B and C Conference playoffs open with dramatic finishes

The MIAA baseball postseason intensified Friday as the B and C Conference double-elimination tournaments got underway, while the A Conference divisional brackets pushed through elimination play to set up a decisive weekend.

In the B Conference openers, Severn edged visiting Mount Carmel, 4-3, and St. Mary’s outlasted Gerstell Academy, 7-6, in nine innings, while St. Pau's and Park School enjoyed opening round byes. In the C Conference, Key topped St. Frances, 8-4, and St. Vincent Pallotti rolled past Friends, 13-0, with Concordia Prep and Beth Tfiloh earning opening round byes.

In the A Conference, Loyola and Archbishop Spalding advanced to their respective bracket finals. Spalding powered past Gilman, 11-4, while Loyola blanked John Carroll, 7-0.

Severn 4, Mount Carmel 3

At Severn, Brendan Szydlik delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Admirals.

Severn jumped out early, scoring three runs in the first inning behind Dominic Medile’s bases-loaded triple. Mount Carmel answered with three runs in the third, highlighted by Lance Gregory’s RBI double and run-scoring singles from Andy Molina-Sosa and Chase Counts.

Freshman Colt Warner tossed four scoreless innings of relief to earn the win, while Fletcher Warner recorded the final two outs for the save.

Severn will travel to St. Paul's on Monday.

St. Mary’s 7, Gerstell Academy 6 (9 innings)

St. Mary’s survived a back-and-forth battle in Stevenson, pushing across the winning run in the ninth inning on Brayden Thompson’s RBI single — his lone hit in six plate appearances.

The Saints squandered both a 4-0 lead and a 6-5 advantage in the eighth before finally securing the win. Aiden Neural, Sebastian Kongas and Graham Williams each had two hits, while Ayden Richardson walked three times and scored twice.

Larson Bell led Gerstell with three RBI.

The Saints advance to face Park School on Monday.

St. Vincent Pallotti 13, Friends 0

Pallotti dominated from the start in a run-rule victory.

Everson Vaughan went 3-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBI, while also pitching three scoreless innings. Jerry Stanilaus added a double, a triple and three RBI, and combined with Robert Gambale to finish off the shutout.

The Panthers now will face Beth Tfiloh on Monday in Pikesville

Key 8, St. Frances 4

At Key, the Obezags erased a 4-3 deficit with three runs in the third inning and added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth.

Alex Neenan, John Fischer and Wyatt Dowton each doubled, with Dowton earning the win after 4.1 innings on the mound. Alden Nix closed it out with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Key will travel to Concordia Prep on Monday.

Loyola 7, John Carroll 0

In Bel Air, Loyola’s Briggs Roberts delivered a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits while walking two and striking out four.

The Dons broke the game open in the seventh inning when Luke Springer launched a grand slam as part of a five-run frame.

Loyola advances to the Red Bracket final at top-seeded Mount St. Joseph on Saturday. The Dons must win to force a decisive “if” game Sunday at Loyola.

Archbishop Spalding 11, Gilman 4

Archbishop Spalding responded emphatically after last week’s loss to Calvert Hall, eliminating Gilman with an offensive outburst.

The Cavaliers scored all 11 runs over the first three innings, powered by home runs from MJ Maril and Noah Vassey, along with a three-run triple from Michael Thompson.

Spalding advances to host Calvert Hall in the Black Bracket final on Saturday. A win by the Cavaliers would force a winner-take-all game Sunday at Calvert Hall.