Gerstell Forces Winner Take All Game for the MIAA B Conference Title

Boys' Latin and Gerstell faced off for the fourth time this season Monday night in the MIAA B Conference Championship at Harford CC. Boys Latin advanced out of the winner’s bracket last week by beating Gerstell 14-4. After losing in that game, Gerstell then had to defeat Glenelg Country to make it to the Championship round. Coming through the loser's bracket, the Falcons would have to beat the Lakers twice to win it all - a tall task considering Boys' Latin had won all three prior matchups this season.

Gerstell loaded the bases in the top of the first inning with no outs before Chris Hagan was hit by a pitch, bringing in the first run of the game. It looked like it may get ugly early for a little bit, but the Lakers weathered the storm getting two infield pop-outs and a strikeout to hold the Falcons to just one run.

Reece Early started for Gerstell and found success for a majority of the afternoon. After tossing a scoreless first, he struck out the side in order in the second to preserve a 1-0 lead heading to the third.

Hagan crossed home once again, this time on an RBI triple to right by Tyler Stuck, extending the Falcons lead to two. However, the bats for Boys Latin came alive in the bottom of the third. After a leadoff single by Peter Makris, Gerstell was unable to execute an important double play, resulting in an error and first and second for the Lakers. Following a sacrifice bunt and strikeout, Sam Grace delivered an RBI single. One pitch later, Charlie Godin drove in another with a single of his own. One of the runs scored on a fielding error which resulted in a three-run inning and a 3-2 lead for Boys Latin.

After a scoreless fourth and with his team still trailing by a run, Early launched a solo shot to left tying the game and sparking some offensive momentum for the Falcons. Hagan reached once more on a walk and then Logan Satti doubled to put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Stuck then stepped up to the plate and hit a line drive to center field. After the outfielder dove - misjudging the ball, Stuck ended up at third and two runs scored, retaking the lead for Gerstell. The Lakers were able to limit the damage by picking off Stuck at third and striking out two batters.

In the bottom of the fifth, Boys Latin threatened by loading the bases, but Early struck out the side for the second time in the game to keep a 5-3 lead.

Gerstell was able to put together an insurance run in the sixth. Max Friedman led off for the Falcons with a triple to center. A couple batters later, Hagan drove him in with a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to three.

Early closed it out for the Falcons, leading his team to a 6-3 victory. Gerstell and Boys Latin will meet for the fifth and final time on Tuesday in a winner-take-all matchup to decide the winner of the MIAA "B" Conference.

Stuck (2-for-4, 3 RBI’s), Early (2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R), Friedman (2-for-3, 2 R’s), and Hagan (1-for-1, 2 RBI’s, 2 R’s) led the offense in the win for Gerstell. Early also finished the afternoon allowing three runs (zero earned) on eight hits and zero walks, while striking out twelve batters.