a team that will challenge the PCL for the title Friday morning.
Not bad for a guy who didn’t think he’d be getting any at-bats in the showcase.
“Right before our first game, I got a call that said ‘can you be down to FDR Park by 3:45?’ and I saw it at 3:20,” O’Donnell said after scoring the winning run in SOL A/C’s 5-4 semifinal win over Delco. “Someone dropped out at the last second, but I’m not complaining.”
O’Donnell had gotten a call from Upper Dublin coach Ed Wall, the SOL A/C head coach and a text from his high school coach, Kevin Manero. The second baseman knew it was going to be tight getting down there with traffic, but he went for it.
After rushing home to get his gear, O’Donnell got to the Phillies Urban Youth Academy field in the fourth inning and joined the team’s second lineup that went in down 6-0 in the fifth inning. In a recurring theme of the event, SOL A/C rallied back. O’Donnell led off the bottom of the eight by doubling, a big hit in a big spot.
“I just had to be ready to go,” O’Donnell said. “It was get to the field and be ready to go as quick as I can. We had some help from (Alex) Philipps and (Alex) Tappen. It’s really been a team effort.”
O’Donnell scored on a booming double by Tappen to tie the game with the Wissahickon junior scoring two batters later for the winning run in a 7-6 comeback over Tri-Cape.
In his first season as a varsity starter, O’Donnell had a very good season for North Penn, hitting .290 in a pitching-rich SOL Continental conference. That gauntlet has helped the infielder get off to a hot start this summer with his Hatfield Legion team and in the Carpenter Cup. O’Donnell said it was just an honor to be selected to the team, even as an alternate and noted the depth of both conferences.
“It’ll really help me seeing good pitching this whole tournament,” O’Donnell said. “It’ll give me confidence I can play with anybody. It’s a great time playing with these guys, you play against them all year, they’re all really good but it’s better being on their team.”
In the semifinal, O’Donnell again led off the deciding inning, lancing a shot off the third base bag for a leadoff single. He moved up on a Randy Meehl bunt and moved to third on a fielder’s choice. The rising North
Penn senior held up on a wild pitch, but knew if he got another one, he could get home. That’s just what happened and though he stumbled a bit on his break, O’Donnell recovered and slid home for the winning run.
“I really like him the past couple of weeks,” SOL A/C assistant coach Kyle Dennis, also the coach at CB East, said jokingly. “It’s a different story come springtime again. He’s a heck of a ballplayer, he does everything well, he makes the routine play very well, he’s smooth, he runs the bases well. I’d love to have him.”
BANK NOTES
Playing in a major league park is the dream of any serious baseball player. That’s why the players of SOL A/C so enjoyed their semifinal win, because they got to do it at the home of the Phillies.
For Upper Dublin’s Cole Swiger, off to Bloomsburg in a few months, roaming the CBP outfield was an experience.
“It was unreal, you just keep looking around, it feels like you’re in a video game or something like that, playing MLB The Show,” Swiger said. “It’s a beautiful place and you can’t help but feel like you’re a pro. It’s pretty indescribable.”
Swiger doubled in the semifinals and drew a key walk to extend the ninth inning. A stalwart pitcher and hitter for the Cardinals, the future Husky has focused on his hitting in the Carpenter Cup, though he said he’d be up to throwing if needed.
Another advantage of playing at the Bank is that pitchers get to sit and warm up in the bullpen out in center field. CB South ace Dan Klepchick, who picked up the win in the semifinal, had a similar feeling to Swiger’s when he came out for his three innings.
“I was here for a tour, got to be on the field for (batting practice) and that was cool, but pitching on the mound, it’s the best thing in the world,” Klepchick said. “You’re going out there and knowing all the major league guys who won a World Series on that mound, it was pretty exciting to be out there.”
Tappen, who is committed to play college ball at Virginia, had a moment to remember when he hit a solo home run several rows deep into the left field stands in the eighth inning. While he’s played in some tremendous college venues with his travel ball teams, Tappen said the shot at CBP has to top his athletic achievement list.
The third baseman credited Wiss coach John Bernhardt for pushing him to try out for the Carpenter Cup this year. Tappen’s schedule didn’t work out the last two years but Bernhardt told him it was a worthwhile experience and the rising senior couldn’t be happier with how it’s played out.
Plus, he’s been huge for SOL A/C with some clutch hits. After the first round game, when Tappen delivered a bases-loaded double to start the comeback, Wall said he was glad to see Tappen up there because the infielder is a player who is always in full control of the situation.
He’s had a good eye all tournament and it helped lead to that home run.
“His arm motion kind of slowed down when he was throwing his changeup, which I picked up on when he was throwing his warm-up pitches,” Tappen said. “Once I picked that up, I just kept my weight back and got through it.”
Friday’s title game pits two pitching staffs throwing exceptionally well. The Catholic League has also won close games, riding its mix of arms with some timely offense to reach the final. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. with the PCL seeking its first title since 2005 and SOL A/C chasing its first-ever trophy.
