Calvert Hall right fielder Nate Bosse didn't feel any pressure with a key at-bat in the fifth inning after the Cardinals squandered a three-run lead against No. 4 Gilman.
Bosse simply stayed patient and roped a two-RBI double down the right field line and later scored to give top-ranked Calvert Hall an 8-7 victory Friday night in a battle for first place in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference.
The Cardinals improved to 13-3 overall and 7-0 in the MIAA, handing the Greyhounds their first conference setback. The two teams meet again Wednesday at Gilman.
"I was just thinking about putting the ball in play because I had guys on base," said Bosse, who is batting .306 on the season. "This is a huge win. They were undefeated, too. We're now in first place."
Calvert Hall center fielder Mike Finn had a pair of hits with two RBIs batting ninth in the order. Starter Ben Stewart allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 4 2/3 innings.
John Fitzgerald had a double and two triples with two RBIs for the Greyhounds (10-3, 6-1). Gilman starter Drew Ehrlich allowed eight runs (five earned) with four strikeouts and four walks over 5 2/3 innings.
The Greyhounds threatened in the second when Fitzgerald led off with a triple, but Stewart kept him stranded by inducing two grounders and a shallow fly ball. Calvert Hall took advantage in the third when Finn singled and then took third on an errant pick-off throw. Alex Kriss then used a sacrifice bunt to bring him home and the Cardinals led 1-0.
Fitzgerald tied the game in the fourth with his second triple that scored Jason King, who led off with a single. Alex Shafer followed with another single and Gilman led 2-1.
Calvert Hall responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Bosse tied the game with a two-out, RBI single. After Dariel Torres followed with another single, Finn cleared the bases with a triple and the Cardinals led 4-2. Finn then scored on a passed ball.
"They're having a good year and we're having a good year, so I knew it was going to be a tough game," Calvert Hall coach Lou Eckerl said. "I'm just happy that we played a little better than they did. I'm happy with our lineup. I think our lineup top to bottom is pretty solid."
The Greyhounds stayed aggressive and loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth. Stewart hit Fitzgerald, pulling Gilman to within 5-4. Brad Weber entered for Calvert Hall, but Gilman took advantage and later tied the game on a throwing error.
Calvert Hall once again had an answer as Bosse knocked in two more runs with his double and then scored on a fielding error. Fitzgerald pulled Gilman to within 8-6 with a double in the seventh. The Cardinals, however, ended the game with a 5-3-5 double play that scored Gilman's final run.
"It was two teams battling it out," Gilman coach Larry Sheets said. "I told our kids that I'm proud of the way they battled. It was a good MIAA baseball game."
The Cardinals were playing without ace Nick Delp, who is out indefinitely after taking a pitch to the face against New York's Pittsford Menden in Orlando, Fla., during a spring break trip
No. 1 Calvert Hall 8, No. 4 Gilman 7
G 0 0 0 2 3 0 2-- 7 9 3
C 0 0 1 4 3 0 X -- 8 7 1
Ehrlich, Pomerantz (6) and Slodzinski; Stewart (5), Weber and J. Finn. 2B: G-Fitzgerald; CH-Bosse; 3B: G-Fitzgerald 2; C- M. Finn.