Prep notebook: Weather throws curve at playoff schedule | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Rainstorms have swept through Maryland and washed out first- and second-round playoff games in baseball, softball and lacrosse each day since the tournaments began last Thursday. No Anne Arundel County baseball or softball team had played a state tournament game before yesterday, and each regional semifinal lacrosse game was wiped out Monday.

"My field drains well, so we should be fine," said Severna Park athletic director Wayne Mook. "But it was an absolute mess (Monday)."

Day 3 of the county tennis championships, originally scheduled for Thursday, was postponed for the third consecutive time Monday. The final day, which will determine the state seedings, had to be completed by yesterday because the regional tournament begins tomorrow.

With the championship games' dates set and the venues reserved, there is little room for further delay. Each tournament was allotted a rain date to follow each round, and so far, every one of them has been used.

Mook said Severna Park's field was so bad on Saturday, he almost had to cancel two lacrosse games. Luckily, the rain held off, and the fields were in playable condition.

"The biggest issue is probably baseball and softball because those guys are hurting," Mook said. "We're still waiting on the first round, and I can't guarantee they'll go (Tuesday). But, according to the letter I got from the (Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association), they'll play every day, including Saturday to get them caught up. ... They may have to go to doubleheaders if things don't clear up."

That's what MPSSAA executive director Ned Sparks said.

The lacrosse finals will be played May 20 and May 21 at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The baseball finals will be held at Ripken Stadium on May 23. The softball finals are set for the University of Maryland on May 24.

The thought of rescheduling the championship games isn't an option right now.

"We're not going to do that," Sparks said. "We've still got two weeks before we get to the finals. Hopefully, we'll be all caught up in the next week to 10 days."

The baseball teams might feel the schedule shift a little more than the other sports. The MPSSAA's rules dictate no pitcher can throw more than 14 innings per week.

Arundel coach Bernie Walter took his ace, Tico Mendoza, out of a pivotal game against South River last Monday because of that rule. Mendoza threw a complete game against Broadneck the previous Thursday. Arundel reliever Steve Jenkins came in and shut down the Seahawks to clinch a spot in the county championship game.

That rule will not be altered to accommodate the rain dates.

"That makes it tough," Northeast coach Adam Bolling said, "because the way the playoffs are set, it's supposed to be: Ace, No. 2, ace, No. 2, ace. … We have a deep pitching staff, so we should be OK. But we weren't supposed to get past our top two guys."

ALL-AMERICANS: During last week's public school vote for All-County, they selected Northeast attackman Donovan Lange and Annapolis defenseman Tim Shaeffer as the all-Americans for the Anne Arundel County public schools. Northeast coach Walt Blahut was chosen as the coach of the year, and Chesapeake's Rob Gardner is the assistant coach of the year.

LOOKING FOR COACHES: St. Mary's is now excepting resumes for the girls varsity basketball head coaching position. If interested e-mail your resume to incoming athletic director, Phil Buckingham, at pbuckingham@stmarysannapolis.org.

DESTINATIONS: Archbishop Spalding senior linebacker/running back Nicholas Shackelford has committed to play football at Albright College. He is excited about the opportunity to play for the Lions in the Mountain Athletic Conference and credits his coaches and teachers at Archbishop Spalding for preparing him to move on to the next level.

Shackelford was part of a Cavaliers team that lost only four games his entire high school career.

GAZETTE STATS: If any baseball, softball or lacrosse coaches have player statistics you'd like to include in the newspaper, please e-mail them to sports@capitalgazette.com.

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mpeters@capitalgazette.com