Top ranked Calvert Hall (23-2) leads the way in the Week 8 VSN Baseball Top 20, which sees the top five, as well as the mid-section of Nos. 8 through No. 15 and No. 20 remain intact in this week.

With the private and state public schools tournaments getting underway this past week, some 14 of the 20 ranked teams stayed in place, but streaking Archbishop Curley has stolen the headlines by bursting back into the rankings at No. 18.

The sixth seeded  Friars (15-12) of coach Brooks Norris have reeled off three in a row, including a 10-inning, 3-2 upset of third seeded and 8th ranked Gilman (22-10) in the first round of the MIAA A Conference double-elimination tournament. Curley has really come on at nitty gritty time winning six of its last eight games and emerging as a very dangerous team in the post season.

No. 2 ranked Archbishop Spalding (20-6) hopes to extinguish the fire of the Friars today (Monday, May 15) in an A Conference winners bracket game in Severn. This is not the same Curley team that the Cavaliers, who are seeking a fourth consecutive A Conference crown, have beaten twice this season by scores of 8-6 and 6-1. The Friars are playing up to their winning tradition, not like the 2016 team that won only one game in the tournament and finished 10-12 overall.

Calvert Hall copped the top seed in the A Conference and after drawing a first round bye, will open today versus its arch-rival in all of the sports – the Loyola Dons (10-13). The Hall swept the fourth-seeded Dons in the regular season, the last meeting by 13-0.

Spalding remains No. 2 while Severna Park (19-2) stayed at No. 3 after taking the Anne Arundel County Championship game by 3-2 over No. 4 Chesapeake-AA (16-3). Those two teams are serious contenders in their respective Class 4A and 3A state tournaments that should gear up with no rain in the forecast and No. 5 Patterson Mill (18-2) ranks with St. Michael’s (19-2) of the Eastern shore as the Class 1A frontrunners.

No. 9 Marriotts Ridge (16-3), one of the 7 teams staying put in the VSN Top 20 mid-section is a strong contender in the State 2A tournament with No. 15 Century (15-3) a dark-horse.

Bel Air (13-6) begins defense of its Class 4A State championship when the Bobcats host Kenwood (11-4) today. No. 16 C. Milton Wright (15-7) looks to make some noise in the 3A North region while No. 17 North East – Cecil (15-2) looks to make a run to the final four out of the 2A East. No. 19 Westminster (11-7) fell from No. 16 after taking an early exit in the 3A West regional losing by 9-2 to Oakdale.

Boys’ Latin (18-5) took the top seed in the MIAA B Conference tournament and celebrated by winning three straight last week. Remaining No. 20, the Lakers drew a bye and will open tomorrow at home vs. today’s  Annapolis Area Christian School/Pallotti survivor.

RANK TEAM RECORD LAST GAME:
NEXT GAME
01 Calvert Hall 23-2 (1)
LAST GAME:
def. No. 2 Archbishop Spalding, 6-2
NEXT GAME:
vs. Loyola, MIAA A Conf. Winners Bracket, 5-15
02 Archbishop Spalding 20-6 (2)
LAST GAME:
lost to No. 1 Calvert Hall, 6-2
NEXT GAME:
vs. No. 18 Archbishop Curley, MIAA A Conf. Winners Bracket, 5-15
03 Severna Park 19-2 (3)
LAST GAME:
def. No. 4 Chesapeake, 3-2, Anne Arundel County Championship Game
NEXT GAME:
s. North County, 4A East Section semis at Bachman Park, 5-15
04 Chesapeake – AA 16-4 (4)
LAST GAME:
lost to No. 3 Severna Park, 3-2 Anne Arundel County Championship Game
NEXT GAME:
vs. Atholton/Hammond winner, 3A East Section semis, 5-16
05 Patterson Mill 18-2 (5)
LAST GAME:
def. Francis Scott Key, 10-2
NEXT GAME:
vs. Havre De Grace, 1A North Section semis, 5-15
06 Dulaney 17-3 (7)
LAST GAME:
Did not play
NEXT GAME:
vs. Perry Hall, 4A North Section semis, 5-15
07 Reservoir 15-3 (6)
LAST GAME:
lost to Atholton, 4-2 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. Mount Hebron/Long Reach winner, 3A East Section semis, 5-16
08 Gilman 22-10 (8)
LAST GAME:
lost to Archbishop Curley, 3-2, MIAA A Conference Tournament
NEXT GAME:
vs. John Carroll, MIAA A Conf.Losers Bracket, 5-15
09 Marriotts Ridge 16-3 (9)
LAST GAME:
def. Hammond, 4-0 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. Francis Scott Key, 2A West Section quarterfinal, 5-15
10 River Hill 14-5 (10)
LAST GAME:
def. Centennial, 7-2 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs.Wilde Lake, 3A East Section quarterfinal, 5-15
11 Arundel 15-5 (11)
LAST GAME:
def. Northeast, 8-0 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. No. 14 Old Mill, 4A East Section semis, 5-15
12 Howard 14-6 (12)
LAST GAME:
def. Long Reach, 16-6 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. Springbrook, 4A North Section semis, 5-16
13 Bel Air 13-6 (13)
LAST GAME:
def. Perry Hall, 6-0 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. Kenwood, 4A North section semis, 5-15
14 Old Mill 14-6 (14)
LAST GAME:
def. Meade, 16-6 (5), 4A East Section quarterfinals
NEXT GAME:
at No. 11 Arundel, 4A East Section semis, 5-15
15 Century 15-3 (15)
LAST GAME:
def. Smithsburg, 9-2 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. South Carroll, 2A West Section semis, 5-15
16 C. Milton Wright 15-7 (17)
LAST GAME:
def. Patapsco, 8-2, 3A North Section quarterfinals
NEXT GAME:
vs. Towson, 3A North Section semis, 5-15
17 North East – Cecil 15-2 (18)
LAST GAME:
Did not play
NEXT GAME:
vs. Rising Sun, 2A East Section semis, 5-15
18 Archbishop Curley 15-12 (NR)
LAST GAME:
def. No. 8 Gilman, 3-2 (10), MIAA A Conf. Tournament
NEXT GAME:
at No. 2 Archbishop Spalding, MIAA A Conf. Winners Bracket, 5-15
19 Westminster 11-7 (16)
LAST GAME:
lost to Oakdale, 9-2, 3A North Section quarterfinals
NEXT GAME:
Season Complete
20 Boys’ Latin 15-5 (20)
LAST GAME:
def. Park, 11-1 final regular season
NEXT GAME:
vs. Pallotti/AACS winner MIAA B Conf. Tournament Winners Bracket, 5-16