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The CurrenT
Northwest Sports
Wilson aims to extend DCIAA title streak By BRIAN KAPUR Current Staff Writer
Wilson’s baseball team — winner of 21 straight D.C. Interstate Athletic Association crowns — has a very young roster this year, more cubs than Tigers. Despite its youth, the squad still has plenty of bite and has cruised through its DCIAA slate. “It’s been on par with how things normally go,� said Tigers coach James Silk. “They’re keeping their head in the game and playing hard.� But Wilson also loads its schedule with tough private school competition, providing a challenge that struggling D.C. public school programs are unable to match. The mixed range of opponents can create its own challenges. “These DCIAA games can be difficult for a team that wants to play at a high level,� Silk said of playing against the less competitive programs and encountering problems related to issues such as timing and the speed of the game. “This year it has been more of a struggle with a young team.� While prevailing over its DCIAA foes, the team has had a harder time against some private school teams it beat in the past two seasons. After the Tigers suffered a tough 20-1 loss to Gonzaga on April 21, Silk used it as a teaching point to help the green squad improve. The Tigers boast a 7-5 record, which includes recent wins over Ballou by a dominating 31-0 margin and Bullis by a score of 3-2. “We’re very young,� the coach said. “We lost seven starters. But that being said, we shouldn’t be losing
Brian Kapur/The Current
Wilson senior catcher Scot Beumel, left, has been one of the team’s anchors this season. He was also the Tigers’ quarterback in the fall. ball games 20-1. In my 20 years, I don’t think I’ve seen a team find a funk like this for weeks on end. That falls not on the players, but on the coaches to make sure they’re prepared. We have to find a way to put it together and find some chemistry.� Despite the team’s inexperience, Silk sees a talented roster that will grow in the next few seasons. “Now we’ve got a great group of puppies that are trying to play the game correctly,� said Silk. “[We’re learning] to play the game fundamentally sound and to minimize mental and physical mistakes on the field.� The Tigers have looked up to their four seniors: catcher Scot Beumel, first baseman Luke Cameron, shortstop Liam Fischer and pitcher Jack Price. The team also relies on
junior Will Gibson, who transferred to Wilson from Landon in Bethesda. “He has been spectacular for us and really our one rock on the mound,� Silk said. While the Tigers appear to be rolling to a 22nd straight DCIAA crown, they hope to continue to make progress toward the school’s first D.C. State Athletic Association title. Silk said his players are “going day by day,� focused on positioning themselves “to compete at the next level.� “We’re there mentally,� the coach said. “Right now we’re working on hitting our spots and getting ahead in the count.� Wilson will be back in action Saturday when the Tigers travel to play the Heights in a doubleheader.
VISITATION: Burke’s pitching has bolstered the Cubs From Page 11
the end of the second inning. Both teams remained scoreless going into the sixth inning, and the Cubs defense stranded five Good Counsel base-runners through five innings. But at the start of the sixth inning, the weather became the star of the game. Calm breezes turned into strong gusts, and a light drizzle became a downpour. As conditions deteriorated, Good Counsel scored three runs to tie the game and had the winning run on third base. Burke lost control in the wet conditions and the bases became slick, which led the umpire to delay the game. After 20 minutes, the game was called. With the score automatically reverting to the last complete inning, Visitation took the 3-0 win.
Scores Boys lacrosse
Wilson 5, GDS 2 Gonzaga 10, Landon 9 Maret 11, Sandy Spring 3 St. Andrew’s 10, Maret 9 Gonzaga 14, Ryken 3 Potomac School 16, GDS 0 Flint Hill 11, Sidwell 5 Landon 12, St. John’s 11
St. Albans 4, Episcopal 3 Wilson 9, McNamara 3
Girls lacrosse
Cathedral 17, St. Andrew’s 9 Holy Child 12, St. John’s 9 St. Stephen’s 12, Visitation 3 Visitation 16, Collegiate 14 Potomac School 14, Maret 4 Holy Cross 16, St. John’s 2 Madeira 9, Cathedral 8 Sidwell 18, Sandy Spring 9
“I think it helps us a lot with our confidence because Good Counsel is known for being a really good team,� said Ward. “Just knowing we can beat a team like that is a boost.� That win also pushed the Cubs’ record to 10-1, including a 5-0 mark in Independent School League games. Their undefeated mark in conference games is matched only by Flint Hill. The two teams will collide this afternoon at 4:15 with the regular-season crown on the line. “It looks like that’s what it’s going to come down to,� said Conlon. “We have to keep playing tough like we’ve been. But my expectation is that I hope we can do it.� The Cubs players are chomping at the bit to win their first crown since 2012. “We like to win, and we hope to bring home the ISL banner and then go on to states and hopefully do well there, too,� said Burke.
Cathedral 16, Field 3 Sidwell 14, Bethesda-Chevy Chase 13 Holy Child 22, Cathedral 15
Baseball
Gonzaga 20, Wilson 1 St. John’s 7, Ryken 1 Flint Hill 3, Maret 2 Potomac School 9, GDS 4 DeMatha 5, Gonzaga 2 St. John’s 9, McNamara 1
Riverdale Baptist 14, GDS 0 St. John’s 12, Ireton 0 Potomac School 8, Maret 7 Gonzaga 3, Good Counsel 2 St. John’s 1, O’Connell 0 St. Albans 10, Yorktown 0 DeMatha 5, St. John’s 0 Paul VI 10, Gonzaga 0
Softball
Maret 2, Episcopal 1
Visitation 15, GDS 0 Sidwell 19, St. Stephen’s 9 Good Counsel 5, St. John’s 0 Visitation 11, Holton-Arms 6 Cathedral 15, Sidwell 0 Seton 3, St. John’s 0 GDS 13, Sandy Spring 3 Visitation 3, Good Counsel 0 Bell 17, Walls 3 Ireton 11, St. John’s 3 Ireton 5, St. John’s 1 Flint Hill 15, Sidwell 4