Prep Baseball Report

2020 Carroll County Season Preview


Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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With the 2020 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.

 

CARROLL County

*Century Knights
Francis Scott Key Eagles
Liberty Lions
Manchester Valley Mavericks
South Carroll Cavaliers
Westminster Owls
Winters Mill Falcons

*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion

 

PLayers to Watch List

 

Century Knights

Conner Breitenbach OF 2021
Hunter Rose 3B 2021

Francis Scott Key Eagles

Jarred Hise C 2020

Liberty Lions

Robert Bratchie INF/P 2020
Garrett Geidel OF/1B/P 2020
Peyton Scheufele INF/P 2020

Manchester Valley Mavericks

Brett DeWees C 2020 (York College)
Eddie Meredith 2B 2020 (Albright College)
Jack Metz 3B/P 2020
Matthew Myers OF/P 2020 (Randolph-Macon)
Kyle Scott SS/P 2020

South Carroll Cavaliers

JB Berry RHP 2020 (Charleston Southern)
Alex Hess SS 2020
Nick Trey OF/RHP 2020 (Frostburg State University)
Aidan Greaney 3B 2021
Will Irwin RHP 2021
Nick Malone C 2021
Logan Miller 2B 2022

Westminster Owls

Haden Hoff C/OF 2020 (Fairmont State University)
Matt Annulis P/OF 2020
Tyler Buberl 3B/P 2020
Marcos Mendez 1B 2020
Riley Warren 1B/P 2020
Zach Kraft P 2020

Winters Mill Falcons

Travis Fullerton P/INF 2020
Conner Peters P/INF 2020
Josh Popeilski P 2021
Slater Seitz P/OF 2021
Cade Spreitzer C 2021

 

2020 Season Preview

 

FAVORITE

South Carroll Cavaliers: South Carroll enters 2020 as the favorites to win the Carroll County Championship with several key returners back from a season ago. Eighth year head coach Brian Zawacki and the Cavaliers were bounced early from the MPSSAA playoffs in 2019 losing 11-2 to Oakdale in the 3A West Sectional Semifinals. With a sour taste in their mouth from how last year's season ended, look for this strong group of upperclassmen to be hard to beat in county and make some noise come playoff time as they finish out their careers in 2020.

This year's staff looks to be very strong with senior RHP JB Berry (Charleston Southern) leading the way as the team's ace. The senior righty has seen a big jump in his velocity since striking out 48 batters in 39.2 innings pitched to the tune of a 1.06 ERA a season ago. Fellow seniors Nick Trey (19.1 IP, 0.72 ERA) and Will Irwin (4-1 record with 38.1 IP and a 2.92 ERA) also have a lot of experience toeing the rubber for the Cavaliers making this year's starting rotation strong with three big arms. Top newcomers Dylan Yourmans and Ryder Chaulk figure to hear their numbers called throughout the season and could end up playing key roles on the staff depending on how things shake out.

Trey, a Frostburg State commit will also be one of the main catalysts in a lineup that returns six starters overall in 2020. Trey hit .354 in 2019 and will be joined by senior SS Alex Hess (.383 AVG), junior 3B Aidan Greaney (.415 AVG, 18 RBI's), and junior C Nick Malone in the top-to-middle part of the order. Sophomore 2B Logan Miller (.319 AVG) and senior 1B Joe Westbrook also return as impact bats with top newcomers Noah Paglese and Christopher Durkin looking to get on base and in scoring position for those older guys.

 

CONTENDERS

Century Knights: The back-to-back Carroll County champions lose four major pieces in First Team All County selections Matt Born, Jared LambJoe Rekus, and Bradon Will and ten seniors overall from a season ago. Second year head coach Chris Poe will need several younger players to step up if they hope to contend for a third straight county title relying heavily on junior Hunter Rose at the top of the lineup and junior Conner Breitenbach in the middle in 2020.

Liberty Lions: The Lions lose First Team All County catcher Austin Massey (Chesapeake College) from a season ago but return a strong core of upperclassmen. Seniors Peyton Scheufele, Garrett Geidel, and Robert Bratchie will look to lead the way both on the mound and at the plate in 2020.

Manchester Valley Mavericks: The Mavericks figure to be contenders for the Carroll County title in 2020 with five key pieces returning. Dynamic outfielder Matthew Myers (Randolph-Macon) will sit atop the lineup that also includes seniors Eddie Meredith (Albright College), Brett DeWees (York College), Jack Metz, and Kyle Scott.
 
Westminster Owls: The Owls struggled early in 2019 but found their stride midway through finishing 13-8 and reaching the 3A West Regional Final in the playoffs. 9th year head coach Mark Winebrunner returns two First Team All County players in Matt Annulis and Haden Hoff (Fairmont State) for the 2020 season. Annulis returns as the ace of the staff and will be leaned on heavily coming off a season in which he went 5-1 striking out 46 batters in 33 innings to the tune of a 1.91 ERA. Hoff meanwhile will look to repeat his production in the middle of the order this year after hitting .353 with 26 RBI’s in 2019. Joining Hoff as returners in the lineup this year will be Marcos Mendez (Second Team All County), Tyler Buberl (Second Team All County), Riley Warren, and Jonah Culberson. Look for top newcomer Dalton Mount to play a key role in the lineup as well as the Owls look to fill the holes left behind by Ryan Clatterbuck (CCBC Catonsville), Jake Sell, and Cory Moran. Zach Kraft figures to be the team’s number two entering the season and will be looked upon to increase his effectiveness coming off a 2019 campaign in which he went 2-3 on the bump. 


BEST OF THE REST

Francis Scott Key Eagles: The Eagles went 5-12 in head coach Todd Hartshorn’s first season at the helm and will look to build on that this season with several returners back. Ryan Bennett and Lonnie McLain return as leaders and key pieces both on the mound and at the plate. Look for Logan Miller, Luke Breezy, Jacob Ingle, and Travis Williams to also see time on the mound as they look to fill the void left behind by Kyle Williams. At the plate, Bennett and McLain will be joined by fellow returning starters Mike Jones, Joe Eckard, and Jarred Hise. Hartshorn was formerly the head coach at Hereford where he built the Bulls into a perennial Baltimore County powerhouse. Expect the Eagles to continue trending upward under his watch.

Winters Mill Falcons: Winters Mill finished a disappointing 4-15 last season and lost key players Grant Bradt (California University of Pennsylvania) and Alex Barnes. While the Falcons still figure to be young, head coach Erik Barnes returns three starters and three arms led by senior Second Team All County pitcher/infielder Conner Peters. Peters and junior Slater Seitz will look to make an impact both on the mound and in the lineup this year with Josh Popeilski adding depth on the mound and junior catcher Cade Spreitzer looking to make a difference in the lineup. Look for top newcomers Travis Fullerton, Johnny Bobnar, and Jason Laguna to play key roles in the lineup also as the season progresses.


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