If you take a look at the Catholic League baseball standings this spring
and instinctively reach for the telephone to tell newspapers they’ve
made a mistake, hold that call.
For the first time in league history, the league will join many of the
other sports and, based on enrollment, be divided by a Red Division
and a Blue Division.
The larger-school Red Division will consist of Archbishop Ryan, Cardinal
O’Hara, Father Judge, LaSalle, Monsignor Bonner, North Catholic,
Roman Catholic and St. Joseph’s Prep.
The smaller-school Blue Division will consist of Archbishop Carroll,
Archbishop Wood, Bishop McDevitt, Cardinal Dougherty, Conwell-Egan,
Kennedy-Kenrick, Neumann-Goretti and West Catholic.
Whether or not that will make a difference in who wins the Catholic
League championship is yet to be determined. But that isn’t why
the league decided to make the switch.
Competition is the reason, and although there are some teams that will
continue to struggle against more talented squads, this move should
definitely cut down on some of the embarrassing box scores “low-lighted”
by double digit innings, ridiculous final scores and unsightly disparity
of hits and errors.
The league hit a home run with this decision.
North Catholic soccer honors its own
When it comes to success in Catholic League soccer, no one has done
it better than North Catholic. The program has captured 21 league championships
and seven city titles and has never incurred a significant dry spell
during its eight decades of existence.
Recently, 12 of the program’s top performers were inducted into
the school’s inaugural North Catholic Soccer Hall of Fame.
“It’s very special,” said Falcons coach Jerry Brandisi.
“We’re honoring these guys for all the great things they
have done for the school and the program.”
The dazzling dozen include Ed Blaney, John Boles, Don D’Ambra
Joe Hess, Hugh McInaw, Benny McLaughlin, brothers Joe and Father Daniel
McLernan, Pat Morris, Ed Sheridan, Tom Smith and Larry Sullivan.
New hire at Cardinal Dougherty
Jim Grugan has taken over the helm as Cardinal Dougherty’s new
football coach. A former assistant coach at both North Catholic and
Conwell-Egan, Grugan said he was “pleasantly surprised”
by the 64 students who committed to play in the fall.
Grugan becomes the fifth coach at Dougherty since 2001. He inherits
a team comprised mostly of underclassmen. A former player at Marshall
University, Grugan said that despite Dougherty’s struggles to
win many games this decade, making the playoffs will be the team’s
first goal and then “you go from there.”
Dougherty president Father Carl Janicki is excited about the new hire.
“Coach Grugan brings with him over 12 years of Catholic League
coaching experience,” said Father Janicki. “We are excited
about the energy and experience he brings to our football program.”
Perfection on the mound
How rare is pitching a perfect game in softball? Not quite as uncommon
as it is in baseball, but close.
Add Nazareth Academy’s Amanda Fernandez to the list.
In a 10-0 victory over Gwynedd-Mercy Academy, Fernandez did not allow
a single batter to reach first base. Meanwhile, led by Megan Codagnone
and Gianinna Cipollini’s combined seven runs batted in, her Panda
teammates produced more than enough offense to notch the victory.
John Knebels can be reached at jknebs@aol.com.