Ryan’s first baseman
had to sit this one out

By Melissa Yerkov
Times Sports Editor

After awaiting a playoff game that was postponed twice because of inclement weather, Archbishop Ryan High School’s baseball team finally played Conwell-Egan — and won, 3-2.
For Conwell-Egan, which had been first in the Catholic League Blue Division, the May 22 loss was a huge upset.
As for the Raiders, well, it was an unforgettable game.
The Raiders-Eagles match-up had been scheduled for May 20 but was postponed until the following day after thunderstorms rolled into the area. On May 21, both squads returned for the showdown but lousy weather disrupted things once more — the game was suspended after the fifth inning.
So, on the following afternoon, both teams showed up yet again, determined not only to win but to finish the game without interruptions. It took three days, but the Raiders were victorious.
"One of the things we’ve been stressing is we cannot let weather be an excuse or distraction," said coach Ron Gerhart. "I think that mental discipline worked for us."
Even through the excitement and the cheers, the triumph and glee, Archbishop Ryan was missing one thing.
Matt Edelman.
The senior star first baseman was nowhere near the baseball diamond last week. Instead, Edelman was at Frankford Hospital’s Torresdale Campus, having his appendix removed.
So as the Raiders were rejoicing, Edelman was recovering.
"It really sucks that I couldn’t play in the playoff game," said Edelman, who had surgery on May 21. "But the pain was pretty bad. They said they didn’t know how I was walking around prior to the hospital."
Edelman started experiencing intense pain in his stomach on Sunday night, and it worsened by the following morning. By Tuesday, May 20, it was difficult for Edelman to even stand. His parents took him to the emergency room.
"They admitted me Tuesday morning," he said. "They thought I had kidney stones, so they took a CAT scan. They couldn’t get a good look at my appendix, so they decided to cut a little incision and take a look. It fit all of the symptoms. Eventually they came to the conclusion that that’s what it was."
The following day, Edelman was in surgery.
"It was supposed to be in mid-afternoon, but it kept getting pushed back and pushed back, so I kept getting more anxious and nervous," he said. "Then I woke up afterward and didn’t even know they were done. Now I’m on the road to recovery. I think I’ll be back to normal in a couple days."
After defeating the number-one ranked team, Conwell-Egan, the Raiders moved on in the playoffs to battle Monsignor Bonner in the Catholic League semifinals at Widener University on May 23. After six innings, Bonner walked away victorious with an 11-1 win over the Raiders.
"We’re not the best team, but we’re not the worst team," said Edelman, who was still in the hospital as his squad competed in the semifinals. "We play with our heart and we never give up. We made it to the playoffs, and that’s a feat in itself."
Since transferring to Ryan as a sophomore, Edelman has helped the Raiders to an overall 33-21 record with three consecutive playoff appearances, as well as a chance to compete in the Catholic League championship last year.
During his freshman season, Edelman attended Franklin Towne Charter and played baseball for the Coyotes, but by the following year he knew it wasn’t the right choice.
"I transferred because it was closer to home and my brother," said Matt, referring to his brother James, who graduated from Ryan last year. "We got to play together for one year and it was great. It was like the good old days playing teeball. It made it more of a fun environment."
After leaving the Raiders, James headed for South Jersey to attend Salem County College. He’s a pitcher for the Oaks.
The brothers will be reunited on the ballfield next year, once Matt graduates and joins his brother at Salem County. Matt hopes to play baseball and basketball at the school; he wants to study criminal justice.
"It’s exciting to be on the same team," said Matt. "It’ll make it feel like just another team we play together on, but it’s college baseball!"
Matt also has been a force on the courts, playing basketball for Our Lady of Calvary’s CYO team for the past three years.
"It’s a great time," he said. "It’s me and all my friends. It’s more competition, but it’s fun at the same time."
He has helped Calvary win back-to-back championships, and he’d like to see it happen again next year.
"I’m really excited," he said with joy, even as he lay in a hospital bed mere hours after surgery. "I’m looking more forward to next year than this summer. Now I’m just working hard and trying to prepare myself for college." ••