Baseball Top 10: Champions crowned with postseason in full swing
They broke through with a 10-0 mercy-rule win over rival Whitman Thursday, as the Wildcats claimed the Class 4A West II championship and kept their momentum rolling two days later with a dominant state quarterfinal victory — punching their ticket to the Maryland Class 4A semifinals for the first time in program history.
'Since covid, we've had 16-plus-win seasons every single year. But we've never been able to get over that hump,' Sutherland said. 'I do think there's such a thing as baseball luck. You need to be prepared, but you also need a little bit of luck and, you know, we're healthy at the right time. It's a great feeling knowing we finally got it done and I think we're prepared for this next game.'
No. 8 Walter Johnson's semifinal matchup against Reservoir will be a tantalizing pitching duel. The Wildcats boast a tandem of dominant southpaws, Nolan Ross and Spencer Gilcrest, while Reservoir's one-two punch of Matthew Russell and Gavin Metrick has been as dominant as any in the state.
The other 4A semifinal at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda features No. 5 Broadneck against Urbana. The Bruins' region title was a similarly marquee moment, it being their first in 30 years. It required knocking off Leonardtown, both the defending state champion and the program responsible for Broadneck's elimination in two of the past three seasons. Junior Aiden Casey hit a walk-off double down the left-field line in extra innings Thursday to secure a 2-1 victory for the Anne Arundel County champions.
'It was an exciting moment,' Bruins Coach Matt Skrenchuk said. 'To be able to get out of our region is something that we've been striving to do, something that we've been focused on all season. We're very proud of what we've accomplished so far.'
All records through Sunday.
The Cadets won their third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship by sweeping Paul VI. They finished the season as winners of their last 20 games and will span the entire year as the area's top-ranked squad. Last ranked: 1
The Cadets won their third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship by sweeping Paul VI. They finished the season as winners of their last 20 games and will span the entire year as the area's top-ranked squad. Last ranked: 1
Georgetown Prep's Interstate Athletic Conference dynasty continued with a commanding championship sweep of Landon, which earned the Hoyas their sixth straight league title. They won 17 of their final 18 games. LR: 5
Georgetown Prep's Interstate Athletic Conference dynasty continued with a commanding championship sweep of Landon, which earned the Hoyas their sixth straight league title. They won 17 of their final 18 games. LR: 5
The Warhawks clinched the top seed in the Concorde District last week with a 14-0 win over South Lakes in which they hit four home runs and allowed only two hits. LR: 2
The Warhawks clinched the top seed in the Concorde District last week with a 14-0 win over South Lakes in which they hit four home runs and allowed only two hits. LR: 2
Battlefield has been the top team in the Cedar Run District this spring and will enter the district tournament as the No. 1 seed, which it locked up on May 9. LR: 3
Battlefield has been the top team in the Cedar Run District this spring and will enter the district tournament as the No. 1 seed, which it locked up on May 9. LR: 3
After beating defending state champion Leonardtown in the Class 4A East II region championship, 2-1, and rolling in the state quarterfinals, Broadneck will play Urbana on Tuesday with a spot in the title game at stake. LR: 7
After beating defending state champion Leonardtown in the Class 4A East II region championship, 2-1, and rolling in the state quarterfinals, Broadneck will play Urbana on Tuesday with a spot in the title game at stake. LR: 7
The Tigers won 16 straight games before taking their first loss. They are positioned as the top seed in the Potomac District with only a pair of games against Briar Woods separating them from the postseason. LR: 8
The Tigers won 16 straight games before taking their first loss. They are positioned as the top seed in the Potomac District with only a pair of games against Briar Woods separating them from the postseason. LR: 8
Spalding's streak of three consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association titles ended when the Cavaliers fell to Calvert Hall in the first round of the conference playoffs. LR: 4
Spalding's streak of three consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association titles ended when the Cavaliers fell to Calvert Hall in the first round of the conference playoffs. LR: 4
Walter Johnson marched through a competitive region and will play in the Maryland Class 4A semifinals for the first time in program history. It will face Reservoir on Tuesday. LR: 10
Walter Johnson marched through a competitive region and will play in the Maryland Class 4A semifinals for the first time in program history. It will face Reservoir on Tuesday. LR: 10
Paul VI was the runner-up in the WCAC and Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I tournaments. The Panthers tied the program record for wins in a season. LR: 6
Paul VI was the runner-up in the WCAC and Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I tournaments. The Panthers tied the program record for wins in a season. LR: 6
The Warriors, in pursuit of a fourth state title in five years, will play Chesapeake in the Maryland Class 3A semifinals Tuesday. They've won their last nine games, including a 6-1 win over Arundel in the state quarterfinals. LR: Not ranked
Dropped out: No. 9 Gainesville
On the bubble: Gainesville, Jackson-Reed, McLean, Reservoir, West Springfield
The Warriors, in pursuit of a fourth state title in five years, will play Chesapeake in the Maryland Class 3A semifinals Tuesday. They've won their last nine games, including a 6-1 win over Arundel in the state quarterfinals. LR: Not ranked
Dropped out: No. 9 Gainesville
On the bubble: Gainesville, Jackson-Reed, McLean, Reservoir, West Springfield
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