If you were curious just how intense, how insane, how crazy playoff high school baseball can be, just ask the players, parents or fans from Bethesda-Chevy Chase or St. John’s.
Both the Barons and the Cadets won in walk-off fashion this weekend. The stakes were different — B-CC was looking to get to the third round while St. John’s was trying to end a 12-inning title game — but the main feeling was the same: joy.
The Cadets won their fifth WCAC title on Michael Campbell’s two-run shot to left. It came in the bottom of the 12th, one last twist in a game full of them.
“We were always going to fight until it was over,” Campbell said.
After they entered extras tied 4-4, St. John’s had several opportunities to finish off DeMatha. The Stags had trouble producing a clean inning but kept making big plays when it mattered. A double play line drive. A ball hit into a runner. A leadoff man thrown out going for a triple. With nothing going the Cadets’ way, a resilient walk-off seemed unlikely.
“It’s a testament to them that they could stay focused and stay on task,” Coach Mark Gibbs said.
After the game, Campbell described the moment he rounded third base to see his teammates waiting at the plate as “perfect.” After ending their season with a title, it is likely the rest of his teammates agreed.
1. Riverdale Baptist (32-1) Last week’s ranking: 1
The Crusaders went undefeated during a week-long trip to Puerto Rico.
2. St. John’s (26-6) LW: 3
This is the third time in the last five years that St. John’s topped DeMatha for the WCAC title.
3. Sherwood (19-1) LW: 4
The Warriors edged Paint Branch, 3-2, and will face Urbana in the next round of the Maryland 4A playoffs.
4. Riverside (17-2) LW: 5
The Rams topped Loudoun Valley, 4-2, to finish their regular season as Dulles District champions.
5. Lake Braddock (18-3) LW: 6
The Bruins will face Robinson, a team they beat twice in the regular season, on Tuesday in the Patriot District semifinals.
6. Arundel (18-3) LW: 7
The Wildcats beat North County to set up a huge game against Severna Park in the Maryland 4A East Section I finals.
7. Paul VI (23-6) LW: 2
The Panthers were eliminated from the WCAC playoffs after they couldn’t keep up with DeMatha in Game 3 of the WCAC semifinals.
8. Rockville (13-2) LW: 9
The Rams beat Magruder, 7-2, to advance to the Maryland 3A West Section I finals.
9. C.H. Flowers (16-3) LW: 10
The Jaguars showed how excited they are for postseason baseball by beating Wise, 25-0, in their first playoff game of the year.
10. Severna Park (18-3) LW: NR
The Falcons got a walk-off of their own this week: Drew Jeffries’ homer lifted his team to a 13-12 win over Old Mill.
Dropped out: No. 8 Woodgrove (16-3)
On the bubble: Potomac School (14-4), Potomac (17-3), Leonardtown (19-5), La Plata (17-5)