Calvert Hall Claims MIAA A Conference Title

Harford Community College was the site of this year's MIAA "A" Conference Championship game that featured No. 4 Calvert Hall and No. 25 Gilman. The Cardinals defeated the Greyhounds 4-3 last Wednesday in the championship of the winner's bracket thus securing their place in Monday night's game while Gilman then had to knock off Mount St. Joseph in the loser's bracket to get in. 

Gilman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Tyler Martinez (San Francisco) chopped one into the turf and beat it out for an infield single scoring Ryan Williamson from third who led off the inning with a base hit. Calvert Hall responded in the bottom half as Garrett McIlhenney (Misericordia) lined one back up the middle to lead off the frame. After stealing second to get into scoring position, Cardinals catcher Parker Landwehr (Boston College) doubled down the left field line easily scoring McIlhennery from second to tie it up.

Cardinals lefty Pete Marchineck (Towson) settled in after the first tossing five scoreless frames thereafter. He was deceptive and tough on the Gilman lineup mixing pitches, inducing weak contact, and getting some big strikeouts in key situations.  

After a shutdown inning in the top of the second, Calvert Hall took the lead in the bottom half scoring two runs highlighted by Marchineck's solo blast to right center field to lead things off. Following a walk to Sami Khan and another base hit by McIlhenney with two outs, the Cardinals plated another run on a first and third double steal. 

Gilman starter Peter Heubeck (Wake Forest) was also really good for the Greyhounds retiring the side in order in the third and the fourth to keep the game within striking distance. The sophomore righty was relieved by Danny Rosenfield (Davidson) in the fifth inning with one out and a 1-1 count with McIlhenney at the plate. McIlhenney battled against the tough lefty to a full count before collecting his third hit of the game. The speedy outfielder's ability to make things happen on the bases was then on full display as he advanced to second base on an attempted pickoff that got past the first basemen, stole third a couple batters later and scored when the ball got past the third basemen and rolled out to left field giving the Cardinals a 4-1 lead. 

The game got very interesting in the seventh as Gilman made one last ditch effort to extend the game and their season. Ryan Martinez led off the inning with a single and Michael Mallas followed suit with a sinking line drive to centerfield. The ball was ruled a trap so Mallas advanced to first but Martinez was thrown out at second base on a bang-bang play on a great head's up play by none other than McIlhenney himself.

With one out and Mallas on first base, Marchineck walked Williamson signaling the end of his day. Cardinals shortstop Jose Torres came onto the mound to try and close things out but walked the first batter he saw in Casey Bishop to load the bases. Pierce Bennett (Wake Forest) came to the plate as the crowd was on edge of their seats to see the matchup. After three straight foul balls, Torres got Bennett to ground one back to the mound, coming home for the first out. Landwehr's throw to double up Bennett at first and end the ballgame was towards second base just enough to get past the first baseman and go into right field. Williamson scored on the throwing error to make it 4-2 and Gilman still had life with runners at second and third with two down. T. Martinez then walked to re-load the bases but Torres barred down and got Tripp Myers to fly out to left field for the final out. 

With the 4-2 win, Calvert Hall captured its 11th MIAA "A" Conference Championship and first since 2013. Marchineck's went six and a third allowing two runs, scattering six hits and four walks while striking out five. McIlhenney (3-for-3, 2 R's), Landwehr (1-for-2, 2B, RBI), and Marchineck (1-for-3, HR, R, RBI) led the Cardinals on offense. For Gilman, T. Martinez led the charge with a 2-for-3 day including a double and an RBI. Heubeck went four and a third surrendering three runs on four hits, one walk, and struck out five.