The Dialog

By Mike Lang

Staff reporter

WILMINGTON – St. Mark’s did not have its usual dominating baseball season, and the Spartans needed wins in their last two games just to earn a berth in the state tournament. Once there, however, the squad showed why it was not to be taken lightly, and on Wednesday night at Frawley Stadium, they completed their climb to the top with a 3-1 win over Caravel and another state title.

St. Mark’s extended its state record to 13 championships. This was their eighth in the last 11 years. To get there, the Spartans, who came in as the 13^th seed, defeated fourth-ranked Archmere, 12th-seeded Appoquinimink, top-ranked St. Elizabeth and No. 2 Caravel.

The Spartans put up a picket fence in the first three innings, scoring on a groundout in the first, a balk in the second, and an error in the third. That was offset by Caravel’s lone run, which scored on a groundout in the second. As the game moved into the later innings, defense was the name of the game for St. Mark’s, which finished the season 15-7.

Caravel (17-5) put runners on base in each of the final four innings, but in every case the Spartans were able to turn a double play to erase the threat. Starting pitcher Matt Frost relied on his middle infielders – second baseman Brad Nowell and shortstop Dominic DiSabatino – to get the job done in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Spartans coach Matt Smith turned to Billy Phillips in the seventh after the Buccaneers’ first two hitters singled, and the sensational sophomore delivered. Phillips induced the first batter to ground to Nowell, who started the 4-6-3 double play. With a runner at third base, the next batter, Hunter Ellis, grounded to first base, and the celebration began.

By Mike Lang

Staff reporter

WILMINGTON — Salesianum‘s 7-2 win over St. Mark’s on Friday night had all the hallmarks of this great rivalry. Both football teams were 8-1 coming into the game, with the winner poised to receive a first-round bye in the Division I playoffs. There was inspired defense, raucous students and even some pushing and shoving after the whistle.

In addition, as is always the case, it was the regular-season finale for both teams, a date circled on the calendar at both schools and in the homes of fans and alumni. But for at least the next two years, the Sals and Spartans will not close the season against each other, as scheduling concerns for Salesianum forced a switch. Next year, the teams will meet in week seven, on Oct. 18 at Baynard Stadium in what will be a home game for St. Mark’s. Read more »

By Mike Lang

Staff reporter

WILMINGTON – Several things threatened St. Mark’s High School as it tried to complete its march to the state baseball championship Tuesday night at Frawley Stadium.

There was the two-run deficit after Milford High School plated single runs in the second and third innings. With two out in the seventh and final inning and the Spartans clinging to a 4-3 lead, St. Mark’s pitcher Billy Phillips issued a walk to Milford’s Philip Berry to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. And lastly there was the weather, which had produced a steady light rain but promised much more.

St. Mark's baseball team celebrates in the rain after the final out Tuesday night. The Spartans defeated Milford, 4-3, for the state baseball championship. The Dialog/Mike Lang

But St. Mark’s took care of the situation when rightfielder Sam Rogers squeezed a fly ball to end the game, sending the Spartans into a pile on the pitcher’s mound as the skies opened and the light rain turned into a heavy downpour. Had the batter reached base, the game likely would have been delayed by rain, and Phillips may not have been able to finish the game once it resumed.

He said he had no intention of not completing what he started. “I knew I was going to go all seven. I told the coach I wanted to be in the whole game, and he let me, no matter how many pitches I made.”

St. Mark’s second baseman Brad Nowell said his team did not panic when the Buccaneers took a 2-0 lead. After cutting the lead in half in the third, St. Mark’s scored three in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

“We had timely hitting,” said Nowell, whose brother Nate won two championships at St. Mark’s, in 2009 and 2010.

The championship was the eighth for head coach Matt Smith, who said his team was used to close calls the entire postseason.

“We’ve been in tough battles the whole tournament. I’m just so happy for them,” he said.

Phillips, who drove in what proved to be the game-winning run, said he is happy to add to St. Mark’s cache of state baseball titles. This was the school’s 12th.

“It feels good. I knew coming here, I had a chance to win a title. I have a good team behind me, and we won it together,” he said.