Spartans put up their bats
By Diana Royal dianar@thetruecitizen.com

After a pair of losses to Windsor Academy, baseball season ended for Edmund Burke Academy.

The Spartans were eliminated from the AA state playoffs in the first round after being defeated by the Knights 9- 7 in the first game and 6-2 in the second over the weekend.

Head coach Aaron Phillips said the Knights had much experience over his team - the defending AA titleholder returned seven starters from its championship team and showed up ready to play.

"They put the bat to the ball," Phillips said of the Knights, who suffered just 3 strikeouts during the duration of both ball games.

Phillips said junior Hamp Wade pitched a phenomenal one-hitter through the first four innings of game-one, tacking on 2 strikeouts in his first time starting from the mound.

Wade, along with Michael Weaver, led the Spartan offense, both going 2-3. D.J. Johnson was 2-4, and Jamie Smith, 1-2.

Wade and Johnson were lead hitters in game-two as well, with both going 1-3. Smith was 1-1. Johnson pitched the entire game, giving up 10 hits and striking out a batter.

"These guys, as young as they are, made a lot of progress this season," Phillips said, adding that they'd succeeded in their playoff goal. "But we didn't just make the playoffs - we finished the regular season tied for second in a region we only won one game in last year … we've had a lot of ups and downs, but we have a young program to get off the ground, and I'm looking forward to next year."

The Spartans finished the season 10-11. Phillips said he's already getting them prepared for next season with a summer workout program and summer league games, possibly against public schools.