Havre de Grace (5-13) took an early 5-0 lead, but the Raiders used two runs in the fourth to build momentum towards an eight-run fifth, washing out the Warriors momentum and ultimately sinking their hopes of making a run in the playoffs.

“It was a microcosm of our year. We were hamstrung by the big inning all season,” Warriors first-year coach Sean Welsh said. “We gave the opposition extra outs at times, and it came back to haunt us every time. I just feel bad for our seniors, they deserved better than today’s result. They’ll be missed.”

Friday’s game was the final contest for eight Warriors seniors, led by captains David Jacobs, Jon Stetina and Zack Tabor. The rest of the 2010 class includes Chris Jensen, Matt Jones, Dan Preston, Jack Spooner and Dravon Stanley.

“It’s a special class to me, first and foremost because it’s the first senior class I’ve coached,” Welsh said. “But these guys all improved as the season went along. A few of them can play at the next level, and the leadership they’ve shown our four juniors and ten sophomores will become the foundation for our future.”

Tabor got the Warriors started offensively with a two-out, two-run single in the first, scoring sophomores Keith Sifford and James Smith.

The Warriors struck again in the top of the fourth, when Grant McFarland Andy Meiselwitz and Dan Jamison each singled to load the bases with nobody out. Stetina hit a bloop single to score one run, and Smith came through with a hard single to score two more.

“We ended up stranding two runners that inning, and I think we had a chance to put them away right there,” Welsh said. “I held Grant McFarland when he rounded third base on one single, and he probably could have scored. I sensed a big inning. They brought the infield in, cut down one run, and held us. That was on me.”

Jacobs started on the hill and was nearly unhittable until the fourth, when three base hits, a hit batter and a walk gave the Raiders two runs to cut the Warriors advantage to three.

The fifth inning deflated the Warriors. Three errors compounded the five hits, sending 11 batters to the plate, and eight runs across. A one-out single by the Raiders’ No. 3 hitter, VanCustem, scored two runs and chased Jacobs from the game. Preston entered and got the Warriors out of the jam with a pair of fielder’s choice groundouts.

Jacobs threw 107 pitches in 4.1 innings, allowing 10 runs, but only four earned. He struck out three, walked five and hit one batter.

“David Jacobs is a gamer. He’s a coach’s dream on the mound,” Welsh said. “He wants the ball in key situations. He didn’t have his best stuff and never got comfortable, and he still wanted to challenge hitters. We’ll miss his leadership on the mound.”

Tabor tossed the final inning, walking a batter and striking out two.

Tabor, Stetina, Smith and Meiselwitz each went 2-for-4 to pace the offense, which was a collective 12-for-32 on the day. Eight starters had hits, and all nine reached base. Tabor and Smith drove in two runs, while Smith and Meiselwitz each had an RBI. Jacobs (1-for-3, one run, one walk and a stolen base), Nick Gartside (1-for-3, one run, one stolen base), Jamison (1-for-2, one run a hit-by-pitch and one walk), and McFarland (1-for-4) had hits for the Warriors.

The Raiders visit No. 4 seed Bo Manor in the second round Monday.

With a win, the Warriors would visit defending state champion Bo Manor (10-8), which earned the No. 4 seed in the region. The Eagles have a bye and would have homefield advantage against the Warriors. The Eagles swept the Warriors in both meetings this season.

The MPSSAA seeds the top four teams in each region, handing them byes and home-field advantage in the second round. The other eight teams are seeded at random, with their record playing no implication upon their seed whatsoever. The Warriors drew the 12th seed among 12 teams, placing them on the road for the entire tournament. The team bus for the first round game Friday will depart the high school at 1:30 p.m.

The entire Class-1A bracket can be found at www.MPSSAA.org as well as in the link at  the bottom of this page.

1A North Bracket

Warriors batted .288 as a team, with the regulars hitting .316 (119-376) as a group. The .288 team average bests last year’s .241 mark. Three regulars hit .400 or higher after the team leader batted .353 one season ago. Eight regulars hit .250 or higher, twice as many as 2009. The Warriors stole 46 bases in2010 after swiping just six last season. Batters drew one more walk and struck out eight fewer times.

Senior captains David Jacobs  and Zack Tabor will finish amongst the  conference leaders in batting average in their final season. Jacobs won five games on the mound, four more regular-season victories than the entire 2009 club.

The 2010 season wasn’t simply about improving from 2009, but improving as the season marched along.

Five sophomores combined to hit .273 (41-for-150).

“All the credit for improvement belongs to the players, my three assistants — Fred Lloyd, Phil Backert and Dan Smith — for their tireless work, as well as JV Head Coach Merrill Hadry — who sent seven players, two juniors and five sophomores, to us ready to play,” Warriors first-year head coach Sean Welsh said.

The JV squad finished right around the .500 mark despite the promotion of their five best sophomores — and their top two pitchers — to the varsity team, leaving hope for even more improvement in the playoffs and again next spring.

Warriors Baseball finished the regular season on a high note Thursday, defeating rival Aberdeen, 7-3, at Stancill Field.

Senior David Jacobs tossed a three-hitter, striking out a season-high 11 batters on 126 pitches. It was the Warriors second straight win against the Eagles.

The offense was led by Keith Sifford (2-for-2 with 2 RBIs, one run and one walk), James Smith (2-for-4 with a run and an RBI), Zack Tabor (2-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base), Grant McFarland (2-for-3, two runs, one RBI, one stolen base) and Andy Meiselwitz (2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs).

Aberdeen scored twice in the first, using two hits and two walks to build an early edge. But the Warriors rallied back with a three-hit first to tie the game.

Jacobs settled in, striking out ten from the second through the sixth innings, allowing just one hit and three walks in that span.

“David found a comfort zone and was throwing zeroes on the scoreboard left and right,” Warriors head coach Sean Welsh said. “He had a couple 11- or 12-pitch innings, and they helped him stay in the game for it’s entirety. He was efficient, and adjusted well as the game went along. The defense came to play behind him. It was a great team win.”

Jacobs set the tone, and the offense did the rest.

McFarland singled to start the second, and Meiselwitz was hit by a pitch. Following Nick Gartside’s groundout, advancing the runners, Sifford singled to score two runs.

“Keith has been swinging a great bat lately,” Welsh said. “We moved him to second in the lineup Thursday, and he responded. He’s exceeded our expectations offensively.”

The Warriors struck for three more runs in the third, as Tabor reached on a single and stole second. McFarland singled Tabor home, and Dan Preston walked to bring Meiselwitz to the plate with two out and two runners in scoring position. The Warriors sophomore catcher fell behind in the count, 1-2, before lining a single to center field to score two runs.

“Andy has been working hard to improve in all facets of the game, and his big RBI single in the third was arguably the most clutch hit we’ve had this season,” Coach Welsh said. “It was a key situation, and he’ll always give us a quality at-bat. This time he really delivered.”

The offense threatened again in the fifth and sixth, but was unable to add any insurance runs with men in scoring position. The Warriors finished the game with 12 hits, two walks ad four strikeouts. Five Warriors runners were left stranded on base.

The Warriors, who finish the year 5-11, will learn their first-round playoff opponent in Wednesday’s regional draw. The first round contest is likely scheduled for Friday, May 14.

Senior David Jacobs pitched his third complete game of the season, striking out eight in five innings. He allowed four earned runs on six hits, three walks and one hit batter.

The Warriors offense came to life in the first inning, taking a patient approach against Perryville starter Phil Piaccoco. The Warriors scored four runs in the first, sending eight batters to the plate.

Havre de Grace scored three more in the second and a lone run in the third to build a 8-1 lead. Perryville scored twice in the third and three times in the fifth.

“We awarded Mother Nature with the save in our scorebook,” Warriors coach Sean Welsh said. “Credit to Perryville for not allowing an early deficit to get them down. We could have put them away early and we didn’t.”

Jon Stetina took advantage of his first start in the leadoff spot, scoring runs in each of the first three innings. He went 2-for-3 with a walk and reached base in all four plate appearances.

Sophomore James Smith went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Zack Tabor finished 2-for-4 and Dan Jamison added a two-run single in the first inning, and Nick Gartside reached twice, including a walk and a bunt single.

The Warriors had a field day on the bases, too, with seven stolen bases, including: Stetina (two), Gartside (two), Smith (one), Tabor (one), Jamison (one), and McFarland (one).

The Warriors play a double-header vs. Edgewood at the Churchville Rec Complex at 3 p.m. Monday. Both games will be five innings.

The Warriors fell to Patterson Mill, 6-0, Monday as the bats went silent following the previous week’s big win at Aberdeen. Warriors starter Keith Sifford was solid on the mound, but as he has for much of the season, received little support from his offense.

Wednesday afternoon, the team traveled to Joppatowne, where a hungry Mariners team turned the Warriors back around for a quiet ride to Havre de Grace. Behind starter Andrew Barrett, Joppatowne stunned the Warriors, 16-2, for their first division victory of the season. The Warriors scored twice in the top of the first, with both Jon Stetina and David Jacobs coming home on Zack Tabor’s one-out, two-run single. Joppatowne would go on to score 16 unanswered runs off four Warriors pitchers.

The Warriors visit Perryville Friday afternoon at 3:30 looking to get back on track.

“Our defense let David down a few times,” Warriors coach Sean Welsh said. “But he settled down, regrouped and battled through some tough jams. Aberdeen was very patient and put the ball in play. David deserved a win tonight.”

The Warriors offense came alive Friday, with ten hits  and six stolen bases after a week-long dry spell.

“It was a good team win,” Welsh said. “We’ve been waiting for a few bats to come alive, and the offense came together to support David on the mound tonight. The players and coaching staff worked hard this week, and this win is a rewarding way to send us into the weekend.”

Trailing, 3-2, in the fifth, Zack Tabor singled to right field to score Jon Stetina and David Jacobs for a 4-3 lead the Warriors wouldn’t surrender.

Havre de Grace struck for five runs in the seventh put the game out of reach. Sophomore Keith Sifford delivered the knock-out blow with nobody out in the seventh, ripping a run-scoring triple to deep left field.

All nine Warriors starters reached base, led by Stetina (2-for-3, two runs, two RBIs , a stolen base and a sac fly), Tabor (2-for-3 with a run, a stolen base and three RBIs) and Dan Jamison (2-for-4 with a run and an RBI). Jacobs was 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two stolen bases.

In his first game up from junior varsity, sophomore center fielder James Smith was 1-for-4, reaching base on a hit-by-pitch and singling-home a run in the seventh. He also stole his first base.

Nick Gartside reached on a leadoff walk to open the game, stole second base, and scored the Warriors first run. Catcher Andy Meiselwitz caught his second victory, and reached on a seventh-inning walk. Courtesy runner Dravon Stanley scored the run on Sifford’s triple.

The Warriors face a challenging week ahead, with home games against Patterson Mill (Monday) and Bo Manor (Tuesday) and road games at Joppatowne (Wednesday) and Perryville (Friday).

West allowed just five Warriors hits and issued just one walk — to pinch-hitter Brandon Donaldson in the seventh — en route to a complete game victory. West struck out 12 Warriors batters.

At the plate, he was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Tech also had singles from Andrew Bugda, John LaComb and Jacob Bright, and took advantage of four Warriors errors.

Sifford threw 80 pitches, striking out two and walking three in his second varsity start.

The Warriors offense was driven by David Jacobs and Zack Tabor (each 2-for-3). Sophomore Dan Jamison went 1-for-3.

The Warriors visit Aberdeen Friday night at 6:15 in their first road game of 2010.

HARRIS TOURNAMENT RECAP

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

»NORTH EAST 12, JOPPATOWNE 2

The Indians won the James R. Harris Memorial Tournament for the second time in three seasons, defending their 2008 crown after last year’s event was cancelled due to rain.

The Indians used a balanced offensive tack and an effort from multiple pitchers to defeat Joppatowne, 12-2, in five innings. North East scored five times in the bottom of the first, sparked by a two-run home run to straight-away center field from Bobby Dietz.

FIRST ROUND

» JOPPATOWNE 3, EDGEWOOD 2

Rams right-hander Matt Rivard held Joppatowne at bay for six innings, but the Mariners took advantage of a two-run wild pitch in the seventh to take a 3-2 victory in the opening round.

The Rams mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, but Mariners right-hander Andrew Barrett got Rivard to pop out with the tying run 90 feet away.

Barrett entered in relief of starter Alec O’Dell, who allowed single runs in the first and third innings.

» NORTH EAST 12, HAVRE de GRACE 6

The Warriors got a strong performance on the mound from David Jacobs, who aided his side with a two-run home run in a 2-for-4 day at the plate. But North East took advantage of a seven-run sixth inning to swipe a win in the opening round of the 2010 James R. Harris Tournament.

Jacobs was relieved by Dan Preston, who got the Warriors out of the sixth and struck out the side in the seventh. The senior right-hander hasn’t allowed an earned run in three relief outings.

Dan Jamison had his first varsity hits in the contest, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. The Warriors had ten hits in the contest, awakening the sleeping bats that plagued them earlier in the week. Zack Tabor had a two-run double in the seventh as the Warriors tried to battle back.

The Warriors will host Harford Tech in a non-division contest Wednesday at Stancill Field.

The Warriors offense sputtered, as a bunt single from Nick Gartside and singles from Dan Preston and David Jacobs were the only base hits in the contest. Jacobs also drew a walk as just four batters reached base.

Havre de Grace loaded the bases in the third, but Burgess battled out of the jam, and didn’t allow a runner to reach over the final three frames as the Warriors emptied the bench.

While the Warriors bats were quiet, the North East bats were active, rapping 15 hits in 32 at-bats against Warriors pitching.

Sophomore pitcher Keith Sifford made his first career start for the Warriors, scattering 10 hits and two earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched. Jack Spooner followed Sifford, and Dan Preston needed just two pitches to throw a double-play grounder to end a three-run fifth. Grant McFarland and Zack Tabor made their first appearances on the mound this season in the sixth.

The Warriors and North East meet again in the first round of the James R. Harris Memorial Tournament at 9:30 Saturday morning. The winners will meet the winners of the noon meeting between Edgewood and Joppatowne in the 2:30 final.