Last season, the C. Milton Wright baseball season ended at Ripken Stadium in heartbreaking fashion. This season, the Mustangs (19-1) are hoping a recent win at the ballpark will catapult the team to another state title game appearance.
“It would be great. We?ve probably played more games at Ripken Stadium than anyone else in the state,” said coach Tony Blackburn, whose Mustangs have played at the minor league park six times in the past year ? including last year?s state final and a pair of regular season tournaments.
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C. Milton Wright will start its journey at 4 p.m. today at home, facing either Woodlawn or Blake.
The Mustangs will enter the contest on a 17-game winning streak, with the only loss a 6-5 decision to South River in the third game of the season.
“I?m glad we lost that game,” Blackburn said. “I wouldn?t want to be sitting in there with an undefeated season.”
The Mustangs won the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference title ? the first in the program?s history ? with a 6-4 win over Rising Sun Wednesday at Ripken Stadium.
The close result came on the heels of a series of Mustang blowouts and served as a needed wake-up call.
“By being able to be in a tight game like that, it exposed some things,” Blackburn said.
The 4A state final will be played at 7:30 p.m. May 25 at Ripken Stadium.
Blackburn is confident that, in the event his team reaches the state final, it can draw back upon its experienceplaying in big-game atmospheres.
Looking ahead
» Top-seed Arundel, which won the Anne Arundel County title game Thursday, will open its state title defense in 4A East action this afternoon. After beating Springbrook, Perry Hall will face No. 3 Parkville in a 4A East rematch of Baltimore County powers.
» No. 1 seed Centennial, which won the Howard County title Thursday, will play Long Reach or River Hill in a 3A East second-round affair today.
