The path is much different, but the destination is the same for Calvert Hall.
Jason Hendry pitched a one-hitter and John Collingsworth came through with a clutch two-run single in the top of the fifth inning Monday as the Cardinals advanced to the MIAA A Conference finals with a 3-0 win at Archbishop Spalding.
Calvert Hall (25-8) now looks to repeat as league champion when it faces Gilman for the league title Wednesday at Ripken Stadium in Harford County. However, the Cardinals must beat the Greyhounds twice since they advanced through the losers? bracket.
“Obviously, this is the exact opposite path that we took to last year?s championship,” said Hendry, whose team was 31-1 overall last year and 20-0 in conference play. “Getting there through the losers? bracket is a new experience for us.”
Hendry frustrated Spalding?s lineup all day as he struck out five and walked one in the complete-game win. He also benefited from a number of great defensive plays and clutch hitting, which he said added to his confidence.
“It makes it a lot easier to pitch when you know if the ball is put in play that your defense will back you up,” Hendry said.
Calvert Hall coach Lou Eckerl said Hendry came through with the team?s best pitching performance of the year Monday; something that?s even more important in a double-elimination tournament. He added that it?s unfair to compare last year?s team with the current squad.
“Last year was a dream season, but we?re having a pretty good season this year, too,” he said. “Anyone who has won a championship will tell you the hardest thing to do is come back and do it again next year.”
Jason Patten kept Spalding (19-9) in the contest with a solid outing where he gave up two runs on five hits, struck out three and walked two in 5.3 innings. However, the Cavaliers had no answer for Hendry while Joe Velleggia gave the Cardinals an insurance run with an RBI single in the seventh off of Paul DeVito.
“Jason pitched well for us and we played great defense,” Spalding coach Steve Miller said. “But we just didn?t swing the bat well today.”
MIAA BASEBALL NOTES
» Calvert Hall won its previous A Conference titles in 2005, 2000, 1998 and 1997.
» Calvert Hall lost to Spalding in the first round of the tournament, 3-2. The Cardinals rebounded by defeating top-seeded Mount St. Joseph Friday, 13-8, before beating the Cavaliers again Monday.
» Gilman reached the championship game with a 12-2 win Friday over Spalding in the conference semifinals. The Greyhounds lost to the Cavaliers in the regular season 10-1 and 13-3.
