MINORS AAA
For Updated Playoff Brackets: AAA Playoffs Bracket
5/31/2022-AAA Championship
Orioles 16, Grays 7— The 4-seed Orioles completed a stirring run to the City Championship, following up their semifinal upset of the top-seed Astros by toppling the 2-seed Grays on May 31 at Boyle Park.
Jordan Miller had a big day, striking out nine in the final three innings to close out the game, and adding a key three-run triple in an Orioles rally. Miller entered the game with the bases loaded in the fourth inning of a 9-7 game, and struck out the side to snuff a Grays rally.
Matthew Can pitched the first three innings for the Orioles, while Bret Griemsmann had two hits, including a triple. Alex Meleis stroked two doubles and Brooks Merrick had three RBIs for the winners.
For the Grays, Lyle Feldman hit a three-run double.
Minors AAA City Championship: Orioles 16, Grays 7
5/26/2022
Orioles 5, Astros 3 — In a thrilling semifinal, the Orioles upset the 1-seed Astros.
Brooks Merrick hit a tie-breaking, three-run, inside-the-park home run in the 5th inning, then closed out the game on the mound by retiring the Astros in the bottom of the 6th.
Merrick and Matthew Cao combined on a three-hitter, walking only one while striking out 12. Merrick and Ava Desmond had early RBIs for the Orioles, while the Astros plated River Jacobs and Owen Benford in the first to set up the 2-2 tie going into the 5th.
The Astros rode strong pitching from Max Vreede, Beckett Glynn and Benford, combining for 13 strikeouts. The Astros cut the deficit to 5-3 when Arlo Williams tripled in Tristan Selvidge in the 5th inning.
But Merrick and the Orioles held on for a big win, and sent the Orioles into Tuesday’s Minors AAA City Championship.
Quarterfinal, May 24:
Orioles 13, Twins 0 — Matthew Cao and Brooks Merrick combined on a no-hitter, and Bret Griemsmann and James Read each hit bases-clearing triples to lead the 4-seed Orioles into the semifinals against the top-seed Astros.
Ava Desmond and Luca Gaetani each added key hits and RBIs for the winners, and Alex Meleis made a big catch in left field to rob extra bases.
For the 5-seed Twins, Joe Blancarte, Desi Davis and Jackson Milum made nice defensive plays.
Grays 7, Cubs 4 — The 2-seed Grays ousted the 3-seed Cubs in a semifinal to advance to Monday’s City Championship.