Carpenter Cup’s updated schedule allows semifinals at Citizens Bank Park

Since 1986 the Carpenter Cup has been one of the top tournaments, not only for baseball, but all sports in the Delaware Valley.

It has grown, with 16 high school all-star teams from South and Central Jersey, Delaware, Southeastern Pa and the Lehigh Valley area.

The highlight every year is for the final four teams of this single-elimination tournament to play the semifinals at Citizens Bank Park, with the two winners advancing to the finals.

This year, the original schedule had both the semifinals and finals scheduled for FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, PA, home of the Phillies Double-A affiliate the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

While the stadium in Reading is an outstanding venue with loads of history, it’s not the same as playing at the Phillies stadium, Citizens Bank Park.

Recently, Carpenter Cup organizers have revised the schedule. This year the semifinals will now be played at Citizens Bank Park, with the finals across the street at FDR Park.

Due to field availability, Citizens Bank Park won’t available for the finals, but at least all four semifinalists will get the chance to play in the Phillies stadium, which is the highlight each tournament for the players.

The tournament games, up to the semifinals, will be staged at FDR Park, which has two outstanding fields, UYA Showcase Field and UYA Ashburn Field. It’s a good experience to play on these field but nothing beats competing in an MLB stadium.

The Phillies have been committed to giving back to the high schools since the inception of the tournament.

In the old days, all the games were played at Veterans Stadium, but with the natural grass at Citizens Bank Park, the wear and tear on the field hosting the entire tournament there became too much.

Still, a quarter of the teams each year get to play in the Phillies ballpark and it is a true incentive to reach the semifinals.

This year’s tournament begins on Monday June 13 at FDR Park’s UYA Showcase Field.

It will start at 8:30 in the morning with Skills Day, where selected players are invited to workout in front of college and Major League scouts. After that the tournament begins.

There are three South Jersey teams and all have done well in this tournament. Tri-Cape, consisting of schools from the Tri-County and Cape Atlantic League, is the defending champion.

The other two franchises are the Olympic-Colonial and Burlington County.

The Olympic-Colonial, consists of the Olympic Conference teams (minus the Burlington County schools and Pennsauken) and the Colonial Conference. This franchise has won a record six Carpenter Cup titles (one while named South Jersey C).

Burlington County has won three titles. These three South Jersey franchises have won the last three Carpenter Cup championships. Besides Tri-Cape in 2021, Burlington County won in 2019 and the Olympic/Colonial was the 2018 champ (There was no 2020 tournament due to COVID).

SCHEDULE

Monday, June 13 UYA Showcase Field in FDR Park

Game 1: 12:30 p.m. - Inter-Ac/Independents vs. Delaware North

Game 2: 4 p.m. - Delaware County vs. Philadelphia Public League

Tuesday, June 14  UYA Showcase Field in FDR Park

Game 3: 9 a.m. - Berks County vs. Delaware South

Game 4: 12:30 p.m. - Chester County vs. Tri-Cape

Game 5: 4 p.m. Lehigh Valley vs. Burlington County

Wednesday, June 15 UYA Showcase Field in FDR Park

Game 6: 9 a.m. - Jersey Shore vs. Philadelphia Catholic

Game 7: 12:30 p.m. - SEPA vs. Mercer County

Game 8: 4 p.m. - Olympic/Colonial vs. Burck-Mont

RAIN DATE – Thursday, June 16

Friday, June 17 UYA Showcase Field in FDR Park

Game 9: 9a.m. Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

Game 11: 12:30 p.m. Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5

Friday, June 17 UYA Ashburn Field in FDR Park

Game 10: 10:30 a.m. Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 12: 2 p.m. Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8

RAIN DATE – Saturday June 18

Sunday, June 19  Citizens Bank Park

Game 13: 9 a.m. Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10

Game 14: 12:30 p.m. Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8

Monday, June 20 UYA Showcase Field in FDR Park

Game 15: 1 p.m. Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 14

Article continues below

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Author: Marc Narducci