Game MPSSAA Class 1A Baseball State of round Round 1

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.

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.