Aberdeen

Head coach: Charles “Rigor” Mortus (13th season)

2009 record: 4-11

Top returners: Connor Jones, Sr. (1B, C); Ryan Shetterly, Sr. (OF); Ethan Wallace, Sr. (C, P, IF)

Key newcomers: Zach Litsch, So. (IF, P); Chris Ryan, So. (OF, P)

Outlook: “The Eagles were close in a lot of games last year,” coach Mortus said. “Our seasoned returners are going to turn those close games our way this year. We hope Billy Adkins [junior infielder], Ryan Boudreaux [senior pitcher and outfielder], and Connor Bruso [junior pitcher and outfielder] can help round out the team. We are looking for a winning season.”

Bel Air

Head coach: John Swanson (ninth season)

2009 record: 13-3

Top returners: T.J. Campbell, Sr. (P); Bryan Carnaggio, Sr. (IF); Sean Lapouraille, Sr. (C); Zach Nadolny, Sr. (P, 1B, 3B); Mike Schmitt, Sr. (IF, OF, P); Matt Simini, Sr. (1B)

Key newcomers: Kyle Hergesheimer, Jr. (OF); Derek Spanellis, So. (OF, P)

Outlook: “We have a senior dominated lineup with some holes to fill from last year’s offense,” coach Swanson said. “We are looking to improve every day and see what happens. [Our games with] Fallston, C. Milton Wright and Harford Tech, as usual, [will be] a battle of who’s ready to play. I am excited about the upcoming season.”

C. Milton Wright

Head coach: Tony Blackburn (fifth season)

2009 record: 14-6

Top returners: Andrew Clow, Jr. (C); Ryan Corn, Sr. (3B); Andrew Gilley, Sr. (SS, 2B, OF); Shane Halsey, Sr. (OF); Brad Markey, Sr. (P, SS); Sam O’Hare, Sr. (1B, P0); Bobby Ruse, Jr. (P, 1B); Tyler Yudiski, Sr. (P, OF)

Key newcomers: Jon Cobo, Jr. (P, 1B); Tyler Dameron, Fr. (2B, SS); Justin Martin, Fr. (P, 3B); Nick Stallings, Jr. (P, OF)

Outlook: “We return our top five pitchers from last year, including Markey and Ruse, and [we added John Carroll transfer] Cobo to our staff,” coach Blackburn said. “We return eight starting position players. Our biggest challenge this year is going to be finding some consistent offense against better pitchers. Last season we let good pitchers shut us down.”

Edgewood

Head coach: Mike Friskey

2009 record: Not available

Outlook: The Edgewood coaching staff did not provide information for this baseball preview.

Fallston

Head coach: Joe Connolly (second season)

2009 record: 20-2

Top returners: Brandon Del Pilar, Jr. (OF); Erik Henrickson, Sr. (OF); Grant Kelly, Jr. (SS, 2B); Zack Knudson, Sr. (P, 1B)

Key newcomers: John Hetterman, So. (P, 2B); Kyle McCafferty, Jr. (3B, 1B, P); Rob Randall, Jr. (1B); Justin Sommers, Jr. (SS, 2B)

Outlook: Though Fallston, last year’s UCBAC champion and Class 3A state runner up, faces “an uphill battle to overcome the loss of senior Shane Hollman to a season-ending knee injury,” coach Connolly said he has a solid starting rotation and outfield to rely on.

“The pitching staff will be anchored by Taylor Nelson, Knudson and Hetterman,” Connolly said. “[We also] return a strong outfield, and [we] hope to continue our hitting success from last season.”

Havre de Grace

Head coach: Sean Welsh (first year)

2009 record: 2-14

Top returners: David Jacobs, Sr. (SS, P); Dan Preston, Sr. (IF, P); Jack Spooner, Sr. (3B, P); Jon Stetina, Sr. (OF, IF); Zack Tabor, Sr. (OF, C)

Key newcomers: Brandon Donaldson, Sr. (1B, P); Nick Gartside, Jr. (2B, SS); Grant McFarland, Jr. (OF); Andy Meiselwitz, So. (C); Keith Sifford, So. (IF, P)

Outlook: After dropping back down from Chesapeake (upper) Division following a disappointing campaign in 2009, and the departure of longtime head coach Doug Heeter, the Warriors turn to coach Welsh to lead the rebuilding process at his alma mater. Havre de Grace returns six seniors from last year’s squad, including its top two pitchers. The Warriors will rely on a group of versatile, hardworking student-athletes to battle for the top spot in the Susquehanna (lower) Division. Only four starters return, and with four juniors and three sophomores up from a solid junior varsity squad, the Warriors will look to both rebuild and contend in 2010.

Harford Christian

Head coach: Steve Fala (first season)

2009 record: Not available

Top returners: Will Edwards, Sr.; Cameron Thacker, Sr.; Josh Petty, Jr.

Key newcomers: Travis Henderson, So.

Outlook: The two-time defending MACSAC champion Eagles come into the 2010 campaign with 14 of 15 players from last year’s team returning, having lost only Eric Quinn to graduation. “Players from this team will need to stop up and assume more pitching and hitting responsibilities, but coaches expect that players will rise to the occasion and defend the MACSAC championship,” coach Fala said.

Harford Tech

Head coach: Bill Jones (third year)

2009 record: 8-8

Top returners: Zach Hinton, Sr. (IF); Pat Pierce, Jr. (OF); Eric Scanlon, Sr. (1B); Kenny West, Sr. (P, SS)

Key newcomers: Andrew Bugda, So. (C); Dre Jones, Jr. (OF); Dustin Jones, So. (Util.); John Lacomb, Jr. (3B, P); Telvone Lambert, Jr. (OF)

Outlook: “Six returning players, led by West, Scanlon and Pierce, bring experience to a young team,” coach Jones said. “Playing some of the top teams in the state, game after game in the Chesapeake Division, will hopefully prepare us for another successful run in the 1A playoffs. West is a returning first-team All Harford [selection] who will be counted on as a number-one pitcher and hitter. Defense and pitching will be a key to our success this season. If we work hard in these areas, we should continue the success the program has had over the past seasons.”

John Carroll

Head coach: Joe Stetka (first year)

2009 record: Not available

Top returners: Brendan Butler, Jr. (3B, P, OF); K.J. Hockaday, Jr. (SS, P); Drew Hutton, Sr. (P, 1B); Mason Keene, Sr. (1B, P, OF); Ryan Kirby, Jr. (C, P) Nick Naumann, Jr. (OF); Trent Shaw, Jr. (2B, P); Connor Skelly, (OF)

Key newcomers: Josh Brown, Jr. (OF, C); E.J. Derengowski, Sr. (P, 3B); Dave McGee, Jr. (P, 3B); Sean Nelson, Jr. (IF); Timmy Ryan, Jr. (OF, IF); Danny Snee, Jr. (OF); Max Thompson, So. (P); Mike Wittik, Jr. (P, OF); Nick Wojtysiak, Sr. (P, OF)

Outlook: First-year head coach Stetka had this to say about the the 2010 Patriots: “This team has been a coach’s dream so far. This year I think we’re going to hit well, the defense is going to be really solid, and if our pitching holds up, I’m looking to do well in this league, [the IAAM]. I’ve heard some people talking about pitchers throwing around Hockaday, but my two, four and five hitters are going to make it tough to do that. We’ve got a lot of pop and speed in this lineup. These guys have worked hard from last fall until now, and I’m really excited for the season to start.”

Joppatowne

Head coach: Will Smith (second season)

2009 record: 3-13

Top returners: Andrew Barret, Sr. (P, SS, C); Robert Booker, Jr. (3B, C); Jake Diana, Jr. (2B, 3B); Dimitrios Jelen, Sr. (CF, P, SS); Bradley Kujawa, So. (1B)

Key newcomers: Jose Figueroa, Fr. (3B, C, P); Alex O’Dell, So. (C, SS, P)

Outlook: “We are a very young team with only two returning seniors who played significant time last year,” coach Smith said. “I have been very pleased with the atmosphere at Joppatowne towards baseball, and the willingness of our young players to learn the game. They key for us this year is to catch, throw, and catch the ball, and not give the other team extra outs. I definitely feel like the youthful spirit in the program this year, and feel optimistic that the glass is half full. Teams will see a disciplined team with energy that competes in practice and the game.”

North Harford

Head coach: Tim Larrimore (20th season)

2009 record: 8-9

Top returners: Josh Barben, Sr. (2B); Robert Campbell, Jr. (C); Kevin Mooney, So. (P, OF); Robert Parsons, Sr. (OF); Kyle Pitzer, Sr. (1B)

Key newcomers: Tyler McGrady, Sr. (OF); Jeremy Skrzypiec, Jr. (OF); Brandon Wooten, So. (P); Brian Wright, Sr. (IF)

Outlook: “Last season was the first season that we have been .500 or below since 1997,” coach Larrimore said. “Six of our eight losses were by two or less runs. We are very young this year with six sophomores on the team to start the season. The sophomore class of baseball players is one of the best groups I have ever seen here.”

Patterson Mill

Head coach: Matt Roseland (third season)

2009 record: 8-9

Top returners: Mike Delinski, Jr. (2B); Luke Fuhrman, Sr. (C); Matt Golczewski, So. (OF, P); Tom Lambert, Sr. (CF); Joe Roman, Jr. (OF, P)

Key newcomers: Alex Abild, So. (3B)

Outlook: “We look forward to building on a successful first varsity season, and hope to compete for the top of the Susquehanna Division,” coach Roseland said. “We have a group of excited young men eager to make Patterson Mill a respected program in Harford County for years to come.”

---

user comments (0)