By John Knebels • Posted May 3, 2024

The regular season in spring sports already approaches the finish line. Pretty decent weather – often cold, but not too much rain – has allowed the schedules to proceed without too many cancellations.

In Philadelphia Catholic League baseball, LaSalle (9-1) and Neumann-Goretti (8-2) are battling for the top spot with two games remaining for both teams. Should they finish tied, N-G would get the nod by virtue of its 5-2 win over LaSalle on April 24.

The next four squads resemble the Schuylkill Expressway on a Monday morning. Conwell-Egan (8-3), Bonner-Prendergast (7-3), Father Judge (6-4) and St. Joseph’s Prep (5-4) all could finish with the same record, necessitating a series of tie-breakers. Below that quad, Archbishop Wood (5-5), Archbishop Ryan (5-6), Cardinal O’Hara (4-6), and Devon Prep (4-6) hope to avoid finishing below sixth place because finishers seven through 10 must play a pre-quarterfinal to make the postseason.

“The PCL is probably one of the hardest leagues in all of Pennsylvania,” said Cardinal O’Hara senior Anthony Galli. “Every year the PCL has teams going deep into states and it’s just full of talent.

In Catholic League softball, Archbishop Ryan and Conwell-Egan’s 7-1 record slightly betters the 7-2 mark of Archbishop Wood and Archbishop Carroll. Cardinal O’Hara (6-3) has clinched a playoff. In their first season in the PCL, Nazareth Academy put itself in tremendous position to make the playoffs after a season-saving, 3-1 win over Bonner-Prendergast on May 2.

As for game-of-the-year honors, on a gorgeous evening May 2, Carroll stunned previously unbeaten Ryan, 13-4.

“We were focusing on our approach when we got to the plate,” said Carroll junior catcher Maddie Long, who had three hits and knocked in three runs. “I think it paid off tonight.”

In girls’ lacrosse, perennial champion Archbishop Carroll finished undefeated at 9-0. A three-way tie for second at 7-2 among Lansdale Catholic, Archbishop Wood, and Cardinal O’Hara provided girls’ lax the most intrigue it has enjoyed in quite a while. Lansdale Catholic lost to O’Hara in its league opener, 13-10, but edged Wood, 10-9, on April 25. Meanwhile, Wood upended Cardinal O’Hara, 14-10, on April 23.

“O’Hara was a big win for us, especially because they are a good team and we haven’t beaten them in awhile,” said Archbishop Wood sophomore Paige Eckert. “It was fun to play that game and celebrate with my teammates.

“That week was a hard week for us playing the top three teams. When we played Lansdale, I felt that we weren’t our best. We did not play so good, especially after playing great on Tuesday against O’Hara. We are working to improve our team play and drive so that we can be 100-percent ready for playoffs.”

In boys’ lacrosse, LaSalle’s 11-0 record includes a 10-5 win over St. Joseph’s Prep, so the Explorers have wrapped up the regular-season title. The Prep sits in second place at 7-1, followed by Devon Prep (7-2), Lansdale Catholic (6-3), and Cardinal O’Hara (6-3). Since eight of the 12 teams make the playoffs, a three-way dogfight among Father Judge (4-5), Conwell-Egan (4-5), and Archbishop Wood (3-5) will come down to the wire.

“We’re excited for how the season has been going so far,” said Devon Prep coach Mark Consolo. “Definitely the best start the program has ever had in its history, both with the PCL play and with some non-league teams on the schedule.

“But the guys know the regular season still has one more week left with good competition, and then a whole new season – with other team goals – are ahead of them. This is a special group that obviously wants to be one of the (Class AA) teams on the bracket playing into June, but they are looking at what’s in front of them for this month and taking it one step at a time. PCL playoff standings are our number one focus right now.”

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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) @johnknebels.