May 2, 2010

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - The #2 Johns Hopkins baseball team clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 13-6 win over Haverford in the championship game of the Centennial Conference Tournament. This is the fourth-straight Centennial Conference title for the Blue Jays, who extended their winning streak to 30 games. The Blue Jays are now 37-3 on the season and were perfect against conference opponents. The Fords finish their season at 24-16.

The Blue Jays also had a four-peat from 2001-2004 as conference champions. Hopkins earned the Centennial Conferences automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament, which will take place from May 19-23.

Hopkins tied its own Centennial Conference single season home run record of 74 home runs. John Swarr (Radnor, PA/Conestoga) hit the record tying home run in the fifth inning.

The Blue Jays continued their prowess of taking an early lead by scoring three runs in the first inning. Dave Kahn (New Hyde Park/Herricks) smoked a line drive over the left field fence to score three runs.

Haverford answered with one run in the top of first on a RBI single by Bobby Bailey. The Fords threatened to score more as they loaded the bases with nobody out. Greg Harbeck (Glen Ridge, NJ/Montclair Kimberley Academy), the Blue Jay starter, retired three straight batters to work his way out of the bases loaded jam.

Hopkins scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-1 lead as the first four batters of the inning hit singles. Swarr, James Teta (Centereach, NY/Sachem), and Sam Wernick (Dallas, TX/Dallas Jesuit College Prep) all had RBIs in the inning. The Blue Jays had the opportunity to score a few more runs in the inning but two runners where throw out at the plate in the inning.

Hopkins hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. Jesse Sikorski (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) hit a two-run home run down the right field line and Swarr launched a ball over the centerfield fence.

The Blue Jays added one run in the sixth when Kahn doubled down the left field line to score Brian Youchak (Pittsburgh, PA/Vincentian Academy) from first base. Hopkins added another on a Matthew Bernardi (Lake Forest, IL/Lake Forest) RBI single in the seventh.

Haverford scored a lone run in the seventh and threatened to make a comeback in the top of the ninth as the Fords pushed four runs across the plate. Louis DeRosa hit a two RBI double and Jake Chaplin hit a two-RBI single. The deficit was too large, however, and the Blue Jays shut the door on the Fords.

Harbeck earned the win for the Blue Jays by allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings of work. Harbeck struck out three batters.

Bryan Henrick took the loss for the Fords, allowing six runs on six hits in three innings pitched. Henrick had three strikeouts.

Kahn went 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. Swarr went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and the record tying home run. Sikorski had two hits, including a home run, while Youchak also had a pair of base hits.

Chaplin led the Fords with two hits and two RBIs.

Hopkins had 15 hits and committed no errors while Haverford pounded out 11 hits but made three errors.

The Blue Jays return to action on May 5 when they travel to Mary Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 pm.

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