Jack Balick (left) with his twin brother, Chase.
On Saturday, members of the AFS Track & Field teams participated in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship meet. The highlight of the day was sophomore Jack Balick’s third-place medal in the 800 meters in 2:00.44, less than a second off the first-place time. Balick sped to the fastest second-lap time in the 14-person race, ripping off a 0:58.64 over 400 meters to move up from 10th place after the opening lap.
Jack also beat his own personal record time, set during the league championships, by three seconds. “He’s a very smart runner. His ability to find his kick at the end is exceptional,” said Track & Field Coach Kyle Rankin.
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Congratulations to the student-athletes who were recognized by the Friends Schools League coaches as worthy of All-Friends Schools League First Team and Honorable Mention recognition for their exploits this spring.
Jared Smith (baseball), Corbin Outten and Jack Balick (track & field) and Vijay Kumar (golf) earned All-FSL First Team honors. Will Steinberg received Honorable Mention status.
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AFS Varsity Baseball topped Westtown, 6-0, this past Thursday to claim the championship of the Friends Schools League (FSL) Quaker Cup tournament, according to Athletics Director Jeff Bond. The Quaker Cup is a single-elimination tournament for the teams that finish fifth through ninth in the FSL regular-season standings.
The Kangaroos, the FSL’s seventh-place finisher, upended sixth-ranked Moorestown Friends, 6-2, in the tourney semifinals before dispatching fifth-ranked Westtown in the finals.
Junior pitcher Gus Born hurled a complete-game shutout to earn the victory. Mixing his pitches masterfully, Gus kept Westtown off balance all afternoon, as he allowed just three hits and two walks and struck out five.
Senior shortstop Jared Smith capped his scholastic baseball career in fine fashion, finishing 3-3, with two doubles, two runs scored and two stolen bases. He flawlessly handled eight chances in the field, including initiating an inning-ending double play in the third.
Will Steinberg knocked a two-RBI single in the first inning to get the Kangaroos on the board, while Nick Sinni added an RBI double in the third. Noah Shanken added two hits and strong defense behind the plate for the Roos.
Varsity Baseball finished the season on a three-game winning streak and with a 13-inning scoreless streak, both of which bode well for the future.
