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St. Mary's takes the MIAA B crown

May 18, 2015

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By Ryan Hudspeth
Area Scout         

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Freshman Stephen Pelli pitched six innings with eight strikeouts and Max Hammond homered with three RBI to lead St. Mary’s to the MIAA B championship title. 

St. Mary’s struck first in the game with Hammond's two-run shot down the right field line to give the Saints an early 2-0 lead.

The turning point in the game was the third inning. Boys’ Latin looked to threaten in the top half of the inning, but Pelli and catcher Brady O’Neil completed a strike-out, throw-out double playa that ended the Lakers momentum and propelled St. Mary’s into a four run bottom-half of the third.  Ben Rankin hit an RBI double down the right field line for the Saints, followed by O’Neil reaching on an error by Boys’ Latin, scoring two more for St. Mary’s. A Hammond RBI single plated the fourth run of the inning off Boys’ Latin starting pitcher Dom Maggio.  

In the top of the fifth Boys’ Latin made their run, starting off with Robert Harchick blasting a Pelli hanging change-up over the left field fence to put the Lakers on the board. In the sixth inning Pelli began to labor, allowing two singles to start the inning. Maggio hit the third consecutive single for an RBI to bring the game to 6-2. A Josh Smith sacrifice fly brought the score to 6-3. Pelli, who throughout the game showed excellent poise for a freshman, would settle down and got out of the jam. Boys’ Latin would add one more run in the seventh off Saints closer Elliot Zoellner but could get no closer and St. Mary’s would rush the field and commence the celebration.

Towson commit Skyler Morris pitched a solid three innings of relief, facing the minimum nine batters and giving the Lakers an opportunity for comeback.  

Pelli’s final stat line was six innings, five hits, eight strike outs, one walk and three earned runs. The young righty showed maturity and composure during the game and was not rattled by two potential Boys’ Latin rallies. 

This marks the second MIAA B title in as many years for the St. Mary’s program, who next year will be joining the MIAA A league. They finished the year with a 25-2 record and a good portion of their roster coming back. Can they make it a three-peat?  Only time will tell.

W: Pelli: 6IP, 5H, 8K, 1BB, 3ER
L: Maggio: 3IP, 5H, 1K,0BB, 2 HBP, 5ER  
SV: Zoellner: 1IP, 2H, 1ER 

Hammond (St. Mary’s): 2-for-3 (HR, single, three RBI).  Harchick (Boys' Latin): 1-for-2 (HR, BB)

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