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SPIRIT BODY SPORTS
courierpostonline.com | Sports Editor Tom McGurk | tmcgurk@courierpostonline.com | 856-486-2420
Thursday, April 23, 2015 | Section C
OUTTA HERE
Barry Bonds’ obstruction of justice conviction was thrown out by a federal court of appeals. Page2C
Phillies give away 5 runs to Marlins MARTIN FRANK THE NEWS JOURNAL
PHILADELPHIA — The heavy downpour earlier in the afternoon was an apt metaphor for the deluge of errors that swamped the Phillies during the game Wednesday night. There was the error by Cole Hamels in the second inning when he dropped an inning-ending toss at first base that scored a run. There was the balk by Luis Garcia in the seventh that allowed the Miami Marlins to score the go-ahead run. Then came the calamity in the eighth, when Chase Utley dropped a throw for what should have been an inning-ending forceout at second base. That left the bases loaded, and Dee Gordon promptly unloaded them on a deep fly ball to center field that Odubel Herrera misread, turning himself around as he dropped it. All of which led to the Phillies’ 6-1 loss to the Marlins.
Incredibly, five of the Marlins’ runs were unearned. The extra runs were way too much for the Phillies (5-10) to overcome. And, as has been the case for most of the past three years, it was too much for Hamels to overcome in order to get a win. Hamels hasn’t won since last Sept. 23. In those six starts, the Phillies have scored just four runs. Hamels had no chance despite giving up just an unearned run on five hits in six innings. It was the first time this season that Hamels didn’t allow a home run. He came into the game having allowed seven in his first three starts, the most in the majors.
MARLINS 6, PHILLIES 1 Up next: vs. Marlins When: 1 p.m., Thursday TV/Radio: CSN/1210 AM, 94.1 FM AP
Miami Marlins’ Dee Gordon hits a three-run fly ball to center that was misplayed by Odubel Herrera in the eighth inning Wednesday in Philadelphia. Miami won 6-1.
See ERRORS, Page 6C
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Strange one goes to Chiefs KEVIN MINNICK @CP_VARSITY
GLOUCESTER TWP. — It was a strange game. An out was recorded when a team batted out of order. Then there was a rain delay that lasted all of about five minutes. An infielder ran into the fence trying to snare a foul ball, forced to leave the game with several cuts and a bloody mouth. There were times when players didn’t seem to remember the situation. “There were some things you never expect to see in a baseball game,” Cherokee High School coach Marc Petragnani said. Then there were a few things that you will witness from time to time — execution of a defensive play just like it’s drawn up in practice and a bit of redemption by hitting the ball out of the park. With the tying run trying to score from first, the Chiefs recorded an 8-6-2 out at the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning. Then, they got a three-run homer by Evan Powell in the sixth and held CHRIS LACHALL/COURIER-POST
Moorestown's Melanie Becker drives between Cherokee's Brooke Yarsinsky, left, and Cherokee's Kelsey Adam, right, during the first half of Wednesday’s game.
See CHIEFS, Page 3C
Quakers reign in the rain
Moorestown rallies from early deficit for 87th straight win KEVIN CALLAHAN @CP_KCALLAHAN
MOORESTOWN — The storm was threatening and so was the Cherokee High School girls’ lacrosse team. With rain blowing sideways, the Chiefs scored the first three goals Wednesday. Suddenly, the Moorestown winning streak stretching over four seasons looked vulnerable in this nonleague matchup. The Quakers, though, responded like the true champions they are with six consecutive goals midway through the first half for their 87th straight win with a 17-7 victory. “I think pressure is a good thing,” senior Adriana Pendino said after scoring two goals about the winning streak. “I feel pressure at practice, I think we all do. We have to play for all the girls who
MOORESTOWN 17, CHEROKEE 7 » Player of the game: Moorestown senior Abbey Brooks scored four goals, including three in first half to help erase a 3-0 deficit. » Play of the game: Senior Adriana Pendino gave Moorestown a 5-4 lead .
were before us and who will be after us, so I think there was a little bit of pressure I felt when we were down. “But I was confident in myself and my teammates that we would come back.” Moorestown, ranked No. 1 in the Courier-Post Top 15, improved to 10-0 while No. 4 Cherokee dipped to 5-3. The Chiefs’ other losses were to No. 2 Lenape and No. 3 Shawnee. “It was really awesome and amazing to see them come out like that,” said Cherokee coach Sarah Wood. “We couldn’t
hold on to it, we probably just got tired. But that first six minutes is how we can play. We just need to work on consistently have that for the rest of the game.” Abbey Brooks netted four goals for Moorestown while Melanie Becker and Alex O’Donnell both scored three to secure the comeback. “We were believing in ourselves the whole time, we knew we would come back,” O’Donnell said. “It was just a matter of how quickly and how hard we were going to work, but we knew we weren’t going to stay down because we do every time.” Kelsey Adam and Brooke Yarnsinsky each scored twice for Cherokee while Jess Havers collected one goal and two assists. “The first half was really good for See QUAKERS, Page 4C
KEVIN MINNICK/COURIER-POST
Cherokee senior Brian Marconi delivers a pitch during action in Wednesday’s game against Timber Creek.
CHEROKEE TIMBER CREEK
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» Player of the game: Evan Powell ripped a three-run homer to give Cherokee some breathing room in the top of the sixth. » Play of the game: Cherokee nailed a base runner at the plate, executing a perfect 8-6-2 play to end the fifth inning. » Well said: “Our pitching has been incredible. We just need to get the offense figured out.” — Evan Powell
MINOR-LEAGUERS LOOK TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS PAGE 9C