McDonogh and Park reach reach B & C baseball finals, respectively
The Eagles and Bruins each stand one win away from a MIAA baseball title
Despite a week filled with battling the elements, the MIAA B and C Conference double-elimination baseball tournaments have marched on with McDonogh reaching the finals of the B Conference, with a 7-1 win over St. Paul's on Wednesday, and Park earning its place in the C Conference finals, with a 7-5 win over Beth Tfiloh on Thursday. Each team now has two chances to win one game and clinch a championship.
McDonogh, which came into the tournament as a three seed, has defeated Gerstell Academy, 13-3, Severn, 1-0, and St. Paul's to reach the final undefeated. In the victory over St. Paul's, which was played at John Carroll, Michael Gorsky had two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs to lead the offense. Keyed by a three-run fourth, McDonogh built a 7-0 lead and cruised past the Crusaders. Chase Ginsberg tossed 5.2 innings of six-hit ball to earn the win.
The Eagles now await the winner of Friday's final elimination game. Boys' Latin topped Severn, 4-3, on Thursday to earn to the right to host St. Paul's on Friday. The winner of that contest will advance to face McDonogh on Sunday (2:30 p.m.) at Joe Cannon Stadium. If a second game is necessary, it will be played on Monday at a time and place to be determined.
Park had to endure two days of postponements before finally hosting Beth Tfiloh in the C Conference winner's bracket final. Owen Cyr broke a 4-4 tie with a two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth inning and then scored on a Dylan Katz sac fly to propel the Bruins to victory. Beth Tfiloh scored a single run in the top of the seventh, but Park held on for the victory.
Beth Tfiloh will now host St. Frances on Friday afternoon with the winner earning the right to face Park in the finals, which get underway on Sunday, also at Joe Cannon, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. St. Frances stayed alive in the elimination bracket with a 3-1 win over Key School. The C Conference finals will continue on Monday, if necessary, with the time and location to be announced.