Due to inclement weather, Game 3 of the Delco League final between Aston Valley and Upper Darby was postponed from Friday to Saturday at 3 p.m. at Cardinal O’Hara. The No. 2 seed Blue Sox lead the series 2-0 against the No. 6 seed Knights and are one win away from claiming their second league title in franchise history.
It is also Delco League Fan Appreciation Day. Hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be available for all in attendance.
The series was dominated by Upper Darby’s pitching. In Game 1, Sam Wright threw six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out ten, leading the Blue Sox to a 1-0 victory. The game’s only run came from pinch runner Jon Aman on a wild pitch in the fifth inning.
Game 2 featured more great pitching from Upper Darby (24-8-2). Matt Rubin threw four one-hit innings and struck out five players to give the Blue Sox a commanding 5-1 victory. Dom Marrotta made the save for the second consecutive game and recorded five strikeouts in two innings.
Catcher Christian Strickland, who handled Upper Darby’s pitchers with aplomb, was 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs to lead the offense. Adam Fine added an RBI double, while Brendan Till hit a single and scored a run.
Despite solid performances from Zack Czarnecki and Anthony Giordano throughout the game, Aston Valley has struggled at the plate, posting a .088 batting average (4 of 45) with 23 strikeouts in the first two games.
Hope is not lost, however, for a team that has shown a knack for comebacks in the 2024 playoffs. After two straight wins against Chester in the quarterfinals, the Knights rallied from a 2-0 series deficit against top-seeded Wayne to win the semifinals in five games. All five of the Knights’ postseason victories have come in elimination games.
The Knights will look to stay in the race and push the series to Game 4, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday in Sun Valley.
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