by Aaron Grayagray@digitalsports.comBASEBALL
Who: Arundel (14-6) vs. Northeast (16-4)
When: Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
Where: Joe Cannon Stadium (Hanover)
Outlook: The Eagles made a strong late-season push to advance to their second straight title game. Consecutive one-run wins at home -- under the lights -- over county heavyweights North County and Old Mill should boost the team's confidence heading into the postseason.
A familiar foe awaits in Arundel, the defending county champs. The Wildcats topped Northeast in last season's county final, 3-1. After a rough start to the season, Arundel is back to its championship form.
"Everyone thought we were out of it early on," Wildcats coach Bernie Walter said after an exhausting
4-1 win at South River that went 11 innings Monday. "I hope we've proved that we're back and can still compete with the best teams in the area."
In the last two seasons combined, Arundel is 30-3 against county competition.
The Wildcats' lineup is filled with players that can step up any night. Brandon Gill at leadoff usually gets things started and Steve Jenkins has been coming on lately. Tico Mendoza, who is considered the team's top pitcher and was on the mound Monday, bats in the cleanup spot and Mitch Reece is dangerous as a designated hitter.
Northeast has rode the pitching supremacy of seniors John Hodges and Brody Kean all season. Hodges threw against the Wildcats in last year's final and Arundel topped Northeast during the regular season, 3-2, in the middle of its 10-game win streak.
Like the Wildcats, Northeast has several hitters that can come to life on short notice. Kean and Hodges bat in the No. 3 and 4 spots, respectively, but there's also Earl Kohegan and Josh Rowe, who have come up with clutch hits down the stretch.
SOFTBALL
Who: Chesapeake (19-1) vs. Broadneck (16-2)
When: Thursday, May 8 at 5 p.m.
Where: Bachman Park (Glen Burnie) Field #2
Outlook: Three of the last five meetings between these teams have been decided by one run and that includes Chesapeake's 2-1 win over Broadneck in last year's Class 4A East Region finals. The Cougars went on to win the state title but that was then and this is now.
Behind a steady pitching performance from sophomore Kourtney Salvarola, the Bruins topped Chesapeake during the regular season at home,
2-0. Broadneck plated a run in the first and fifth innings and Salvarola struck out eight in the Cougars only setback of the season.
"They're the only team to beat us this year so there's a little pride at stake," Chesapeake coach Don Ellenberger said. "I know the girls want to hurry up and focus on the overall goal -- a state championship -- but there's some business we have to take care of first."
The Cougars' ace, junior
Lauren Gibson, hurled a no-no in the state finals last year, but should have her work cut out for her in the county championship. She's tallied 103 strikeouts already this season and has added a change-up pitch to help deal with the heady batters from Broadneck.
Diana Naylor, Corie Seitler and Salvarola led the charge offensively for the Bruins. Salvarola scored the winning run in last year's county championship game -- a 2-1 win over the Cougars. It was the first title for Broadneck.
Chesapeake will be making its sixth county final appearance since 2002. The school's only title, however, came in 2003 when the game was rained out and the Cougars shared the honor with North County.
Erika Stasch and Kelly Hickman bat at the top of the Cougars' order and are always a threat. Nicole Mantheiy, Alexis Matula and Angela Yannone are each capable of breaking a game wide open.
BOYS LACROSSE
Who: Severna Park (12-2) vs. South River (10-3)
When: Tuesday, May 6 at 7:15 p.m.
Where: Meade HS
Outlook: Even before their regular-season meeting last Friday, the Falcons and Seahawks knew they would meet again in the league final. Severna Park won the bout in convincing fashion,
11-5, behind a stingy defense that held South River to only a one goal over the middle periods.
"Neither team held back one bit," Falcons' coach Larry Kramer said. "I think we both learned some things about each other but both these teams already knew that the playoffs started weeks ago."
Severna Park has won seven county championships -- under five different head coaches -- since 1998. The Falcons have won six of those titles in consecutive seasons. Four of the last five came at the expense of archrival Broadneck, the only county team to
upend Severna Park this year.
The scoring duo of juniors Sam Jones and Sean Price will take aim at which ever goalkeeper South River puts in front of the cage. Senior Scott Marsh got the start last Friday but was replaced in the second quarter by sophomore Thomas Gurino, who finished with eight saves.
Junior attackers Matt Gregoire and Alex Carros can light up the net for the Seahawks and junior Dave Blainsky is a wizard in the faceoff circle. But the focus will be on the South River defense, anchored by Jon Poore and Chad Deavers.
The Severna Park goaltending tandem of senior Mike Gvozden and junior Jeff Lowman will be stingy so Seahawk senior Matt Radcliffe and junior Drew Lee will have to come up big in order to pull out the win.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Who: Severna Park (14-0) vs. Broadneck (11-2)
When: Tuesday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Meade HS
Outlook: The Falcons have not lost to a county team since the Bruins topped them, 9-8, in the 2006 county championship. When the two teams squared off last year in the league final, Broadneck cut Severna Park's lead to one goal early in the second half before midfielder Sam Farrell won four straight draws against Karri Ellen Johnson and the Falcons responded with four straight goals. The surge helped Severna Park pull away for good in a 12-8 victory.
"It's going to be tough because (Broadneck) always plays us tough," said Falcons' coach Carin Peterson, whose team is currently riding a 34-game win streak. "We're going to have to start the way we want and not let someone else dictate."
The defending Class 4A-3A state champion Falcons opened a 10-0 lead on South River last Friday en route to a
26-8 win in both teams' regular-season finale. Severna Park also doubled up the Bruins,
18-9, during the regular season in Cape St. Claire on April 29.
Johnson will be the key for the Bruins. If she can win the draw control battle and keep the ball in Broadneck's hands, attackers like senior Shannon Hanratty and junior Chelsea Thompson can finish up front. Senior midfielders Brigitte Strother and Lindsay Mitchell along with sophomore sensation Courtney Tomchik will have to counter in transition and challenge Falcons' goalkeeper Jenna Wadsworth.
Severna Park, which has been ranked atop the DigitalSports/Inside Lacrosse Magazine
Top 20 Poll the entire season, will be aiming for its seventh county championship title in 10 years.
The Falcons' offense is led by an array of talented attackers, which includes juniors Jaci Gassaway and Kathleen Barranco along with senior Kendall Pittinger. Seniors Julie Gardner, Hayley Rausch and Allison Behringer headline a star-studded midfield and Wadsworth controls an underrated backfield.
TENNIS
Who: All 12 county public schools
When: Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7 (first-round matches) and Thursday, May 8 (semifinals and finals) at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Annapolis HS
GYMNASTICS
Who: All 12 county public schools (that field teams)
When: Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8 at 4 p.m.
Where: Chesapeake HS
TRACK & FIELD
Who: All 12 county public schools
When: Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m.
Where: Annapolis HS