By John Knebels • Posted August 14, 2026

After winning their fourth-ever Carpenter Cup on June 15, the Philadelphia Catholic League finally got its moment at Citizens Bank Park.

Prior to the Phillies’ 5-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Aug. 4, the players and coaches who had dominated the competition by sweeping four games were honored along the first-base line as proud family members recorded videos and snapped photos throughout the stadium.

Along with being greeted by the typically energetic Phillie Phanatic, the PCL players and coaches saw themselves prominently displayed on the stadium’s PhanaVision.

It was a moment they will never forget.

“It was such a cool experience being able to go on the field right before the game started,” said La Salle High graduate Luke Borgmann, who will play at UMass Lowell next year. “The atmosphere at the Bank is none like any other.”

The Carpenter Cup championship game is traditionally hosted by the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. This year, however, the stadium was unavailable, so the title game was moved to nearby FDR Park.

For Borgmann, returning to CBP as a champion helped make up for that disappointment.

“I was definitely a little bummed that we weren’t able to take home the championship at the stadium, but the experience that was put together before the game was truly unforgettable,” said Borgmann. “I mean, it’s definitely not often that you are standing 10 feet from Bryce Harper as he is about to take the field.

“One thing all teams in the PCL share is that they all have grit and are not shy to perform on a big stage, and I feel that is how we brought home the title. It felt very fitting that a Philly team got to be honored at the Phillies stadium.”

Devon Prep rising senior John Doogan, one of several PCL pitchers who helped hold opponents to only four total runs during the tournament, sensed some nervous energy when the team reunited.

“I think it existed because that was the first time that we have all been together since the championship game, and being back together brought back the memories of that run and how hard we all fought,” said Doogan.

“Right when I saw all the guys again, it brought me right back to the ninth inning of the semifinal game and the last out of the championship. All of those moments definitely brought us closer.”

Doogan has already committed to continue his baseball career at the University of Rhode Island.

“The Atlantic 10 has a good history in my family, and after visiting Rhode Island and meeting all the coaches, I knew it was where I wanted to be,” said Doogan. “They’ve been a very good program in recent history and I loved the school. It is definitely nice, though, not having to worry about the decision process and all the applications.”

Archbishop Wood graduate Chase Cavallaro took home some seriously impressive hardware when he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

The soon-to-be Chestnut Hill College freshman was a strong choice after producing an offensive masterpiece. Cavallaro batted .556 with five runs scored, five RBIs and two doubles. In the semifinal against Jersey Shore, his ninth-inning, three-run triple paved the way for a dramatic 6-3 victory.

“One of many reasons why I wanted to play in the Carpenter Cup was because we could play at Citizens Bank Park, and that would have been an amazing experience,” said Cavallaro. “But since we couldn’t, it was a little disappointing, but being honored as champions there made up for it and I couldn’t be happier.”

Cavallaro learned that he had been selected tournament MVP through an email from the Carpenter Cup Executive Board.

“It was amazing finding that out … and I couldn’t be more grateful for the coaches and players of the PCL,” said Cavallaro.

The celebration also included an encounter with one of Philadelphia’s most famous sports personalities.

“The Phillie Phanatic was messing with me during the ceremony,” said Cavallaro. “He is my favorite mascot and one of the best mascots in the league, so I didn’t expect anything less.

“It was an overall unforgettable experience.”

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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on X @johnknebels.