Follow @PrepBaseballMD
Facebook & Instagram

With many of the MIAA matchups moved to Wednesday due to field conditions, #6 Archbishop Curley traveled to #2 Calvert Hall for Game 1 of their three-game set, once again in bitter cold, with temperatures settling in the low-30s throughout the game. Calvert Hall entered with a near-perfect 7-1 record, while Curley entered with a 2-3 record, coming off a pair of top-25 losses early in the season. This was a low-scoring battle as the Cardinals of Calvert Hall would collect their third shutout of the season, defeating Curley 4-0 in a quick 98-minute contest.

This game was all about the pitching battle, as two of the top arms in the MIAA so far this season met to lock horns; Calvert Hall sent Future Games alum Hunter Dunst (East Tennessee State) to the hill, while Curley sent senior Owen Rossi (Cleveland CC) to the mound, coming off a complete-game shutout, striking out eleven last week against St. Paul's. Even with velocity down due to freezing conditions, both arms had a relatively quick first two innings, both striking out a pair of hitters in the first. Both teams would find some outfield grass in the second inning, Curley's Ryan Bonitz and Calvert Hall's Dalton DePriest, but both would be stranded, taking us to the third inning still scoreless.

The scoreless tie would finally be broken in the bottom of the third, as with two strikes and two outs, junior Drew Kittelberger, another Future Games alum, would send a rocket over the right field fence for a solo homer, giving the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead. Both teams would remain relatively silent throughout the next two innings until junior Ethan Noyes entered the game in relief of Dunst in the sixth inning. He would see his fair share of adversity, allowing two early base hits to Curley's Ian Hull (Molloy) and Ryker Marsell. Noyes would settle in, though, using the adrenaline and increased velocity to strike out a pair of hitters in the inning. The biggest play of the game came with two outs in the top of the sixth, though, as senior Jonas Ritter (Bridgeport) would drive a single to right field to give Curley the chance to tie the game, before Calvert Hall senior Ethan Frank (Clarion) would gun down the tying run at home by a couple steps to preserve the 1-0 lead for Calvert Hall.

Calvert Hall entered the bottom of the sixth looking for some insurance runs to take pressure off the pitching staff, and the top half of the lineup delivered. Anthony Williams (Duke) led off the inning with a backside triple before Jake Lindsey would drive him in with an RBI double over the left fielder's head. Senior Luke Kreiner (California U-PA) would follow with an RBI triple into the right-center gap before scoring via passed ball, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead headed into the seventh with three outs to get. Calvert Hall would send Cole Kantorski to the mound to close the game as he's done in multiple games this season, working around two walks to force a couple of weak ground balls, securing the shutout win and moving Calvert Hall to 8-1 on the season. Curley drops to 2-4 on the season, but has the opportunity to tie the series later tonight against the Cardinals.

#6 Archbishop Curley

 

Owen Rossi RHP / Archbishop Curley, MD / 2026 Owen Rossi took the ball for #6 Archbishop Curley to open up their conference season, heading to one of the top environments in the state in Calvert Hall. Coming off a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts against St. Paul's just eight days prior, there were high expectations headed into this matchup. Rossi met those expectations, retiring six of the first seven batters he faced, and outside of a solo homer given up in the third, he was extremely efficient early. He would strike out four batters in the first three innings, all on outside fastballs against right-handed hitters, sitting comfortably at 83-86 throughout the game in the cold. He kept both pitches in the zone, surrendered no walks, and mixed the fastball and slider effectively to roll through the lineup. He started to get hit around in the sixth, which tainted the final stat line, but that was after turning in five exceptional innings, striking out seven. As we progress into the spring and temperatures start to rise, expect him to be an upper-80s arm and cement himself as one of the best in the conference. Cleveland CC got a good one. Final Line: 5.1 IP | 6 H | 3 ER | 0 BB | 7 K

Ian Hull C / Archbishop Curley, MD / 2026 The Molloy commit sets the tempo at the top of the order for the Friars, performing exceptionally well in that role. Not only did he turn in a strong offensive game, but he also formed one of the better battery duos across the state. It's not extremely flashy, but he does his role consistently and provides stability on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Hull collected two hits out of the leadoff spot; an infield single to lead off the game and another leadoff single in the top of the sixth to jumpstart an offensive rally, pulling the hands in nicely to drive a single into left field. He does exactly what you'd need out of the leadoff spot: get on base and give the heart of the order the opportunity to drive you in. Although the middle of the order didn't meet expectations yesterday, if he continues to perform consistently at the top, as the season progresses, they'll adjust and capitalize on the opportunities. Final Line: 2-3, 2 1B

#2 Calvert Hall

Hunter Dunst RHP / Calvert Hall, MD / 2027 The 2025 Future Games alum and East Tennessee commit took the mound for the Cardinals to open conference play and met expectations once again, as he's done time and time again this season. Although velocity was down due to the cold, sitting in the mid-80s up to 85, his arsenal was as efficient as ever, turning in five shutdown innings, striking out seven while surrendering no walks. After allowing an infield single in the first, he responded by forcing a double play and collecting a backwards K to end the inning. He would then strike out the side in the second. Of the three hits allowed, only one ball left the infield all game long, just emphasizing the dominance that Dunst has shown to start the season. The high-spin slider is a legit weapon and can be argued for the single best pitch in the conference. If he continues at this pace, as he has over the first thirteen innings this spring, it will be difficult to find a scenario in which Calvert Hall loses when he gets the start. Final Line: 5.0 IP | 3 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 7 K (69% strikes) 2026 Season: 13 IP | 2-0 | 0.00 ERA | 5 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 17 K (68.4% S)

Luke Kreiner OF / Calvert Hall, MD / 2026 You want to talk about a scorching hot start to the season? Look no further than Luke Kreiner, the California University (PA) commit who is currently hitting .476 through nine games, which is the reason he finds himself in the cleanup spot. In front of me personally, he has six hits over three games, including two in yesterday's contest against Curley. His first hit would come in the fourth inning, a first-pitch attack for a backside single into left, before sending a bullet into the right-center gap in the sixth for a RBI triple to collect a major insurance run. The ability to use the whole field consistently is the most impressive feature, and his feel for the barrel in the zone allows him to reach base constantly. In addition, the run tool allows him to stretch XBHs and steal the occasional base when in the right situation. Through two weeks of the season, Kreiner has certainly cemented his name in the conference player of the year conversation, and it'll likely stay there at this rate during the spring.  Final Line: 2-3, 3B, RBI, R

Drew Kittelberger UTL / Calvert Hall, MD / 2027 Typically a middle infielder, Kittelberger's utility and speed allow him to be used in many ways, finding his home in center field with an already loaded defensive infield tandem. The 2025 Future Games alum had the biggest and loudest swing of the game, breaking the scoreless tie with a solo homer out of right field in the third inning. It's always been a contact-first hit tool, but the sneaky strength to the pullside allows him to lift the occasional ball out of the park. Add in the luxury of being a switch-hitter that can consistently produce upper-90s EVs from both sides of the plate, he should be a hot commodity for college coaches as we progress through the season and head into the summer. When it comes to left-handed bats in the class, Kittelberger's name is towards the top in the class, which is why he has found his home as the leadoff hitter for the number two team in the state.  Final Line: 1-3, HR, RBI, R

Anthony Williams SS / Calvert Hall College, MD / 2027 Our staff has had the opportunity to see Anthony Williams on multiple occasions over the last few months following his commitment to Duke, and in this game, he flashed the hit tool that has been talked up immensely as of late. Williams turned in a really impressive final AB in the sixth inning against Curley, jump-starting a three-run inning that allowed Curley to have a comfortable lead headed into the final inning. He would lead off the inning by working an eight-pitch AB before lacing a bullet the other way down the right field line, showing off the run tool to leg out a triple. Consistency will be the biggest question throughout the season, as he's cooled off at the plate after starting with a .643 average through five games, now in a bit of a cold stretch, hitting only .200 over the last four games. It's a small sample size, so hopefully this final AB is the start of the junior returning to his usual form, as he is a must-watch bat towards the top of the Cardinals' order this spring.  Final Line: 1-3, 3B

Ethan Noyes RHP / Calvert Hall, MD / 2027 This was my first opportunity to see Ethan Noyes on the mound in a game setting, and he certainly showed some promise as a strong candidate out of the bullpen. Although it wasn't the cleanest outing, allowing two hits early, he rebounded nicely by striking out a pair of hitters in the inning, using the adrenaline to see an uptick in velocity, working 84-85 consistently, grabbing one 86 and one 87, both on strikeout pitches. The fastball worked in and out of the zone, but he was able to locate it when it mattered. He flashed an occasional slider in the low-70s that caught some weak contact, but it was primarily fastball throughout the inning. It's a physical 6'2", 205-lb frame that has more velo in the tank, and as the breaking ball develops, expect him to see multiple opportunities out of the bullpen. Final Line: 1.0 IP | 3 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 2 K