Bats back achy D’Ambrosio as Springfield tops Strath Haven

NETHER PROVIDENCE — There’s no telling whether Springfield has the team to win a Central League championship or make a deep run in the District 1 playoffs. It’s only April, and the Cougars, like most teams in Delaware County, haven’t played many games.

But they certainly have the talent to outhit a lot of teams.

Up and down the order, the Cougars have one of the top lineups in the conference. And if they play clean defense as they did in Monday’s 8-0 victory at Strath Haven, they will be doing big favors for an ailing pitching staff.

Senior ace and left-hander Luke D’Ambrosio felt pain in his cranky elbow four innings into his start Monday and was pulled after allowing only one hit, an infield single. He walked three and struck out one.

The soreness is nothing new to D’Ambrosio. He has battled the injury since last year. His options coming into the 2022 season were to undergo Tommy John surgery, thus wiping out his senior year, or ride it out. He opted to rehab the elbow and take it slow.

D’Ambrosio, who wants to be electrician after he graduates in June, decided he had nothing to lose. There’s no college coach keeping tabs on his progress (though he hopes to continue his post-high school career in the Delco League, like his dad Chris back in the day). He’s making every effort to pitch through the pain and leave it all out there for his teammates.

“He’s not out here for himself, he’s out here for everyone else,” said All-Delco center fielder Zach Tropiano, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. “He’s playing for us, and we’ve got to back him up.”

After an efficient outing Monday, it may be a couple of weeks before D’Ambrosio sets foot on the mound. The good thing is the Cougars (4-2) don’t play again until after from spring break next Tuesday.

“It was that last curveball I threw, it just didn’t feel right,” he said. “It hurt a little bit when I was extending it out, but it feels better now after I iced it.”

Coach Brian Francis feels confident he has the arms. Prior to the season, senior hurler Danny Ryan underwent the same operation that D’Ambrosio has purposely avoided.

“We’re keeping (D’Ambrosio) to 50-60 pitches each time he goes out and we’ve been trying to get him as far as he can. He felt a little funny in the elbow and needed to come out today,” Francis said. “Luckily, we have shown that we have some pitching, we have guys that can throw. (Sean) Williams did great today. It was a great team win, but I just feel bad for (D’Ambrosio) because he wants to be out there. And he’s good enough to stay out there, but he’s just not strong enough right now. He’ll get it looked at and hopefully he’ll pitch again for us before the end of the year.”

Williams threw the final three innings and was excellent. He scattered three hits and fanned a pair. Aiding both D’Ambrosio and Williams was an infield defense that turned three double plays.

“We can catch the ball, and we do every part of the game well,” Francis said. “When they all come together, you see a good game like you saw today.”

The Cougars were patient with Strath Haven starter Mike Valente, one of only two returning starters from last season’s Central League and District 1 Class 3A championship squad.

Cody Grande led off the second inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Bean to give Springfield a 1-0 lead. The Cougars sent eight batters to the plate and scored twice in the fourth. Grande and Bean each laced run-scoring singles.

Valente exited after five innings (five hits, three runs, four strikeouts), and the Cougars feasted on the Haven bullpen. Tropiano legged out an infield RBI single to make it 4-0 in the sixth. In the seventh, the Cougars batted around and plated four runs. Bean ripped an RBI double, finishing a 3-for-3, three-RBI afternoon.

“We have trust in everyone in our lineup, one through nine,” Tropiano said. “And we have trust in our pitchers to go out there and throw strikes.”

Tropiano admits that beating Strath Haven at their place is a nice feeling … even if it’s in April.

“I think that’s such a really good team over there,” he said, “and we played really well today.”

The Strath Haven (2-3) bats were held to singles to from AJ Pak, Bob Fooskas, Milligan and Nick Corritore.

Elsewhere in the Central League:

Upper Darby 7, Haverford 5 >> The Royals exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, erasing a 5-0 deficit.

Sam Chestnut had a hit and three RBIs, while Chris Chung went 2-for-4 with a double and two ribbies. Mac Franzini and Drew Kessler each chipped in with a single and an RBI.

Chris Zupito allowed only two earned runs and struck out eight over five innings to get the win. Chung recorded the save.

Ethan Mahan collected three base knocks for the Fords.

Marple Newtown 7, Penncrest 6 >> Owen Mathes delivered the go-ahead, bases-clearing triple in the top of the sixth inning for the Tigers, who’d trailed 6-3. Mathes finished 2-for-2 with a walk.

Aiden Pearson added two base knocks, and Bennett Cox went 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs for Marple. Tommy Luchessi, who struck out four, was the winning pitcher. Mathes (three Ks) picked up the save.

Christian Reed (two RBIs) and Gavin Brown (walk, run scored) each doubled for the Lions. Quinten Perilli finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

In the Ches-Mont League:

Sun Valley 7, Kennett 3 >> Vinny Proietto belted two home runs to lead the Vanguards over the Blue Demons. Ryan Snyder had a pair of hits, and Will Newnom collected two RBIs.

Winning pitcher Cole Corrento struck out five over four innings of work. Noah Girffin earned a three-inning save, racking up five Ks.