Calvert Hall and John Carroll take series openers in MIAA A baseball playoffs
St. Paul's and McDonogh move to the winner's bracket final in the B, while Park and Beth Tfiloh advance in the C
The MIAA A Conference baseball playoffs got underway on Monday, as top-seeded John Carroll and second-seeded Calvert Hall each scored series opening wins in their best-of-three semifinal series. In addition, the double-elimination championship tournaments for the B and C Conference tournaments have advanced to the winners' bracket finals, with the first elimination games in each tournament now complete.
In Bel Air, John Carroll broke a 2-2 tie with single run in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on for a 3-2 victory over Mount St. Joseph, to take a 1-0 series lead. In the fourth meeting between the two teams over the last week, all won by John Carroll, St. Joe grabbed a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings, as Braden Ashburn delivered a RBI double in the opening frame and Trevor Mentz singled home a run in the second.
The host Patriots tied the contest with two runs in third on a two-run single by Will Rhine. In the sixth, John Carroll put two on with no outs with a hit by pitch and a walk before Bryce Atland delivered the winning run with a RBI single. Brooks Mueller earned the win, pitching a complete game five-hitter, striking out five and allowing just the two early runs.
In Towson, Calvert Hall exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie, and vaulting to a 7-1 victory in its opener against three-time defending league champion Archbishop Spalding. The Cardinals started the game-winning rally by loading the bases with three consecutive singles. Nathan Rodriguez then put his team on top with a sac fly.
Anthony Williams and Ethan Frank followed with back-to-back RBI singles and Kaden Barmer added a RBI double. Spalding then allowed two more runs to cross with an infield error. Ryder Sowa tossed six strong innings (5 hits, 5 strike outs, 1 walk) to earn the win and Jake Dulski tossed a scoreless seventh to close out the win.
Both series are scheduled to continue on Tuesday afternoon, weather permitting, at St. Joe and Spalding, respectively. The winner of each series will advance to the best-of-three championship series, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday at the home field of the higher seed.
In the second round of the B Conference tournament, St. Paul's routed Boys' Latin, 8-2, while McDonogh edged Severn, 1-0, as each team advanced to the winner's bracket final. Evan Gebhardt paced the Crusaders with a grand slam home run and Eli Livingston drove in pair with a double. McDonogh went on the road and blanked Severn behind a complete game shutout by Andy Lambert, who scattered six hits and struck out eight. The game's only run was plated on a third inning triple by the Eagles' Michael Gorsky.
St. Paul's is scheduled to host McDonogh on Wednesday with the winner earning the first spot in the finals this Sunday (2:30 p.m.) at Joe Cannon Stadium. Elsewhere on Monday, Gerstell eliminated St. John's Catholic Prep with a 6-2 win and will now face BL on Tuesday at Loyola Blakefield, weather permitting. The BL-Gerstell winner is slated to face Severn on Wednesday.
In the C Conference second round, Park defeated St. Frances, 11-6, and Beth Tfiloh topped St. Vincent Pallotti, 4-2, as the Bruins and Warriors moved to Wednesday's winners' bracket final. The winner of that game will move to the finals on Sunday at Joe Cannon (12 pm). In the C Conference elimination bracket, Key outlasted Concordia Prep, 10-7. The Obezags move on to face Pallotti on Tuesday. St. Frances will await the winner of that game on Wednesday.
Editor's Note: With rain falling in the Baltimore area and more forcasted for Wednesday, this post may be updated with any necessary schedule changes.