Philadelphia High School Baseball
Recaps of Catholic League Title Games

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1920
At Strawbridge & Clothier Field
Villanova Prep 7, St. Joseph's Prep 1
  'Nova coasted in this one, which was halted after seven innings. In the game that created a tie on the final day of the regular season, VP defeated SJP as Pat Hynan stroked a homer and two singles.

1921
At Cahill Field
West Catholic 11, Villanova Prep 5
  Each team finished 4-2 in league play, requiring this playoff. Ep Mitchell earned the win, thanks in large part to an eight-run fourth and a pair of doubleplays that halted 'Nova rallies,  and the coach was Brother Michael Quinlan, who guided the Burrs to three other championships -- basketball, track, Catholic track title of America (thanks to the Penn Relays) -- in this school year. The first three guys in West's lineup combined for 10 hits -- three apiece for Dougherty/McHenry, four for Mullin.

1922
Villanova Prep
Decided in Regular Season
  VP posted one of its wins, 1-0, over Salesianum when coach Malloy pulled his team off the field after a rowdy celebration by the winners in the eighth inning.  

1923
At Harlan Field, in Wilmington
Salesianum 2, SJ Prep 1
  The Sallies forced this showdown by beating the Prep in the final game of the regular season, leaving both teams at 9-1. In the seventh (of nine) innings, Salesianum, which won a coin flip to host this game, broke a 1-1 tie as Lex Gillespie beat out a grounder, moved to third on a sac and another grounder, then scored on a balk.

1924
Camden Catholic, West Catholic, SJ Prep
Decided in Regular Season (No Playoffs)
  CC created a triple tie on the final day of the regular season by besting Salesianum, 7-6, in 11 innings. Heary, the No. 9 hitter, bagged four hits and his last one drove in the winning run.

1925
SJ Prep
Decided in Regular Season
  The Prep bested West in the difference-maker, forcing a tie in the ninth and then winning in the 10th.

1926
Roman
Decided in Regular Season
  The visiting Cahillites clinched the crown in a 15-9 win over SJ Prep, which then played its games at 22nd and Westmoreland. Catcher Tubby Walker led the way with a homer and two-run single.   

1927
West Catholic
  The Burrs dropped their final league game to La Salle, which meant they could have shared the championship. Didn't happen. La Salle then fell to Salesianum and those squads settled for a second place tie at 4-2.

1928-44
  It appears there was no formal CL competition in this time frame (though some schools did have teams and played extensive non-league schedules.) 

1945
North
Decided in Regular Sseason
  Thanks to a six-run fifth inning, the Falcons wrapped up league play with an 8-3 victory St. Thomas More. The top three guys in the order -- McArdle, McLaughlin and Nelson -- stroked two hits apiece.

1946
La Salle
Decided in Regular Season
    The Explorers went to 9-1, clinching the title, in a 2-0 win over St. James. Jim Covello pitched a three-hitter. The losers' Joe Ward allowed two hits, a single by Bill Pfaff and a double by George Jacobs. Both figured in the scoring.

1947
North
Decided in Regular Season
    The clincher came in a 3-0 win over St. John's. John Mostak twirled a three-hitter and struck out 12. The Falcons' only hit against Jim "Skip" Wilson was Ed Samocki's three-run homer, which followed two walks.

1948
St. James
Decided in Regular Season
  Thanks to Sam Greto's two-run single in the visiting seventh, St. James beat St. John's, of Manayunk, 5-4, to clinch the championship with one game remaining. Andy Jarusinski claimed the W. This was the school's first CL crown (all sports). The Bulldogs were coached by Ed "Reds" McGuire, a sergeant in the Chester police department.

1949
North
Decided in Regular Season
    Tom Mangrum allowed three hits and fanned eight in a game shortened to 4 1/2 innings because two teams were waiting to use the field. North frolicked over St. John's, 18-3, finalizing its record at 8-2.

1950
At Temple's Erny Field
North 2, La Salle 0
    Bob Eichhorn pitched a three-hitter while the RBI went to Rod Haughey and Connie Thorne. La Salle's Bill Matonis allowed four hits.

1951
At Temple's Erny Field
La Salle 1, South 0
    Larry Brownsey allowed just one hit and the run scored in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Don O'Connor and John Granozio. South's Bud Fahey pitched a six-hitter.
   
1952
South
Decided in Regular Season
    Mike Nardi had three RBI on a triple and single as the Pirates downed St. John's, 9-2. Reliever Jack Catanio allowed two hits in six innings, striking out seven. He'd pitched a four-hitter the day before. John McDonnell had a solo homer.

1953
At Temple's Erny Field
South 6, St. John's 1
    George Chew had three RBI and Joe Catanio pitched a six-hitter as the Pirates topped the tiny Manayunk school. Mike Nardi (four singles) and Rocco Buonpastore (two hits, three runs) also starred. For St. John's, Jack Brill had the RBI and Joe O'Brien went the distance.

1954
North
Decided in Regular Season
    Mike Marks pitched a two-hitter as the Falcons flogged La Salle, 12-4, to clinch the crown with one game left. Jim Padova, Mike Affatato and Mike Krupa had three hits apiece.

1955
At Temple's Erny Field
La Salle 3, South 1
    Ed O'Mara pitched a two-hitter. La Salle took a 2-0 lead in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. The runs scored on a groundout and an error. Ed Nessler singled to start the third and scored on an error. South's Gene Cosentino allowed five hits.

1956
North
Decided in Regular Season
    North clinched the title with a game remaining in an 18-3 frolic past SJ Prep. Lou Cataline and Al Merando hit homers to pace a 19-hit attack. Joe Laurinaitis pitched a six-hitter.

1957
Judge
Decided in Regular Season
    Judge, in only its second league season and with its first class of seniors days from graduation, went to 12-2 and won the title in a 6-2 success over Bonner. Ed Hughes pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and Ed Costello homered en route to three RBI.

1958
Best-of-Three Series
At Dougherty
Neumann 6, Dougherty 0
    Al Famiglietti allowed three hits and mowed down 14 batters while Charlie Chew had two hits and scored two runs.
At Neumann
Dougherty 8, Neumann 5
    Jim Dalton had a double and three singles for four RBI and Jack Shepper spun a five-hitter.
At Temple's Erny Field
Neumann 4, Dougherty 0
    After being hammered for 13 hits in Game 2, Al Famiglietti fought back with a four-hit, nine-strikeout performance. He also collected two RBI.

1959
At Temple's Erny Field
La Salle 5, Dougherty 1
    Freshman Steve Kearney entered the game with no outs and two on in the third -- his second pitch became a 5-3-4 tripleplay (John Corra to Dick Tragelman to Steve Cook) on Len Bracale's groundball. Kearney yielded three hits the rest of the way for the win. Dougherty's Jack Shepper, off a no-hitter vs. Bonner in the semis, allowed just one hit in this one. It was Harvey Appleton's RBI single in a five-run second.

1960
At La Salle College
Neumann 10, Judge 2
    The Pirates exploded for four in the first and six in the seventh to fashion the rout. Ron Chiumento went 2-for-2 with a double and triple for three RBI while John Piccolo was almost as successful (2-for-3, double, three RBI). Frank Ciaciak allowed eight hits, fanned six. Judge pitcher Jake Gaffney went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

1961
At Temple's Erny Field
St. James 3, Judge 2
    In the visiting sixth, Frank Gallagher singled, twin brother Jim bunted him over and freshman Frank Ryan doubled to left-center to break a 2-2 tie. Ryan's sacrifice fly had scored F. Gallagher (triple) in the fourth. Vic Majewski pitched a six-hitter with six strikeouts. Judge got consecutive singles from Bob Loftus, Mike Cody, Jake Gaffney (RBI) and Jim Delmar (RBI) to start the game, then did little. Gaffney fanned eight.

1962
At Temple's Erny Field
St. James 5, SJ Prep 4
    Two rain delays kept everyone on the premises for 4 hours, 40 minutes. St. James scored three in the first and two in the second (as Ken Scheivert and winning pitcher Mike Flanagan had triples). The Prep had the bases loaded with two out in the ninth, but Flanagan registered a strikeout. For Prep, soph righty Brendan Murray, originally the leftfielder, pitched eight scoreless innings in relief, leadoff batter Mike Karcher walked six consecutive times and centerfielder Ray Palmer made an overhead lunge at the fence to keep Flanagan from getting a 410-foot homer.

1963
At Temple's Erny Field
St. James 6, Judge 1
    The Bulldogs were at it again, and this time they smacked 15 hits to win in a breeze. Ed Miazza led the barrage by going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Mike Flanagan allowed five hits and K'd 11.

1964
At Temple's Erny Field
Judge 7, St. James 2
    Ken Rudzinski, author of two no-hitters during the regular season, pitched a seven-hitter with nine strikeouts and Ed Stopyra went 2-for-4 with a 380-foot home run and two RBI. For the losers, Joe Carroll had two hits and an RBI.

1965
At Temple's Erny Field
St. James 12, Judge 11
    No. 7 hitter Art Gorga went 3-for-4 with two singles, a three-run homer and six RBI. His blast capped a four-run seventh and gave the Bulldogs a 12-7 lead. Joe Carroll went 2-for-3 with two RBI. For Judge, Chuck Jarvis went 4-for-5 with three RBI and pinch-hitter Ted Johnson had a two-run triple in the eighth before George Talarico came on to earn a save.   

1966
At Temple's Erny Field
West 3, Judge 2
    The Burrs went through three pitchers in the ninth while holding on to win. John Barth was pulled after allowing his fifth hit. Bill Rocks and John Sheeran finished. With one run in and a runner at third, a Judge runner broke for second. Catcher Charlie Taluto fired to Sheeran, who in turn threw to third baseman Tom Scartozzi to catch the runner off base. The next man made out. West scored twice in the third on Bob Clarke's single and George Mozzachio's double. For Judge, Pat Lyons went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Bob Mannifield fanned 10.

1967
At Temple's Erny Field
Judge 2, Neumann 1
    Tim Foy's two-run single in the third inning scored John Loftus and Norm Kraft and Dennis Twers pitched a four-hitter. Neumann got its run on a wild pitch in the fifth. In the seventh, Kraft made an outstanding pickup at third base and started a doubleplay.

1968
At Temple's Erny Field
Egan 3, SJ Prep 1
    Dennis Yesenosky pitched a five-hitter with eight strikeouts and had an RBI single. The other RBI went to Paul Scalzone on a double and to Gary Evans on a single. Evans threw out a runner at the plate from right field. The Prep never did officially clinch the South title, but was 1 1/2 games ahead when a week of rain forced league officials to cancel the rest of the regular season.

1969
Best-of-Three Series
At St. James
Dougherty 6, St. James 4
    Dan Heenan had a solo homer and two-run triple and Greg McCorry added a two-run double. Leo Woehlcke got the win.
At Dougherty
St. James 12, Dougherty 6
    Mike McKinney struck out 12 and had four RBI. Ray Castaldi also had four RBI.    
At Temple's Erny Field
Dougherty 15, St. James 1
    Leo Woehlcke pitched a five-hitter with six strikeouts and went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the No. 9 hole. Greg McCorry went 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBI. The Cardinals scored 12 runs in the third inning thanks to eight singles, McCorry's three-run triple, a walk, a wild pitch and three errors. Woehlcke and McCorry had two hits each in the inning. Colin Malseed singled and scored for St. James in the sixth.

1970
At Connie Mack Stadium
Bonner 2, North 0
    Mike Stevens struck out nine in a six-hitter and the runs scored in the home sixth on a walk to Jack Correale and Tom Coletti's groundout.

1971
At Veterans Stadium
At Lincoln High (twice)
St. James 8, Judge 3
    This title was won over three days. On Sunday, the teams played to a 3-3 tie that was halted after eight innings at 1:15 so the Phillies and Padres could get in some pregame practice. On Monday, rain forced a postponement after a half-inning. On Tuesday, the matter was finally resolved. Fran McKinney allowed six hits. The Bulldogs took a 4-2 lead in the sixth as Ron Schott stroked an RBI single and scored on Dave Miller's squeeze. Judge's Mike Votta had two RBI.

1972
At Veterans Stadium
St. James 8, Egan 2
    Ray Castaldi went 2-for-2 with two walks, a triple just short of the 408-foot sign in centerfield and three runs scored. Dave Kasarsky had two RBI and Tony Kozak surrendered six hits while raising his career record to 26-1. Losing pitcher Bill Keeler had two RBI.

1973
At Veterans Stadium
Judge 4, Carroll 0
    Ken Keser, who'd pitched two no-hitters (one a perfect game) in division play, allowed three hits and struck out seven. None of Judge's runs was earned.

1974
At Veterans Stadium
Ryan 3, Bonner 2
    With 1,500 looking on, Tom Filer fired a four-hitter and John Zeglinski went 4-for-4 with a tying RBI double in the visiting fifth and a tie-breaking, two-out, two-strike RBI single to score Tom Rice (HBP, steal) in the seventh. The game ended a shade before 4 p.m. Zeglinski and the other seniors rushed home to prepare for a 6 o'clock graduation ceremony in Ryan's auditorium. Larry Greenwich had Bonner's two RBI.

1975
At Veterans Stadium
O'Hara 2, North 0
    Jim Wilks, a former catcher in his first year of pitching, allowed seven hits and five walks, but used eight strikeouts to pitch out of jam after jam en route to his fifth straight shutout. He also had a 380-foot double for a sixth inning RBI. Tom Harrison scored both runs. Wilks logged a strikeout and groundout with the bases loaded in the home seventh. North's Mike Schoen allowed four hits, struck out 13 and walked just one. O'Hara coach Bill Dugan had played JV ball at North under North coach Joe Malizia.

1976
At Temple's Erny Field
Judge 7, O'Hara 0
    Shawn O'Neill pitched a two-hitter and ended the game with a flourish, notching his seventh strikeout after O'Hara loaded the bases. O'Hara committed seven errors, so Judge collected just three RBI -- two by Lou Nicastro, one by Tom Ullmer (three hits).

1977
At Temple's Erny Field
North 3, Bonner 2
    The Falcons trailed, 2-0, entering the home seventh and standout lefty Tom Stauffer was cruising. Art Cauto and Mike Chrobocinski drew walks. With the count 2-2 on Jack Hogan, who'd been inserted to bunt the runners over, coach Larry Conti went to Steve Buchanan and the result was a single to center to load the bases. Two runs scored on Tom Bonk's misplayed grounder and Leon Rysak later won it with an RBI single to center. Jeff Etsell allowed five hits, fanned 11. Stauffer allowed four hits, fanned 10. Tony Manzi had an RBI triple on an 0-2 pitch in the fifth. In the seventh, an 0-2 pitch to Manzi skipped to the screen and Mike Baselice scored as his hard slide dislodged the ball from Etsell's glove.

1978
At Temple's Erny Field
Roman 1, Egan 0 (8 inn.)
    Curveballer Craig Houck spun a five-hitter and escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the visiting eighth by retiring the 3-4-5 hitters. Egan's Joe Lynch (four-hitter) hit John Stoffere to start the home half and Stoffere eventually scored from second base in the aftermath of an infield throwing error.

1979
At Temple's Erny Field
West 4, Judge 2
    Bill Mendek persevered to nail down the win though Judge scored two runs in the home seventh and still had two runners on when a groundout ended it. West's Brian Miller had two RBI on a triple and sacrifice fly while Pat Kane went 3-for-4 and scored a run. Jim Dugan had two of Judge's six hits.

1980
At Phila. Textile
Ryan 12, Carroll 4
    The Raiders posted four-spots in the third, fourth and sixth to storm to the title. Dan Cataline hit a solo homer (his 11th of the season) two days before becoming the Cubs' second-round draftee. Jim Vanderslice went 2-for-4 with four RBI and Nick Russo and Ken Pawloski had two RBI apiece. Joe Cohill, winner Dan Gillespie and Jim Hanuscin did the pitching. Ryan finished 21-1-1 overall. For Carroll, Paul Adelizzi, Scott Chamness and Dan Clancy (triple) had two hits apiece.

1981
At Temple's Erny Field
North 4, O'Hara 2
    Vince Ciaramella pitched a three-hitter and overcame a battle with a slight case of nerves in the seventh to nail down the win. Ciaramella struck out the first two batters, then walked the next two on eight pitches total. After seeing two relievers trot to the bullpen, he retired Sean Sullivan as shortstop Tom Frisco made an over-the-shoulder catch of a popup. Rob Gerold went 2-for-4 with two RBI. For O'Hara, George Clark had a two-run double in the sixth.

1982
At Temple's Erny Field
Judge 6, Carroll 1
    The Crusaders got plenty of help while concluding an 18-0 league campaign; five of their six runs scored on errors. No. 9 hitter Dennis Minich, a slick-fielding shortstop, had the lone RBI on a sixth inning single. Pat Waninger pitched a four-hitter with six strikeouts and was given an MVP trophy. During the bus ride back to Judge, heavy celebrating caused the trophy to break. Numerous players got pieces and waved them out the windows. Carroll's Dave Lafferty went 2-for-4.

1983
At Temple's Erny Field
O'Hara 10, Egan 6
    This game featured the most amazing development in city playoff history. Down by 5-2, O'Hara scored eight runs in the visiting seventh and seven followed this juncture: two outs, nobody on and Joe Romano facing an 0-2 count. The Lions scored four runs (all earned) in one-third of an inning against reliever Ted Blucas, who had not allowed an earned run all season. Scott Seifert (4-for-5, three RBI) started the inning with a double and later had an RBI triple. Tim Kelly (3-for-5) singled for the final RBI of the inning. The win went to John Morris, who allowed one run in two innings. He had pitched only 3 1/3 previous league innings. For Egan, starting pitcher Bob Zupcic went 4-for-4 with two triples and two RBI to finish 11-for-17 (.647) with seven RBI in four playoff games.

1984
At Temple's Erny Field
Ryan 8, Bonner 3
    Joe "Spanky" Jenkins went 5-for-5 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored for the Raiders, who broke open a tight game with two apiece in the sixth (on Joe Wagner's double) and seventh. Tim Brydges went 3-for-3 and scored a run. Rich Schonewolf allowed three hits in five innings and Jim Doherty finished. Bonner's Dennis Hennelly hit a solo homer.

1985
At Temple's Erny Field
Judge 11, St. James 5
    Walking none and striking out none, sophomore reliever Chris Gies pitched 6 2/3 innings of three-hit shutout ball and received huge support from Ron Brunner (3-for-4, double, five RBI) and Mike Hagan (three-run homer). Bob Christy had two RBI in St. James' five-run first.

1986
At Temple's Erny Field
North 13, Neumann 7
    The ball was flyin' out like crazy. North slammed four homers. Neumann hit two. Trailing by 7-5, North exploded for eight runs in a 14-batter visiting seventh as Ken Sanger (four RBI), Dave Mastropietro (second of the game) and Javier Barreto all homered. Mastropietro and Barreto halved six RBI. Barreto won in relief by allowing one hit and no runs in 3 2/3 innings. For Neumann, Brian Smith and Mark Kavalauskas had two-run homers.

1987
At Temple's Erny Field
Judge 6, Bonner 2
    Chris Gies allowed four hits and one walk and fanned seven as the Crusaders triumphed. Steve Elinski went 2-for-3 with two RBI, Mike Metzger went 2-for-2 and scored three runs and Carmen Caserta had an RBI double. Bonner's Chris Boyle went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

1988
At Temple's Erny Field
La Salle 5, Neumann 2
    Gene Schall pitched a seven-hitter with six strikeouts and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Explorers rolled to a 4-0 lead after 1 1/2 innings. Centerfielder Bill Watts went 3-for-4 with an RBI and made a sensational diving catch in left-center to limit Neumann to two runs in the third (after RBI hits by Jerry Lawson and Nick Brunetti).

1989
At Temple's Erny Field
Bonner 5, La Salle 3
    Bonner trailed, 3-0, after five innings, but posted three in the sixth and two in the seventh. Jack McCoy, the South MVP but relegated to spot duty because of a broken left hand, capped the sixth with an RBI single while wearing a cast. Scott Ely (triple) and Bob Sadwick (misjudged double) had RBI in the seventh. Jeff Tinari, previously 1-2, pitched a five-hitter and had a two-run double. For La Salle, Dave Kratz had an RBI double.

1990
At Penn's Bower Field
Wood 1, Carroll 0
    Wood's Dan Kusters (11 strikeouts) and Carroll's Frank Rauscher traded two-hitters, none for extra bases, and the only run was covered in controversy. In the visiting first, Kusters drew a two-out walk and yielded to courtesy runner Mike Daulerio. With Daulerio running, Frank Fisher hammered an easy ground ball to second baseman Mike Halpin for what would surely would have been the third out. Instead, plate ump Jim Cronin called catcher Glenn McClelland for interference -- there was heated debate; even Fisher didn't know whether the call was correct -- and Jon Reimel followed with an RBI single. Kusters became the third pitcher in CL history to record two playoff shutouts in the same season.

1991
At La Salle University
Carroll 2, Wood 0
    Keith Conway (4 1/3 innings) and Sean Dalton combined on a four-hitter and struck out nine. Mountain MacGillivray scored on Joe Aylmer's sacrifice fly in the second and had an RBI single in the fourth. With two on, centerfielder Sean McGarvey caught Dan Kusters' deep drive for the game's final out. Kusters allowed six hits in six innings.

1992
At La Salle University
Roman 10, Kenrick 6
    Bill Black went 3-for-4 with a triple and scored three runs, Dan Lauer went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI and twin brothers Harry and Mike Carr had an RBI apiece. Chris Nowaczyk went six innings for the win. Kenrick's John Kelemen had three RBI.

1993
At La Salle University
Wood 2, Neumann 1
    The Vikings completed an unprecedented five-game run to the title as Steve Kusters pitched a three-hitter and had two RBI -- on a double in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Brian Schaller scored both runs after using his speed to beat out grounders for infield singles. Neumann's Rocky Fogarino went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

1994
At La Salle University
La Salle 11, SJ Prep 8
    Trailing by 7-4, the Explorers scored seven runs in the visiting seventh as Donny Quinn (3-for-5) and Kevin Kline (3-for-4, three RBI) had consecutive two-run doubles for the final four runs. In the home sixth, Drew McCormick's deep drive had been dropped for a four-base error that yielded three runs. Roger Burns pitched one-third of an inning for the win. With The Prep stirring heavily in the home seventh (one run in, two out, two on), La Salle coach Joe Parisi tried to return Kevin Kline to the mound from shortstop. A rules technicality prevented that move, so soph Mike Wilkin came in and assumed a 2-0 count against Mike Chiliberti. A flyout ended it.

1995
At La Salle University
North 5, Neumann 3
    Chris Heck allowed seven hits and struck out six while becoming the third pitcher in 11 years to lead his team to the championship with complete-game efforts in the semis and final. He also went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Kevin Szychulski went 3-for-4 with a double and Brad Clarke had two RBI. For Neumann, Doug Rubino went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI.

1996
At La Salle University
Carroll 11, La Salle 4
    The Patriots became the fourth team in 14 years of eight-team playoffs to win four games. Mike Fuchs keyed the assault by going 3-for-3 with a triple and five RBI. Winning pitcher Jay Aquilante went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. In 42 playoff at-bats, Fuchs, Aquilante and Mike Daly combined for 23 hits and 19 RBI. Losing pitcher Paul Grevy had two RBI.

1997
At La Salle University
Carroll 4, Judge 2
    Jay Aquilante twirled a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and Mike Fuchs broke a 2-2 tie in the home sixth by ripping a 400-foot, two-run homer over the fence in exact left-center. The ball hit halfway up a large fir tree across the driveway. Judge's Kevin McGerry, a fourth-round Giants' draftee, also allowed four hits and fanned eight. Jim White and Mike Gies had RBI.

1998
At La Salle University
Ryan 6, Judge 1 (9 inn.)
    Sophomore John Price pitched a six-hitter with 11 strikeouts and just one walk as the Raiders completed a four-win playoff run and captured their first title since 1984. Just to make the playoffs, Ryan needed to score twice in the home seventh on the final day of the regular season and eliminate co-contender Dougherty. Neither team scored through eight innings. In the visiting ninth, Ryan received back-to-back RBI singles from Kevin Corcoran and Joe Corsanico to make it 2-0. The other runs scored on an error (two), a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Albert "Butch" Cantz. For Judge, Pete Gabriele stroked an RBI double and Josh Riordan pitched three-hit ball over eight-plus innings.

1999
At La Salle University
Carroll 3, SJ Prep 0
    After throwing six straight balls, and with the tying run at the plate, Gerard Oakes (five-hitter, seven strikeouts) was lifted one out short of a complete game. John Zamichieli, who inherited a 2-0 count, induced a popup to end it and give Carroll its third title in four years and fourth in the '90s. Oakes helped himself with an RBI triple and an RBI single. Steve Harris had two hits for Prep.

2000
At La Salle University
Judge 6, La Salle 4
  Eric Ruhland allowed three first-inning runs, but finished with a nine-strikeout four-hitter as the Crusaders gave 25-year coach Joe McDermott his fifth championship. Mark Dickson (RBI double) and Matt McKenna (two-run single) created a 3-3 tie in the third, Bill Reilly got home a run in the third on a fielder's choice, Kirk Bucholski lashed an RBI double in the fourth and Dennis Klinger homered in the fifth. Losing pitcher Bryan Harvey had an RBI double.

2001
At La Salle University
Carroll 8, Kennedy-Kenrick 2
  Marty Higgins went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI as the Patriots rolled behind a 15-hit attack. Higgins, Mike Costanzo and Jim Gillin had RBI doubles while John Gardner and Anthony Altomare had RBI singles. John Zamichieli (five innings) and Matt Kirsch did the pitching. K-K's Marc Wagner went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

2002
At La Salle University
Carroll 16, La Salle 0
  Mike Costanzo went 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a homer to centerfield and five RBI (one off the game record) as the Patriots claimed their fifth title in seven years. John Gardner went 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and a homer for two RBI. Dave Omlor (three) and Chris Cashman (two) also had multiple RBI. Frank Gailey pitched a three-hitter with one walk and six strikeouts. He also went 3-for-5 with a double. Carroll scored five unearned runs in the first inning. The run differential doubled the previous record for a CL final.

2003
At La Salle University
O'Hara 5, La Salle 4
  As they'd done in the semis, scoring four to edge Conwell-Egan, 10-9, the Lions won it in the bottom of the seventh. They only needed two runs this time. Mike Antonini's squeeze bunt brought in the tying run and pinch-hitter Paul Titchenell, with two away and a 1-2 count, slammed a single to right for the win. The hit scored Joe DiMenna, who was dashing down the line in an attempt to steal home. Brian Placido went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI and Mike Greeley smacked a solo homer. Josh Rickards (5.1 innings) and Brian Campbell did the pitching. After spinning a no-hitter in the semis, a 9-1 win over Carroll, La Salle's Dan Waters went five innings on two days of rest. He allowed six hits. O'Hara was coached by John Fleming, Antonini's stepfather, as Frank Allison continued to nurse injuries suffered in an off-season fall.

2004
At La Salle University
Carroll 7, Ryan 3
  This one was played over two days. In the top of the seventh on Day One, Chris Cashman, after being granted new life due to a dropped foul popup, delivered a grand slam -- the first in CL title history -- to dead leftfield to erase a 3-1 deficit. The ball reached the loading dock of a building beyond a driveway. Estimated distance: a shade over 400 feet. The next two batters reached base and the skies opened big-time, forcing a suspension. The infield was a mess, plus La Salle's groundskeepers finished their workday and headed home two minutes before the game was halted. The Day Two resumption lasted just 12 minutes. It began as Ryan Stewart delivered a bad-hop, two-run single. There was no activity thereafter. Brandon Gribbin won in relief, just as he had in the semis. He pitched two perfect innings. Carroll staged comebacks in all three playoff victories. Rob Fisher (single) and Anthony Carter (double) had run-scoring hits in Ryan's three-run third.

2005
At La Salle University
La Salle 4, Conwell-Egan 3
   Junior lefthander Matt Zielinski pitched perfect ball through five innings and finished with nine strikeouts in a four-hitter. C-E's Chris David opened the sixth with a double off the leftfield fence and later scored on Joe Jordan's infield single. The seventh began with Rich Dupell's single and Matt Burns' homer over the fence in the leftfield corner. After a visit from coach Joe Parisi, who told him to retire the next three batters and expressed confidence that he would, Zielinski did just that on a strikeout, popout and fly to centerfielder Mike Villari (3-for-3, RBI, run scored). La Salle scored two apiece in the first and fourth. Will Phillips' sacrifice fly and a wild pitch plated two unearned runs in the first. Sean Saverio and Villari had RBI singles in the fourth.

2006
At Widener University
Conwell-Egan 8, SJ Prep 3
   These teams had combined for only one league championship, and C-E's drought had lasted since 1968, when the school was known as Bishop Egan and coach Rich Papirio was a substitute. Brian Herman, as he'd done in the semis, went the distance (five hits, five Ks) as C-E finished 16-0 against CL opposition. He also hammered a run-scoring double. C-E's Ryan Terry (leftfield) and Prep's Matt Leddy (rightfield) both poled two-run homers that barely left the stadium down short lines (300 to LF, 309 to RF). Leddy's homer created a 3-3 tie, then Ed Barry (double) and Rich Dupell (single) collected RBI in the home fourth before John McDonald (single) and Mike Rugghia (double) did likewise in the fifth. The Eagles added an unearned run in the sixth. All 11 runs were scored with two away. The title was Papirio's third, ending a 22-year wait (also '80 and '84 at Ryan.)

2007
At Widener University
SJ Prep 19, Ryan 0
   For the second time in six years (Carroll beat La Salle, 16-0, in 2002), the CL final was outrageously one-sided as the Hawks frolicked to their first championship in the league's 63-season "modern" baseball history; there'd also been titles in 1924 and '25. The Prep scored four unearned runs in the first, then exploded for 13 more (all earned) in the second thanks to eight hits (three doubles), five walks and two hit batsmen. Seventeen batters went to the plate. Fittingly, the only two seniors in the starting lineup emerged as headliners. In a game halted by a 10-run mercy rule, Matt Dolan pitched a five-inning one-hitter (Rob McArdle's infield single to lead off the third) and Matt Fischer went 2-for-2 with a walk, double and four RBI. Tim Edger, Steve Bruno and Dennis Murphy added three RBI apiece.

2008
At Widener University
SJ Prep 5, Bonner 1
  Kyle Mullen pitched a four-hitter and received no-errors support from his fielders as the Hawks captured a second consecutive title. Pitching coach Bob Blake had to leave town on business, so pitch-calling duties were left to catcher Dennis Murphy. Aaron Haas (one-run) and Jeff Lynch (two-run) smacked RBI singles in a three-run third, Brett Tiagwad posted a two-run single in the sixth and Tim Edger registered six assists at shortstop. The original shortstop, Steve Bruno, a returning first team All-City player, had transferred to Gloucester Catholic in early April, forcing Edger to move in from centerfield. Bonner lefty Conor Kerins, who'd fanned 13 Hawks in a regular season meeting, suffered his first loss of the season while going on shorter-than-usual rest (four days). The Friars scored in the sixth on consecutive hits by Pat Warrington (double) and Rob Benedict (single).

2009
At Widener University
Neumann-Goretti 3, La Salle 1 (8 inn.)
  Leaving behind the disappointment of five title-game failures along the way, the Saints (nee Pirates) won their first championship since 1960 with only two seniors among the 10 starters. Junior lefty Mark Donato spun a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and pitched shutout ball over the final seven frames. The decisive run scored as Reno Regalbuto singled, stole second and raced home on Al Baur's single. Donato then managed a misjudged double, courtesy runner Blaze Cedrone moved to third on an obstruction call and Joey Armata beat out an infield single. La Salle lefty Shawn O'Neill also went the distance (seven hits) while trying to match his dad's accomplishment; Shawn Sr. pitched Judge to the '76 CL crown. Brendan McCoy singled home La Salle's run. In the fifth, catcher T.J. Burgmann posted both putouts on a wacky doubleplay -- 9-2-6-2 after Baur singled to right.

2010
At Widener University
Bonner 13, Ryan 3 (5 inn.)
  Ryan scored three in the visiting first, but Bonner answered hard with four in the second and nine in the third while storming to its first title since 1989 and raising its scoring average for three playoff games to 10.3. In the combined outbursts, Rick Reigner contributed two RBI on a double and single, Josh VanHorn (double, second) and Steve Markus (single, third) stroked hits worth two runs apiece, Alex Liberatore went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and one RBI, and Mike Haley turned two singles into one RBI. After allowing four hits in the first (Kevin Mack and Steve Markle had RBI singles), Anthony DiGalbo settled down to complete a six-hitter. Bonner's best post-game display: handing 6-year-old batboy George Nestor (brother of pitcher Joe Nestor) the championship plaque, hoisting him high and serenading him with the Happy Birthday song.

2011
At Widener University
Neumann-Goretti 3, Bonner 1 (8 inn.)
  In the visiting eighth, after twice fouling off bunt attempts, junior lefthander Joey Gorman nixed coach Lou Spadaccini's suggestion to hit away, sacrificed John Snyder (double off the Blue Monster) and Mike "Zoom" Zolk (intentional walk) to third and second, then watched Marty Venafro and Jimmy Kerrigan deliver RBI singles. A 1-2-3 bottom half gave the Saints (perfect at 21-0 overall) their second title in three years and Gorman win No. 3 of the playoffs over seven days (two as a starter; 15 total innings). Gorman, the junior class president, allowed four hits in this one and retired 13 of the final 14 batters. N-G's Joey Glennon (single in second) and Bonner's Paul Shepherd (groundout in first; also gunned down three would-be basestealers) had the game's other RBI. The weather conditions featured oppressive heat and humidity with not a hint of a breeze. After being pelted by a bucket of ice at extremely close range, Spadaccini hollered while laughing, "Geez! You almost gave me a concussion."

2012
At Widener University
Neumann-Goretti 5, La Salle 4 (8 inn.)
  With one out and soph Joe Lolio, a 5-3, 148-pound pinch-runner recently promoted from the JV, on first base, Joe Kinee was ordered to bunt for a hit by coach Mike Zolk. Not exactly confident because he’d failed to get one down in fair territory all season, Kinee did so this time and a wild throw enabled Lolio, running on the pitch, to dash all the way home and give N-G its second consecutive title and third in four years. In sweltering heat/humidity, three days after having two ribs popped back into place by Dr. John Law, a relative of catcher Nicky Nardini, Joey Gorman threw 144 pitches before being switched to left field one batter into the eighth. The win went to John La Motta, who’d thrown nine relief innings four days earlier in a 14-inning semifinal win over Bonner. Josh Ockimey clubbed a two-run homer in the third while Joey Glennon (sac fly) and Anthony Adams (single) had RBI in a two-run sixth, creating a 4-4 tie. Nardini and Marty Venafro became just the second and third players to start for three CL champions. Frank Ryan did so for St. James from 1961 to ’63. For La Salle, Kevin Long went the distance and Chris Melillo posted two RBI (sac fly, single).