By Matt Smith
On a crisp Sunday afternoon, four days before they were to partake in the game of their lives, the Upper Darby and Haverford captains stood united at A.G. Cornog Field for a Daily Times picture shoot.
Haverford seniors Jack Donaghy and Billy Farrell chatted with Upper Darby seniors Christoff Minott and Shawn Page as if they were old friends. There was no urge to tackle each other or talk trash. There was just respect and admiration for what all four players have accomplished this year with their respective teams.
The Royals and Fords will play for an outright Central League championship Thursday morning. Since the tradition began in 1921, there’s never been anything like it. Haverford coach Joe Gallagher remembers a similar situation in 1995, when the Royals had to beat Haverford to force a three-way tie with Springfield for the Central League title.