The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 136

48-H Thursday, May 2, 1985 The Philadelphia Inquirer SPORTS Wood's Kerrigan keeps foes off balance By Mike Missanelli Inquirer Sttljj Writer A 77 m.p.h. fastball won't get the bird dogs flocking to the scholastic athletic fields. But a big-league curve ball, pinpoint control and the perfect pitcher's disposition will. That is why four major league baseball scouts traveled to Archbishop Ryan's field Monday afternoon to watch Archbishop Wood's Rob Kerrigan. Kerrigan's performance in an 11-6 Wood victory over Ryan was less than a masterpiece, but, judging from the looks on the faces of scouts from the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates, it was impressive enough.

Kerrigan struck out only seven batters Monday, but the method was more impressive than the number. Three of Kerrigan's victims went down looking, set up by a curve ball, then a fast ball on the black, or vice-versa. Ryan's most feared hitter, cleanup man Rich Shonewolf, a 6-foot, 4-inch, 240-poundcr, screwed himself into the ground twice on high heat after a curve. "Basically, that's how 1 get most of my success, keeping the hitters off stride," said Kerrigan. "I want to keep them guessing up there." One of Ryan's runs was unearned.

i fr said Rob. "So, there's really no extra pressure on me when I see them there. My uncle took me to a tryout at Olympic Stadium lin Montreall last summer and I threw in front of Expos general manager Jim Fanning and Ithen pitching coachl Galen Cisco. That's pressure. I'm just having fun in a high school game.

"My family has been a big help. My dad and brother try to get to as many games as possible and they point out little things they notice I'm doing wrong. And I try to talk to my uncle about pitching as much as possible. "Right now, professional baseball is not on my mind," said Kerrigan. "Making the playoffs and winning the Catholic League is." Results of interest this week included Wissahickon's 8-7 upset of Suburban One American Conference leader Upper Moreland, Jenkin-town's 13-6 romp over Lansdale Catholic in the Bicentennial League, Springfield's 9-2 win at Bristol, and Perkiomen Valley's 5-3 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.

The Trojans scored four runs in the second inning, aided by two Upper Moreland errors, to post its second win of the season. The Bears committed four errors on the day leading to four unearned runs against pitcher John Sheller. Jenkintown piled up 12 runs in the first five innings to beat L.C. behind winning pitcher Jeremy Baltz. Baltz, a hard-throwing junior lefthander, helped his own cause with a 2-run home run in the fifth.

Springfield continued to make a move in the Bicentennial West Division as Peter Jones shut down Bristol with a four-hitter. Kevin Harkins, Tony Grandy and Raphael Saler had two hits apiece for the Spartans. Hatboro-Horsham squandered a big opportunity to pick up ground in the Bux-Mont League by losing to league-leader Perkiomen Valley. Jim Bildstein had three hits and three RBIs for Perk Valley. Tne Pmiaaeipnia inquirer amRa SUWA Rob Kerrigan hurls Wood to victory over Ryan; four major league scouts attended Monday's game Baseball to first base.

"It's hurt me a little," said Kerrigan, who works with a steel ball between innings to keep his pitching fingers loose. "We've talked about resting me on days when I'm not pitching, but I like to win. If it's better for the team that I play shortstop, then I'll play shortstop. This is the first winning baseball team I've been on in three years at Wood, and I don't want anything to interfere with that." The Vikings, who moved into a tie for second place in the tough Philadelphia Catholic League Northern Division with the win Monday, appear shoo-ins to finish as one of the loop's four top teams and make the playoffs. Wood pounded Ryan pitching for 13 hits, three for extra bases including Gary Kraus' game-breaking three-run triple in the top of the seventh.

Ryan had closed within 7-6 before Kraus delivered his blow, a hit that caused Kerrigan to jump about five feet in the air. "I was glad to see that because I didn't know how much I had left," said Kerrigan, who nonetheless retired Ryan in order in the bottom of the seventh. Kerrigan's baseball proficiency is no accident he comes from good stock. Rob's dad, Tom, was a catcher in the Philadelphia Phillies organization a couple of decades ago. His brother, Tom pitched for La Salle College.

And his uncle, Joe, a Catholic League legend at Father Judge and star at Temple University, was a former number-one pick of the Montreal Expos, who is with that organization now as a pitching coach. "I'm used to scouts being around," Kerrigan gave up only seven hits on the afternoon; six of them came from the fourth inning on, when the heat of an 80-degree day had begun to take its toll on Wood's effervescent redhead. Ryan's starter, All-Catholic Jim Doherty, lasted only three innings on the mound as the Red Raiders used five pitchers in all. "Actually, this is the first warm day I've thrown in," Kerrigan said. "It's really been funny this year.

Dave IZcgac, Wood's number-two starting pitcher has been pitching in all warm weather and I've gotten the cool days. The last time I threw, it was 60 degrees. I was really getting tired out there." Kerrigan didn't seem to lose much velocity from the first inning to the seventh, but both he and the scouts know that his fastball has been better. The Jugs gun, an instrument that measures a pitcher's velocity, clocked him in the mid-80s this summer in American Legion ball. And he did uncork one pitch Monday a fastball to Shonewolf that topped out at 80.

His average, however, was 77. Kerrigan said his velocity had been affected because when he was not pitching, he played shortstop for the Vikcs. And anyone who has ever scooped a ground ball in the hole knows that it is a fairly taxing throw Scoreboard Continued from preceding page Baseball Boys' track STANDINGS (Through Monday) BUX-MONT LEAGUE Ltagut SATURDAY NONLEAGUE Archbishop Wood at Hatboro-Horsham, 3:30 Chestnut Hill Ac. al Acad. New Church, 3:30 Cheltenham al Abington, 3.30 Norrlstown 9, Abington 2 Abington 110 000 0 2 7 Norrislown 020 025 0 9 9 WP: Steve Bishop.

LP: Barbella. 2B: Sieve Chnstman (Nl, Bishop (N). SCHEDULES TODAY SUBURBAN ONE AMERICAN Uooer Moreland si Lower Moreland. 3:30 Oienenham at Uoper Meriort, 330 Pivmouih-Whiiema'sn ai WissatiicKort, 3:30 Uooer Dublin al Melhacton, 3 30 SUBURBAN ONE NATIONAL Truman al William Tennenl, 3:30 Abinaion al Bensaiem, 330 Pennsourv al Council Rock, 330 Nornstown al Nesnaminv, 3 30 BUX MONT Hatboro-Horsham al Soudenon, 3J0 CB. East at CB.

West, 330 Perkiomen Valiev al Pennndge, 330 BICENTENNIAL Sonnglleid (Ml at Jenkinlown, 330 Bristol at ArctlbishOD Kennedy, 3:30 Devon Preo at Hoiv Gnosl, 330 Lansdale Catholic at Morrisvine, 330 Christopher Dock al New Hope, 330 BUX-MONT CB. East al Pennridge, 3:30 NONLEAGUE Troian Track Classic al Wissahlckon, Pennridge Invitational, 5:15 Christian Academy at Game! Valley, 330 Girard College at Phil-Mont Christian, 3:30 TOMORROW INTER-AC Episcopal Ac. at Haverlord School, 3:30 Penn Charter al Chesinul Hill Ac 3 30 Malvern Prep at Germaniown Academy, 3:30 SATURDAY BICENTENNIAL Soringlield (M) al Archbishop Kennedy, 3:30 NONLEAGUE Delco championships, 10 Bensaiem Invitational, noon Perkiomen Valley Invitational, 11 Jenkintown 13, Lansdale Cath. 6 Jenkinlown 130 350 1 13 6 Lansdale Catholic 021 003 0 6 10 WP: Jeremy Baltz. LP: Sieve Condwll.

2B: Chip Boswell (J), Lewandowski (LC), HR: Jeremy Balu (J), Lewandowski (LC), Williams (LC). Cenlral Bucks Easl 0 North Penn 5 Haiboro-Horsham 4 Pennridge 4 2 Perkiomen Valley 3 3 Upper Perkiomen 3 4 Souderton 2 4 Cenlral Bucks West I Quakerlown 0 6 SCHEDULES TODAY SUBURBAN ONE NATIONAL Wtiiiam Tennent al Bensaiem, 3:30 Girls' track STANDINGS (Through Monday) BUX-MONT LEAGUE Wissahlckon 8, Upper Moreland 7 Upper Moreland 104 100 1 7 Wissahickon 043 010 0 WP: Andy Lobiey. LP: Sleller. 2B: Mike Junker (W), John Schessey (W), Neil Ford (W). 3B: Dillon (W).

Hatboro-Horsham 7, CB. West 0 CB. West 000 000 0 0 Hatboro-Horsham 402 100 WP: Dulko. 3B: Mignogna (HH). HR: Dutko (HH), Weber (HH).

Germantown Ac. 9, Chestnut Hill Ac. 8 Germantown Ac. 020 401 2 9 13 Cnesinul Hill Ac. 050 102 0 7 WP: Smith.

LP: Greenwood. 3B: Seffens (GA). Ac. New Church 5, Perkiomen Sch. 2 Perkiomen Sch.

100 010 0 2 Ac New Church 122 000 5 WP Henderson. 2B: Silk (ANCI. HR: Friesen (ANC). Plumstead 10, Phll-Moitt 1 Plumstead Chr. 220 122 I 10 0 Phil-Mom 000 001 0 1 0 WP: Ritchie.

LP Brarmenberg. 2B: Motl (PL). 3B: Moll (PL), Christian Ac. 3, Cedar Grove 1 Cedar Grove 010 000 0 1 Christian Ac. 101 010 3 WP: Zadoriany.

HR Caldwell (CA). Upper Dublin 8, La Salle 7 Salle 006 000 1 7 Upper Dublin 002 030 3 8 WP: Malt Segal. 2B Buonomo (L) HR-Segal (UO). RESULTS Arch. Wood 11, Arch.

Ryan 6 Archbishop Wood 012 400 4 II 14 ArchOishoo Ryan 101 202 0 6 6 WP: Rob Kerrigan. LP: Jim Doherty. 38: Gary Kraus (AWI, Joe Schoenieoer (AW), Dave Zegac (AWI. Father Judge 6, McDevitt 4 Father Judge 000 030 3 6 II Bishop McDevitt 300 100 0 4 WP: Brian McCaflerty. LP: Gilronan.

2B: Michael Hagen (FJI. Springtield (M) 9, Bristol 2 Soringlield (Ml 000 4 0 9 Bristol 100 loo 0 2 4 WP Pete Jones LP: Ponard. 2B: Slu Aoramson (SI. Cheltenham 14, Lower Moreland 3 CheHenham 150 35 14 19 Lower Moreland 200 10 3 5 WP: Andrew Flame LP Bruce Seidman 2B Tom Keily 2 (CI 3B: Bob Helm (C(, HR: Kevin Lovill (CI. Skolt (Cl.

Council Rock 5, William Tennent 2 William Tennent 100 010 0 2 10 Council Rock 000 140 5 5 WP: Mike Kullman. LP: Mike Dietz. 2B Yoder (CRI. Upper Dublin 6, Upper Merlon 5 Uooer Dublin 102 Oil 000 01 6 II Upper Merion 032 000 000 00 4 WP: Bob McCreary. LP: Tom Mellon.

HR: Craig Weiss (UD), Bob McCreary (UD), JeH Gnanavem (UM). TOMORROW CATHOLIC NORTH Bishop Kenrick at Archbishoo Ryan, 3.30 Bishop Egan at La Sane, 3. JO Archbishop Wood al Father Judge, 3 30 Cardinal Dougherty at Bishop MiDevin, 330 INTER-AC Episcopal Ac, at Haverlord School, 3 30 Penn Charter al Cheslnut Hill Ac 3 JO Malvern Preo al Germaniown Academy, 3 30 KEYSTONE Perkiomen School al Christian Academy, 3 30 Phil-Mont Christian at Deico Christian, 330 FRIENDS SCHOOLS George School at Friends' Central, 3.30 Friends Select al Abington Friends, 3:30 NONLEAGUE Academy New Church al Pennington, 330 SCHEDULES TODAY SUBURBAN ONE NATIONAL Bensaiem at William Tennent 3:30 BUX-MONT B. Easl al Pennridge, 3:30 NONLEAGUE Pennridge Invitational, Troian Track Classic at Wissahickon, 5 Springfield (M) al Germantown Friends, 3:30 SATURDAY BICENTENNIAL Soringlield (M) al Lansdale Catholic, 3:30 NONLEAGUE Gwy. -Mercy al Emery relays al Lehigh, II North Penn 4 0 Perkiomen Valley a 0 0 Cenlral Bucks Easl 5 0 Pennridge 4 0 Cenlral Bucks Wesl 3 4 0 Upper Perkiomen 2 5 0 Quakerlown 5 Hatboro-Horsham 5 Souderton 0 4 Methacton 8, 4 Plymoulh-Whilemarsh 100 200 I 4 5 Methacton 251 000 I 9 WP: Chris Smith.

LP: Blair. 2B: Chris Smith (M), Kyle Koehler (M). 3B: Kerridge (PW). HR: Keith Koehler (M)..