Jumpin’ Jack Flash continues to make his mark at Seton Hill. And he’s only a freshman.
Jack Whalen made a outstanding, over-the-shoulder catch in Saturday’s Atlantic Region elimination game against East Stroudsburg and the play was the No. 1 highlight on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10.
The center fielder out of Norwin ran under the high drive and made a diving grab to take away extra bases from Parker Frey, whose long drive was headed for the fence.
The play came in the second inning. The Griffins (46-11) went on to a 10-4 victory to stay alive in the double-elimination bracket.
HE DID IT!!! Jack Whalen's catch is the NUMBER ONE play on #SCTop10! It's the third straight year a @SHGriffBaseball outfielder has made it on SportsCenter joining Derek Orndorff and Neal McDermott. @Jack1Whalen pic.twitter.com/5MnpqLD1BZ
— Westmoreland Sports Network (@WestmorelandSN) May 21, 2023
Whalen, who set a team and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference record this season with 46 stolen bases, also went 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored in the win.
Sophomore Max Mandler also threw his highlight into the hat with a ninth-inning snag in right field. He also made a jumping grab for a brow-raising putout as he slid to the turf to rob Jeremy Platkiewicz. Mandler squeezed the ball in the top of his glove and held on.
???? #SCTop10 ???? Um, we have ANOTHER nominee! Max Mandler’s outstanding catch in right field helped put the game away in Seton Hill’s 10-4 victory over East Stroudsburg in the NCAA Atlantic Regional. @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/hnxJOXvlzd
— Westmoreland Sports Network (@WestmorelandSN) May 21, 2023
Seton Hill has been a regular on the ESPN Top Plays, with a number of other impressive catches turning heads in center on the Griffins’ home field.
Former outfielder Derek Orndorff pulled down another second-inning gem during a regular-season game in 2021. His catch was the No. 4 play that night on SportsCenter.
Orndorff, who moved on to play at Liberty, made ESPN’s highlights three times in his career, including the No. 1 play last February against Florida.
Orndorff with a leaping grab out in center field. pic.twitter.com/kGFG3Q2FF8
— Liberty Baseball (@LibertyBaseball) February 26, 2022
BB: A familiar face on this morning's #SCtop10. Derek Orndorff makes his second appearance this season on SportsCenter with another amazing catch. pic.twitter.com/ZmEJIOqCfO
— SHUGriffin Athletics (@GriffinsSports) June 9, 2021
This Derek Orndorff catch is ????????!!#NCAABaseball x ???? @LibertyBaseball pic.twitter.com/q27pXLaq6b
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) February 19, 2022
