Philadelphia gave manager Brian Kraus a going-away present.
The manager of the ABCO Phillies improved to 4-0 in the 64th AAABA Tournament, as his team beat Altoona 5-1 Thursday at Point Stadium to become the only remaining undefeated team.
The thing is, Kraus won’t be around as Philadelphia goes for its first title. He was scheduled to leave Thursday night.
“(I had a) previous commitment before I took over the team that I have to take care of,” Kraus said. “I don’t want to. I tried many different ways to get out of it, but I have to be there.”
Mike Gossner, who managed the team last year, will take over in Kraus’ absence.
Philadelphia got a strong start from an unexpected spot on Thursday. Marcus Broadwater went seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits while walking five and striking out six.
Altoona managed just five hits, all singles, off Broadwater and two relievers.
The Phillies have allowed just five runs in four games.
“I was kind of nervous,” Broadwater said. “I’m a reliever. I’m not even a starter. Everybody goes nine innings and I usually go two or three. I haven’t been a starter since high school, so it was nice to come out and fall in line with everybody else.”
Philadelphia gave Broadwater an early cushion as Matt Moceri belted an RBI single off the wall in left in the second inning.
The score stayed that way until the sixth, when Philadelphia took advantage of an error by Altoona starter Luke Curtis. Frank Mercurio led off the inning with a single that dropped in between second baseman Matt Curtis and right fielder Matt McCamley.
Brian Henry beat out a bunt base hit, one out later Moceri walked to load the bases. Ryan Murphy hit a ball just in front of the plate that Luke Curtis fielded and fired past catcher Kevin Cressman. Mercurio and Henry each scored on the play. Jordan Fisher’s sacrifice fly scored Moceri to make it 4-0.
“That play there at the plate was pretty much the deciding factor,” Altoona manager Kurt Farabaugh said. “We had him at the plate, but the ball got by the catcher and two runs scored. After that, things happened. If you erase that play, you have a real nice ballgame.”
Altoona got its first hit – and a run – in the bottom of the sixth.
Kevin Scholly drew a leadoff walk and Matt Adams singled to left-center field. Broadwater got Johnny Martinez to hit into a double play, but Scholly scored on the play.
“We knew coming up here that we were going to pitch well, but this well, we didn’t expect it,” Kraus said.
Douglas Gray allowed two hits in two-thirds of an inning before Moceri came on to get the final four outs for the save.
Brian Henry hit a towering home run in the top of the eighth before being replaced at catcher by David Angebrandt, who Kraus credited with being the key to the team’s pitching success.
“We gave our catcher a little bit of rest, but he still called the game for us,” Kraus said. “He’s been the common denominator the whole time. He’s been the biggest aspect to us.”
The Phillies have also been nearly flawless in the field, committing just one error in 39 innings.
“I’ve never seen us play this well defensively,” Kraus said. “I know we’ve had good fielding this summer, but these guys, since coming out to Johnstown have been up to a new level.”
Kraus just wishes he could stick around to see if it continues.
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Related Photos
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Philadelphia’s Frank Mercurio (left) scores in the top of the sixth inning, putting the ABCO Phillies up 3-0 over Altoona in a winner’s bracket game Thursday afternoon. Altoona catcher Kevin Cressman watches a wild throw go by the plate. John Rucosky
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