Calvert Hall-Spalding showdown highlights early-season action on the diamond

by Nelson Coffin

The two hottest baseball teams in the A Conference are slated to begin a three-game series on Monday when Calvert Hall travels to Archbishop Spalding.

The Cardinals (12-1, 6-0 league), fresh off series sweeps of Archbishop Curley and archrival Loyola Blakefield (2-7, 1-5), boast a 40-run differential to open the conference season, in part, by holding the Friars (3-7, 1-5) scoreless.

Calvert Hall still trailed, 1-0, on Nate Shepherd’s double that plated Will Kelly in the second inning of the middle game against the Dons.

Second baseman Jake Lindsey knocked in DH Grayson Ryan and shortstop Anthony Williams to put the Cardinals on top, 2-1, in the third before Lindsey scooted home on an error to complete a three-run uprising.

Southpaw Brayden Rivera and reliever Cole Kantorski combined to hold Loyola to the lone run to help secure the 3-1 victory.

Meanwhile, Spalding (9-2, 5-1) has rattled off five straight wins against Gilman (7-5, 3-3) and McDonogh (0-7, 0-6) after bowing, 7-3, in the series opener to the Greyhounds. Spalding took the final two games of the series by a combined, 26-2.

Brycen Altland went 3-for-3 with a run-scoring double to help defending champ John Carroll (7-4, 4-2) salvage the final game of a series against Mount St. Joseph (4-2, 4-2). Braden Ashburn (2-run HR) and Evan Bodensiek (2-run double) accounted for all of the Gaels’ runs in a 5-4 setback.

MSJ prevailed in the first two outings of the series, 1-0, and 8-2, against an opponent that swept McDonogh to open conference play.

Severn (8-3, 5-0) has built a big lead in the B Conference Red Division standings after downing St. John’s Catholic Prep, 11-2, and Annapolis Area Christian School, 8-3, last week.

Defending C Conference champ Park also took both of its league games last week against Indian Creek, 12-7, and St. John’s, 11-1, to tie AACS for second place with a 2-1 Red record.

St. Paul’s also won twice, defeating Gerstell Academy, 5-3, and Boys’ Latin to head the Black Division over Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which prevailed over Glenelg Country School, 15-5.

Beth Tfiloh and Concordia Prep earned the top spots in their respective C Conference divisions with the Saints sporting a gaudy 4-0 mark.