St. Vincent Pallotti Lacrosse Falls Short in Semifinals

Caroline Harvey was a freshman on the St. Vincent Pallotti girls lacrosse team in 2008 when the Panthers won the league title in the C division of the IAAM. Harvey, a senior goalie this season for Pallotti, wanted her senior classmates who were not on that team to experience the same feeling this year.

But those dreams came to an end Thursday evening as Pallotti lost, 16-15, to St. Timothy's in the C division semifinals at Fairland Regional Park in West Laurel. Pallotti had advanced with a 13-10 win at home Tuesday against The Key School but it will be St. Timothy's that will play in the league title game on Saturday in Finksburg, in Carroll County.

Pallotti, which struggled early in games most of the year, trailed, 7-1, on Thursday and was down, 11-7, at halftime, according to head coach Paul Billingsley.

The Panthers took the lead at 13-12 with 11 minutes left in the second half but the visitors came back to tie and then got the game-winning goal with under a minute to play.

Harvey, one of the top goalies in the league, had seven saves. She hopes to play club lacrosse next year at the University of Maryland. Jill Pavlacka, a junior, had six goals and one assist for Pallotti while Lisa Bianchini and Carissa Hill had three each.

Ashley Wilkinson had two goals and two assists and Delia Kenny had one goal. It was the second season for the Panthers under Billingley. Pallotti played the past two years in the B league before moving down to the C level this year. The Panthers were 15-6 this season.

All season Pallotti players used the refrain "5-14" to refer to the date of the title game. But now, with a tough loss on Thursday, the Panthers will not be part of championship Saturday.

Laurel High baseball has memorable season

The Laurel High baseball team ended regular-season play Tuesday with a 6-5 win over Bowie. That means the Spartans have knocked off the two top programs in Prince George's County public schools this season, counting an earlier win over Roosevelt. Laurel head coach Bryan Harris thinks that is the first time Laurel has ever beaten both teams in the same season.

Before this season the last time Laurel beat Roosevelt was in 1994 under head coach Matt Kohel, according to Harris.

David Carmen got the win against Bowie as he allowed just three hits and fanned 13. Anthony Nicome hit a homer and drove in the winning run in the last of the seventh as Laurel scored three runs in its last at bat for the win. Laurel improved to 12-5 overall this season.

The Spartans, the No. 4 seed, will play at home Monday in the regional playoffs against the winner of Oxon Hill and Suitland.

Laurel High softball begins post-season play

The Laurel High softball team gathered in left field before Thursday's regional playoff game at Bladensburg High. "Let's just play our best," said one player, before the Spartans batted in the top of the first.

Laurel may not have played their best, but the Spartans continue to hit and posted a 16-11 win over Bladensburg. Kevia Walker-Humphries had three hits and scored three runs and was the winning pitcher. Sarah Allsop, a senior bothered by injuries this year, had three hits and Becca Jayne came in to pitch in place of Walker-Humphries to nail down the victory.

Bria Wallace, a freshman, had a three-run double in the fifth and Candace Williams, Casey Li Causi and Jamila Mitchell each had two hits. Natalie Bishop drew three walks and had a hit. Jayne is now hitting .587 while Williams is batting .500 on the year.

Laurel advances to play on Monday at 4:15 p.m. at DuVal, in Lanham.

Pallotti High baseball in playoffs

The Pallotti High baseball team is slated to begin post-season play in the MIAA B division playoffs on Friday at 4:15 p.m. at Glenelg Country School in Howard County, weather permitting. With a win the Panthers play Monday against Annapolis Area Christian. With a loss to Glenelg Country, Pallotti would play Tuesday against a team to be determined.

Pallotti lost, 13-11, on May 6 to Glenelg Country. Jackson Souder and Nate Spicher had three hits each in that game for Pallotti and Eddie Johnson, Matt DeFrank and Johnny Maloney had two hits each.

Courtemanche said on Friday he planned to start Souder on the mound at Glenelg Country if the rain holds off. "I think it will be a lower-scoring game. Last time we played them the wind was blowing straight out," Courtemanche said. "We know they are a good team. We respect them. We have to control their two, three and four hitters." Pallotti is 17-10 overall and is making its ninth playoff appearance in a row.

Pallotti High boys lacrosse ends season

This has been a rough season for the Pallotti High boys lacrosse team under first-year head coach Kris Weaver, a former standout for the Panthers. Pallotti was 4-14 after going without a win last season. "It was a big improvement from last year but not where we want to be," Weaver told Patch on Friday. "The kids just hit their stride in the last four games. We won two and lost two."

The Panthers ended the season with a 9-7 loss on Tuesday to John Carroll. When the teams met earlier this year, Pallotti lost by 17 goals, Weaver said. One of the assistants this season was former Pallotti standout Rob Weaver, the brother of Kris. Kris Weaver said he plans to return as coach next season.

Senior Billy Rodgers led the team with 35 goals, 20 assists and 117 groundballs and Preston Owen has 28 goals and seven assists while John Chenault has 25 goals and seven assists. Chenault, who also competed in cross country and wrestling at Pallotti, earned his 12th varsity letter this spring in his fourth season with lacrosse.

Rodgers plans to play at Division III Salisbury, an annual participant in post-season play. Pallotti, on Thursday, held the Panther Cup, an intrasquad game that Kris Weaver said was attended by a large crowd.

Pallotti softball loses in playoffs

The Pallotti High softball team lost, 13-3, on Tuesday at Notre Dame in the IAAM playoffs. The Panthers end the season with two wins.