A CONFERENCE
Despite losing to John Carroll, 14-4, in its season finale, Mount de Sales Academy still had enough oomph to cadge the top seed in the upcoming A Conference softball playoffs, even though it finished the season with the same 6-2 conference mark as defending champion McDonogh.
Just two days after falling behind the Eagles, 8-1, and then rallying for a 10-9 victory, the Sailors bore the brunt of some power hitting by the Patriots in Bel Air.
John Carroll belted four homers in the game, including a blast by star junior center fielder Emma Ritter.
The Sailors earned the top seed by virture of the third tiebreaker, that is, how well they performed against the next-best team (Archbishop Spalding).
Mount de Sales swept the Cavaliers this spring while McDonogh split two regular-season contests with them, which was enough to give the Sailors the nod.
The bottom line is that second-seeded McDonogh and No. 3 Spalding will meet in one semifinal while the Sailors host the No. 4 John Carroll/No. 5 Catholic High winner set for Tuesday in Bel Air.
The semifinal survivors will clash for the title on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Stevenson University at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore, 3506 Gwynnbrook Avenue in Owings Mills. The B and C conference games are slated to follow, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.
B CONFERENCE
St. Paul's School for Girls completed an unbeaten season (9-0) by beating Notre Dame Prep, 15-9 as Kathe Hobbs had five hits, including homers in the first and seventh innings.
Hobbs, Anna Hjortsberg, and Grace Black each had RBIs in the fourth inning for the Gators.
Hobbs earned the win, surrendering nine runs on 12 hits over seven innings.
Maressa Cuthrell also added multiple hits for the Gators.
St. Paul's earned the top seed in the playoffs while St. Vincent Pallotti came in at No. 2, Bryn Mawr at No. 3 and defending champion Annapolis Area Christian School at No. 4.
C CONFERENCE
Our Lady of Mount Carmel will try to secure its second title in three years when the top-seeded Cougars open the playoffs against No. 8 St. Timothy's on Tuesday.
Second-seeded Oldfields will host No. 7 Beth Tfiloh the same day.