Summer news...

For those of you out there still paying attention, we'll call this an addendum to the Year's End post. If you've been reading diligently, last week I mentioned briefly the rarity of a single All Metro award. This spring, we have THREE. Selected as Honorable Mention winners were Chelsea Burwasser for softball along with Adrienne Tarver and Lucie Weinberg for lacrosse. If the achievement alone is not enough to thoroughly impress you, consider that all 3 are underclassmen. Adrienne and Lucie are both rising seniors while Chelsea will be just a junior in 2010! Apparently we don't rebuild, we simply reload.

In addition, Park's girls' lacrosse team appeared on Digital Sports' Top 20 Poll in the "Other Teams Considered" category. Congratulations girls! Other 2009 springtime Bruins' distinctions:

All Conference:

Chelsea Burwasser - All IAAM C-Conference Softball
Andrew Duberg - All MIAA B-Conference Lacrosse
Alix Gresov - All IAAM C-Conference Softball
Jonathan Hettleman - All MIAA B-Conference Baseball
Andrew Keiser - All MIAA B-Conference Baseball
J. Harrison Macks - All MIAA B-Conference Golf
Adrienne Tarver - All IAAM B-Conference Lacrosse
Lucie Weinberg - All IAAM B-Conference Lacrosse

Congratulations all! Have a restful, yet productive, summer. More news to come this off season as it crosses my desk.

GO BRUINS!

Year's end: 2009...

Last Monday we watched the Class of 2009 graduate and begin the next chapter of their own personal stories. In the weeks prior, our departing seniors reveled with teammates and classmates alike, celebrating 3 spring conference finals victories, and congratulated one another as the honored guests of the Athletics Breakfast. Among the hugs, applause and photo ops, we took the opportunity to reminisce, recalling the all-too-brief history of this group to be shared via this new platform. My personal archive, while likely tainted by the occasional inaccuracies of both a weary mind and lack of a credible online source (Barb and Lucky, where are you when I need you?), is nonetheless a testament to the prowess of the departing Bruins. It lists a double-digit tally of championship competitions with more wins than losses, as evidenced by banners hung and plaques displayed in recognition of successes by boys' basketball, girls' lacrosse (twice!), boys' tennis and softball.

17 all-conference awards, and 1 rare all-metro nod, have been stockpiled by the "Uh-Oh Niners" during their tenure here at Park. With 3 apiece, Carlos Cruz, the unstoppable, never-tiring waterbug of soccer, lacrosse and (finally) basketball fame, along with Dawn Lee, our very own imposing conglomeration of immovable object and unstoppable force, strode out of the Athletics Breakfast as Kelly Award winners. That same morning our Unsung Heroes received deserved, if unexpected and unsolicited, recognition. Lucas Hulleberg lead both on and off the field, through good times and bad, with little more than a smile and an infectious laugh, and triumphantly emerged from the daunting shadow of his older brother, providing much needed talent and cohesion to the cross country and lacrosse teams. Chris Benn proved a vital cog on the boys' soccer and basketball teams before battling through injury to win a tennis championship and, perhaps more impressively, managing to elicit the occasional chuckle from the Athletic Trainer in the spring (thanks Chris). Anja Fries, when not flaunting her bruises or boasting her bumps, spent her afternoons creating new ones on the hockey and lacrosse fields, culminating her career as a championship-winning goalie. The five honorees were the core of a small, but gritty senior class of athletes and all will be especially missed. Among the jumbled crush of numbers and statistics available (or not), the following were also of note:

All-IAAM Awards:
Rebecca Althauser - Soccer (1)
Kayla Bruun - Indoor occer (1)
Dawn Lee - Field Hockey (1), Basketball (2)
Julie Levitsky - Tennis (1)
Tess Shiras - Tennis (2)

All-MIAA Awards:
Carlos Cruz - Soccer (3)
Nathan Jones - Baseball (1)
Andrew Keiser - Baseball (1)
Karl Nelson - Basketball (3, 1 All Metro Honorable Mention)
Noam Yaffe - Soccer (1)

Departing seniors with at least 7 varsity seasons to their credit:
Rebecca Althauser
Nathaniel Colbert-Sangree
Carlos Cruz
Rachel Elliott
Dawn Lee

Indeed, like the long list of Bruins that preceded them, this year's group leaves in their wake a substantial void to be filled by rising underclassmen. Fortunately, the outlook is anything but bleak. The Class of 2010 enjoys both quantity and quality among their athletic attributes. As an example, 11 of the '09 juniors were 3-sport athletes this year, and the class has already matched the list above in number, counting 5 of their own as varsity letter winners in 7 or more seasons. What's more, the rising seniors have already accumulated 15 all conference honors!

The final seasons of the Class of 2009 gave us, among many others memories, the come-from-behind toppling of the Quakers in girls' lax as well as the heartbreaking finish to the girls' basketball championship. The former ranks among the most thrilling contests I've ever witnessed. The latter should instill a feeling of pride and community among each and every Bruin. Whether clamoring at the unimaginable feats of the victorious or shaking the gym in a losing effort, it is often the struggle rather than the outcome that are the ultimate reward. It is the friendships and emotion, rather than the records, that remain once the shouting has ceased.

Best of luck, gang! Keep in touch and continue to make us proud.

What's Bruin will return as we near the fall seasons and welcome the new school year. Take care all and thank you for keeping up with the blog and Park athletics!

GO BRUINS!

Week of May 18...

Some minor computer difficulties and an internet outage or two slowed the writing of this week's post a bit, but perhaps the premier reason for the delay is simply a loss for words left to describe the weekend's events. A courageous quarterfinal defeat preceded three CHAMPIONSHIPS won by Park teams, each in thrilling fashion, and all exemplifying what we believe it means to be a Bruin. Let's go back to the beginning...

Boys' lacrosse faced huge odds. Even though they'd locked up a number two ranking entering the playoffs, the team had been decimated by injury. Several key players would be watching Tuesday's quarterfinal game against Glenelg from the sideline and, cheering as they might, would offer little aid in the end. The Bruins trailed by three in the final quarter of regulation after succumbing to the Dragons earlier in the season, but only after three overtimes. Somehow Park's boys found goals. They found huge defensive stands. Somewhere within themselves they found the sheer will to place themselves down only one score while with seconds left on the clock. Battered, bruised and weary, they even held the ball, albeit at the wrong end of the field. The final sixty yard toss sailed wide and the Bruins season was complete, but not before learning (and hopefully teaching) a valuable lesson. These boys refused to sit when a chair was offered and struggled literally until the final whistle, relinquishing their hope and effort only when the officials informed them that no time remained. The scoreboard read 9-8. Hold your heads high, boys.

Last Tuesday marked the start of the MIAA boys' tennis Individual CHAMPIONSHIP Tournament. Junior David Spivey and senior Chris Benn, dubbed Park's "number two" doubles entry, began the season playing separately. As fate would have it, both were stricken by injury and forced to attempt to rehabilitate their way back onto the team with precious little time left in the regular season. While not at full speed, each made enough progress to be considered for doubles play, and the pairing was set. Though their ailments certainly stole a step or two from their game, the two meshed their strengths and in short time found a chemistry as well as a strategy all their own. The plan, they realized, would entail a simple "cat and mouse" tactic. True, others may simply deem the boys slow starters, but let's not ruin a good story.

The Bruins began as a five seed in the two doubles bracket, a victory in and of itself, for no Park player(s) had attained such a high rating going into the tournament in recent memory. They'd also achieved a bye in the first round, held Monday. We may never know whether it was the extra day off or devious strategy that accounted for the boys' shaky start against Mt. St. Joe's on Tuesday but, in the end, they'd managed a three set win going 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3. For many, a bye and a quarterfinal triumph would have proved accomplishment enough, especially given the fact that Wednesday's match pitted Park against number one, Gilman. Add to that, Chris and David immediately dropped four of the first five games in set one. Trailing 1-4 to the top seed, the easy and, perhaps, intelligent thing to do would be to simply yield and concede defeat. Instead, the boys rallied to 3-5, then 5-5, and eventually a tiebreaker win in the first set! Having broken the imposing Greyhounds' confidence, the Bruins stubbornly refused to deviate from their plan and lost the first two games of the second set before cruising to another 6-3 victory. On to Thursday's final, where there remained only one more hurdle between them and a title; the two seed from McDonogh. Nervous? When in doubt, stick to the plan. The first set passed 4-6, a seemingly painful stumble by the underdogs. The two may have even feigned a limp before their resurgent 7-5 and, you guessed it, 6-3 second and third sets that sealed the CHAMPIONSHIP. The boys showed grit and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, proving that no matter the name across the front of the opposition's jersey, Bruins are not to be trifled with. The theme would continue.

The softball team played their CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, but theirs was quite a different tale. A one seed and having run off ten straight victories, these Bruins were certainly no underdogs. Securing the title would be no small feat, however, as number two Bryn Mawr had earlier proven themselves a worthy adversary by testing Park's metal in a 4-3 loss. Just over halfway through the contest, though, it appeared that Park might again ride the pitching of Chelsea Burwasser (17 strikeouts in the game) to another easy win as the Bruins banged out a six run fourth inning to go up 7-0. With an all-star hurler in the circle and momentum thouroughly on our side, the game was over. There was one nearly fatal flaw in that notion. Namely, Bryn Mawr did not believe it and, perhaps more importantly, maybe Park did. The Bruin defense stumbled badly and even the unwavering accuracy of Burwasser seemed to falter. Suddenly at 8-6, up only two and reeling, the Bruins were on their heels looking for an escape from the fifth inning like a boxer praying for a bell.

The story of this game may have been a calming, deep, collective breath taken by the Bruins somewhere late in the afternoon when it appeared the sky was falling. The girls regained their composure and produced a perfect sixth and seventh inning, that's six up and six down, to gain the CHAMPIONSHIP. Again a situation had presented itself during which a Park team could have taken the path of lesser effort, succumbing to fear and doubt and what might have appeared an inevitable outcome to some as the game tilted in the favor of their adversary. Yet, the Bruins held their ground, rebuked the voices that whispered for their submission and rose to a new level of talent and success, worthy of the title.

No easy task indeed, with five minutes left in the IAAM B-conference lacrosse CHAMPIONSHIP, trailing undefeated Friends School 11-7, a Bruin victory was simply impossible. The game had begun well enough for the girls as they traded goals with the aggressive Quakers and ended the first half down 6-5. It was an admirable effort that certainly left Park hope of success after having lost their previous two matchups with Friends by only a goal apiece. Early in the second half, though, Friends flexed their muscle and the Bruins gave up their own equivilent of a big inning, allowing a handful of tallies that landed them in their late game, four goal hole. Those four goals would have to occur in under five minutes to force a tie and overtime, thus salvaging their season for at least a few minutes. What's more, the girls would need to shut out the Quaker offense that had just exploded upon them as well. Just one of those missions might be deemed a very slim possibility, but both? Even the most steadfast and optimistic of fans subtly shook their heads and silently contemplated the impending heartache of a second successive lax final fallen short. Visions of another runner-up platter on the mantle loomed.

A roar of the crowd lifted eyes towards the field once again and the score was 11-8. Then, 11-9. 11-10. At just under a minute and a half, 11-11. Late in the game, Friends had chosen to possess the ball, wisely draining time from the clock, now their ally. However, once again it was a palpable change in the mindset of Park's athletes, an increased ferocity that belied not just a desire to win, but a sudden need for it that determined the ultimate outcome. Key turnovers, aggressive challenges to the goal and exhausting end-to-end sprints had enabled the Bruins to achieve the impossible and set their sights upon the unthinkable. Then, with only nineteen seconds frozen on the scoreboard, it was done. Park 12, Friends 11. Julia Meyerhoff had sunk the final goal and Adrienne Tarver scooped the last ground ball. The Bruins were CHAMPS. Fittingly, the team gathered tightly together and hoisted the trophy together. If there was ever a game that you had to see to believe, this was it. "Good game Friends. Thank you fans. Thank you officials. WAY TO GO PARK!"

This year's plaques will be displayed proudly, but younger Bruins should take note of what lies behind the polish. There can be little doubt that Park consistently fields a competitive level of talent. The stature of our bodies and the quickness of our feet are generally on par with our opponents. As exhibited by all three of last week's CHAMPIONS, the difference is often made in the strength not of our shoulders, but of our character. Physical advantages are often bested by mental toughness, and hunger and heart can topple the most confident of rivals. These athletes didn't simply hope that this would happen, nor were they satisfied by being given the opportunity. They each found in themselves a player better than they had known prior and, embracing that persona, became CHAMPIONS.

Congratulations all. Credits for photos to Digital Sports.

GO BRUINS!

Week of May 11...

One might say the official "home stretch" begins today. Unfortunately, the uncommon temperament of the recent spring climate created a backlog among area schools' athletic schedules. As a result, several teams face an uncertain week ahead for one reason or another. One can be confident, however, that the playoffs have finally arrived, many of them right here on our campus. The reality, while thrilling, faces fans with some difficult decisions. Which matchups will you attend?

First, with no postseason of their own, the struggling golf team ended their 2009 campaign last Thursday at 2-9 with a one-sided defeat to Friends. It was Wednesday's loss, however, that team members point to as a measure of success. The squad managed a strong performance against Glenelg, falling short by only two points. The Dragons finished 7-4 in the conference and sent three athletes to the Individual Stroke Play Tournament. The Bruins count the challenge as an expectation of the level of play they'll need in order to compete in the future, and now begin their search for up and coming talent.

The tennis team experienced its own inflated share of disappointment this year, ending the regular season with a 3-8 A-Conference record. Missing the team playoffs by only one game, the boys spent last week preparing for this week's individual championships at McDonogh. Several Bruins expect to advance beyond today's (5/11) first round, including the two-doubles squad who have overcome injury and even surgery to obtain a four seed and an eye for the final. Today's matches begin at approximately 2:45 PM.

Baseball provides a prime example of the late season confusion created by Mother Nature's interference. With heartbreaking losses to Friends and, more importantly, Severn last week, the boys placed themselves in the precarious and undesirable position of awaiting help from others around the conference still embroiled in rain-delayed competition this past weekend. At "press time," as it were, it was not known definitively whether or not the Bruins had indeed played themselves out of the postseason. Some investigation into Digital Sports' standings reveals that the boys, at 7-7, trail Severn by only one half game. However, even given a win in Monday's (5/11) contest against 11-2 Pallotti, the Bruins would appear to continue to trail the Admirals due to their 0-2 head-to-head record. So it may be that Park's only remaining role in the MIAA playoff picture would be that of spoiler, looking to prevent the Pallotti Panthers from taking at least a share of first place. The wise among you would certainly not trust a simple blogger to unravel the intricacies of MIAA tie-breakers, however. Instead, check the website, come out to Sugar Field on Monday to see the game, and get all the answers firsthand.

Another minor mystery exists concerning our other Sugar Campus tenants, the softball team. Perched atop the C-Conference at 8-1 and recently receiving praise from the Baltimore Messenger, the girls are hardly in danger of missing the playoff party. Rather, it is their opening dance partner that remains unknown. The girls ended their season toiling unopposed on the practice field, prepping for an as yet unidentified quarterfinal victim... er, adversary. Humor aside, the playoffs offer different pressures and a singular environment with which the young squad may not yet be familiar. Will they be ready? See for yourself on Tuesday (5/12) at 4:30 PM as the Bruins begin their march towards the title. With continued success, Thursday's semifinal, currently scheduled for 4:00, will also occur at home. The final looms Saturday (5/17) at 1:00 PM at Harford Community College.

The boys' lacrosse team also awaits confirmation of their opening round opponent as their postseason is set to begin Tuesday as well. The Bruins had a busy final week, beating Key School Monday, falling flat Tuesday in a 17-5 pasting by top-ranked AACS, and cruising over Chapelgate on Thursday. The results, however, were not the chief headline at week's end. Instead, the dominant story was the loss of key offensive and defensive contributors to the recent injury bug that has decimated the team. All is far from lost, though, as reserve personnel stepped in and performed admirably, locking up the number two seed in the Black Division of the B-conference. As such, the boys will face the number three team from the thorny Red Division which, at last check, still offered the possibility of a three-way tie among John Carroll, Archbishop Curley and Glenelg Country. Whomever the foe, should the 7-4 Bruins prevail on Tuesday (Boys' Varsity Field at 4 PM), their semifinal game would occur Friday (5/15), again at 4 PM, at the home of the higher seed.

The immediate future of the girls' laxers is clear. Park sails into their own Tuesday quarterfinal at home at 4:30 PM after commanding 14-5 and 19-5 victories over AACS and Mercersburg Academy last week. Awaiting them is 0-12 Chapelgate. The girls' most prominent challenge may be holding their focus, preparing for the game at hand while avoiding looking ahead to the next rival. Fortunately, we need not be so cautious. Thursday's (5/14) semifinal would pit the Bruins against the victor of the IND-Glenelg pairing, again at home, again at 4:30 PM. The final is set to occur at 1 PM on Sunday (5/17) on the campus of Gerstell Academy in Finksburg. Undefeated Friends School, to whom Park suffered it's only two losses (each by a single goal), could very well occupy one of the championship benches as they attempt to "run the table," but I digress. No one among us would dare gaze that far into the future, imagining one more shot at the Quakers.

Our GAMES OF THE WEEK include all our "second season" contests, both impending and potential/hopeful:

Boys' tennis plays daily Monday through Friday.
Boys' lacrosse:
...Quarterfinal - Tuesday 5/12, 4 PM, Boys' Varsity Field
...Semifinal - Friday 5/15, 4 PM, Higher Seed
...Final - Next week
Girls' Lacrosse:
...Quarterfinal - Tuesday 5/12, 4:30 PM, Girls' Varsity Field
...Semifinal - Thursday 5/14, 4:30 PM, Girls' Varsity Field
...Final - Sunday 5/17, 1 PM, Gerstell Academy
Softball:
...Quarterfinal - Tuesday 5/12, 4:30 PM, Sugar Field
...Semifinal - Thursday 5/14, 4 PM, Sugar Field
...Final - Saturday 5/16, 1 PM, Harford Community College

See you there!

GO BRUINS!

Week of May 4...

Last week produced both stunning upset victories and playoff-eliminating defeats. Several teams poised themselves at or near the pinnacle of their respective conferences while others contended for pride alone. An assortment of uncomfortable but "playable" weather conditions permitted most teams to battle their way out of bottlenecked schedules and into a more routine work week as they readied themselves for playoffs. As a result, your opportunities to see the Bruins in action are dwindling even as the pressure and importance of the remaining contests is elevated to new fingernail-chewing and hair-graying levels.

A tough season for the golf team saunters on, highlighted last week by a 15-6 win against the Warriors of Beth Tfiloh, a club that had amintained a winning record prior to their matchup with the Bruins. Unfortunately, the Wednesday triumph was closely followed by Thursday's 14-7 loss to the theretofore winless Indian Creek squad, dropping Park to 2-7 on the year. The regular schedule concludes this week as another Wednesday-Thursday double looms with the team facing middle-of-the-pack Glenelg Country and 7-3 Friends School on the 6th and 7th respectively.

Boys' tennis began last week by slipping in an overdue set against the Quakers, completing the match begun almost a week prior. The Bruins two-doubles team came from behind, winning four straight games, to defeat Friends and earn the match victory. With a jumbled lineup due to injury and illness, the squad then fell to BT 3-2 on Wednesday and was shutout by Loyola on Friday to end the regular season. The loss helped to eliminate Park from the team tournament but did nothing to lessen the fervor of Bruins vying for individual titles. Those finals are scheduled to start Monday, May 11th at McDonogh. Stay tuned for the pairings and results.

Coming off a huge win over John Carroll the week prior, the boys' lax team was feeling confident going into their second of three key games against top opponents when they took Boys' Varsity Field against AACS last Tuesday. Mere seconds after the opening faceoff, the Bruins had lost a star defenseman to a turned ankle. A quarter or so later, another left the contest with a shoulder injury. Character may have been the word of the day, however, as Park held onto an early lead for an 11-9 surprise (at least for the Eagles) win. The theme continued Thursday against Pallotti when Park took a third quarter lead that they would not relinquish, beating the Panthers 9-7. The three best records in the B-Conference had been knocked off one by one during the Bruins' sweep that began the week before! Friday's guest, Sts. Peter and Paul, could do no better playing David to Park's sudden Goliath, losing 11-5. This week, the boys round out their schedule against three more conference foes: Key at home on Monday (5/4), a grudge match at AACS on Tuesday (5/5) and home again against Chapelgate on Friday (5/7). Another successful stretch could very well result in a three-way tie among the conference leaders. Impressive crowds have cheered the boys' latest inspiring efforts, perhaps without much of the background knowledge to complete the story. "What's Bruin" readers recognize the remarkable nature of this run. Spread the word among the fans!

Another spring feature, perhaps without all the drama of the boys' season (for now!), the girls' lacrosse team remains among the very best in the B-Conference, breezing through last week's competition while tinkering with strategy and honing the details of their attack along the way. Monday witnessed the Bruins defeat Baltimore Lutheran 18-3. An imperfect first half on Tuesday failed to impede the girls on their way to a 18-7 win over Glenelg Country. Scheduled for Friday was Pallotti, who'd narrowly lost a previous clash between the two by only three goals. This time, Park cruised 18-11. With only one conference game remaining, Tuesday's (5/5) contest at AACS, the Bruins have settled into second place with a record of 9-2 (10-2 overall) behind the Quakers mark of 12-0 (12-2). Mercersburg Academy of Pennsylvania will be the final tuneup before the playoffs on Wednesday (5/6) at 4:30.

The title of "Regular Season Champ," were it based upon wins and losses alone, would be the sole possession of the softball team. They captured first place in the C-conference by thumping then leader St. John's last Monday by a score of 17-3. The thrilling accomplishment was quickly eclipsed, however, when on Tuesday the girls won a pitcher's duel 3-1 against RPCS, paced by the 100th (as well as 101st through 105th) strikeout tossed by Park's own Chelsea Burwasser, a feat worthy of a mention on Digital Sports as well as our very first name drop here on the blog. That's 105 strikeouts versus 7 walks in 52 innings. For those unfamiliar with the world of softball statistics, those numbers are relatively, um... ridiculous. The victory clinched the top seed and a first round bye in the playoffs set to begin this Friday. The girls will have nearly a two week rest prior to the start of their post-season run towards the final.

Not yet at the top of their conference, baseball can do much to shuffle the standings this week. Sweeping the season series against Boys' Latin with a 6-4 victory last Thursday reestablished the Bruins as sole owners of second place before losing 13-3 to the first place Baltimore Lutheran Saints on Friday. The loss left the boys (now 7-5 in conference) percentage points behind the Saints and Lakers for the Red Division lead. This Tuesday (5/5) Park takes on 10-1 (15-8 overall) Pallotti, the Black Division leader. Cross-division play continues on Wednesday (5/7) at second place and 9-2 (11-6 overall) Friends School. Pending those results, Thursday's challenge against Severn could wind up either an opportunity to seize first or a battle for third in the division. The Admirals thrashed the Bruins in mid-April 22-12. Those potential ramifications qualify the contest as our GAME OF THE WEEK, so please mark your calendars and head to Sugar Field for the 4:15 start.

See you there!

GO BRUINS!

An alumni note: Maggie Sachs ('07) helped the Stanford women's lacrosse team (ranked 13th in the country) to its fifth consecutive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, and followed it up by shocking Penn (#3 nationally) in an 8-6 upset. Maggie and her Stanford teammates await the announcement of the NCAA tournament field to ascertain whether or not they've made the Division I playoffs. Keep sending all of your alumni sports news!

Week of April 27...

This week's theme? Pay attention to the website. Ridge and Robin found themselves scrambling again last week in the wake of another double-digit tally of postponements and suspensions due to inclement weather. Vacant afternoons are now precious few as we begin to count the days until the first spring playoffs begin. A bounty of games await, providing a gift for the fans but no solace for our weary athletes. Show them your support by spending a warm, sunny afternoon (remember those?) at the fields or courts. Your options are many!

The girls' lacrosse team was the only squad to brave the rain last Monday, but it certainly took some doing. Originally slated as a home game for the Bruins, the downpour forced a potentially unfavorable change of venue. An assembly of our most loyal supporters gathered at Meadowood, IND's home (turf) field, to witness the girls complete a 23-12 blowout over the Indians. On the following Thursday, perhaps it was damp cleats that left the girls one score behind at the end of the much anticipated rematch against Friends School. The two traded goals and the lead throughout the thrilling contest before ending 15-14 in the Quakers favor. Friday, Chapelgate found themselves the unfortunate outlet for the girls' frustrations as Park romped 20-3 in a game that saw the Bruins spend the entire second half working on their offensive schemes, running plays through subtle variations for minutes on end prepping for the playoffs to come. The girls are now 7-2 in conference and face another three game week playing Lutheran at home on Monday (4/27), Glenelg away on Tuesday (4/28), and Pallotti at home on Friday (5/1).

Boys' tennis failed to escape the weather as well, suspending their Tuesday match at Friends with the final pairing tied at one set per team. Stay tuned as the contest will have to be resumed at a later date with just one set left to determine the outcome. Top teams St. Paul's and McDonogh got the better of the Bruins on Thursday and Friday, but the boys look to get healthy and bounce back this week, facing John Carroll away on Tuesday (4/28), and Beth Tfiloh and Loyola on our home courts on Wednesday (4/29) and Friday (5/1) respectively.

Golf got in a match on Tuesday, a near miss (11.5-9.5) against Mt. Carmel, before finding the win column Thursday in a big win over the Key Obezags. The Bruins first victory came in grand fashion as they nearly swept the contest, winning 17-4. The week ahead starts ominously, potential thunderstorms notwithstanding, with a trip to 7-0 Pallotti on Tuesday (4/28) followed by Beth Tfiloh at Woodholme County Club on Wednesday (4/29) and Indian Creek at Eisenhower Golf Course on Thursday (4/30).

The baseball team last week added some schedule tossing of their own, as well as season-ending injuries (yes, that's plural), to an already jam-packed agenda. Despite the many obstacles, the boys managed to persevere, posting an impressive 3-0 record. Apparently the Bruins located their bats some time before Tuesday's home game against Chapelgate, evidenced by a double digit first inning. Though lightning cleared the field early, the game was considered official, ending 19-2. Next came another victory at Glenelg, 7-2, on Thursday. But the highlight of the week occurred Friday when the "mercy" rule made an appearance in Park's17-6 whipping of the then first place Lakers of Boys Latin. With the win, which concluded spectacularly with a two-run walk-off homer, the Bruins clawed back into a second place tie with BL. Relatively speaking, this week is light in that the boys play only two games. What the docket lacks in quantity, however, it more than makes up for in quality. On Thursday (4/30) at Sugar Field, it's Park versus BL once again, and on Friday (5/1) the team travels to first place Lutheran.

The sky wasn't all that looked grim when the softball team retook the field last Wednesday after a brief thunder delay trailing Bryn Mawr in the sixth inning. However, the ensuing go-ahead rally and defensive stand capped the win for the Bruins and furthered their streak of successive conference victories. Thursday's test didn't quite live up to the drama of the day prior as the girls no hit and shut out St. Tim's 20-0. The easy win proved an ample tune up, though, as second place Park faced, and handily defeated 11-2, a tough opponent in Beth Tfiloh on Friday. Only two regular season games remain before the playoffs! Both are this week and both are big. Today (Monday, 4/27), the girls head to St. John's, listed by Digital Sports as the C-Conference front-runner with a suspiciously inadequate record of 3-0 (the Bruins are 6-1). Tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/28), RPCS comes to Park. The Reds occupy third place at 4-2.

Off to a slow start this year, the boys' lacrosse team began to show their metal last week. Confronted with a menacing series of games against three of the top squads in the conference, the outlook was dire. First place AACS pushed back Monday's contest, providing our boys an extra day of rest before facing Pallotti on Wednesday. It took a last minute goal by the Panthers to lift them to a 7-6 win, perhaps offering a glimmer of what the Bruins are capable. Apparently, then 6-1 John Carroll failed to notice. On Friday, the Park boys upended the rival Patriots by a score of 9-5, further upsetting the standings in a conference that continues to appear up for grabs. In honor of their momentum-shifting win, we're naming this week's entire lacrosse docket our very first multiple GAMES OF THE WEEK! AACS brings their 5-2 record to Park on Tuesday (4/28). Once again it's Pallotti, also 5-2 and tied for first in our division, on Thursday (4/30) at home. In the Friday (5/1) finale, it's 3-4 Sts. Peter and Paul again at home. Park is currently 2-3 in a conference in which most teams have played seven or eight games. That's three BIG games, all at home, with the playoffs on the line. What more could you ask for?

See you there!

GO BRUINS!

Week of April 20...

You know what they say about the best laid plans... Last week's unrelenting drizzle again managed to transform playing fields into something that more resembled just-soaked sponges, forcing postponements, cancellations and allowing only one varsity game prior to Thursday. As a result, many teams' remaining schedules are growing increasingly congested as we approach the home stretch of the spring season, generating a measure of turmoil within the athletic offices but creating numerous opportunities and dramatic scenarios for you, the fans.

The boys' tennis team provides our first prime example. Though they somehow managed to complete two competitions, a 4-1 loss to Severn and Thursday's 5-0 thrashing of Boys Latin, the lads face a demanding agenda ahead replete with four matches against the likes of Friends (4/21, away), Loyola (4/22, home), St. Paul's (4/23, home) and McDonogh (4/24, away). All of this, including our big win over the Lakers, comes on the heels of injuries to our number two singles player and a member of our one doubles duo. So please take a moment to congratulate and encourage the tennis squad as they battle adversity and adversaries alike. Better yet, spend an afternoon at Friends School, Stevenson University or McDonogh this week and witness the Bruins firsthand!

The rain may have been the least of baseball's problems as they were humbled by Severn last Thursday and followed up with another loss to AACS Friday. The traumatic week dropped the Bruins to third place in the "Red" division with a 3-4 record. With some ground (as well as pride?) to regain, the boys hope to right the ship at winless Chapelgate on Tuesday (4/21) before facing division-leader Boys Latin on Sugar Field Wednesday. The "crowded schedule" theme continues as the Bruins then travel to Glenelg Thursday.

Softball appears to have regained their dominance, downing Garrison 23-2 and Friends 5-2 in their last two contests. Upcoming foes are said to be among the best the conference has to offer, however. Today (Monday the 2oth) the girls take on rival Beth Tfiloh at home on Sugar Field, followed by Wednesday and Thursday road trips to fellow 3-1 competitor Bryn Mawr and then St. Tim's to round out the week.

The Bruins golfers hope to find their way into the win column in matches against struggling Mt. Carmel, at Rocky Point Golf Club on Tuesday (4/21), and Key School, at Woodholme on Thursday (4/23). Having lost to Gibbons 14.5-6.5 last Friday, this week could be the turn-around the team needs.

The boys' lax team experienced a taste of heartbreak last Friday, losing a triple overtime bout to Glenelg 7-6. Today the Bruins head to AACS, the division leader, with a chance to even their record. The week gets no easier as the boys then hit the road against 3-1 Pallotti on Wednesday and the ever-dangerous and traditional post-season combatant John Carroll (4-1) on Friday. Let's hear it for the boys ('80's music reference for those of you paying attention) as they look to make a much-needed statement in the B-conference!

In a less than stellar outing, the girls' lacrosse team held off Pallotti last Thursday in a 20-17 tussle. Now 5-1 in the conference, the Bruins remain in second place behind arch rival and undefeated Friends School. The laxers must first endure games on Monday against IND and Tuesday at AACS, neither a simple test, before attaining their opportunity at redemption for the crushing, double overtime loss suffered at the hands of the Quakers at the start of April. Make plans now to carpool on Thursday (4/23) as you won't want to miss the second scuffle of the top two as the Bruins take on Friends, this time on their turf , for the premier seed in the conference. With all that's on the line, we'll call this one our GAME OF THE WEEK (an unprecedented away version) so let's be sure to pack the seats on Charles Street! But wait, there's more... Finally, the girls' busy week comes to a close at home in a classic "trap" game against last place Chapelgate. Come out and support the Bruins during this vital stretch!

To our most faithful fans, those who've recently ventured out to the fields for the very first time and others who've offered high fives in the hallways, we sincerely thank you for your time and encouragement. Every bit is thoroughly appreciated.

More wet weather is in the forecast so frequent the website for amendments to the week's calendar!

GO BRUINS!