Playoffs on horizon in VSN Baseball Top 20

State public tournament pairings set to be announced; Spalding remains No. 1 with MIAA A tourney starting this week

by Pat O’Malley

It’s just about postseason tournament time on the high school scene in the metro area. The MIAA A, B and C conferences are winding down and ready for their championship tournaments to commence later this week. Thes state public tournament begins on Thursday with the seedings to be announced Tuesday.

No. 1 Archbishop Spalding will go into the MIAA A Conference double elimination tourney as the top Seed and favorite to win its fourth championship under coach Joe Palumbo. No. 3 ranked Calvert Hall College and No. 9 Archbishop Curley have secured the second and third seeds while the other three will be determined over the next couple days.

On the public scene, No. 2 Severna Park, Broadneck (4th), Arundel (No. 10) and Perry Hall (15th) are contenders in Class 4A while No. 5 River Hill, No. 8 Chesapeake-Anne Arundel and 12th-ranked Reservoir appear to be the contenders in Class 3A.

Class 2A and arguably the most competitive class of all. It is loaded with the likes of No. 6 Hereford and No. 7 Towson. No. 11 North East-Cecil is the Class 1A front runner.

Here’s the VSN Baseball Top 20 for week 7:

1. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING

Record: 23-4

Previous rank: 1

Last week: defeated No. 9 Archbishop Curley, 5-1, and Loyola Blakefield, 10-1

This week: at No. 20 Mount St. Joseph, May 10

2. SEVERNA PARK

Record: 11-2-1

Previous rank: 2

Last week: tied No. 8 Chesapeake-Anne Arundel, 5-5 (suspended darkness)

This week: vs. No. 10 Arundel, Anne Arundel County final at Bachman Park, May 10

3. CALVERT HALL COLLEGE

Record: 19-7

Previous rank: 3

Last week: defeated Gilman School (11-4) and then-No. 13 Mount St. Joseph (13-1); lost to No. 8 Archbishop Curley (3-2)

This week: vs. John Carroll School, May 9

4. BROADNECK

Record: 14-3

Previous rank: 4

Last week: defeated North County, 6-3, and Glen Burnie, 6-1

This week: vs. South River, May 9

5. RIVER HILL

Record: 16-2

Previous rank: 5

Last week: defeated Marriotts Ridge, 3-2, and Wilde Lake, 15-1

This week: Class 3A East Region II semifinals, May 14

6. HEREFORD

Record: 14-2

Previous rank: 6

Last week: defeated Western Tech, 16-3

This week: at No. 15 Perry Hall, May 9; Class 2A North Region I semifinals, May 14

7. TOWSON

Record: 12-2

Previous rank: 7

Last week: defeated Patterson Mill, 8-2, and Catonsville, 3-1

This week: Class 3A North Region I semifinals, May 14

8. CHESAPEAKE-ANNE ARUNDEL

Record: 13-3-1

Previous rank: 8

Last week: tied No. 2 Severna Park, 5-5 (suspended), and defeated Meade, 10-0

This week: at Southern, May 9; Class 3A South Region II semifinals, May 14

9. ARCHBISHOP CURLEY

Record: 16-11

Previous rank: 9

Last week: lost to No. 1 Archbishop Spalding, 5-1, and defeated No. 3 Calvert Hall College, 3-2

This week: at St. Mary’s, May 10

10. ARUNDEL

Record: 13-4

Previous rank: 10

Last week: defeated Annapolis, 13-3

This week: vs. Old Mill, May 9; vs. No. 2 Severna Park, Anne Arundel County final at Bachman Park, May 10; Class 4A East Region I semifinals, May 14

11. NORTH EAST