Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference

Brycen Hunter went the distance in these one on 85 pitches. He scattered 5 hits with 0 walks while striking out 7. He also delivered a big double in the first driving in two early runs. Tre McInnes played terrific behind the dish while contributing 2 hits and reaching base all four times.

Peter Weber got the win, and Brycen Hunter got the save on the combined 6 hitter. Freshman Nick Redmile goes 2 for 2 with 2 doubles in his first varsity game scoring three runs. Logan Scheeler drove in 3 runs to help pace the Huskies offense with Dallas Anderson and Mason Hemelt also driving in critical RBI’s. Reese Connely took the loss, walking 5 and striking out 9 in 3.1 innings of work.

On this day in 1978, the Baltimore Orioles drafted Cal Ripken Jr. out of Aberdeen High School in the second round. Ripken made Maryland history as the seventh high school player to reach the major leagues. Ripken became the first player to be drafted out of Aberdeen High School. His brother, Billy, would also be selected four years later. The brothers are the only players selected in the school's history. Among MLB players to be drafted and signed out of high school, Ripken accumulated the third most Wins Above Replacement, only placing behind Alex Rodriguez and Rickey Henderson. According to the biography “Iron Man: The Cal Ripken Jr., Story,” Ripken struggled to fit in as an undersized freshman in the 1975 season. Coaches placed him at second base over concerns with his arm and stature. These issues persisted across his freshman and most of his sophomore years. The Aberdeen Eagles needed a spark in 1977 after a combined 13-25 record in 1975 and 1976. A junior year Ripken, more experienced and stronger, provided exactly what they needed. Ripken’s throwing arm held him back as a freshman, but it improved significantly over the years. That arm strength earned his spot as the team’s everyday shortstop and ticketed him for a new role. In 1977, Ripken became a two-way player after coaches requested to try the idea. He had not pitched since playing in Little League competitions. Ripken faced the challenge with a .339 batting average and a 1.66 ERA. His efforts brought Aberdeen to a county championship matchup against Joppatowne High School. The Eagles sought their first county championship since 1959. Ripken earned the start for Aberdeen’s biggest game in years and performed well as the Eagles won the title. His efforts earned him the 1977 Harford County MVP award and cemented him as a top prospect for MLB scouts. Ripken built on his standout junior season with an even better senior campaign. He pitched 60 innings of 0.70 ERA ball alongside 100 strikeouts and had a .492 batting average. That performance propelled Aberdeen to the MPSSAA championship for the first time in school history. Ripken authored the best pitching performance of his life in that game. He threw a complete game against Thomas Stone High School with 17 strikeouts and only one run. The Eagles won the 1978 MPSSAA championship. Aberdeen has not won a championship since then, only making a recent semifinal appearance in 2016. The Orioles used the 48th pick of the 1978 draft to select Ripken. He would make his major league debut on Aug. 10, 1981, at 20 years old against the Kansas City Royals. Ripken became one of the best players of his generation and exclusively played for the Orioles in his 21 year career. Ripken is the Orioles franchise leader in games played, runs, hits, home runs, RBIs and walks. Across baseball, he had the fifth-most games played at shortstop and turned the third-most double plays. He made 19 All-Star games, earned two MVP awards, won the 1983 World Series and was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2007. Ripken is most remembered nationally for passing Lou Gehrig’s 2,130 consecutive games streak. Between May 30, 1982 and Sept. 20, 1998, Ripken played in every Orioles game and set a new record with 2.632 games. Now retired after his Hall of Fame career, Ripken gives back to Aberdeen. He founded Ripken Baseball in 2001 as a part of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. The organization provides resources for youth and high school teams to participate in tournaments nationwide. 47 years after graduating from Aberdeen High School, Ripken remains connected with the community that watched him become a baseball legend.

We were able to strike first with two runs in the third with RBIs by Stabile and Hemelt, but Pikesville struck back, and hard in the top of the fourth. We didn't play our best when our best was needed. One of the few big innings given up all year came on the biggest stage. Hats off to Pikesville on their continued run, and thank you to our seniors. Thank you, everyone, for your support and for all our student athletes across the county. You are appreciated more than you know.

Brycen Hunter went to work today. He went the distance walking 0 batters, striking out 6, and scattering 5 hits. Mason Hemelt got us on the board with a base hit in the first to make it 1-0. Hunter went to work offensively with a 2 rbi base hit to make it 3-0. Harford techs defense kept them in it. A wild pitch with Dallas Anderson on third gave us the 4 run lead. Noah Thomas and Franky Culotta added tack on RBI’s in the bottom of the 6th.

On Friday, the seven-seeded Pikesville Panthers traveled to take on the two-seed Patterson Mill Huskies in the first round of the 1A state baseball playoffs. Pikesville comes into round one after dominating the 15-1 Liberty Lions on the road, while Patterson Mill didn't give up a run in the regional playoffs, defeating Harford Tech 6-0 in the finals. Despite the Huskies being the home team, the game was played on turf at Harford Community College with severe weather coming through the area before the game, leading to a one hour delay. In the bottom of the first, Patterson Mill put two runners on, as Logan Scheeler was hit by a pitch and Jayden Stabile singled into left field. Despite the strong start, Patterson didn't score until the bottom of the third. Scheeler led off the inning with a triple into right center field, and Stabile drove him in with a single on the next pitch. With one out in the inning, Mason Hemelt doubled down the left field line to drive in the second Huskies' run. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Pikesville loaded the bases for Kairee Williams. The center fielder took the first pitch he saw into center field to advance all runners 90 feet, and to drive in the Panthers' first run. After that single, Patterson Mill brought in Peter Weber to pitch, but he gave up one run on a wild pitch, one on a bases loaded walk, one on a single by Isaac Garonzik, and three on a double by William Holaday. Pikesville put up seven runs in the top of the fourth as ten batters came to the plate. The Huskies had momentum growing in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases after a single and two walks, but Noah Thomas struck out looking, stranding all three runners. In the top of the seventh, Isaac Garonzik singled for the second time in the game to lead off the inning, and Will Holaday was hit by his third pitch in two games. With runners on second and third, Richie Carlton hit a fly ball to center field, and Garonzik was safe at home tagging up to give the Panthers their eighth run. Later in the inning, Ian Davis smacked a line drive into left field, scoring another run on the single. In the bottom of the seventh, Pikesville brought in Ethan Holaday to close the game on the mound. With two runners on, Noah Thomas singled into right field for the Huskies, scoring their third run of the game. However, that would be the end of the Huskies' offense, and Pikesville upset Patterson Mill 9-3. For Pikesville, Michael Payne earned the victory, going six innings on 108 pitches. The starter allowed three earned runs on eight hits and three walks while picking up ten strikeouts. Noah Thomas was dealt the loss for the Huskies as he went 3.2 innings in 75 pitches, giving up four earned runs on three hits, six walks, and four strikeouts. The Panthers will look to continue defying the odds as they are slated to take on the three-seed St. Michaels Saints at an unannounced neutral site on Tuesday.

It came down to the wire on Wednesday, as North Harford Varsity Hawks grabbed the victory in walk-off fashion, 3-2, over RSHS Tigers. North Harford Varsity Hawks were down 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Jackson Armiger doubled, scoring three runs. Both teams were strong on the hill. North Harford Varsity Hawks pitchers struck out eight, while RSHS Tigers sat down 12. RSHS Tigers opened the scoring in the first after Ethan Burchard hit a solo home run to left field. Matt Hart earned the win for North Harford Varsity Hawks. The starter gave up six hits and two runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking two. Wyatt McDowell took the loss for RSHS Tigers. The starter went six and two-thirds innings, surrendering three runs on zero hits, striking out 12 and walking six. Armiger went 1-for-4 at the plate and led the team with three runs batted in. Sean Ellis paced North Harford Varsity Hawks with two walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, amassing six walks for the game. Zackhary VanDyke set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading RSHS Tigers with three hits in four at bats. McDowell and Burchard were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in one run for RSHS Tigers.

The Harford Tech Cobras defeated the Perryville Panthers 6-4 in the second round of the State Playoffs. The Cobras scored two runs in the top of the first when CJ Scism doubled in two runs (Sam Roney-single, and Josh Hays-walk). The Panthers answered with one run in the bottom of the first scoring on a passed ball after Ferrigno tripled. The Panthers then took the lead when they scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. McGuirk led the inning off with a walk, Bines then struck out, and then Ferrigno tripled for the second time in two at bats to drive in a run. Rando then singled in Ferrigno giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead. The Cobras reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth with two runs. Zach Lane led off the inning with a walk, followed by a sac bunt from Sam Roney. Josh Hays then grounded out and CJ Scism singled to make a first and third situation. Zach Lane scored on a passed ball and then Quinton Kron doubled in the second run of the inning. The Panthers answered with one run of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hornberger singled in Ferrigno who reached base by hit by pitch, this made the score four to four after five innings. Neither team scored in the sixth inning. The Cobras scored two in the top of the seventh inning. Zach Lane started the inning off with a single, Sam Roney then struck out, Josh Hays had a single to create a first and third situation. Josh Hays stole second and then CJ Scism was intentionally walked. Quinton Kron then drove in his second rbi of the game with a sac fly to center field; Josh Hays tagged from second and also scored on the play due to an errant throw by the center fielder. Aiden Sullivan pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to earn the win for the Cobras. Harford Tech will travel to Patterson Mill on Tuesday for the Region Championship game.

Noah Thomas shined today as he went the distance earning the 3 hit shut out only allowing 2bbs with 4ks. After stranding the base loaded in the second inning, Logan Scheeler led off the 3rd with a base hit to left. Stabile followed with a single to make it 1st and 3rd. Tre McInnes came up big with a double to center to make it second and third. After a Hemelt hit by pitch, Brycen Hunter came up with the big 2 strike 2 rbi line drive to center to plate two more runs for the Huskies. That’s all Thomas would need, as he cruised to a 93 pitch complete game.

Baseball is a different sport to manage when it comes to fighting for a championship within your conference and preparing your team for their ultimate goal which is to compete to the best of their ability in the state tournament. Both teams took the field a day later than expected (Tuesday rain out really challenges a team with pitch count) with the mindset to compete at the highest level and still be prepared for Saturday competition. It was managed that way as both teams navigated the game not letting their pitchers get to a point of ineligibility for Saturdays game. In the top of the first, a Scheeler lead off hit, a steal of second and an rbi single by McInnes gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead. In the third inning a lead off walk by Culotta, a sacrifice bunt by Scheeler and an RBI single by Stabile extended the lead to 2-0. Those were the three hits for Patterson Mill on the day as Hart, Ellis and Kight all through a great game. Nathanial Burd single in the fifth cut the lead in half for North Harford. In the bottom of the seventh, Freshman Peter Weber came on for the save and got the first two out of the inning before giving up a walk to the 9 hitter. A wild pitch moved the runner over and a 2 out double by Armiger tied the game at two. Weber was able to get out of the jam with the winning run on second. Both teams competed in the 8th and could not cross the plate. At this point in the game, both head coaches discussed about how much further we would push our ball clubs as we were starting to entertain our fourth pitching option heading into the 9th Deemed as an exhibition 19th game to determine the UCBAC crown, both coaches made the decision to hand shake it as two terrific teams put everything, they had into a thrilling game for all in attendance. We want what’s best for our kids and that’s an opportunity to be at full strength for Saturday’s state playoff game. No one deserved to lose this one and I guess can say they didn’t as both teams walked off Co-Champions for the UCBAC Baseball 2025.

The Huskies came out firing with a lead off double by Scheeler, an infield hit by Stabile and an RBI double by McInnes and RBI’s by Hemelt, Thomas and Hunter made it a 5-0 lead. Rising Sun battled back to make it 5-3. Brycen Hunter had a huge 2 run homer to left center to make it a 7-3 game. The Huskies would take on runs in the last three innings to extend their lead further with RBI hits by Teal, Hunter and Stabile. Noah Thomas took the win and Peter Weber grabbed another save in back to back games.

Both teams were strong on the hill on Friday, but North Harford defeated Fallston Vars 3-0. Collin Kight started the game for North Harford and recorded 21 outs. A sacrifice fly by Jedd Carll put the Hawks on the board in the top of the third. Kight earned the win allowing one hit and zero runs over seven innings, striking out nine and walking none. Reese Conley took the loss, going five innings, surrendering three runs on three hits, striking out four and walking six. Nathaniel Burd, Sean Ellis, Matt Hart, and Carll each collected one hit. Kight, Ellis, and Carll each drove in one run. North Harford had a strong eye at the plate, tallying seven walks for the game. Jackson Armiger and Tucker Deal led the team with two bases on balls each. Armiger stole two bases. North Harford didn't commit a single error in the field. Mason French had the most chances in the field with 10.

t was a big day for Junior, Kevin Hardisky. With a win and get in scenario for the final spot in the UCBAC playoffs, down 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Hardisky woke us up in the bottom of the second inning with a 350+ Homerun to left field to tie the game at 3. John Teal followed that with a triple of his own. Teal would score on the next pitch by a Frankie Culotta rbi squeeze to make it 4-3. We would go on to plate 3 more runs that inning for a 7 spot. Rising Sun responded with 2 in the top of the third to make it 7-5 but we were able to answer with two more of our own in the bottom of the third. Eight of our 9 batters recorded a hit in this one. Tre McInnes had 3 rbi’s, Brycen Hunter had 2 and Hardisky with the big day added 5. It was only fitting with two out in the bottom of the fifth and the ending run at third base, that Hardisky was in the spot to end the game and he delivered with an RBI line drive to center to walk it off. Brycen Hunter gets the win and Peter Weber gets the save.

Noah Thomas got the win giving up 1 hit over three innings with 3k’s. Brycen Hunter and Dallas Anderson combined for the next four innings to secure the victory. The short game worked well today as we were able to manufacture runs early and often. The offense was led by Logan Scheeler, Tre McInnes and Mason Hemelt who all had 2 hits a piece. Logan added 3 runs scored while the trio combined for five RBI’s. Jayden Stabile scored 3 runs as well and added 2 RBI’s of his own.

Logan Scheeler went 3 innings to secure the win and Peter Weber nailed down his second save of the season. Mason Hemelt hit his 9th double of the season and accounted for another 2rbis. John Teal had another two hit game and an rbi. Frankie Culotta, Kevin Hardisky and Logan Scheeler also added an RBI each.

North Harford defeated Harford Tech 10-4 to even out the season series. The Cobras scored first on a two run home run in the bottom of the second by Aiden Sullivan. The Cobras then increased the lead to 4-0 on two rbi singles by Hunter Arnett and Tucker Underhill. The Hawks scored four runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game 4-4. Kight had a big two run home run in the inning. The Hawks were able to get the go ahead run in the top of the sixth by a leadoff walk to Armiger. The Hawks then added five unearned runs on two errors in the top of the seventh. Hart pitched a complete game to earn the victory allowing 4 earned runs on eight hits while striking out nine Cobra batters.

Harford Tech defeated North Harford 1-0 in a Hatem Division battle. The game was scoreless until the top of the seventh inning. Aiden Sullivan started the inning off by reaching base on an error. Christian Donlick then sacrificed bunted him to second base. Tucker Underhill then had an infield single making it first and second with one out. Brody Hall struck out to make it first and second with two outs. Zach Lane then singled in the first run of the game, which turned out to be the winning run. CJ Scism earned the win on the mound for the Cobras pitching his second complete game, one hit shutout, while striking out 11 Hawk hitters. He improved his record to 5-1 on the season. He now has a .37 era in 38 innings of work, striking out 72 batters. He was also 1 for 2 with a sac bunt at the plate. Knight suffered the loss for the Hawks.

Brycen Hunter had the big day we needed. After another slow start with early errors, we found ourselves down 3 runs. With two outs in the fourth, Brycen got us on the board with a 2 rbi single to make it 3-2. In the bottom half of the fifth, the huskies put together a 10 run inning all coming with 2 outs. Noah Thomas drew the bases loaded walk after being in the hole 1-2 to tie it at 3-3 and Brycen Hunter came back up again and hit an rbi single through the middle to make it 5-3. Logan Scheeler, James Richardson and Mason Hemelt all had big 2 rbi hits in the inning to exended the lead to 12-2. In the bottom of the 6th, Jason Krieger was able to walk it off with an rbi single scoring Noah Thomas for the win.

Harford Tech defeated Bel Air 15-1. Carter Manara earned the win on the mound for the Cobras pitching 4 strong innings. He only gave up two hits, walked one, and struck out two while not allowing the Bobcats to score. The Cobras had 17 hits to score their 15 runs. The offense was led by: Zach Lane 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored, 1 rbi, and 1 stolen base; Josh Hays 2 for 3 with 5 rbi’s; CJ Scism 2 for 4 with a double and 2 rbi’s; Quinton Kron 2 for 3 with 2 rbi’s; Aiden Sullivan 2 for 3; Hunter Arnett 3 for 3 with 3 runs scored; and Brody Hall 2 for 3 with an rbi.

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