Looking Ahead: May 9-May 14

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Welcome to Looking Ahead. In this weekly story, we will highlight the top games on the schedule each night.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

WCAC Tournament
The best playoff format that anyone uses for their postseason returns this week for the first time since 2019. The WCAC plays an eight team tournament, with the quarterfinals being a single win or go home game, all of which took place on Sunday, May 8. After that, the league plays best-of-three series for their semifinal and championship rounds. The semifinals will be played Monday through Wednesday this week, with the Championship series taking place Thursday through Saturday. The semifinal pairings are Good Counsel at St. John's College and Gonzaga at Bishop O'Connell. St. John's has dominated the WCAC postseason over the last decade, winning the last six championships from 2014-2019. Bishop O'Connell finished first in the regular season this year and has a stable of arms that make them a serious threat to end the Cadets' dominance.

Oakton at #16 Chantilly, Tuesday, May 10
The Chargers have run away with the Concorde District this spring, suffering just one loss in District play, a walk-off defeat at the hands of the Cougars on April 21. Owen Pierce (William & Mary) and Scott Hodinko have carried the Chargers on the mound and at the plate this spring, look for Pierce to be lined up to start in this game.

James Madison at Westfield, Tuesday, May 10
Another Concorde District matchup makes it to featured Games of the Week. This game isn't necessarily significant for its eventual impact on the District standings, but more about the players that will be there. With the expected return of Jonny Farmelo (Virginia) to the Westfield lineup this week, this game will feature two of the best bats in the 2023 class in Farmelo and Madison first basemen Bryce Eldridge (Alabama). Both players have been dinged up this year with minor injuries, but with them back in their respective lineups, both Madison and Westfield will be very different teams as the playoffs get under way.

#8 Battlefield at Patriot, Thursday, May 12
Battlefield senior Carson Estridge (West Virginia) was dominant in the first meeting between these two as the Bobcats shut out the Pioneers. Expect him to be on the mound again as Battlefield needs to win this game to finish the season in a tie for first in the Cedar Run District with Freedom (South Riding) and force a one game playoff for the District Championship. The Pioneers are on track to finish third in the District, but can spoil their archrival's season and build some momentum heading into the playoffs.