EMMITSBURG, Md. — In a win or go home scenario, the late inning scoring bug proved valiant as
Sean Seely (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) ended his productive day with a walk-off base hit to centerfield to seal a comeback win over Albright 5-4 and clinch a playoff spot in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs on Sunday afternoon.
Inside the Batter's Box
Seely put together a 4-for-5 day, scoring twice.
Landon Vile (Luray, Va./Luray) had a pair of hits and an RBI.
Amrit Brown (Asheville, N.C./Asheville) walked thrice and reach base via single in his only pure at-bat.
On the Mound
Skylar Albright (Hendersonville, N.C./Hendersonville) got the Sunday start and allowed four runs in six hard-earned innings while striking out three.
Mason Potter (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) allowed just two hits in his two innings of work.
Mason Sawyers (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper County) got the crew over the hump with a scoreless inning and earned the win.
How it Happened
Both teams were retired in order in the first inning as Hood starter
Skylar Albright (Hendersonville, N.C./Hendersonville) and Albright opener Josh Tudor each worked clean frames.
Jason Rivera (Smithsburg, Md./Saint Maria Goretti) and
Sean Seely (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) opened the bottom second frame with back-to-back singles, and after a sacrifice bunt and a walk loaded the bases,
Ryland Weaver (Salisbury, Md./Homeschool) delivered a two-strike line drive at the third baseman. The hard-hit ball was knocked down but then immediately sent into right field on the throw to second base giving Hood a 2–0 lead after two innings.
The Lions cut into the lead in the top of the fourth. A hit batter and a single put two runners aboard before Anthony Knight plated a run with an RBI single to right field. Hood limited the damage by turning a double play later in the inning, preserving a 2–1 advantage.
Hood answered in the bottom of the sixth.
Sean Seely (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) reached on a single and eventually came around to score when
Landon Vile (Luray, Va./Luray) scorched an RBI single to right field with two outs, extending the Blazers' lead to 3–1.
A big Albright inning in the seventh created rocky weather for the Blue & Grey. Consecutive baserunners set the table for Luke Filliben, who drove in a run with a pinch-hit RBI single. Another run scored on a groundout, and Tommy Lewman later delivered the go-ahead RBI single to give Albright a 4–3 lead.
Hood went quietly in the seventh and eighth, as the Lions held onto the one-run advantage heading into the final frame.
After
Mason Sawyers (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper County) worked a scoreless top of the ninth to keep the deficit at one, Hood mounted its final rally in the bottom half.
Rhett Robbins (Frederica, Del./Lake Forest) worked a single to start the inning and
Kamari Chisolm (Gainesville, Va./Bishop O'Connell) was issued a free pass to first to follow to put two runners aboard. A heroic sacrifice bunt by
AJ Haines (Arlington, Va./Bishop O'Connell) moved both runners into scoring position, and Albright after intense conversation as a staff, intentionally walked Rivera to load the bases.
In an 0-2 hole,
Sean Seely (Bethpage, N.Y./Bethpage) floated a single to center field and the throw home tried to prevent Robbins from scoring and worst-case scenario became reality for the Lions. The Hood runner crossed home plate to tie the game and the throw trickled past home plate allowing Chisolm at high speeds to score the winning run, completing the walk-off and sealing the 5–4 Hood victory.
Hood turned three double plays to neutralize threats in the second, fourth and sixth innings while the range of the left side duo of
AJ Haines (Arlington, Va./Bishop O'Connell) and Brown fueled the fiery finish.
For the Opponent
Anthony Knight had three hits on the day.
Notes
Hood improves to 16-22, 10-11 and clinches a No. 3 seed in the MAC Playoffs. Their highest seeding since their 2018 run and their most recent playoff berth since 2024.
Albright falls to 17-21-1, 7-14 in MAC Commonwealth play.
Up Next
The squad's 2026 adventure continues with a best-of-three series against No. 2-seeded Widener starting on Friday, May 1 with a 3:30 p.m. start with game two set for Saturday at noon and the if necessary game to follow.
