As the Georgia high school baseball playoffs heat up, Benedictine Military School stands alone as the last team from the Savannah area still competing for a state championship. After Calvary Day and Savannah Christian both fell in their second-round series on Thursday, all eyes are now on the Cadets as they carry the torch deep into postseason play.
Benedictine made a powerful statement in the second round, sweeping visiting Allatoona with commanding victories of 12-5 and 13-3 on Wednesday. The wins propelled the Cadets (29-5) into the Class 4A state quarterfinals, where they'll host Cambridge (25-10) in a best-of-three series. The double-header is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.
The Cadets' offense was firing on all cylinders in the series opener, led by junior Kai Hernandez-Gambill, who turned in a standout performance. Hernandez-Gambill went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and four RBIs. Joiner Uhrich also contributed heavily, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while sophomore Noah Harris delivered a strong start on the mound, allowing just two runs over five innings.
In Game 2, senior Colvin Proto earned the win, with Noah Harris driving in three more runs and Uhrich adding a pair of RBIs to seal the sweep.
This marks the first state quarterfinal appearance for head coach Jason Pascual in his third season leading the Benedictine program. Pascual previously guided the Cadets to the second round in his debut season and secured another playoff berth last year. "We've had a great season because our kids have worked so hard and they are playing for each other," Pascual said. "They have been doing what they need to do to win. Our hitting has been outstanding and our defense has come along. Our pitching has been steady and we've just played consistent ball throughout the year. We're excited about the chance to play in the quarterfinals."
Meanwhile, Savannah Christian's season came to a heartbreaking close on Thursday, as the host Raiders dropped two nail-biting 3-2 games. The first contest went 11 innings, with senior Brodie Schuman—who has signed to play at Georgia Southern-East Georgia—delivering a gutty performance on the mound. Schuman pitched 9⅔ innings, allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out seven without walking a batter on 104 pitches. In the second game, Ethan Jones carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, allowing only one hit and no runs over five frames, but Mount Paran's late surge ultimately ended the Raiders' playoff run.
As Benedictine prepares for its quarterfinal showdown, the entire Savannah baseball community will be rallying behind the Cadets, hoping to see them continue their remarkable season all the way to a state title.