They'd scrimmaged once or twice over the years, but when C. Milton Wright went to Calvert Hall to play the No. 1 Cardinals Wednesday, it was the first time they would play a game that counted.

Ranked No. 2, the Mustangs were determined to try harder and their efforts paid off with a 4-1 win.

"It was pretty cool to be playing one of the top teams in the state," said C.M. Wright senior second baseman Ronnie Zeberlein. "We were pretty pumped up and ready to take them down."

And it was pretty cool at school yesterday for everyone associated with the Mustang baseball team, as word had spread that they'd won "The Big Game."

"It was very fun," said left-hander Mike DeVecchio, the starting and winning pitcher. "No one at school had given us a shot. But we came up big. Now the pressure is on us. I like it. I like being respected and having to push even harder to reach our next goal -- the state championship. "

The Mustangs made it to the state championship game last year, but fell short. This year their dream is to be one win better.

Wednesday, they were better than No. 1. They beat Calvert Hall with Zeberlein hitting a double in the first inning to bring teammate Andrew Gilley home for the team's first run and a two-run home run in the fifth to provide a little room to relax.

The winning run came in the second inning when Ryan Corn singled to bring home Shane Halsey.

Calvert Hall scored what would be its only run of the game in the bottom of the second when catcher Ryan Welling singled home Evan Cain, who had doubled at the start of the inning.

"When it was 2-1 and Ronnie hit the home run in the fifth, it got our confidence up again and we knew we could win," said DeVecchio, who is now 2-0 on the season. "But we were pretty confident underdogs going in. We knew we had nothing to lose."

Of course, that all changes now, thanks in large part to DeVecchio. He did not have his best stuff at the start of the game but he persevered, using his knowledge of Calvert Hall players from playing on summer travel leagues with them. By the fourth inning, he was calm and throwing with authority.

Though he had just one strikeout, it was a timely one, coming with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning. In four innings, he gave up just three hits and one run to the four-time Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champs, who had been unbeaten in four games this season. DeVecchio gave way to junior right-hander Brad Markey, who allowed two hits in the final three innings.

"We came up a little short to a great team," said Calvert Hall coach Lou Eckerl. "We didn't support our pitchers very well, but you've got to give them credit. They only allowed us five hits. Both teams played well defensively. We left 10 guys on base. It was a great game."

Mustangs coach Tony Blackburn reminded his players yesterday that there are no awards for winning a game in March and voiced his appreciation at being able to play the area's perennial private school champion.

"We were excited to go play a team of their caliber," said Blackburn, whose team had asked him last year to try to schedule this game. "But I know I had to play my top two pitchers to win that game, while Calvert Hall was using their No. 3 and No. 4 pitchers.

"It's a compliment to us that they were willing to play us. I'm not being a jerk. Calvert Hall doesn't play that many public schools and for them to find room to play us, well, I made a point to say 'Thank you.'"

For Calvert Hall, the game will serve as a reminder that anything can happen. And for C. Milton Wright, it was a huge shot of confidence.

"Me and Ronnie are two of our senior leaders and we told the kids [teammates] what they're getting into now," said DeVecchio. "We'll make sure they don't get [big heads]. But if you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. We did that. Last night, I couldn't sleep. I just kept replaying that game in my mind all night long."