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Jacob Kurtz entered Girard Academic Music Program, 2136 W. Ritner St., nearly eight years ago with immense interest in mastering the violin. Fortunately for the site’s baseball team, the West Philly inhabitant soon showed a propensity for propelling and smacking fastballs, too. Reaching base four times in Monday’s Class A semifinal, the youngster helped to orchestrate a virtuoso performance for his club, which annihilated Rush, 15-2, at Citizens Adjusters Park, Seventh Street and Packer Avenue.
“Baseball came to have more influence than music, and I’ve tried to be a great competitor for a top school,” the senior said after the blitz that gave the institution a chance at its ninth classification crown within the last decade. “Our guys feel the same, and that shows with a result like this.”
Garnering their fourth win in five tilts, the Pioneers improved to 6-10, a mark that shows the difficulties of the season’s early stages. Minus Kurtz, who was recovering from a concussion, the diamond figures failed to muster consistent offensive efforts, but they pulled off the thrilling end-of-the-regular-season efforts that have become the hallmark of coach Art Kratchman’s charges.
“Pride brings this team together,” junior shortstop Dylan Anderson said of seeking Public League renown. “There’s nothing we want more than to go out there and represent GAMP with class.”
The 16-year-old occupant of Eighth and Johnston streets capably handled pitching duties as well this year, but Kratchman, a three-time South Philly Review Readers’ Choice Coach of the Year, elected not to send him or Kurtz, a two-time All-League pick, to the mound Monday, deciding on sophomore right-handed Matt Ventus to hush Rush.
“I want to see a sense of urgency,” Kratchman said of what could have proven the final game for his star and fellow impending graduate Dante Sanguiliano, who, like Ventus, also suits up for the coach as a basketball contributor. “Don’t lack intensity for one minute.”
Having helmed the baseball team since its 1987 inception, Kratchman has overseen the efforts of hundreds of teenagers and tabbed this squad as one that has often struggled to overcome deficits. With all due respect to his description, the youths immediately looked to have their foes play catch up, with Ventus giving them that opportunity after working out of a two-on, none-gone jam in the first.
Singling to start the home half, the denizen of 16th and Bigler streets notched the duel’s first score following a triple by Anderson, who became a cheerleader after crossing on a Kurtz single. The bulge became 3-0 when Sanguiliano plated his senior peer with a single, giving Ventus a bit more freedom to mix up his deliveries. The visitors, a Division C constituent with a 6-6 league ledger, scored once in the second, as the adage that leadoff walks will prove costly made believers out of the GAMP crew. Bent on rushing Rush out of South Philly, though, the Pioneers tallied four in the second, with Ventus, Anderson and Kurtz notching hits.
“There couldn’t be any letting up after the first [inning],” Kurtz said. “We have hiccups like any team, but in the playoffs, coming back strong shows maturity.”
Having partially prepped for the game by watching fellow Division A member Prep Charter, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., win its AA semifinal, 7-2, against MaST Charter, the local performers wanted to make the day doubly delightful for the community yet needed to dodge drama in the third. A single, an error and a hit batsman loaded the bases quickly, but Ventus registered two strikeouts and induced a flyout to escape unscathed. The potent display continued in their next swings, as five more roster representatives received congratulations, with Ventus initiating the outburst with a two-run, two-out smack.
“On the mound, I was trying to hit the strike zone consistently,” the underclassman said. “At the plate, I wanted to be aggressive and get us the momentum. Once we had it, I wanted to build on it.”
Sporting a 12-1 edge, Kratchman lifted Ventus for Sanguiliano, who despite yielding a fourth-inning score, confounded the hitters as much as his predecessor had. Three walks and a hit batsman helped GAMP to score three more times on only one hit. With the mercy rule in effect, the senior sped through the fifth inning to give his gang its most productive game of the year, with 14 hits generating the blowout.
“The pride really settled in today,” Anderson, who came a home run short of the cycle, said. “We’ve been able to turn things around well, especially through Jacob’s leadership.”
“It’s our energy that’s been impressive,” Kurtz added. “We lost tough ones this year, but we know what it takes.”
Set to attend Misericordia University to pursue nursing, the 18-year-old has loved GAMP’s effect on his personality and maturity. That it has bred amazing connections, too, resonates as well.
“Great coaching, great teammates, I’ve had it all,” Kurtz said.
The Pioneers Class A final against Masterman at Richie Ashburn Field, 20th Street and Pattison Avenue, ended after press time.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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