The road is set for legendary Arundel High School baseball coach Bernie Walter to chase down his 11th state title. Arundel (16-4) has a bye in the opening round, and will face the winner of Old Mill and Thomas Stone in the second round.
“Anyone can beat anyone on a given day,” Walter said. “I?ve had some incredible teams and we?ve lost to some bad teams.”
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Walter feels this year?s team is just as incredible as some of those in the past ? including last year?s club, which took the 4A crown ? Walter?s 10th career state championship.
“We think we have a pretty good ball club, with our record and the way we?ve played,” Walter said. “I think this team is as good as any, it certainly has a chance to win. You have to have some good fortune.”
4A
Sherwood, Eleanor Roosevelt and Damascus earned the other No. 1 seeds in the 4A tournament. No. 5 C. Milton Wright ? the 2006 runners-up to Arundel, earned a second seed and a first-round bye in the North region, and will face the winner of Blake and Woodlawn in the second round. No. 8 Parkville is the No. 3 seed in that region.
The 4A semifinals will be held May 22 at Shipley Field in College Park, and the state final will be played May 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.
3A
Centennial has earned the top seed in the 3A East region, earning a first-round bye and a second-round matchup with the winner of Howard County foes Long Reach and River Hill. Centennial has a difficult potential matchup for the region final, with No. 9 Fallston looming as the No. 2 seed. Defending champions J.M. Bennett (Wicomico) is the No. 3 seed in the East, while Gwynn Park, Patapsco, and Paint Branch earned the top seeds in the three other regions. The 3A semifinals will be held May 22 at Joe Cannon Stadium, with the state final set for 7 p.m. on May 26 at Ripken Stadium.
2A
Howard (South region) and Poly (North region) earned top seeds in their respective brackets, while defending champs North East (Cecil County) are a No. 7 seed in the 2A East. Poly shares its bracket with No. 2 seed Eastern Tech (9-1).
The 2A semifinal will be held May 22 at Arundel High School, with the state final set for 4:30 p.m. on May 26 at Ripken Stadium.
1A
Defending champions Snow Hill (Worcester), Cecil County?s Rising Sun and Garrett County?s Northern High each claimed a No. 1 seed, as did Dunbar, which sits atop the South region.
The 1A semifinals will be held May 22 and McCurdy Field in Frederick, with the state final set for 1 p.m. on May 26 at Ripken Stadium.
