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Instead of giving credence to the notion that frequently ill children will become healthy adults, perhaps people should ponder how successfully addressing disappointment as a youth assists with one’s maturity. The baseball players from Prep Charter High School, 1928 Point Breeze Ave., received an undesired prompt for their progression Friday at Citizens Adjusters Park, Seventh Street and Packer Avenue, losing a six-run edge in falling 11-9 to Frankford.
“This is definitely a tough one to handle, but we can get over it quickly,” coach Shawn Magee said to the Huskies, who dropped to 4-3 in Public League Division-A play. “In fact, we need to put it past us right away. We can make mistakes now, but we have to be stronger for the playoffs.”
For the first half of the game, the third-year leader had seemed destined to deliver a congratulatory talk, as his West Passyunk-based athletes looked ready to score another upset over their guests, the three-time defending league vanquishers. Having swept last year’s regular season tilts 6-5 and 16-0 and succumbed 3-2 in the semifinals, the local youngsters aimed to remain a source of disdain for Frankford by sending ace left-hander Rob Freer to the mound.
“We’re always pumped about playing these guys,” the senior All-Public pick said. “We know all about their reputation, but we have one, too.”
In addition to their prowess against the Pioneers, the Huskies advanced to last year’s Class AA City title contest, where they folded 5-2 against the Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School Saints, 1736 S. 10th St. A never-say-die group, they immediately felt lively during their first cuts. With the bags full thanks to free passes for junior shortstop Keegan McKoskey, freshman center fielder Brian Reynolds and Freer, senior first baseman Mike Torres smacked a one-out, two-run single, with the Huskies ruing opportunities to add more, as they again loaded the bases yet needed to settle for the deuce.
The second frame came to epitomize the feast-or-famine day that Freer would have, as the resident of the 1900 block of Durfor Street punched out the side but hit a batter, balked and unhurled a wild pitch. Frankford cut the deficit in half, but Torres again cracked a two-run single to restore the Huskies’ roar.
“I was up there just trying to hit the ball as hard as I could to get the momentum back,” the first sacker said. “Whatever it takes for us to win, I’m trying to be a guy who makes that happen.”
Torres experienced a different identity last year, as the resident of the 1100 block of McKean Street did not play much due to family responsibilities. Eager to continue the bolstering of his club’s maturation, he has felt thankful for each chance to trot out to the field and again let his bat display his receptivity to the opportunity to contribute for Magee.
“He’s a solid player,” the coach said of his charge. “He fits in well with our team and gives us some pop.”
After the visitors again dwindled the margin in half, the hosts proved their patience, as two walks and a single set the stage for junior third baseman Joe Suppa. His triple and Freer’s groundout gave them a second quartet of runs, with a subsequent threat that began with another Torres single further showing their foes that their intensity would not wither.
Freer added three more whiffs in the fourth, his third inning of striking out the side, and vowed to keep bringing the heat for the rest of the afternoon. Unfortunately for the Girard Estate inhabitant, the opposition similarly strove to impress spectators. Seven foes crossed the plate in the fifth, with Magee lifting Freer for McKoskey after two of the scores. The resident of the 2400 block of South Fourth Street, yet another All-Public honoree, did a decent job over the next two innings, with the Huskies trailing 9-8 as the home half of the seventh commenced.
With one gone, McKoskey fought off a few tough pitches before ripping a single. Following Reynolds’ strikeout, Suppa collected an infield hit that led to jubilation, as a throwing error knotted the score. An intentional walk to Freer gave Torres an occasion to play the hero, but the field umpire ruled he committed on a two-strike offering, leading to incredulous reactions from the Huskies, who promised to score an extra-inning victory.
Again, though, the Pioneers pursued a different outcome, plating the decisive run and an insurance tally in the eighth. Hoping to rally for a second time, the Huskies could not prey on the in-the-ascendancy guests, who scored a key win in their quest to add yet another title to their annals. The Huskies, meanwhile, initially appeared dejected but soon seemed positive about putting the defeat behind them.
“It stinks that we controlled the game [only to lose,]” Freer said, “but when the playoffs come, it’ll be a different story.”
Prep Charter visited Masterman yesterday in action that ended after press time. It will host Esperanza at 2:45 tomorrow.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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