GHSA State Baseball Playoffs..........Calvary Day (27-3) at Aquinas (24-5)

NOTE: This blog is updated chronologically from the GHSA Class A baseball quarterfinal playoff series between Aquinas and Calvary Day School out of Savannah.

Scroll down to the bottom for the latest updates from Aquinas Stadium. 

Absolutely beautiful day here at Aquinas. It looks like there is zero chance of rain here today. The only way it could rain is if Adam "Pac Man" Jones of the NFL's Tennessee Titans shows up with his infamous garbage bag full of his $81,000 and makes it rain.

Here's a few tidbits about the visitors today: First off, the Cavaliers have yet to lose to a Class A team this season. They have three losses, but those came against Class AAA Benedictine, Class AAA South Effingham and Class AAAA Effingham County.

The second is the starting pitchers that Calvary Day (27-3) will bring to the mound to start both games today are a combined 22-0 for the year. That's the bad news for all our Irish fans out there.

The good news is Graham Whisenhunt is already out of the first inning about as fast as he could microwave a burrito. He needed only eight pitches for a 1-2-3 first inning. Three infield ground balls were gobbled up for three quick outs.

Top of the first inning is in the books. Calvary Day 0, Aquinas 0.

Wow. The only word is wow. Aquinas outfielder John Douglas just knocked the lid off this series. He came up to the plate to the tune of Can't You See by the Marshall Tucker Band.

Douglas made that pitch hard to see. Maybe he thought about an Alabama linebacker as he drilled the first pitch he saw to deep deep center for two quick Irish runs. Brandon Paul had just reached before Douglas on an error by the second baseman.

It was a playable ball. It just found the Bermuda Triangle between his glove and the infield dirt. Looked like his timing was off, too.

The future Auburn fullback just made that a two-run mistake.

End of the first inning: Aquinas 2, Calvary Day 0

Whisenhunt just pitched his way in and out of trouble. He'd walked two Cavaliers to put runners on first and second with one out. He came up with a big strikeout of Calvary's Kyle Farmer for the second out and then induced a fly ball.

No hits. No runs. No errors. Two Cavaliers left on base.

Middle of the second inning: Aquinas 2, Calvary Day 0

2:33 pm: The Irish just squeezed out another run in the bottom of the second. Marshall Malchow singled, then drew the ire of Calvary pitcher Brad Hutson. Hutson apparently thought he was Jose Reyes or something. He threw to first four consecutive times during Pat Reese's at-bat.

That was good scouting by the Cavs, because Malchow took off and eventually stole second. He eventually scored on a bang-bang infield dribbler by Matt Reese. It was a close play at first for what would have been the third out.

From my vantage point, it looked like a combination between that old tie goes to the runner rule and whether or not Calvary first baseman Cody Padgett could hold on to a low throw off of Reese's spinning dribbler to third.   

The first base umpire called him safe as Malchow just kept on chugging around third. He scored as the Cavaliers tried to hold an inquiry as to whether or not Reese was safe at first or not.

By the time that had concluded, a hustling Malchow had made it 3-0.

Going into the top of the third inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 0

2:40 p.m: Right now it looks like Karma is wearing Kelly green and gold and has a rather disdain for the color purple.

That's evident by the top of the third inning. Aquinas starter Graham Whisenhunt gave up a single down the right field line to Calvary No. 9 hitter Nick Paris. Paris got greedy and tried for second.  

He was cut down trying for a double for the first out. Whisenhunt then hit Calvary leadoff man Bubba Green. Green was then promptly caught stealing. Aquinas left fielder Marshall Malchow then decided he wasn't finished earning his "Mr. Hustle" award for the day. Or the last 15 minutes.

If John Hart at WJBF did an Augusta Baseball Tonight, Malchow's sliding snare of a foul ball hit deep to left would be among his web gems from today's playoff action. 

Looks like the proverbial snake is biting down hard on the visiting Cavaliers right now.

Middle of the third inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 0 

2:48 PM: It's interesting watching Calvary Day coach Kevin Farmer right now with his team at the plate. You can tell he's holding his tongue, but it is hard.

There have been a few judgement calls already by the boys in blue today that he has every right to blow a gasket about. He's doing a professional's job of holding that steam in at the moment. 

Aquinas did absolutely nothing in the bottom of the third against Hutson. Whisenhunt is acting like that worm at your favorite fishing hole that just won't cooperate.

He's wiggled his way out of trouble for three straight innings now. He gave up another walk and a single, but still no runs. He went to three-ball counts to four of the five Calvary hitters he faced this inning.

The Cavs are not scoring, but they are chewing up Whisenhunt's pitching count. The senior lefty is keeping Calvary off stride with a heavy dose of the breaking ball right now.

Part of that is not luck. It's just good pitching. He's just about messed up the timing of every Calvary hitter in the lineup at least once today.

Another tough half-inning for the Cavs. Calvary's Kyle Farmer displayed a John Wayne helping of grit taking a foul ball off home plate to the jaw and stayed in the game. But then he struck out with a 3-2 count.

Middle of the fourth inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 0

3:05 PM: Anyone got an extra $80,000?

That's what Aquinas coach Mike Laney told me it would take to install light towers here at Aquinas Stadium and "do it right" so the Irish could avoid these afternoon starts and beat the heat.

I'm sure if they passed around the collection plate right now a few wealthy Irish alums could take care of that in between trips to pick up a hot dog and a coke at the snack bar.

Anyway, i kind of like the day game vibe here. It's what baseball used to be about in this country before television and advertising and big business took it all over at the professional level.

Paul Simon's Going to Graceland is playing on the P.A. at the moment. Calvary starter Brad Hutson is dealing right now. He's sat down seven consecutive Irish hitters going back to the second inning.

Nothing doing for the second consecutive turn at the plate for the Irish.

Going to the top of the fifth inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 0

Graham Whisenhunt is officially in deep water in the top of the fifth. It's real deep water because the bottom of the Calvary order put him there, too.

He's given up a hit up the middle and a walk to lead off the fifth inning. He just got Calvary leadoff man Bubba Green to bounce out to a tough grounder to third.

Good play by Pat Reese to take the sure out at first and get Green. There's no sense in getting greedy with all these runners on board right now.

Hutson just reached with an infield hit. The bases are loaded.

Three on, one out in the top of the fifth inning for Calvary: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 0

3:21 PM: Future South Georgia College catcher Brandon Collins finally got to Whisenhunt in the top of the fifth. He drove in two with his single to right and reached second on an errant throw to the plate.

That's the first fundamental mistake I've seen today by the Irish. Roberto Clemente couldn't have thrown out the second Calvary run of the inning. The smart play was back into second to keep Collins from reaching scoring position.

Whisenhunt limited the damage to that, though. He got the second and third outs of the inning with runners sitting at second and third.

Calvary gets two runs on two hits and a walk. They strand two. There was one Aquinas error.  

Middle of the fifth inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 2.

Interesting managerial move today by Aquinas coach Mike Laney. He's basically taken the "ace vs ace" theory for the baseball playoffs and flushed it.

His take is that he'd rather have his best pitcher start the potential elimination game later today. But then if his team happens to scratch out a win, he's got his ace and a big lift for his team with his club's most effective arm going out for the second game of the day to clinch the series.

That's why the Irish are holding back Mike Cardwell until the second game today.

I like the concept. Especially because of the pitching depth Laney has. That tactic essentially tries to make the game a three-game series with the hope that his third pitcher is better than what the other guys have in their dugout. That would not be as sound as strategy if there is a significant drop-off in a club's third pitcher versus what would be the norm for a team this deep in the state playoffs.

The only problem with that is Aquinas' Drew Garren is bogged down by a "dead arm" right now. He was the man Laney would have called on had the team's second-round series went to three games. He's got the makeup for it. He's a competitor. But he just doesn't have the arm.

Laney said on Monday that if he had to go to three games against the Cavs he'd go with sophomore catcher Brandon Paul as his starter and figure out who would be his catcher by the seat of his pants.

We're in the top of the sixth now. Whisenhunt has two Cavaliers out. But he's facing the bottom of the Calvary order that he had so much trouble with last inning.  

Top of the sixth inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 2.

For all the Cavalry fans lurking about, here's a reason to hit the "F5" button on your keyboard. Unfortunately, it's not related to what's going on between the lines.

It's a mighty impressive showing of fan support today by the Cavaliers. The good folks from Savannah have set up four tailgate tents and have definitely set a standard for an opponent showing up behind their team at Aquinas Stadium.

There may be about 35-45 Calvary fans who have it made in the shade out here today under those tents alone. Savannah's a hard city to leave on a pretty day like today I bet, but these die-hard fans found their reason.

Aquinas has one man out with two out against Hutson. Aquinas DH Mike Cardwell just laced a single to left down the third-base line.

Bottom of the sixth inning: Aquinas 3, Calvary Day 2.

OK, top of the seventh. Three outs left for the Irish. Whisenhunt has turned the ball over to closer John Douglas.

I'll try and see if I can't give out-by-out updates along such a crucial inning.

Calvary No. 9 hitter Nick Paris just led off the inning with a walk.

Top of the seventh inning. One on. No outs. Aquinas 3, Calvary 2.

Green just struck out. Hutson just popped out. One out left for the Irish.

And wouldn't you know it? Catcher Brandon Collins is up at the plate. He drove in his team's only two runs of the game in the fifth.

Top of the seventh inning. Cavalier on first. Two outs. Aquinas 3, Calvary 2.

Collins just got slapped on the head about 77 times at home plate. He driled a 2-1 pitch to left center. Home run. He's driven in all four Calvary runs today.

For those looking ahead, Aquinas will send its Nos. 7-8-9 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the inning.

It was quite a man vs. man match-up. Collins and Douglas are the two biggest boys on the field. Douglas hit the Aquinas homer that gave his club a 2-0 lead and he was trying to nail down the win for Whisenhunt.

Collins had other ideas. Moments like that decide state playoff games.

Middle of the seventh inning: Calvary Day 4, Aquinas 3.

Aquinas junior Marshall Malchow just led of the bottom of the seventh with a single. There are no outs.

Identical twins Pat and Matt Reese are up now for the Irish. 

Malchow just got extremely lucky. He was a dead duck on a pick-off attempt at first but he managed to slide under the tag. Man, that kid must be living right. 

Aquinas is not trying to sacrifice Malchow over to second.   

Bottom of the seventh inning: Calvary Day 4, Aquinas 3. 

There are two outs now. And it's a duel that should decide a game in this series.

But it will not. Andrew Williams (who's hitting something like .580 this year) was intentionally walked to first.

So much for drama. Drama lost out against a smart baseball move.

Drew Garren is up. Two men on. Two out. 1-2 count on Garren.

Garren just singled. He did his job. But Malchow was tagged out at the plate.

Calvary wins 4-3. Collins put the deciding tag on Malchow. Malchow would have had to bowl over all 250 pounds of him to wind up safe on that one. It was not that close. The big man made every other play to win this afternoon. There was no way he was not going to hold on to that ball and the third out.  

I'll go find out if Malchow ran through a red light or not.

Calvary leads the series 1-0. Next game is up in about 30 minutes.

Game one is over. Calvary Day 4, Aquinas 3. Calvary leads the series 1-0.  

4:55 PM: Middle of the first inning of game two: Aquinas continued to give Calvary fits to begin the second game. Leadoff man Andrew Williams walked and moved to second on a grounder.

Brandon Paul then struck out against Calvary starter Mike Allegretti. Allegretti just happens to be 12-0 for the year. Nothing like a tall order today, huh? Williams then stole third and watched Douglas walk to first.

Douglas was off for second which put Calvary second baseman Kyle Farmer in motion. Farmer doesn't make that play for the third out if he's not heading over to cover second on the steal attempt. Farmer made a nice play ranging to his right while on the move for the third out.

That's the nuts and bolts of it. The big thing everyone is wearing out the refresh feature on their browser for today is no Irish runs.

I'll remind everyone that the Irish have saved their ace Mike Cardwell to pitch game two. The Cavaliers better be geared down to hit the split-finger fastball or they will be making hotel reservations later tonight.

Middle of the first inning of Game Two: Calvary Day 0, Aquinas 0. The Cavaliers lead the series 1-0.

5:01 PM: Cardwell gave up a one-out hit to Brad Huston and then plunked Brandon Collins on a 2-2 count.  He then got a smash down the third-base line that bounded right into the glove of third sacker Pat Reese.

Reese forced Hutson at third and threw across the diamond for an inning-ending double play.

5:03 PM Heading into the top of the second. We're in Game Two. Cavs won the first game 4-3. Calvary Day 0, Aquinas 0.

5:04 PM: The Irish just led off the top of the second with back-to-back singles. Nobody out. It appears as if the Aquinas boys drank a case of their favored Rally Cola between games.

The Rolling Stones were just on the P.A. That sets up the line of the day overhead so far. One guy who's a few years past his varsity playing days offered up a belly laugh or six with a great line.

"You know you're old when Mick Jagger starts to look like Barney Fife, doncha?" he said. "That's when you know you're getting up there."

Everyone around him couldn't help but chuckle. Myself included. As for the field, it appears the Rally Cola rally ran out of fizz.

There was no laughing about how the top of the second ended up. Mike Allegretti showed why he's unbeaten so far this season by stranding Nigh Dorr and Marshall Malchow at first and second.

We're heading to the bottom of the second in the only school in Augusta that's got a makeshift bamboo farm growing courtesy of its Horticulture Department.

Middle of the second inning: Calvary 0, Aquinas 0. Calvary leads the series 1-0.

5:21 PM: Chaka Khan is urging the crowd over the P.A. to Tell Me Something Good. Well, I can only follow though on the harmonious suggestion if you happen to be a Calvary fan.

The Cavaliers got Blake Jones on with a leadoff single and then got him to second on a ground out. Designated hitter Ross Howard got him home with an RBI single.

Calvary scratches the scoreboard first in Game Two in a series it leads 1-0.

Heading to the Top of the third inning: Calvary Day 1, Aquinas 0.

Calvary just put an Andre the Giant-style choke hold on this series. The Cavaliers just posted the biggest inning of their quarterfinal series at Aquinas with three runs in the bottom of the third.

Here's the autopsy: Bubba Green got hit by a pitch. Cardwell then got Brad Hutson out on a bang-bang grounder to third. Green took second on the play. The Irish then walked Game One hero Brandon Collins intentionally with one out.

The double play that was supposed to have been set up with the 250-pound Collins running never materialized. Cody Padgett walked. Blake Jones hit a fly to center that John Douglas dropped in the sun while hustling in from center. Green came home.

The error only hurt the Irish momentum. The speedy Green still would have scored from third on the sac fly had Douglas caught the ball. Douglas was able to whip the ball to second to force Padgett. Collins took third on that play.

Nate Hatcher then came up with a two-run single.  That scored Collins and Blake Jones. Those four runs look pretty formidable right now given the fact that Allegretti (12-0) has allowed just two hits up to this point.  

Heading into the top of the fourth inning in a series Calvary leads 1-0. Calvary Day 4, Aquinas 0. 

Calvary made it 5-0 when a hustling Bubba Green advanced from second to third on grounder hit to first base.

He never stopped moving when the Irish didn't pay too much attention to him rounding third with one of those Hummer-sized wide turns.

The play at the plate never drew a throw in the bottom of the fourth inning. Green swiped that run for his Cavaliers as Aquinas didn't play that one too attentively in the field.

We're now in the top of the fifth inning: Calvary 5, Aquinas 0.

Here's another for the overheard category. Stop me if you've heard this one before.

An Aquinas fan was obviously displeased with the strike zone judgement in the second game today. So he blurted out an "C'mon, ump. Put your glass eye back in."

I've heard a lot of things at the ball yard. Never heard that one before. 

That and a Blake Jones home run are about the only things to report here from Aquinas Stadium. The Irish look beaten.

It's all Cavaliers here at Aquinas. They are just three outs away from reaching the state semifinals for the third consecutive season.

We're in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game Two. Calvary leads the series 1-0. Calvary is up 6-0 in the second game.

Game over. Series over. Calvary wins the second game 6-0. The Cavaliers (29-3) move on to the state semifinals. Aquinas finishes up at 24-7.