Despite an opening-game defeat, Pleasant Valley’s Nate Mostosky will have a lasting impression of his Carpenter Cup baseball experience.

For more than him, however, it proved to be a memorable morning.

“I was just proud to be part of it,” said the recently graduated senior. “It was an All-Star team of players I used to face, and now they were my teammates. It was a cool experience to get to know some new guys.”

Mostosky and his brother Ben were members of the Lehigh Valley contingent that suffered a 7-4 defeat to two-time defending champion Tri-Cape in the Phillies’ 37th annual Carpenter Cup Classic at F.D.R. Park’s Dick Allen Field last Thursday morning.

With the loss, Lehigh Valley was eliminated from the 16-team field. Longtime Lehigh Valley manager and former 30-year Palmerton skipper Ted Plessl also announced that he was retiring from his post after the game.

The Pleasant Valley lefthander threw 42 pitches over 1.1 innings and allowed four hits and two unearned runs. His teammates committed four errors over the first three innings that left Lehigh Valley in a 5-0 hole.

Mostosky and his teammates shouldered the blame for some poor fielding and untimely hitting.

“We played a pretty good team, and we didn’t do what we should have,” he said. “We have no excuse. We didn’t hit the ball when we needed.”

Plessl agreed with his pitcher’s assessment, and also thought his staff was victimized.

“We didn’t get the big hit,” he stressed. “If we got the hits when we needed them, we could have easily been right there. We just couldn’t catch the balloon and before you know it, we were down 7-0. We had the bases loaded twice and runners on second and third with two outs, and we didn’t score.

“I thought our guys played well today. They just didn’t have the support. Both Mostoskys threw well for us, and Ben got two outs in the bottom of the eighth.”

Righthander Ben Mostosky recorded two strikeouts in the home eighth, throwing 12 pitches to three batters. He also was grateful for the opportunity, and was a bit startled by the outcome.

“There was a lot of competition to make the team, and it was an honor,” he said. “I really was looking forward to this, and the opportunity to play in a major league park if we got to the semifinals. But it will be something I will remember.

“I was surprised we got behind early, but we played a full nine innings and still had a chance. We didn’t give up and fought until the end.”

Nazareth’s Jack Dally got Lehigh Valley on the board with a two-run homer in the sixth, and they pushed across solo runs in the eighth and ninth. Lehigh Valley finished with six hits.

Plessl, who helped begin the Lehigh Valley franchise in 1992 with GM Joe Pirro and took over the reins in 1998, decided it was time despite being fueled by his passion.

“I informed Pirro right after the game and then informed the team before we left,” stated Plessl. “So, after 31-plus years, it was time.

“I enjoyed every moment of being part of this franchise. The players are what kept me going. This year, I watched 39 games.”

It was especially pleasing for Plessl to have recent Palmerton grad Cole Serfass on the roster.

“I’m glad in my last season that I was able to coach Cole Serfass,” added Plessl. “I coached his father at Palmerton as well.”

Plessl also cited the support from his coaches, especially having the chance to coach with his son, Tom.

“I would like to give a shout-out to all great coaches I had the pleasure of working with. Having the opportunity to work with my son, Tom, first as a bat boy, then as a player, and most recently as an assistant coach, was an awesome experience I shared with him.

“I love this game and loved watching high school players all spring play this great game.”

It was a morning in South Philadelphia that left plenty of memories.