Game MPSSAA Class 1A Baseball Regional of round Round 3

On Wednesday, the two-seeded Pikesville Panthers traveled to Carroll County to take on the top 1A team in Maryland, the Liberty Lions. In the regional semifinals, Liberty defeated the South Carroll Cavaliers 7-3 while the Panthers took down the Western Tech Wolverines 12-4. In the top of the first inning, Michael Hagan opened the offense for Pikesville with an infield single, while Will Holaday and Richie Carlton both singled in the bottom of the second. Despite three hits, no runs were scored. Braeden Chubb was Liberty's first baserunner of the game as he reached on an error after hitting a fly ball to right field with one out. In the top of the third, Ian Davis and Kairee Williams singled to lead off the inning, With one out, Spencer Evans smacked a line drive into left field to drive in the first run of the game. In the top of the forth, with runners on first and second, Max Levin layed down a bunt. Liberty's Carter Shanks tried getting Will Holaday at third, but the ball went out of play and the second run scored for Pikesville. With two outs, Kairee Williams grounded into a fielders choice to drive another run in. After an intentional walk to Michael Hagan, Spencer Evans was walked on five pitches and Isaac Garonzik hit a hard single to make the score 5-0 after four innings. In the top of the sixth, Pikesville loaded the bases with no outs, but only got one run in the inning, coming as Will Holaday was hit by his second pitch of the day. Despite giving up one single and two walks with one out in the bottom of the seventh, Liberty was unable to score a run, and Pikesville took down the 15-1 Liberty Lions with a 6-0 final score. Isaac Garonzik went the complete game, throwing seven innings in 92 pitches. The senior allowed zero runs, two hits, and two walks while striking out four. For the Lions, Carter Shanks took the loss, pitching four innings and allowing five earned runs on seven hits and two walks. While this is the end of the road for the Lions, the Panthers, now the seven seed in the state tournament, will be taking on the Patterson Mill Huskies at Harford Community College. The game will be taking place on May 16 with first pitch scheduled for 7pm.