Haverford will face Johns Hopkins on Thursday in Baltimore to start the double elimination phase of the Centennial Conference tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

 

The Fords earned this opportunity by defeating Franklin & Marshall on Tuesday. Harry Genth had two hits, and Jonny Flieder's crucial game-winning single in the fifth inning sealed the 3-2 victory for Haverford.

 

Johns Hopkins enters the tournament as the eighth-ranked team in the nation, boasting an impressive 29-9 overall record and a dominant 16-2 performance in conference play. 

 

Senior right-handed pitcher Mike Rabayda is expected to start for Haverford on the mound. Hailing from Richboro and a Council Rock South alum, Rabayda started 10 games during the regular season for the Fords, showcasing his prowess with a 7-2 record and a solid 3.79 ERA. Across 59 1/3 innings, he has amassed an impressive 74 strikeouts while maintaining excellent control with just 15 walks issued.

 

The Blue Jays swept a doubleheader from the Fords in March. Rabayda pitched 5 2/3 innings and conceded five runs on six hits, contributing to a game one 12-3 loss.

 

Managed by Bob Babb who is in 45th season as skipper, the Blue Jays enter Thursday as the conference leader in runs scored (353), home runs (71), and ERA (4.66). The 71 homers is the second-best figure in the nation at the D-III level, behind only 74 by SUNY-Maritime. 

 

Johns Hopkins has several players with ties to the Philadelphia area on its roster, including hurlers Aiden Kim (Warrington/Central Bucks West), Cole Eggleston (Phoenixville/Phoenixville Area), Quinn Rovner (Blue Bell/Wissahickon), along with outfielders Jake Siani (Glenside/William Penn Charter), Isaiah Winikur (Wynnewood/The Haverford School), and Matthew Cooper (Chalfont/Central Bucks West).