Prep Baseball Report

2024 MPSSAA 4A Season Preview


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PBR Maryland

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Our 2024 Season Previews continue 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…

2023 Recap

The 2023 4A state championship saw a familiar face, as Sherwood was back looking for their third consecutive state championship title as they took on Urbana. Similar to the past, the Warriors of Sherwood would successfully defend their title, winning the 4A state title by a final score of 7-4. 

2024 sees some shakeup in the regions, as the MPSSAA has moved a plethora of teams' classifications throughout the state. The most notable mover that impacts the 4A specifically sees the defending state champion, Sherwood slide to 3A. 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.   

2024 Preview

Players to Watch

Player High School Year Commitment
Michael Baez Dundalk 2024
Sammy Berman Walt Whitman 2025 Maryland
Vance Bonior Walter Johnson 2024 UMASS-Amherst
Caden Brayman Northwest 2025  
Bobby Burk Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2024 Babson 
Peyton Cassidy Broadneck 2024 Chatham
Nicholas Cicale Broadneck 2025
Calvin Cook Broadneck 2024 Middle Tennessee State 
Henry Eichner Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2024  
Sebastian Fuentes Reservoir 2024 Wesleyan
Jake Goldberg Walter Johnson 2024 Rochester
Jacob Goldman Walt Whitman 2024 Eastern Florida
Keagan Green Blair 2025  
Jacob Hnath Thomas Johnson 2024 Salisbury
Ethan Hopkins Broadneck 2025 Anne Arundel CC
Desmond Llanes Blair 2026  
Trent Lopez Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2025  
Jayden Mandler Montgomery 2024 Montgomery CC
AJ Mendoza Perry Hall 2024 Harford CC
Ethan Murley Walt Whitman 2024 Ithaca
Adam Niman Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2024 Trinity
Dylan Norman Churchill 2024 Oberlin
Danny Orr Thomas Johnson 2024 UMBC
Matthew Russell Reservoir 2025  
Gideon Schwartz Walt Whitman 2024 Franklin & Marshall
Logan Stillerman Blair 2024 Salisbury
Michael Swick Broadneck 2025
Joshua Tseronis Quince Orchard 2025
Pierce Tewksbury Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2024 Gettysburg
Wells Twining Walt Whitman 2025 Pennsylvania
Jay Wandell Walter Johnson 2024 Towson
Aidan Watts Walter Johnson 2024 Rochester
John Wayman Walt Whitman 2024
Jake Witter Quince Orchard 2024 Salisbury


Region Breakdowns

4A West

Region I Region II
Frederick Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Gov. Thomas Johnson Gaithersburg
Urbana Quince Orchard
Clarksburg Walt Whitman
Northwest Walter Johnson
Seneca Valley Winston Churchill

Notes

The 4A West Region has been one of, if not the strongest region across the state the past few years and 2024 sees a plethora of talent in this region once again. Thomas Johnson looks to be the team to beat this spring in the region, as the depth on both sides of the ball and their coaching style usually bodes well for success. Big arm in senior Jacob Hnath (Salisbury) and offensive standouts in Danny Orr (UMBC) and Logan Keepers are players to keep close eyes on. Perennial powerhouse in Urbana faces a ton of departures from last years roster, most notably the early graduation of Eli Derossi-Cytron. You can never count the Hawks out and they have a plethora of talent to be excited about, including seniors in Parker Bell (Delgado CC), Connor Roussel (Catholic) and sophomore Kayden Lipscomb. Northwest has two intriguing arms to keep eyes on in Caden Brayman and Myles Dickerson, as well as offensive talents in Dominic Mejia and Nico Patil.

Region II is the loaded region in 4A after the re-classification in 2024, as we see three teams with a real chance to make a deep run this spring towards a state championship. BCC brings back a slew of arms to watch in William Adkinson, Bobby Burk (Babson), Henry Eichner and Pierce Tewksbury (Gettysburg). Look for a breakout season following a really strong sophomore campaign from outfielder Trent Lopez. Keep eyes on Joshua Tseronis and Jake Witter to lead QO. The loss of senior ace in Lion Gardiner hurts Whitman slightly, however the emergence of Jacob Goldman (Eastern Florida), Ethan Murley (Ithaca) and Wells Twining (Pennsylvania) should make for an interesting staff to watch as the spring unfolds. Junior Sammy Berman (Maryland) is one of the top positional players across the state and should bolster Whitman's offense this spring. Walter Johnson looks to be the team to beat in this region in our eyes, as the depth on both sides of the ball is highly talented. Led by seniors Vance Bonior (UMASS), Jake Goldberg (Rochester), Jay Wandell (Towson) and Aidan Watts (Rochester), WJ has a plethora of two-way talent that coach Sutherland can lean on throughout the spring. Look for juniors Zach Roach and Nolan Ross to also provide key playing time this spring. Look for breakout seasons from Luke Bookoff and Dylan Norman (Oberlin) down at Churchill, however the lack of firepower and depth on both sides may be too much to really contend in such a highly talented region.

Top 4
1. Walter Johnson
2. Bethesda-Chevy Chase
3. Walt Whitman
4. Thomas Johnson

4A North

Region I Region II
Dundalk Einstein
Kenwood John F. Kennedy
Parkville Paint Branch
Perry Hall Richard Montgomery
Woodlawn Springbrook
Mergenthaler Wheaton

Notes

Region I in the 4A North loses Dulaney to the 3A and looks to be led this year by Dundalk and Perry Hall. Dundalk brings back senior leaders in Michael Baez and Jaydden Espiritusanto, while Perry Hall has one of the more explosive talents in two-way AJ Mendoza (Harford CC) back. Look for fellow senior in JD Eckelt to also be a force this spring for the Gators.

2024's re-classification sees the 4A North Region II with a different look heading into the spring. Perennial powerhouse in Sherwood is gone to the 3A along with Blake as well. This opens up opportunity to a team like Richard Montgomery that features talent on both sides of the ball in Jayden Mandler (Montgomery JC) and Mason Roth (Norwich) to possibly get out of the region and make a surprising run in 2024. Einstein returns four notable players in Mattew Archeval, Daniel Covert, Skyler Hills and Mateo Santiago and should compete at a high level in this region as well. 


Top 4
1. Perry Hall
2. Richard Montgomery
3. Dundalk
4. Einstein

4A South

Region I Region II
Reservoir Bladensburg
Montgomery Blair CH Flowers
Northwood Henry A. Wise
High Point Duval
Laurel Eleanor Roosevelt
Northwestern (PG)  Parkdale

Notes

A 4A South Region I that has been controlled by Laurel over the past few years sees Reservoir and Montgomery Blair added to the mix in 2024 that should see some shakeup and a threat to Laurel's long-term run in the region. Reservoir has intriguing pieces on both sides of the ball, led by Sebastian Fuentes (Wesleyan). Look for key contributions from Ben Gargano, Gavin Metrick, Matthew Russell and Cameron Whitehead as well. Blair is highly intriguing with key pieces in Keagan Green, Desmond Llanes and Logan Stillerman looking to bring firepower on the offensive side. Will Laurel's run continue through the region in 2024 with the additions of Reservoir and Blair?   

In Region II, Roosevelt made a run in 2023 before getting knocked out by Laurel in the playoffs. Being the favorite to get out of the region in 2023 came true throughout the season, however the loss of ace Shane Murphy to graduation opens this region wide open. The experience attained over the years should bode well for Roosevelt in 2024, so we'll give them the nod to defend this spring.   

Top 4
1. Reservoir
2. Montgomery Blair
3. Laurel
4. Roosevelt

4A East

Region I Region II
Glen Burnie Annapolis
Meade Broadneck
North County North Point
Old Mill Leonardtown
Crofton Bowie
Suitland

Notes

The 4A East Region I loses a talented Arundel school and adds a scrappy Crofton team to the mix in 2024. Old Mill made it out of the region in 2023, eventually falling to Urbana in the Elite eight and looks to add to a fairly successful 2023 campaign this spring. The Patriots return Brady Tingen and Shane Ladia that should make an impact offensively. Seniors Elijah Simms (Eastern) and Mason Williams (Chesapeake JC) are back and will look to lead Glen Burnie into a deep run in 2024. North County loses standouts Thor Hildebrand and Austin Carter to graduation, however do return a talented arm in junior Collin Voss that should lead the staff and matchup well with the other arms in the region. Crofton is the intriguing team in this region and feature a plethora of exciting talent on both sides of the ball. Seniors Matt Donaldson, Travis Fleshman and Zack Leinemann will be big time arms to see this spring for the Cardinals, as well as sophomore standout Billy White. Look for contributions from two-way Jason Gifford, as well as Tyler Holt and Will Davis to provide some offensive stability throughout the lineup. 

The 4A East Region II sees perennial powerhouse Severna Park gone to re-classification, as well as South River. Two new teams jump into the region in Bowie and Suitland. In a region that has been highly competitive over the years, we don't see much changing even with the departure of Severna Park. Broadneck is the favorite early on, as seniors Peyton Cassidy (Chatham) and Calvin Cook (Middle Tennessee State) are back to lead the team along with a slew of highly talented juniors in Nicholas Cicale, Noah Forman, Ethan Hopkins (Anne Arundel CC), Cade Schuetter and Michael Swick. North Point has some intrigue with the likes of Terron Bates, Jordan Harrison, Evan McCray and Jaiden Wismer. Leonardtown has some pieces but we believe may be a year or two away from a deep run. Broadneck is the team to beat and if the pitching can hold up, we look for that explosive offense to lead them in contention for a state title in 2024. 

Top 4
1. Broadneck
2. Crofton
3. Old Mill
4. North Point