Lucas Albert, part of Amaro Scout’s Germantown Academy connection steals one of his three bases.
By Sean Reilly
To say Amaro Scout 17U pitcher Sean McGettigan has an outstanding connection with catcher Max Myers would be a classic understatement.
Aside from being batterymates for the Philadelphia-based team, they also play together during the school year at Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, Pa.
“We have a really good connection and work really well together,” McGettigan said. “It’s pretty enjoyable for me.”
Myers not only helped McGettigan navigate through five scoreless innings, he also threw out two runners stealing second base, and also picked off another runner at second, as Amaro gained a 6-0 victory over Showtime Select National 17U in the opener for both teams at the Diamond Nation Blue Chip Prospects tournament, Powered By Victus.
Alex Myers and Sean McGettigan are a formidable battery for Amaro Scout and Germantown Acad.
“We haven’t allowed a stolen base together since 15U,” McGettigan said. “He’s unreal. He throws guys out all the time. It’s really easy with him behind the plate, because I know that if I let a guy get on and he tries to steal, I can go high leg kick and he’ll still throw him out.”
“I love catching and being the quarterback of the defense, telling guys where to go, and being in the game on every pitch,” Myers said. “I pride myself on it.”
McGettigan pitched five innings in the sweltering heat. He allowed three hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. The plays by Myers helped limit his pitch count to 77, with 43 of them strikes.
He was also boosted by a defense that played errorless ball. That effort included plays by infielders Lucas Albert and Cooper Wilson, who also play at Germantown Academy.
Albert, the leadoff hitter, was 2-for-3 with a walk. He scored twice, stole three bases and hit a two-run double.
Wilson hit a double in the third that put runners on second and third setting up the Albert two-run double which made the score 3-0.
Amaro took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Albert walked, stole second and third and then scored on a wild pitch.
In the top of the third, Kenny Lutz led off for Amaro and was hit by a pitch. Wilson followed with his double, which he lined off an outstretched third baseman before the ball deflected into foul territory. The lefty-hitting Albert was up next, and he lashed a pitch past the first baseman and into the right-field corner to deliver Lutz and Wilson.
Albert stole third, and he scored on Brandon Lall’s groundout to first with one out.
McGettigan, meanwhile, was in a groove. After allowing a leadoff single in the first, followed by a force out at second, Myers promptly erased that runner trying to steal. He pitched to the minimum nine batters through three innings, and got into the defensive act himself by reacting quickly to catch a line drive to start the third inning.
The leadoff man for Showtime Select in the fourth walked, but Myers threw him out attempting to steal. Connor Sheridan also walked, and Dylan Santucci singled, but a forceout at third and strikeout maintained the shutout.
Matt Gryn dives back into first base ahead of a pickoff throw for Amaro Scout 17U.
In the Showtime fifth, a one-out walk and a single by Tom Formica placed runners on first and second. Myers then showcased his arm one more time by throwing a seed to second base, with Albert applying the tag on the pickoff for the second out. The next batter fouled out to third.
Amaro added its other two runs in the sixth. Bam McNab walked with two out, and Dax Caplan followed with a home run over the fence in left-center.
McGettigan was relieved over the last two innings by lefty Matt Gryn, who allowed two hits with one strikeout and no walks. The game ended with another impressive Amaro defensive gem, as Albert fielded a grounder that took a misdirectional bounce off the pitchers mound, stepped on second for a force and threw to Gavin Grasso at first for a doubleplay.
“I was getting ahead on batters,” McGettigan said of his outing. “I kind of didn’t do that in the middle innings, but my defense helped me out. It was pretty hot, but you have to labor through it. It helps when you roll a ground ball, and they make a play.”
Amaro continues against the South Jersey Young Guns 17U Navy (3-0) on Wednesday morning.
Showtime will seek a bounce back against Thunderwolves Baseball (0-1) on Wednesday afternoon.