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James M. Bennett vs. Thomas Johnson

The James M. Bennett Clippers from Wicomico County and the Thomas Johnson Patriots from Frederick County squared off Tuesday afternoon in the first of two MPSSAA 3A State Semifinal games at Joe Cannon Stadium. The Clippers opened the scoring in the second as Colby Dailey's sac-fly to center plated senior third baseman Brett Swift for the early 1-0 lead. Bennett would add two more in the third as Naythan Lewis was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and Garrett Southern followed with a double down the left field line to give the Clippers runners at second and third with no outs. Following a strikeout, Max Taylor grounded one in the hole at shortstop that scored Lewis. Thomas Johnson shortstop Jacob Orr made an outstanding play to get Taylor hustling down the line to first for the second out. Southern would later score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Bennett with three innings in the books. 

Thomas Johnson would respond in the fourth with two runs as Orr reached safely on an error to start the top half and Justin Bolden was hit by a pitch giving the Patriots two on with no outs. A wild pitch moved the runners up ninety feet before Trevor Yusko blooped one down the right field line that was caught by the second basemen allowing Orr to tag up and score. Matt Fowkes then grounded to second and the Clippers traded an out for a run making it 3-2 with two outs, Thomas Johnson started another rally in the fourth on an error and two walks to load the bases. Bennett went to the bullpen and calling on Sang Baek to come in to get them out of the jam which he did getting a ground ball to first for the final out. 

Baek was dominant in relief retiring the side in order in both the sixth and seventh as James M. Bennett punched their ticket to Saturday's State Championship game defeating Thomas Johnson by a final score of 3-2. 

The pitching on both sides was outstanding as Clippers starter Ryan Mitchell and Baek combined to allow just two hits while Thomas Johnson's Shane Bowie went all six innings allowing just four hits while striking out three. Orr and Fowkes had the only hits of the game for Thomas Johnson and Southern, Taylor, Lewis, and Anders Brown each collected a hit for James M. Bennett.

 

C. Milton Wright vs. Northern (Cal.)

The Mustangs of C. Milton Wright jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the nightcap of the 3A State Semifinals at Joe Cannon. A hit by pitch, single by Jake Spurlock, and an error loaded the bases with one out. With two away and the crowd still settling in, Stiars belted one to left field for a double that cleared the bases. 

C. Milton Wright got another clutch hit with two outs in the third when Dominic Jankovich singled to center scoring Spurlock who had reached base on a hit by pitch to make it 4-0. Mustangs starter Hunter Wright was very tough on the mound and while Northern got some runners on in a majority of the innings, Wright was up to the task mixing his pitches well and picking up big strikeouts in key situations to wiggle out of the innings. 

The Patriots finally pushed two runs across in the fifth inning when C. Milton Wright took Wright out of the game in hopes to save him for Saturday. Joe Burns came on in relief to start the inning and retired the first two batters in order before things went south quickly. Nick White singled and Nick Cook followed with a triple down the line in right field to score White from first base. Bryce Leslie then singled home Cook to cut the lead in half and C. Milton Wright quickly went back to Wright on the mound. Wright came back in and got a big strikeout stranding runners at first and second. 

The two-run sixth inning rally was all Northern got going offensively as Wright retired the side in order in the seventh adding two more strikeouts to his totals preserving the 4-2 win for the Mustangs. Wright worked six and one-third total innings scattering six hits and one walk while striking out eight. Marcus Lee Sang struck out three in his seven innings of work on the mound for Northern and picked up two hits at the plate. Grayson Lewis also had two hits for the Patriots.