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Senior Sean Thompson hurled a complete game five-hitter on Saturday to lead Archbishop Curley to a 4-2 victory over St. Paul's, eliminating the Crusaders from the MIAA A Conference baseball post-season sending coach Jack Thomas' squad to Archbishop Spalding, on Monday, where they challenge the second-seeded Cavaliers for spot in next Wednesday's finals, opposite top-seeded Calvert Hall, at Ripken Stadium.
Thompson helped put Curley (23-7) ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first with an RBI single and the Friars added single runs in the third and fifth innings to take a 4-0 lead. Keith Fritz dorve in three for the Friars, on a double and two sacrifice flys.
Thompson had to pitch out of trouble in the sixth, when coach Paul Bernstorf's competitive club scored twice on a single by Brian Prater, who had three hits on the day, but a great play by first-baseman Norm Cushing ended the threat and saved the day for Curley. With two down and one on, the Crusaders' Steve Breckler ripped a ground ball down the line that looked like a sure double, but Cushing dove toward the line, smothered the ball and ended the threat.
"I was able to mix my pitches well today, and I had good velocity on my fast ball," said the right-hander. "There are no easy games in the playoffs and St. Paul's is a very good team."
Thompson probably can't wait to return to Anne Arundel County on Monday. He blasted three homers against and led his team to a victory when the Friars visited Cavalier Park during the regular season. Spalding won the earlier contest between the two teams, at Curley.
It's been a long week for third-seeded Curley, as they opened the tournament with a loss to Mount St. Joseph, before responding with seventh inning wins against Loyola and St. Joe, as well as yesterday's tense battle with St. Paul's (17-12). Spalding has played just twice in the tournament after earning a first round bye. The Cavs (27-6) opened with a decisive win over St. Paul's and then fell, 7-2, to Calvert Hall on Friday.
Wednesday's final is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm and the Curley/Spalding winner will need to defeat Calvert Hall (25-7) twice in order to deny the Cardinals their fourth straight A Conference crown. The "if necessary" game will be played on Thursday, also at Ripken Stadium.
Archbishop Curley 4, St. Paul's 2
SP 000 002 0 - 2 5 0
AC 201 010 x - 4 6 1
March, Majev (3), and Roane; Thompson and Waltman.
2B: AC-Fritz, Doyle, Wilson.
WP-Thompson LP-March
