2023 MPSSAA 4A Season Preview
March 14, 2023
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Our 2023 Season Previews continues today with our preview of the MPSSAA 4A in Maryland. We will dive into key players and players to watch, as well as make our predictions on who we believe will win each region.
MIAA "A" Preseason All-Conference Team
MIAA "A" Conference Preview Part 1
MIAA "A" Conference Preview Part 2
WCAC Preview
IAC Preview
Lets take a look into the 4A…
2022 Recap
2022 saw a rematch of 2021's State Championship with Sherwood squaring off with Severna Park for the second consecutive year. Last year, unlike 2021 that saw the game go into extra innings, was dominated by Sherwood, winning their second consecutive 4A State Championship by a score of 11-0.
The 4A Classification churns out top tier talent year after year, and 2023 looks to be no different. Below you will find information for each team in each region, including the top 4 teams that we see leading the charge throughout the season. March 21st kickstarts the regular season across the MPSSAA, and we wish the best of luck to all teams across the Old Line State.
2022 Preview
Players to Watch
| Player | High School | Year | Commitment |
| Amari Allen | Sherwood | 2023 | Chiploa |
| James Batis | Clarksburg | 2024 | |
| Ben Berger | Sherwood | 2023 | Frostburg |
| Sammy Berman | Walt Whitman | 2025 | |
| Vance Bonior | Walter Johnson | 2024 | |
| Ryan Bouma | Sherwood | 2023 | Frostburg State |
| Liam Bowen | Walt Whitman | 2023 | Frostburg State |
| Luke Brunner | Wootton | 2025 | |
| Bobby Burk | Bethesda-Chevy Chase | 2024 | |
| Austin Carter | North County | 2023 | Glenville State |
| Nathan Clarke | Severna Park | 2023 | Lebanon Valley |
| Antorius Cofield | Arundel | 2023 | Moravian |
| Mac Crismond | Sherwood | 2024 | |
| Michael Demske | Churchill | 2023 | |
| Eli Derossi-Cytron | Urbana | 2024 | Radford |
| Matthew Dow | Dulaney | 2023 | |
| Joseph Drengwitz | Northwest | 2023 | |
| Matthew Drengwitz | Northwest | 2023 | |
| JD Eckelt | Perry Hall | 2024 | |
| Josh Erd | Wootton | 2023 | New Jersey Tech |
| Braeden Ford | South River | 2023 | |
| Sean Foster | Leonardtown | 2023 | |
| Lion Gardiner | Walt Whitman | 2024 | Holy Cross |
| Jake Goldberg | Walter Johnson | 2024 | |
| Nelson Grajales | Arundel | 2023 | |
| Zane Gross | Churchill | 2023 | Barry |
| Gary Gubbings | Arundel | 2023 | Slippery Rock |
| Thor Hildebrand | North County | 2023 | Shepherd |
| Gavin Hughes | Sherwood | 2024 | |
| Mitchell Hwang | Walt Whitman | 2024 | Tufts |
| Ty Jacoby | Old Mill | 2023 | |
| Keegan Johnson | Urbana | 2023 | Ball State |
| Miles Kessler | Bethesda-Chevy Chase | 2023 | New York |
| Isaac Kreisler | Churchill | 2023 | |
| Ryan Kunst | Wootton | 2023 | Gettysburg |
| Jayden Mandler | Montgomery | 2024 | |
| Oliver Martin | Clarksburg | 2023 | Mary Washington |
| Brian McDermott | Gaithersburg | 2024 | |
| Alexander Mendoza | Perry Hall | 2024 | |
| Thomas Mezzullo | Dulaney | 2024 | |
| Shane Murphy | Roosevelt | 2023 | |
| Adam Niman | Bethesda-Chevy Chase | 2024 | |
| Seamus Patenaude | Severna Park | 2023 | Shenandoah |
| Cole Petraska | North County | 2023 | |
| Jack Peyser | Quince Orchard | 2023 | Gettysburg |
| Kody Phillips | Severna Park | 2024 | |
| Trenton Player | Annapolis | 2023 | |
| Chris Ricks | Arundel | 2023 | |
| Gabriel Ruiz | Paint Branch | 2023 | UMBC |
| Tanner Sanderoff | Blake | 2023 | Hofstra |
| Angel Santiago-Cruz | Severna Park | 2024 | |
| Nate Schilling | Broadneck | 2024 | |
| Gideon Schwartz | Walt Whitman | 2024 | |
| Brian Scott | Sherwood | 2023 | Maryland |
| Leo Simpson | Walter Johnson | 2023 | Radford |
| Riley Smith | Urbana | 2023 | |
| Logan Stillerman | Blair | 2024 | |
| Kyle Tatelbaum | Bethesda-Chevy Chase | 2023 | |
| Pierce Tewksbury | Betheda-Chevy Chase | 2024 | |
| Josh Tseronis | Quince Orchard | 2025 | |
| Collin Voss | North County | 2025 | |
| Jay Wandell | Walter Johnson | 2024 | |
| Cole Williams | Wheaton | 2023 | Salisbury |
Region Breakdown
4A West
| Region I | Region II |
| Bethesda-Chevy Chase | Clarksburg |
| Churchill | Gaithersburg |
| Richard Montgomery | Northwest |
| Walter Johnson | Quince Orchard |
| Walt Whitman | Seneca Valley |
| Wootton | Urbana |
Notes
The 4A West Region I looks to be the perennial powerhouse once again in 2023. Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Churchill, Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman and Wootton all have pieces that can contend not only for a regional title, but a state championship as a whole. Bethesda-Chevy Chase is balanced on both sides, led by a pitching staff of Miles Kessler (New York), Bobby Burk, and Henry Eichner. Look for Adam Niman, Jackson Clemens, Trent Lopez, Pierce Tewskbury and Kyle Tatelbaum to lead the offensive onslaught. Churchill will look to Senior leadership to fill the void of Christopher Hacopian's transfer (P27, South Carolina). Look for Eric Chen (Ursinus), Jeremy Davis, Michael Demske, Zane Gross (Barry) and Issac Kreisler to have big seasons if the Bulldogs look to make a run this season. Walter Johnson is led by two gunslingers on the bump in Leo Simpson (Radford) and Jay Wandell, with intriguing underclassmen depth behind them. Vance Bonior, Jake Goldberg and Braden Lachapelle (Macalester) are names to follow offensively. Walt Whitman may have the deepest roster across this region, led by Liam Bowen (Frostburg), Lion Gardner (Holy Cross), Jacob Goldman, Mitchell Hwang (Tufts), Ethan Murley and Gideon Schwartz, with two standout sophomores in Sammy Berman and Wells Twining. Wootton is interesting to watch with Seniors Josh Erd and Ryan Kunst (Gettysburg), along with two-way Luke Brunner. Richard Montgomery, on paper does not match up with the rest of Region I, however last season they proved they can compete and Junior standout Jayden Mandler and company should do the same in 2023.
Region II on paper is down from a year ago, other than the Urbana Hawks. Coach Frownfelter returns Keegan Johnson (Ball State), Eli Derossi-Cytron (Radford) and Gavin Allanach (Roanoke) on the bump, with a slew of offensive juggernauts led by Johnson, Parker Bell, Logan Janney, Andrew Purcell and Riley Smith. Urbana will be the team to beat, however Clarksburg and Quince Orchard have some pieces to stay competitive and come playoff time, anything can happen. Look for Oliver Martin (Mary Washington), James Batis and Aiden Graves to lead Clarksburg, with Jack Peyser (Gettysburg), Garrett Campbell and an intriguing Sophomore in Josh Tseronis to be big names to follow for Quince Orchard.
Top 4
1. Walt Whitman
2. Urbana
3. Walter Johnson
4. Churchill
4A North
| Region I | Region II |
| Catonsville | Blake |
| Dulaney | Blair |
| Dundalk | Einstein |
| Parkville | Northwood |
| Perry Hall | Paint Branch |
| Mergenthaler | Sherwood |
| Wheaton |
Notes
The Dulaney Lions should be the team to beat once again this year in Region I, as has been true for the past few years. This year, first year head coach Max Jemallaro will rely on his upperclassmen leaders in Senior Matthew Dow and Junior Thomas Mezzullo to keep the momentum rolling in 2023. Catonsville, Parkville and Perry Hall all have pieces to make a run at Dulaney, but lack true firepower and depth in our eyes to make a serious push. Two uncommitted players to keep eyes on outside of Dulaney are two-way Juniors in JD Eckelt and AJ Mendoza out of Perry Hall; two athletic players who impact on both sides of the ball.
Region II once again will run through Sherwood, with the defending two-time 4A State Champs being the team to beat throughout this region. The depth on both sides of the ball is eye-opening, led by the likes of Amari Allen (Chipola), Ryan Bouma (Frostburg), Brian Scott (Maryland), Ben Berger (Frostburg) and Mac Crismond. Gavin Hughes has transferred over to the baby blue and is an uncommitted player to circle that provides really nice depth behind the dish for Coach Sean Davis. Blake will be led by their two-way standout Senior in Tanner Sanderoff (Hofstra), while Blair is intriguing with Senior two-way Adam Niemerski (Tennessee Wesleyan) and uncommitted Junior two-way Logan Stillerman. Gabriel Ruiz (UMBC) is notable for Paint Branch, however the Panthers lack depth behind him. Wheaton has an intriguing ace in righty Cole Williams (Salisbury) that can matchup with Sherwood, however the offensive depth may be the thorn as the Knights get deeper into the playoffs.
Top 4
1. Sherwood
2. Dulaney
3. Blair
4. Wheaton
4A South
| Region I | Region II |
| Bladensburg | Bowie |
| DuVal | CH Flowers |
| High Point | Henry A. Wise |
| Laurel | Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Northwestern (PG) | Suitland |
| Parkdale |
Notes
Laurel and Duval have been the top two teams in this region for the past two years, with Laurel taking the Region title back-to-back. We don't see too much changing in 2023, with Laurel still being the team to beat and Duval looking to finally get over the hump. Northwestern is still young, however another year under their belts on the varsity level may bode well for the Wildcats in making a run at Laurel and Duval in 2023; however, we'll stick with Laurel to take this Region for the third consecutive year.
In Region II, Roosevelt returns their ace and Senior leader in Shane Murphy. After back-to-back Region II titles over Bowie, we look for the the same to stay true in 2023.
Top 4
1. Roosevelt
2. Bowie
3. Laurel
4. Duval
4A East
| Region I | Region II |
| Arundel | Annapolis |
| Glen Burnie |
Broadneck |
| Meade |
Severna Park |
| North County |
South River |
| Old Mill |
North Point |
| Leonardtown |
Notes
The 4A East Region I may be the most intriguing to watch this Spring, with four teams in our eyes vying for the title in Arundel, Glen Burnie, North County and Old Mill. We see Arundel and North County being the frontrunners, with Glen Burnie and Old Mill possessing plenty of pieces to contend. Arundel is certainly Senior heavy and will rely on the likes of Antorius Cofield (Moravian), Gary Gubbings (Slippery Rock), Caden Houck, Nelson Grajales and Chris Ricks to provide the leadership and depth on both sides of the ball. A dark horse for the Wildcats is transfer Sophomore Dominic Erculiani who has some of the best young makeup in the state, and should provide a spark to an Arundel team desperate to make some noise this Spring. North County also has plenty of Senior leadership and arguably the top arm in the Region in Thor Hildebrand (Shepherd). Austin Carter (Glenville State), Cole Petraska and Sophomore two-way Collin Voss will provide depth and look to lock horns with Arundel in '23.
The Severna Park Falcons may have the most determination and will to win across the entire state after falling short in the 4A State Championship two years straight, and this year, they have the talent once again to get over the hump. Seniors Seamus Patenaude (Shenandoah) and Nathan Clarke (Lebanon Valley) are two two-ways to provide leadership, with one of the top uncommitted Juniors across the Old Line State in two-way Angel Santiago-Cruz looking to take that next step in 2023. Not to mention, the Falcons can lean on lefty Nathan Murphy (George Washington) to provide front end innings on the bump as well. Broadneck looks to be the biggest threat to the Falcons, with a roster rich in talent top to bottom. Seniors Sean Murphy (Catholic) and Zachery Palmer provide an excellent one-two punch on the bump, with Juniors Calvin Cook, Devin McGowan and Nate Schilling providing some thump offensively behind Murphy. Key in on Sophomores Nicholas Cicale, Noah Forman, Ethan Hopkins, Kobe Owen, Cade Schuetter and Michael Swick to make a name for themselves in 2023. Leonardtown has upperclassmen pieces in Sean Foster, Dylan Rowe and Hunter Lee to lead the charge, however will struggle to matchup witht he firepower that Severna Park and Broadneck possess.
Top 4
1. Severna Park
2. Broadneck
3. Arundel
4. North County