Colonel Richardson Caps Perfect Season With 1A State Title

Colonel Richardson completed their story-book season with a 6-0 win in extra innings over McDonough to claim the MPSSAA 1A State Championship at Ripken Stadium. With the win, the Colonels became the 14th team in MPSSAA baseball history to finish the season undefeated and the first since 2012. 

Both teams sent their aces to the mound as fans were treated to a good ole' fashioned pitcher's duel in game one of championship Saturday's triple-header. Colonel's Jamison Covey (Harford CC) and McDonough's Austin Simms were dialed in; both throwing seven scoreless frames to send the game to extra innings. Due to the pitch count restrictions, both teams were forced to go to their bullpens to start the eighth. 

Covey finished his seven innings for the Colonels allowing six hits and one walk, striking out seven while Simms matched it allowing four hits, three walks, and struck out three for the Rams. 

McDonough's Sean Joseph came on in the eighth and retired the side in order and Colonel Richardson countered with starting shortstop Ty Scott (Chesapeake College). Scott allowed a a hit to Austin Dalton with two outs before inducing a ground ball to short to end the inning. 

Colonel finally broke through in the ninth plating six runs on two hits and four walks. Chad Willoughby led off the inning with a walk and Ryan Stanton followed with a sacrifice bunt moving Willoughby to second with one out. Mason Lambert then singled to left field giving the Colonels runners on the corners. Joseph then hit Nathan Brown with a pitch thus loading the bases for the top of the lineup. Back-to-back walks to Tyler Stanley and Remy Mangum (Chesapeake College) made it 2-0 before Jackie Zebron blew the game wide open with a bases clearing three-RBI double down the left field line. Zebron advanced to third on the throw to the plate and scored as Scott followed with an RBI ground out to Simms at shortstop to make it 6-0. McDonough's Calvin Johnson recorded the ground out on the mound for the Rams and stopped the bleeding by punching out the next batter. 

McDonough threatened in the bottom of the ninth as Scott walked the first two batters to open the frame. With Caleb Remik and Austin Delawder on first and second with no outs, Scott got leadoff hitter Quinlan Robertson to line out to center field for the first out. Simms followed with a single to load the bases but Scott barred down striking out Joseph for the second out and got Chase Hill to fly out to right field for the final out of the ballgame. 

Zebron was the offensive hero for the Colonels going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run, and three RBI's. Simms not only led McDonough on the mound but he also went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead all Rams hitters.

With the win, Colonel Richardson finished it's 2019 campaign a perfect 24-0, winning its second state championship in school history (2007).