Take Me Out To The Play Offs/Varsity Boys Baseball Sweep of Solomon Schechter Puts Panthers in IPPSAL Post Season

Coming off two tough losses to Waldorf, the Varsity Boys Baseball team was facing must wins in a two game home and home series with Solomon Schechter. Fortunately, the games would be broken up by four days, thus allowing the Panthers to start "Ace" pitcher Reid Erickson in both games. The first game was played at SSDS in Glen Cove. Erickson was the story in this game as he completely shut down the Lions' offense. Senior Dan Leavey ran his consecutive on base streak to 11 straight plate appearances and Mark Dourmashkin contributed both at the plate and in the field, as he has done all season. Now the pressure would mount though, as the teams squared off for one game that would determine which school qualified for the IPPSAL play offs. This time it was the Panthers attack that carried the day. Sophomore Mark Dourmashkin, Junior Mike McCloskey and Senior Kai Stoll each had two hits as Portledge scored early and often on their way to an eventual total of 8 runs. Once again Erickson was rock solid on the mound as he scattered 5 hits over the game and held SSDS to a total of 3 runs. There was a great crowd for the home game in this series, and making the play offs is a real accomplishment for the young program. Portledge will finish up the regular season with a two game home and home series v. Upper Room this week. Hopefully, familiarity will be an advantage for the Panthers, as Upper Room will most likely be their heavily favored opponents in the semi finals of the IPPSAL Tournament.