PHILADELPHIA — You never know who you’re going to bump into at Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies.
The Tri-Cape high school all-star team was playing in the Carpenter Cup semifinal Tuesday when Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto walked through the dugout on the way to work out his injured knee.
“They were shell shocked,” Tri-Cape coach DJ Gore said of the players’ reaction to Realmuto.
Unfortunately, the Tri-Cape’s Citizens Bank experience ended in disappointment Wednesday.
Jimmy Amplo knocked in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth as Inter-Ac/Independents beat Tri-Cape 3-2 to win the Carpenter Cup. Tri-Cape led 2-0 heading to the bottom of the eighth.
“Once you’re here,” Gore said. “You want to win. Can’t fault anybody’s effort. It just wasn’t meant to be. We had chances. We just didn’t put them away.”
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The Carpenter Cup is an all-star tournament run by the Phillies that features 16 teams from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. It began in 1986 and is named after former Phillies owners Bob and Ruly Carpenter. Tri-Cape, which won the title in 2021 and 2022 and played in its fourth straight final Tuesday, consists of all-stars from the Cape-Atlantic League and Tri-County Conference.
“This is the best of the best,” Absegami catcher Matt Johansen said. “Best players around. Best field around. It’s awesome.”
Several Tri-Cape players impressed Tuesday.
Hunter Ray of Lower Cape May Regional hit a double, scored a run and stole a base.
Ray batted .434 with four home runs and 23 RBIs for Lower this season. But sometimes it’s hard for players at schools in southern Cape May County to get attention in part because they’re isolated from the rest of South Jersey. Ray made the most of his time in the spotlight at Citizens Bank.
“It’s fun to come out here, meet new guys and play against good competition,” he said. “It’s good to come out here and represent my school, showing everybody that guys down south we can play.”
Ryan Manning of Cedar Creek and Sergio Droz of Millville each had a hit for Tri-Cape. Mainland Regional pitcher Cohen Cook threw two scoreless innings.
“It’s different,” Cook said of pitching at Citizens Bank. “It feels a lot bigger here, obviously.”
No matter the result, the thrill of the Carpenter Cup is it gives players the chance to play their final high school game in a big league ballpark.
“You want to give these kids an opportunity to get here,” Gore said. “No matter what you say about them being 18 or 19 years old, they’re all like little kids when they see this (field) and see this dugout.
“Getting to play on this field is pretty special. They all watched it growing up. To be able to take the mound or play first base where (Bryce) Harper plays is a big deal. We were able to get 25 or 30 kids a chance to play at Citizens Bank Park, and I think that’s a pretty cool thing.”
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