Spalding knew Friday it had at least clinched a first-round bye as one of the top two seeds in the MIAA A Conference baseball tournament.
The Cavaliers also still had a slim chance for the league?s regular-season title with a win over Gilman, and some outside help. Outfielder/pitcher Jason Patten did his part for Spalding (18-4, 14-4 in MIAA) as he belted two home runs and had five RBI in a 13-3 win over Gilman (10-9, 9-9) in a game halted after five innings.
Mount St. Joseph then cleared up the playoff picture as the Gaels clinched the top seed and eliminated Archbishop Curley with a 5-1 win Friday. Mount St. Joseph (18-4, 14-3) won the regular-season title by virtue of winning both of its games against Spaldiang.
“We wanted the top seed, but getting the first-round bye helps us set up well for the playoffs,” Spalding coach Steve Miller said.
Miller added that the biggest advantage in getting the bye is that it keeps his already deep pitching staff fresh for the later rounds ofthe tournament. Three of those hurlers ? Greg Sneeringer, Brendan McGowan and Justin Homonai ? displayed that depth against Gilman as they combined to give up three runs, four hits and stuck out six in the win. Tim Rappazzo accounted for all of Gilman?s offense with a three-run homer in the third inning.
“We have any number of guys who can step on the mound and do well,” said Sneeringer, who pitched two shutout innings Friday and is now 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA. “We pitched well against St. Joe last time we played them. We just need to do better hitting against them.”
Gilman, despite Friday?s loss, also made the playoffs as the fifth seed, with St. Paul?s sneaking in behind them thanks to Curley?s losing. Other entrants in the A Conference tournament include third-seeded Calvert Hall and fourth-seeded Loyola.
Spalding knows that for it to win the conference tournament, it needs solid pitching and offensive contributions from unlikely sources.
“Everything seemed to be working great (Friday),” said Patten, the Cavaliers ninth-place hitter. “It was great momentum for us entering the playoffs.”
MIAA BASEBALL
» A Conference first-round games begin Tuesday and include Gilman at Loyola and St. Paul?s at Calvert Hall. Mount St. Joseph hosts the Loyola/Gilman winner, while the Calvert Hall/St. Paul?s winner visits Spalding on Wednesday. The tournament finals are scheduled for May 24 (and May 25 if necessary) at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.
» Spalding is a combined 1-3 against Mount St. Joseph and Calvert Hall.
» In its last meeting earlier this month Mount St. Joseph ace Bryan Hamilton gave up two hits, struck out six and walked two in a 2-0 win over Spalding. Paul DeVito gave up both runs on four hits, struck out seven and walked four over six innings for the Cavaliers.
