Archbishop Spalding and Calvert Hall will meet in MIAA A championship series at Joe Cannon

The first ever MIAA A Conference baseball championship series is now set, as second-seeded Calvert Hall and top-seeded, two-time defending champion Archbishop Spalding each completed two games sweeps of their respective semifinal series, Wednesday, to set the stage.

After the second game of both series were postponed on Tuesday, Calvert Hall traveled to Curley and defeated the Friars, 5-1, making them 5-0 against Curley this season. Spalding also went on the road and wrapped up its set against Loyola with an 8-1 win.

The 2024 season was the first time the MIAA played three-game sets throughout the regular season between all of the A Conference teams. Likewise, instead of the traditional double-elimination series employed by the league, and still in effect in the B and C Conference, the A Conference post-season was transformed into two best-of-three semifinal series and the best-of-three championship series, which will get underway on Saturday at Spalding. The second game will be played at Joe Cannon Stadium on Sunday and the third game, if necessary, will be played on Monday, also at Joe Cannon.

Calvert Hall broke on top with two runs in the top of second as one run scored on an infield error and Michael Copenspire drove in a run with a sac fly to left. Will Haacke drove in two more in the fourth with a bases loaded single and Brayden Wolf drove in the final run in the fifth. Haacke went 3-for-4 with a double in the game and Copenspire, who sparked Monday’s victory with a three-run home run, went 2-for4.

Peter Bashore made the start and allowed just one run over three innings. Grayson Ryan followed with three scoreless innings and Clark Mileto worked a scoreless seventh inning.

Spalding scored two in first and one in the third, before Loyola got one back in the home half of third. The Cavaliers then closed it out with single runs in the fifth and sixth, followed by three runs in the seventh.

Brennan Inscoe went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI to lead the Spalding lineup. Theo Loughlin added two hits, including a double, to go with a run scored and an RBI. Carson Merritt started the seventh inning rally for the Cavaliers with an inside the park home run.

On the mound, Nathan Wines went five innings, allowing just four hits and one run, while striking out five to get the win. Arian Vargas tossed the final two innings, striking out four to close out the series.

In the B Conference the winner’s bracket final, featuring McDonogh at St. Mary’s, was postponed and will be played on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at Kinder Farm Park.

Boys’ Latin and Gerstell met on Wednesday at John Carroll for an elimination game and BL prevailed, 8-7. The Lakers will now host Severn on Thursday in another elimination game.

The C Conference winners’ bracket final, between St. Vincent Pallotti and Park, was also postponed and will be play on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Park’s Sugar Campus.

The elimination game between Beth Tfiloh and Key was played with Beth Tfiloh winning, 3-1. The Warriors will play Concordia Prep on Thursday in another elimination game.