North County debuts in latest VSN Baseball Top 20 poll

Knights enter as postseason heats up; several Top 20 matches on tap Tuesday

by Pat O’Malley

Thirteen of the 15 public school teams in last week’s VSN Baseball Top 20 advanced to region finals in their respective divisions, and the two that had their seasons ended were Arundel and Broadneck, a pair of Class 4A teams from Anne Arundel County.

Arundel and county runner-up to No. 2 ranked Severna Park, slipped one place from No. 10 to 11 while Broadneck took a big hit falling from No. 4 to 12th.

The Bruins finish a nod behind Arundel because the latter Wildcats took the regular season match (12-2).

No. 1 Archbishop Spalding, Severna Park and Calvert Hall College (3rd) remained intact while the rest of the Top 10 teams each moved up a notch with Broadneck and Arundel tumbling to the second 10. There’s no change in positions 13 thru 19.

North County of Anne Arundel, quietly having a fine season at 14-5 overall replaces Mount St. Joseph (lost to Spalding) at No. 20 after advancing to the Class 4A East Region I final. The Knights will play unranked Old Mill (9-10) for the region 4A East Region title on May 17.

Old Mill has been coming on, reminiscent of its 4A state title run in 2019.

Here’s the VSN Baseball Top 20 for week 8:

1. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING

Record: 24-4

Previous rank: 1

Last week: defeated then-No. 20 Mount St. Joseph, 11-1

This week: vs. John Carroll School, MIAA A Conference Tournament, May 17

2. SEVERNA PARK

Record: 13-2-1

Previous rank: 2

Last week: defeated then-No. 10 Arundel, 12-7 (Anne Arundel County final), and South River, 6-5 (Class 4A East Region II semifinal)

This week: vs. Leonardtown, 4A East Region II final, May 17

3. CALVERT HALL COLLEGE

Record: 20-7

Previous rank: 3

Last week: defeated John Carroll School, 7-6

This week: vs. No. 8 Archbishop Curley, MIAA A Conference Tournament, May 17

4. RIVER HILL

Record: 17-2

Previous rank: 5

Last week: defeated Atholton, 6-5, Class 3A East Region II semifinal

This week: vs. No. 12 Reservoir, 3A East Region II final, May 17

5. HEREFORD

Record: 15-2

Previous rank: 6

Last week: defeated Lansdowne, 11-1, Class 2A North Region I semifinal

This week: vs. Randallstown, 2A North Region I final, May 17

6. TOWSON

Record: 14-2

Previous rank: 7

Last week: defeated Woodlawn, 26-0, Class 3A North Region I semifinal

This week: at Poly, 3A North Region I final, May 17

7. CHESAPEAKE-ANNE ARUNDEL

Record: 16-3-1

Previous rank: 8

Last week: defeated Southern, 9-3, and Northeast, 7-0 (Class 3A South Region II semifinal)

This week: vs. James M. Bennett, 3A South Region II final, May 17

8. ARCHBISHOP CURLEY

Record: 18-11

Previous rank: 9

Last week: defeated St. Mary’s, 10-2, and Loyola Blakefield, 5-0 (MIAA A Conference Tournament)

This week: at No, 3 Calvert Hall College, MIAA A Conference Tournament, May 17

9. NORTH EAST

Record: 19-1

Previous rank: 11

Last week: defeated Rising Sun, 6-4, Class 2A East Region I semifinal

This week: vs. No. 18 Fallston, Class 2A East Region I final, May 17

10. RESERVOIR

Record: 16-4

Previous rank: 12

Last week: defeated Oakland Mills, 4-0, and Long Reach, 9-3 (Class 3A East Region II semifinal)

This week: at No. 4 River Hill, 3A East Region II final, May 17

11. ARUNDEL

Record: 15-6

Previous rank: 10

Last week: defeated Old Mill (11-1); lost to No. 2 Severna Park, 12-7 (Anne Arundel County final), and lost to Old Mill, 6-4 (Class 4A East Region I semifinal)

SEASON COMPLETE – ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FINALIST & CLASS 4A EAST REGION I SEMIFINALIST

12. BROADNECK