Interboro takes down Chichester for Del Val title

PROSPECT PARK >> Interboro didn’t get to play a full seven innings Tuesday and celebrate its 10-4 victory over Chichester on the field.

Do the Bucs care? Not one bit.

Inclement weather explains why the game that determined the Del Val League championship didn’t quite reach the finish line.

Two rain delays in the seventh inning dampened the fun. The first  delay occurred before the top of the seventh inning. After a 30-minute respite, Chichester got its first two runners on base before the rain and thunder re-emerged and interrupted the action again. Ten minutes later, the men in blue decided to halt play for good.

With the win, Interboro clinched the Del Val title, something it hadn’t done since the 2013 season. Chichester won the previous two championships.

“I’m happy for them,” longtime Interboro coach Chuck Pedrick said of his players. He noted that many of his seniors are first-year varsity players.

“It took them a little while to get here, but they’re here now and playing real well for us,” he said.

Among them are the Huddell sisters, Amy and Amber, who combined for two singles, two RBIs and three runs scored Tuesday afternoon.

The Bucs won two of three games against the Eagles and improved their overall record to 7-2 (4-1 Del Val).

It’s not the end of the world for the Eagles, and Pedrick hopes the win will catapult the Bucs to bigger and better things. With the battle for league bragging rights in the rearview mirror, it’s time for both teams to focus on preparing for the district playoffs.

Interboro has nonleague games scheduled against Upper Darby, Springfield and Ridley, three of the top programs in the county. Upper Darby is undefeated and Springfield is the reigning Central League champ, so all three matchups will serve as District One Class AAAA tournament tuneups.

Chichester coach Jamie Blumenthal also has a game with Upper Darby on the schedule, along with contests against Cardinal O’Hara (9-1) and Garnet Valley (6-4).

“It’s important now not to let this loss (to Interboro) continue on,” Blumenthal said. “It’s only going to get harder, which hopefully prepares us for the playoffs. We know there are many quality teams in District One (Class) AAA.”

The Eagles (7-2, 6-2) hurt themselves with shoddy defense Tuesday, committing nine errors. The defense did no favors for freshman pitcher Makayla Donovan, who allowed nine unearned runs on 10 hits.

Of course, Interboro made it difficult for Chi’s fielders by hitting the ball with authority.

“I didn’t expect us to do that much (offensively), but I like it,” said junior Barb Carosi, who smacked a triple in the third and scored on Amy Huddell’s RBI single. “We tried our best.”

Rhianna Snyder (2 for 3) singled home Nicole O’Donnell in the top of the first to give Chi a 1-0 lead. Interboro plated the next 10 runs, grabbing the lead for good when Amy Huddell scored on a Sam Bellano single in the second.  Bellano reached third on a two-base error, and Amanda Suydam followed by roping one to center field for a three-base error.

“That was definitely the worst game that we’ve played all year,” Blumenthal said. “Defense has been our strong point, too, so to come out and not play clean was disappointing.”

Chichester showed moxie with three runs in the top of the sixth to cut its deficit to 10-4. Hayley Coale delivered a two-run triple.

Amber Seamen and Mel Chubb both had two singles for the Bucs. Rachel Reifer struck out five and allowed two earned runs on six hits for the win.

In another Del Val League game:

Academy Park 17, Penn Wood 2 >> Freshman Victoria Natalie and pitcher Jade Armstrong (10 strikeouts) hit two-run triples for the Knights, and Dana Goodyear added two hits and three RBIs.

In the Catholic League:

Cardinal O’Hara 20, West Catholic 0 >> Jessica Skarren was 4 for 4 with three RBIs and Kaci Spicer had a home run and three RBIs to lead the Lions (9-1, 8-0) in a blowout. Breanna Hickey struck out all nine batters she faced for a three-inning perfect game.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Agnes Irwin 16, Germantown Academy 2 >> Caroline Shipe collected four RBIs on two hits and winning pitcher Paige DiLullo drove in three runs for the Owls (6-3, 4-2).

In the Catholic Academies:

Villa Joseph Marie 13, Sacred Heart 4 >> Ally Schell had a triple and an RBI for the Lions.

In nonleague action:

Christian Academy 19, Lincoln Leadership 0 >> Grace Gormley and Carli Sitkowski both homered for TCA.