The Jackson-Reed Tigers (formerly Woodrow Wilson High School) baseball program, annually one of the best in the DMV year in and year out, has won 29 District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletics Association (DCIAA) championships. But since the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) tournament started in 2014, the Tigers have come up short in the past four finals.
It looked like it would be the fifth straight for Jackson Reed when Maret took the early 3-0 lead in the second inning on Jackson-Reed’s miscues on Sunday, May 19 at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast D.C. The team appeared to have nothing left as Maret’s Max Genderson was masterful in keeping them without a hit and scoreless through the first six innings.
Then a couple of things happened. Jackson-Reed ace senior Casey Edwards had trouble, walking three batters and allowing Maret (14-12) to score on a wild pitch.
Jackson-Reed head coach Robin Mateo reluctantly pulled his starter and went with sophomore Nelson Hayes. Although the Tigers were unable to produce any runs, Hayes was effective, allowing only one hit over the next three innings, while striking out five batters.
With Nelson holding off the Maret Frogs, the Tigers were in desperate need of a spark heading into the sixth inning, still scoreless and without a hit.
Freeman Hunt gave the team that much-needed spark when he beat out an infield single for the team’s first hit. Hunt was injured on the hustle play and had to leave the game.
Jackson-Reed (22-6) would go on to get two runs to narrow the margin to 3-2 going into the top of the seventh inning. However, Maret had other plans and added an insurance run, courtesy of yet another Jackson-Reed miscue.
The Tigers would go on to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh, with one out and runners on second and third. That set the stage for Jackson-Reed junior Etan Rosario, who delivered a single to right field and led his team to a 5-4 victory.
“Things looked bleak at times, but I kept telling them to believe,” said an exuberant Mateo. This team is very close-knit, and they never gave up.”
He talked about what helped lead the team to a triumphant, hard-fought win.
“The injury after our first hit gave us a big boost. And what can I say about the performance of Nelson (Hayes)? He has pitched well when we called on him,” Mateo continued. “This is a great victory for not only Jackson-Reed but for the D.C. Public Schools.”
Rosario was named the Tournament MVP.
St. John’s Wins Second Straight DCSAA Softball Title
The St. John’s girls softball team made quick work of Georgetown Visitation (15-5) in the DCSAA tournament final with an 11-1 victory at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. It was the second straight title for the Cadets, who were playing in their fourth straight final.
St. John’s (14-8) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and added four more in the third inning to outclass its opponent.
The Cadets racked up 18 hits.
“These girls are incredible hitters,” Head Coach Diane Romo-Thomas said following the victory. “We’ve been working a lot this year on hitting. That was the focus, so that really shows in the way that we play.”
Eight of the team’s starters had at least one hit Sunday, while junior pitcher Charlotte Lacey kept the talented Cubs (15-5) at bay in a complete performance.
Junior Yasmin Burrell, who took over at shortstop for the Cadets after All-Met first-team selection Delaney Mosley graduated, earned MVP honors with a three-hit performance.
Coming into the final, the Georgetown Visitation Cubs were making their fifth appearance with their only victory coming in 2015.
Georgetown Visitation Defeats St. John’s in Lacrosse Championship
Georgetown Visitation defeated St. John’s 9-6 in the DCSAA girls’ lacrosse final at Catholic University’s Carlin Field on May 19.
The final featured two teams that had lost in their conference final, so the state championship offered another opportunity.
It must be noted that the Cubs (15-7) were playing without their top player, senior Madison Rassas, who was out with an untimely injury, but it did not matter.
“This was a pure heart and hustle win,” Georgetown Visitation Coach Jude Collins said. “These girls just really battled, and I was really proud of them.”
Goalie Maeve Obrist was a key factor in the win with 10 saves, earning her Tournament MVP. The Cadets finished the season at 15-8.
