Crusaders’ Compton
armed and dangerous

By Joe Mason
Times Sports Editor

Expectations were high coming in.
The Father Judge High School baseball team missed the playoffs last year but gained valuable experience during the disappointing season.
This year, the team had a wealth of experience and an ace pitcher in senior righthander Shane Erb.
But after the first game of Judge’s Philadelphia Catholic League season, Erb suffered an injury to his throwing arm. The injury meant the end of his high school career.
"We weren’t sure what we were going to do; I know everyone thought that pitching was going to kill us," said junior pitcher Matt Compton. "We were supposed to ride Shane, and then he was done after one game. I think people kind of wrote us off and thought we would miss the playoffs again."
The regular season is now over and the Crusaders are in the playoffs. The team finished their PCL Northern Division season in third place with a 9-5 record. Now they looking toward a run in the playoffs, which begins this week with a game against divisional rivals Archbishop Ryan.
And, according to Compton, there wasn’t one thing that helped get the Crusaders into the second season.
"We had a good contribution from just about everyone on the team," said Compton, who compiled a 5-0 record on the mound. "We have two good pitchers in me and Justin DiCristofaro. The bats have really come alive and the defense is good.
"I don’t think any of us are surprised, but we’ve heard a lot of people saying we’d miss the playoffs," Compton added. "It’s nice that we’re going, and we’re looking for more."
Compton’s contributions to the Crusaders could be viewed as a little surprising. The talented junior knew coming into the year that he had the potential to make an impact. But his sophomore season consisted of a few pitching performances and a total of six plate appearances.
This year, he is one of the top two pitchers on the squad, and he also hits third in the Crusaders’ powerful lineup.
But there’s a big difference between Compton the sophomore and Compton the junior.
"I was nervous a lot last year," Compton admitted. "This year, I’m a junior, I’m supposed to be up here and I’m supposed to produce.
"I wasn’t one of the main guys last year, and I kind of went to the background a little bit. That was my fault, but I’m trying to step up a little this year."
Compton’s confidence grew a little bit over the winter when he played for Father Judge’s ice hockey team. A right winger on the ice, Compton scored 18 goals during the winter season and helped his squad take first place in the Bucks County League.
But the pitcher has a much different philosophy when he’s on the ice.
"In hockey, I love to go out there and hit people," Compton said. "I love to check people, and I play a real physical style. No fights or nothing like that, just good, hard hockey.
"In baseball and as a pitcher, I don’t want people to hit me," he joked. "But in hockey, I love playing hard and getting into it. That’s how I do well. I try to draw contact, draw penalties and help us win."
His style of play may vary from sport to sport, but there’s no doubt his overall mindset is the same.
"Stats aren’t really important to me, and I think every one of my teammates would say the same thing," Compton said. "It’s like if you do something that helps you but it ends up not winning the game or anything . . . it doesn’t mean a whole lot.
"I still love to hit home runs, there’s nothing like it," he added. "But being the winning pitcher or making a great play at second base to end the game, that means a lot more than building my stats up. That’s what I love to do."
His attitude alone makes him a valuable contributor to the Crusaders. But his talents on the field haven’t gone unnoticed.
"He’s done everything," said coach Joe McDermott. "He’s been so important. Justin and Matt have carried us, and the rest of the team has done a great job. This has been a very good season."
For Compton, the playoffs will be a chance to reunite with some old friends.
Compton lives within walking distance of Archbishop Ryan, and many of his childhood friends play for the Raiders.
"I liked Ryan, but I wanted to go to Judge because most of my baseball friends were going there," he said. "I played baseball at Fox Rok and for Crispin, and most of the kids I played with there went to Judge, so I went there with them.
"It’s been real good," added Compton, who maintains a B-average at Judge. "It’s a little far, but I don’t mind. And so far, this year I’ve had a great year. I just want it to keep going."
While Compton and DiCristofaro are only juniors, the team isn’t looking to rebuild this year. A championship is the only thing that preoccupies this group of Crusaders.
"We think we’re good enough to win a championship this year, and we have a lot of seniors who want a title," Compton said. "We have a lot of good juniors who are coming back, so we want a championship next year, but we’re not going in with that attitude.
"The Catholic League is real good, but anything can happen," he added. "We think we’re good enough to win it this year, and that’s what we’re going to try to do." ••
Sports editor Joe Mason can be reached at 215-354-3035 or jmason@phillynews.com