By: Joseph Cicchino

FORT WASHINGTON -- Throughout the 2018 season, Germantown Academy's baseball team has shown to be pretty consistent in Inter-Ac League play. Eight such games have been played, with five of them being decided by two runs or fewer. The most recent matchup against Malvern Prep proved to be an outlier, and not one that was in the Patriots' favor.

On May 4, Germantown Academy fell to the Friars, 12-1. The game was called after five innnings. The Patriots had beaten Malvern Prep 3-2 earlier this year. Besides the final score, Head Coach Tim Ginter noticed a key difference in the two meetings.

"We made plays in that first game," Ginter said. "We executed on pitches and there was a lot less of that today." 

The Friars took advantage of some GA miscues early in the game. They racked up 3 runs in the top of the first off of two wild pitches and an RBI triple. The Patriots were able to get on the board when Mike Reilly '18 crossed home, but it was the only run that they would score for the game. 

Malvern did the majority of their damage in the top of the fourth inning. The Friars tallied six more runs in the inning through a series of walks, errors and timely hits. They added two more in the top of the fifth to bring their total to 12.  

Following the game, Ginter kept his message to the team simple. 

"Based on all the work they've put in and all the work we've been able to do so far this year, we can't allow this game to be any kind of indication for the way the season is going or who we are as a team," Ginter said. "For me, you've got to be ready to play these guys. These guys are the champs until someone knocks them off and we played a much different game when we played them up there."

The Patriots find themselves in unfamiliar territory after the loss to Malvern. They have not had a loss by this margin all season, especially in league play. However, Ginter is confident in his team's ability to bounce back.

"We talk all the time about not being too full of yourself after a win and not being too hard on yourself after a loss," Ginter said. "This is certainly a loss that we haven't experienced this year. They collectivey have to decide this is a one-and-done deal. There's a lot of baseball left to play." 

That remaining baseball continues on May 5. The Patriots are traveling to Father Judge High School for a 1:00 p.m. non-conference game. Ginter said he expects the team to come out and play like they have prior to their game against the Friars.

GA is now 8-9 overall and 3-5 in the Inter-Ac. They are currently tied for fourth place in the league.