The Bishop O'Connell Knights captured the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference baseball tournament title, ending a 25‑year championship drought with a 5‑2 win over top‑seeded St. Paul VI Catholic Panthers in the decisive third game at the University of Maryland. The victory capped a three‑game series in which the Knights rallied after an opening loss.
Key Performances and Honors
Senior shortstop Bryant James earned Co‑Player of the Year honors and led a first‑team selection that included Jack Woda, Shota Fogus, Chaz Walker and Robert Kilpatrick. Fogus delivered a complete‑game shutout, scattering four hits, striking out nine and walking one against Ryken, while Walker McElwain and Chaz Walker contributed power numbers that helped shape the lineup.
The team’s offensive firepower was evident in the season stats: Jack Woda finished with six homers and 37 RBI, Bryant James posted eight homers, 30 RBI and a .539 average, while Walker McElwain hit .500 with three homers and 45 RBI, and Chaz Walker added five homers and 31 RBI. Their contributions turned a promising campaign into a historic run.
The Knights finished the season with 27 wins, the most for the program since 2001, and went 1‑1 in the Division I private‑school state tournament, falling to Paul VI in the semifinals. A walk‑off solo home run by Nick Ferrara in the ninth inning had earlier given O'Connell a dramatic victory over St. Christopher's, underscoring the team’s resilience.
Coach Chris Berset and the entire O'Connell community celebrated the milestone, reflecting on the program’s resurgence and looking ahead to the next season. The championship also underscored the school's growing presence in the WCAC, a conference that has long been a proving ground for elite Catholic school baseball talent.