2 N-G players savor playing at ‘The Bank’
For John LaSpada and Richie Rosati, it was a dream come true.
The Neumann-Goretti baseball players grew up a short distance from Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Phillies play all of their home games. Visiting the park for a game is a common occurrence. Getting to actually play on the field was a whole new ballgame.
LaSpada, who just finished his junior year, and Rosati, a 2025 Saints graduate, were selected to represent the Catholic League in the 39th Annual Carpenter Cup baseball tournament. After helping Philadelphia Catholic to a pair of wins at FDR Park, they punched their ticket to live out a dream and play the semifinal round of the 16-team tournament in a big league ballpark.
LaSpada pitched on the same mound as Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. Rosati fielded grounders on the same dirt shortstop Trea Turner graces each game. They both took swings from the same batters box that Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber launch homers from.
“It’s a little surreal, being out there and thinking about who has pitched on that mound,” LaSpada said. “But it’s awesome and it’s a great experience and I love to compete. I loved it.”
LaSpada earned his ticket to the Carpenter Cup after a workhorse season when he threw 41 innings in 11 appearances and recorded 51 strikeouts. He compiled a 2.73 earned run average and won three games for the Saints.
It was quite the reward for a guy who grew up around the corner.
“I live five minutes from here and I’ve been here too many times to count,” LaSpada said. “I love coming here but I’ve never been on the field before.”
Prior to June 16, the closest Rosati had been to the pristinely cut grass of Citizens Bank Park is up in Ashburn Alley where he would watch games and eat cheesesteaks with his buddies. He was selected to the Carpenter Cup team after piling up 16 hits and 10 RBIs as one of the Saints’ key cogs. He also threw 11 innings as the team’s closer and posted a 2.55 earned run average on the hill. Rosati put together a nice tournament, going 2-for-5 in three games including a couple of hard-hit balls in the semifinal.
“The feeling is unreal,” Rosati said. “I grew up watching the Phillies since maybe 5 or 6 years old. Being on the same field as them is an insane feeling. I love it.”
Rosati made sure to take in all the once-in-a-lifetime details like hearing his name called out by Phillies Public Address Announcer Dan Baker.
“I soaked it all in,” Rosati said. “It’s a great feeling hearing your name like that. There’s no words to describe what it felt like walking up (to the plate). It’s almost like everything went silent. I didn’t hear anything except for my name being announced.”
Neumann-Goretti coach Nick Nardini had a pretty nice sightline when LaSpada and Rosati were in the batters box. Nardini was selected to join the Philadelphia Catholic coaching staff where he served as third base coach.
“There’s nothing like it,” said Nardini, who lives about a mile from the park. “For these kids to get this opportunity, the Carpenter Cup does a great job giving kids a great experience. Not many guys get to play out here so this is a pretty cool experience.”
Philadelphia Catholic was defeated 9-3 by Burlington County, but it was the first time since 2019 that Philadelphia Catholic had played in a semifinal and had the opportunity to take the field at Citizens Bank Park.
“It’s so awesome,” Nardini said. “I thought we had a chance to really make a run at it. We came up a little short today but we’ll be back here again. I’m looking forward to it.”
So is the next group that will get to live out a childhood dream.
“When I’m over my friends’ house watching games, you can hear everything from the stadium,” LaSpada said. “It’s all you dream about as a kid is playing here in your hometown stadium.”
