Photos: Zach Reagan
By: John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – One team ended up only needing one run. The other needed 11 innings.
When La Salle and Neumann-Goretti meet for the Philadelphia Catholic League championship 11:00 Saturday at Widener University, both will be coming off vastly different semifinal journeys.
Playing simultaneously on a picture-perfect Wednesday afternoon at South Philadelphia’s adjacent Richie Ashburn Fields, the top-seed Explorers blanked six-seed and defending champion Father Judge, 3-0, while the two-seed Saints walked off a 4-3 victory over five-seed Bonner-Prendergast.
La Salle, which has captured the most PCL titles in history with 11, is seeking its first title since 2021. Neumann-Goretti, whose 10 crowns are tied for second place with Father Judge and since-closed North Catholic, last won in 2017, an incredible stretch that gave the program its sixth championship in nine years.
Neumann-Goretti returns to the final after three straight losses in the semis, including a 5-2 defeat against LaSalle last year. That explains the post-game euphoria that started at first base and moved all the way to the outfield.
“It’s just so special,” said senior centerfielder Andrew “Dank” Dankanich, a first-team All-Catholic “I’ve known this group of guys since I was eight or nine years old. We’ve been playing baseball together for like 10 years, so this is really special.”
Minutes earlier, Dankanich clinched the win with his third hit, a no-out, bases-loaded single. In the fifth, his single scored senior Billy Smith (two hits) to tie the game at 1-1. Senior Evan McCoach (two hits) and junior Richie Rosati added RBI singles to increase N-G’s lead to 3-1. Single runs by Bonner-Prendergast – one in the sixth and later senior Irv Fisher’s absolute clutch two-out single in the seventh – sent the game into extra innings.
In the bottom of the 11th, junior Chris Meitzler started the game-winning rally with his second single in two at bats. A single by Smith and a perfect bunt single by junior Anthony Coppola loaded the bases. On a 1-1 count, Dankanich singled to left field to score Meitzler and set off an epic celebration.
“My boys got on for me,” said Dankanich. “All I was trying to do up there was put the ball in play. He hung a slider, and I banged it. Nothing else I could say. It’s amazing.”
WALK-OFF! Andrew “Dank” Dankanich singled home Chris Meitzler in bottom of the 11th to send Neumann-Goretti past Bonner-Prendergast, 4-3, and into the PCL Catholic League championship - PSD Video by John Knebels
Bonner-Prendergast senior Irv Fisher’s two-out single in bottom of seventh sent game into extra innings before Neumann-Goretti won in the 11th - PSD Video by John Knebels
Dank’s single ended a contest that required 320 pitches and tied Bonner-Prendergast’s 5-4 win over Archbishop Wood in 2011 for the third-longest semifinal in PCL history. The second longest occurred in 2019 when La Salle edged Father Judge, 3-2, in 13 innings.
Phenomenal relief pitching by Jayce Park proved essential in Neumann-Goretti’s 11-inning semifinal win - PSD Video by John KNebels
Neumann-Goretti coach Nick Nardini never doubted his players during epic 11-inning PCL semifinal victory - PSD Video by John Knebels
Neumann-Goretti’s Chris Meitzler (L) and Andrew “Dank” Dankanich describe game-winning run in 11th inning - PSD Video by John KNebels
The longest semifinal in PCL history contained some irony. In 2012 at Widener University, Neumann-Goretti defeated Bonner-Prendergast, 8-7, in 14 innings. Courtesy of tedsilary.com, playing on that N-G squad was Nick Nardini, who just happens to be the coach of this year’s team. In their next game, that Saints team upended La Salle, 5-4, in an eight-inning final, giving Nardini the distinction of joining teammate Marty Venafro and the late Frank Ryan (1961 through 1963 for defunct St. James) as the only players in PCL history to start on three PCL championship teams.
“It’s awesome,” said Nardini. “A lot of these guys have been in the lineup since sophomore year and some of them have been playing since their freshman year. Three in a row, we lose in the semis in tight games. To be able to get over the hump as seniors means a lot. This group is very special to me and special to the program. But the job’s not done.”
Neumann-Goretti would not have advanced without the pitching of seniors Santino Pharma and Jayce Park. After Pharma allowed five hits and one run over five innings, Park threw what amounted to a complete game. Over six innings, the PCL Pitcher of the Year surrendered five hits and two runs with no walks and eight strikeouts. Unfortunately for Neumann-Goretti, Park would be unavailable to pitch on Saturday because he threw 102 pitches.
Neumann-Goretti vs. Bonner & Prendie - PSD Gallery by Zach Reagan
But Nardini had no choice but to use his ace.
“It’s win or go home,” said Nardini. “We got other guys that we have to rely on. In that kind of environment, they know. It’s go time.”
On paper, La Salle finds itself in better shape. Senior starter Logan Potter fired 5 1/3 innings of two-hit, two-walk ball. Senior Cole Kochanowicz relieved with two on and one out in the sixth and retired all five batters, two of them with back-to-back strikeouts to end Judge’s sixth-inning threat.
With two outs, senior Matt Gannon lined a base hit to score Nealon and Bogansky. Gannon later came around to score on a wild pitch.
All of the Explorers’ offense happened in the fifth inning, which began with singles by senior Casey Nealon and junior Andrew Bogansky. A sacrifice bunt by senior Antonio Astolfi advanced the runners.
La Salle vs. Father Judge - PSD Gallery by Zach Reagan
“He’s been a starter since sophomore year,” said La Salle coach Kyle Werman, who has won three PCL championships, all in the past five seasons. “He’s been around. When you get to the postseason, and you look at these types of games, you lean on guys that have that experience. The moment’s not too big for him. He’s a guy you want up in that situation.”
Similar plaudits applied to Potter.
“He’s been a big-game pitcher for us since his sophomore year when he was starting in a state game,” said Werman. “I felt comfortable handing him the ball. He really stepped up. He gives us a chance to stay in the ballgame. Credit to Judge. (Senior Tim) Gress was really good. It was just a really good pitcher’s duel.”
The offense of Matt Gorman (L) & pitching of Logan Potter helped La Salle blank Father Judge to reach the PCL final - PSD Video by John Knebels
La Salle coach Kyle Werman returns to the winner’s circle for a chance at procuring another PCL championship - PSD Video by John Knebels
Matt Gannon’s two-run single in the fifth inning proved to be the difference in La Salle’s 3-0 PCL semifinal win over Father Judge - PSD Video by John Knebels
Similar plaudits applied to Potter.
“He’s been a big-game pitcher for us since his sophomore year when he was starting in a state game,” said Werman. “I felt comfortable handing him the ball. He really stepped up. He gives us a chance to stay in the ballgame. Credit to Judge. (Senior Tim) Gress was really good. It was just a really good pitcher’s duel.”