Despite Slump, Decatur Seeded First In Region

BERLIN- Despite limping down the stretch somewhat, Stephen Decatur’s varsity baseball team earned the top seed in their state playoff region when the brackets were released this week.

In a season during which they won six in a row at one point, the Seahawks’ bats went cold down the stretch and they kind of limped to the finish line. Last Wednesday, Decatur lost to Mardela, 3-1, in what was essentially the Bayside South championship game. Hayden Snelsire was outstanding on the mound, allowing just one hit to the Warriors, but the Seahawks could not get the bats going and ultimately fell, 3-1.

Two days later, the Seahawks lost to Easton, 2-1, in a game during which they scored in the first inning. Blake Marshall drove home Ridge Watson with a first-inning single to take an early lead, but went scoreless the rest of the way and fell to Easton, 2-1. Decatur lost three of their last four regular season games and mustered just two runs in the three losses.

However, the season-long resume at 13-6 was solid enough for the Seahawks to earn the top seed in the 3A-East Section II region when the brackets were released this week. Decatur will face fourth-seeded Bennett at home on Saturday, after just beating the Clippers, 8-4, back on April 30.

Decatur actually beat Bennett twice on that day including a 2-1 continuation of a game halted in the 10th inning earlier in the season because of darkness. The meeting on Saturday in the regional playoffs will be the third this season between the two familiar rivals.

About The Author: Shawn Soper

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Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.