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With the 2019 Maryland High School baseball season just underway and games right around the corner, we begin to close out our complete preseason coverage with a look at every conference throughout that state. We will break down each conference with a preview of teams expected to contend as well as key players from across the league that you won't want to miss play. 

Note: A preseason questionnaire was sent out to all Maryland high school baseball coaches in Mid-January to gain pertinent information for this piece but not all forms were completed and returned. Below is a compilation of information received as well as thoughts from our staff at PBR Maryland.

 

Players to Watch in the Central Maryland Conference

Justin Acal (Tuscarora) 
Graham Albers (Oakdale)
Mason Albright (Catoctin) 
Brett Ahalt (Walkersville)
Sean Barry (Urbana)
Josh Black (Smithsburg)
Graham Brown (Middletown)
Kyle Brown (Frederick)
Armani Bullock (Urbana)
John Carter (South Hagerstown) 
Cole Crist (Middletown)
Matt Cunningham (Linganore)
Logan DeBord (Oakdale)
Josh DeRocher (Boonsboro)
Hayden Dextradeur (Catoctin) 
John Dhima (Urbana)
Tanner Dixon (Frederick)
Jacob Ference (Linganore)
Maddux Grove (Williamsport)
Eli Hageman (Urbana)
Corey Jamison (Williamsport)
TJ Kalagher (Boonsboro)
Graham King (Urbana)
Tyler Kitchen (Urbana)
Zach Martin (Middletown)
Adam Mathias (Boonsboro)
Liam McFadden (Oakdale)
Ferris McIlmail (Urbana)
Justin Moschel (Williamsport)
Scott Neal (North Hagerstown)
Ryan Nolan (Boonsboro)
Chanse Phillips (South Hagerstown)
Luke Pryor (Middletown)
Bryce Quartucci (Urbana)
Bryce Romsburg (Williamsport)
Jake Santis (Linganore)
Garrett Schwartzbeck (Linganore)
Dalton Shank (Boonsboro)
Jack Surdez (Frederick)
Nik Struntz (Frederick)
Justin Taylor (Williamsport)
Jake Turner (Oakdale)
Trenton Von Philp (Boonsboro)
Adam Watkins (Brunswick)
Daniel Walter (Smithsburg) 
Corey Walters (Williamsport)
Kameron Walters (Urbana)
Chase Weller (Middletown)

 

Spires Division

Teams
Frederick Cadets
Linganore Lancers
North Hagerstown Hubs
Oakdale Bears
South Hagerstown Rebels
Thomas Johnson Patriots
Tuscarora Titans
*Urbana Hawks

*Denotes 2018 Division Champion

 

Gambrill Division

Teams
*Boonsboro Warriors
Brunswick Railroaders
Catoctin Cougars
Middletown Knights
Smithsburg Leopards
Walkersville Lions
Williamsport Wildcats

*Denotes 2018 Division Champion

 

2019 Season Outlook

The Central Maryland Conference is once again loaded with talented players and littered with teams that will compete for MPSSAA State Championships in 2019. 14th year head coach Mike Frownfelter and Urbana will look to make it three straight Central Maryland Conference championships with a bevy of returners this season. The Hawks defeated MPSSAA 1A State Champion Boonsboro 8-5 at Mount St. Mary's last season for the CMC crown before falling to the eventual 4A State Champion Howard Lions in the 4A North Region Final (11-10). Senior standout Trey Lipscomb has since graduated and is now playing at Tennessee but Urbana returns a bunch of three and four year starters who look poised to compete in the CMC and make another serious run in the state playoffs. Senior RHP and 2018 2nd Team All-CMC Conference member Tyler Kitchen (5-1 W-L, 2.78 ERA) returns to anchor a staff that includes fellow senior RHP and 2018 2nd Team All-CMC Conference member Sean Barry and three returning juniors in Kameron Walters, Garrett Kile, and Kyle Wang. Offensively the Hawks look to be paced by seniors Ferris McIlmail (.313 AVG), Graham King (.306 AVG), Eli Hageman (.317 AVG), and Barry (.317 AVG), with Walters and Kile also figuring to play key roles in the lineup as well. Look for several solid newcomers including Joey Galloway, Armani Bullock, John Dhima, Bryce Quartucci, Josh Baker, Julian Samonte, and Brendan Yagesh to help add depth both on the mound and in the lineup for Coach Frownfelter. 

Gambrill Division champion and MPSSAA 1A State Champion Boonsboro returns a loaded roster that figures to be one of the top contenders to knock off Urbana in the CMC. 2nd year head coach Stephen Mason enters his 7th year in the program with three All-Washington County 1st Teamers back. 2018 All-Washington County Hitter of the Year Dalton Shank (.411 AVG, 25 RBI's 18 XBH's), clean-up batter Ryan Nolan (.427 AVG, 24 RBI's), and 2-time first teamer Adam Mathias (.313 AVG, 34 RBI's, 7-2-1 W-L-S) lead a strong Warriors ball club once again in 2019. Coach Mason will look to replace six key players last season highlighted by Colton Bare (UMBC) and 2018 All-Washington County 1st Team selection Cole Rinehart (Wilson College) with returners Josh DeRocher (.384 AVG), Hagerstown CC commit TJ Kalagher (.379 AVG), Peyton Mason (.390 AVG), Trenton Von Philp (1.79 ERA), and newcomers Cameron Day and Jake Neff. 

In the Spires Division, Gov. Thomas Johnson look to be strong contenders in 2019 once again coming off their MPSSAA 3A State Championship last season. The Patriots defeated Huntingtown 3-2 last season at Ripken to claim the school's fourth state title. Five key players are gone from last year in Jacob Berry (Frederick CC), Brett Coughlin, Jack Maruskin (Frostburg State University), Tyler Rhoderick (University of Maryland - Eastern Shore), and Gabe Stitley (Chesapeake College) but 6th year head coach Billy Gross is looking forward to the challenge of defending that title with a good mix of returners and newcomers hoping to fill those voids. University of Maryland commit Jacob Orr (.432 AVG, 29 R's, 13 RBI's, 10 SB's), and Matt Fowkes (.328 AVG, 14 R's. 12 RBI's) return as the leaders on offense with seniors Collin Bitler (Wilson College), Michael McGee (Wilson College), and Justin Bolden also figuring to play key roles in the lineup. On the mound, the Patriots will need returners Shane Bowie (Jr.) RHP, Alex Dunheimer (Jr.) LHP, Matt Fowkes (Jr.) RF/RHP, and Ian Kline (Jr.) RHP to step up and collectively replace the 84 innings that both Stitley and Rhoderick accounted for last season. Look for a strong group a newcomers in AJ Enriquez (Jr.) OF/RHP, Torin Sones (Jr.) 1B, Alex Tyeryar (So.) 2B, Trevor Yusko (So.) C/RHP to add depth and find roles both in the lineup and on the mound. 

Linganore returns a strong core group that will be tough to beat in the Spires Division as well with Jacob Ference (.438 AVG, 15 RBI's), pacing the offense and Jake Santis and Matt Cunningham anchoring the rotation. The Lancers lose key two-way player Sam Downs (.340 AVG, 39 K's in 28.1 IP, 1.70 ERA) so 5th year head coach David Keiling will look to some talented younger players including Garrett Schwartzbeck, Tyler Perry, Cole Lee, Dylan Miller, and Ryan Sachar to step up in 2019. 

27th year Frederick head coach Phil Rhodes will look to returners Kyle Brown, Tanner Dixon, and righty's Nik Struntz and Jack Surdez to lead the way as they look to bounce back from a 5-15 2018 campaign. Brady MacDonald, Ryan Maddon and newcomer Tyler Prather figure to also play key roles for the Cadets this season. 

Oakldale looks to have a talented squad with Liam McFadden on the mound and Graham Albers, Logan DeBord, and Jake Turner leading the way on offense. South Hagerstown returns junior CF and 2018 1st Team All-Washington County player Chanse Phillips (.409 AVG, 13 RBI's) and power RHP John Carter for the 2019 season. Rival North Hagerstown returns 2018 1st Team All-Washington County catcher Scott Neal (.365 AVG, 18 RBI's) as the leader of the Hubs while senior and Chesapeake College commit Justin Acal returns to lead the Titans at Tuscarora. 

The Gambrill Division saw several key players graduate in 2018 which makes for a pretty wide-open year as teams look to compete with Boonsboro at the top. Williamsport lost over 36 innings pitched by last season's All-Washington County Pitcher of the year Ryan Greene (Hagerstown CC), and All-Washington County 1st teamer Jaustin Itnyre's .489 batting average in the leadoff spot. 1st year head coach AJ Jamison takes over for David Warrenfeltz and looks to lean on Justin Taylor (Millersville University commit), Corey Walters (Hagerstown CC commit), and Maddux Grove (Chesapeake College commit). Look for Justin Moschel, Corey Jamison, Bryce Romsburg, and newcomer Curran Earnest to add depth and play key roles for Coach Jamison in his first season as head coach for the Wildcats in 2019. 

11th year head coach Trey Cobb has done an outstanding job at Smithsburg and the 2019 Leopards look like they could be contenders in the Gambrill Division with six starters returning. 2018 All-Washington County 1st Teamer Cameron Kutchey's (Lock Haven University) absence will hurt but look for Daniel Walter, Chase Miller, Alex Cuevas, Garrett Kercheval, Jordan Ingram, and the very talented sophomore Josh Black to step up and fill that void. Newcomers Devin Bollinger, Clayton Fazenbaker, and Chris Jennings also figure to see playing time early as they compete for starting spots in 2019. 

Middletown looks to have a good squad and should be very competitive this season under 12th year head coach Andy Baker. The Knights feature four college commits in seniors Cole Crist (Rollins College), Luke Pryor (Mount St. Mary's University), Graham Brown (Potomac State College of WV), and sensational sophomore Zach Martin (University of Maryland). Newcomers Jacob Pryor and Chase Weller also figure to play key roles in the lineup as well. 

Catoctin returns a few arms highlighted by LHP and Virginia Tech commit Mason Albright. Look for Hayden Dextradeur to help pace the offense for the Cougars who are perennially tough to beat in the CMC. Adam Watkins figures to be a key piece on the mound for Brunswick in 2019 with the loss of RHP Brendan Johnson (Wilson College). Junior SS and Gardner-Webb University commit Brett Ahalt will lead a Walkersville team that looks to replace two key pieces from a year ago in Jacob Wetzel (Frederick CC) and Christian Policelli (US Naval Academy). 

 

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