Spalding's offense leads the way to a third straight MIAA A Conference baseball championship

by Derek Toney

Archbishop Spalding rediscovered its offense just in time to continue its reign in MIAA A Conference baseball Monday.

The Cavaliers defeated Calvert Hall, 10-6, in the decisive third of the inaugural title series at Joe Cannon Stadium in Harmans. Junior catcher Jack McNally had two hits and drove in two runs for Spalding (27-5 overall), and Drew Emrich and senior Brennan Inscoe each finished with two hits and an RBI.

The Severn school used a fifth inning rally to break away from the Cardinals to claim its third consecutive championship, and eighth since 2011. After using a double-elimination format for its post-season playoffs in previous seasons, the MIAA switched to best-of-three playoff series for its 2024 semifinal and championship rounds, mirroring the new three-game series format used in the regular season, also for the first time in 2024.

“The third one is sweeter, definitely sweeter this year,” said Spalding senior third basemen Carver Salazer. “We all work so hard for this moment.”

About 24 hours earlier, the Cavaliers left Joe Cannon disappointed after a 3-1 loss in game two, only their second this spring in MIAA A play. Spalding committed two errors and left nine runners on base.

The Cavaliers were locked in Monday, scoring three runs in their first at-bat. 

“They know I’m not going to let them settle for anything less than their best, and I reminded them of that,” said Spalding coach Joe Palumbo. “I think they came out and gave their best today.”

“We had better at-bats,” said Cavaliers junior Sam Houchens. 

Houchens joined mates Emrich, Inscoe and McNally with two hits Monday. He switched his outfielder glove (started in centerfield Monday) for a pitcher’s glove in the fourth and provided 2-⅔ innings of relief.

Houchens accounted for Spalding’s offense in a series opening 3-0 victory, Friday, with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the second. 

On a deep and talented Cavaliers roster, Palumbo said Houchens has been under the radar this spring.

“I think he was the undercover stud that a lot of people didn’t know about. I knew that he was going to have a big impact on our program,” said Palumbo. “He has blossomed into a dynamic player who can do a lot of things to help us win.”

Houchens’ home run Friday was pretty much Spalding’s offense through the first two games. The Cavaliers were shutout the first five innings Sunday.

Spalding regained its “mojo” in the bottom of the first Monday. With one out, sophomore right fielder Cruz Luna laced a double to right center off Calvert Hall starter Peter Bashore, and Inscoe brought him home with a hard single into center. McNally lined a shot over Calvert Hall centerfielder Will Haacke for a triple, plating Inscoe and Theo Loughlin for a 3-0 advantage.

The Cardinals (19-12) sent nine batters to the plate against Spalding starter Nathan Wines in the third, scoring four runs to take the lead. Nathan Rodriguez, Michael Copenshire and Travis Peltz had RBI singles.

Houchens took over for Wines in the fourth and retired the side in order, and Spalding’s offense went back to work in the home frame, starting with McNally’s lead off double. The Cavaliers sent 11 batters to the plate, including a bunt single from Houchens and run-scoring hits from Braeden Martin and Emrich to regain the lead for good.

“We definitely looked a lot better hitting,” said Houchens, whose team had 10 hits Monday.”We look to do more damage today, getting longer at-bats.”

Calvert Hall got two runs off Houchens in the sixth with Haacke’s RBI double making it 8-6. Houchens was relieved by sophomore Arian Vargas, who needed one pitch to retire the side. 

Vargas struck out Michael Thompson for the final out and another Spalding championship dogpile on the mound. The Cavaliers rolled through the MIAA A regular season with a three-game sweep of every team except Calvert Hall. 

The Cardinals defeated Spalding, 5-0, on May 1. Sunday, Calvert Hall beat Spalding ace Jake Yeager to force Monday’s winner-take-all match. 

But, for the second straight season, the Cardinals weren’t able to knock the Cavaliers off their championship perch.

“They gave me everything they had. We made some mistakes defensively that hurt us early,” said Calvert Hall coach Brooks Kerr, who started eight underclassmen. “We didn’t push the right buttons…we got to be good to beat a team like that.”

Spalding shows little signs of slowing down, starting seven underclassmen Sunday. The Cavaliers are the first team in MIAA history to 3-peat twice. 

Spalding won three in a row from 2014 to 2016. 

“Different group of characters…we had a lot of fun,” said Palumbo, who won his seventh crown at the Severn school. “High level talented kids, deep pitching staff…They’re competitors who love each other.”

“It’s all about the team, it’s about our work ethic,” said Salazer, who will play for UMBC next spring. “Awesome coaches, awesome teammates. It’s created an awesome program to play for.”

The dynasty continues for the Archbishop Spalding baseball team. With their victory over Calvert Hall in the MIAA A Conference championship series, the Cavaliers won their third straight league title and their eighth since 2011. (Photo by Derek Toney)