Ben Davis, an ex-San Diego catcher from Malvern, grew up going to Phillies games as a kid and had his eye on the ball once again with high hopes of the Phillies winning the National League Championship Series (NLCS), writes Jon Marks for The San Diego Union-Tribune.

In the 1995 MLB Draft, he went No. 2 to the Padres, a surprise that had him hoping on a plane to a different coast and different way.

“Once I got the phone call I didn’t know what to expect,” said 45-year-old Davis. “I tried to make the most of it and loved every minute.”

But he did not leave his heart on the West Coast. He now works as analyst on Phillies games for NBC Sports Philadelphia. While grateful for his time with the Padres and happy that both teams made it this far, he was pulling for the Phillies to win.

“That said, this is my childhood crush, so I’m pulling for for the Phillies to win. I originally said Phillies in 6 and I’ll stick to it. I just think these teams are so evenly matched, but for some reason it’s the Phillies’ year,” he said hours before the start of Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park.

And win they did. Check out highlights from the NLCS below.

Read more about Ben Davis at the The San Diego Union-Tribune.