by Andy Sussman

Park pitcher Tony DeMarco gave up four runs in the first inning, but he more than made up for his initial struggles later in the game.  DeMarco, a senior, gave up just one run after the first inning and hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead the Bruins over defending MIAA B Conference champion St. Mary’s, 9-5, in a B Conference elimination game.

“I had a lot of nerves, especially after I hit a batter,” DeMarco said of his near disastrous first inning.  “But after that, I calmed down and our defense filled in the gaps behind me.”

Saints' ace John Stewart, who held Park to one run in their first playoff matchup last week, struggled with control and fatigue.  Stewart struck out five, but walked six batters. 

With St. Mary’s up 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Bruins batted around the entire lineup, scoring six runs.  Asked how Park was able to hit Stewart, particularly late in the game, Bruins first baseman Alec Ring responded:  “We just saw [Stewart] last week and today, he didn’t throw as many breaking pitches, just a bunch of fastballs.”

The Saints built a 4-0 lead before a single out was recorded, with their first five hitters reaching base.  However, DeMarco had five strikeouts and walked only two the remainder of the game, and Park’s defense behind him regrouped after committing several lapses early on. 

Even still, Park faced a deficit until DeMarco’s home run gave the Bruins a 7-5 lead, which they would maintain.

“I was so excited after that home run, I sprinted the entire way around the bases,” said a smiling DeMarco, who had three hits in as many at-bats.  Park also used depth in its lineup to its advantage, as eight of nine starting players scored during the game.  

With the loss to the Bruins, St. Mary’s season came to an end and the Saints will move on next year with a new head coach, as this contest marked the final game for Dave Lanham, who also serves as the school's athletic director.  Earlier this year, Lanham announced that he was leaving St. Mary's at the conclusion of the school year to become the new AD at Meade High School.

The Bruins now advance to face St. Vincent Pallotti to determine who will face Boys' Latin team, which is undefeated in the playoffs, in the finals at Ripken Stadium, on Thursday.         


MIAA B Conference Baseball Playoffs

Park 9, St. Mary’s 5

SM      400 100 0  -  5  8  1
P         101 016 x  -  9  9  2
Stewart and Wilcox; DeMarco and Gelb.
HR: P--DeMarco.
WP-DeMarco; LP-Stewart