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Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC)

Chopticon Braves  

2024 Record: 10-9

Chopticon is in line for a very strong 2025 campaign and could surprise many people across the SMAC as they bring back some key upperclassmen while allowing their intriguing underclassmen to get a year under their belt. They do have one massive loss in Logan Quade, who was one of their leaders on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the team should be led by Kody Adkins along with a much improved season from power-bat Logan Carver. Mason McDermott is an underclassmen to keep eyes on to provide key depth. The biggest returner headed into 2025 is Ryan Welch, who was only a freshman last season, but led the team in average and ERA, being a massive contributor on both sides. Look for Noah Passagno and Sean Beach to provide much needed rotational flexibility. This team has potential to upset just about any team in the conference, and will for sure be one to follow.

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Huntingtown Hurricanes  

2024 Record: 15-6

Huntingtown will have a much different identity in 2025 after their massive loss in star pitcher Logan Hastings, who is having a hot start to his collegiate career for the Terps. The rotation will likely be led by two-way Trevor Robbins as catcher Ryder Bolger will be the second half of the battery. Look at highly intriguing sophomore Noah McMurray to potentially cement himself as the next big-time arm across the SMAC. The lineup will be filled with names such as Mason Wells, Dom Brooke, Bolger, McMurray, and Robbie Kessler as they look to have a strong unit 1 through 9. The question for Coach Guy’s Hurricanes is whether or not their superstars are able to handle the workload as a younger squad looks to get into the groove of things.

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La Plata Warriors  

2024 Record: 16-5

Yet another storied program across the SMAC, La Plata enters the 2025 spring as the favorites to take the conference with a loaded senior class returning. On the bump, the Warriors are led by their senior two-way standout in Chris Coombs, with plenty of senior depth behind him in Camden Cooke, Cole Barrett and Thomas Conrad. At the dish, La Plata returns their top three bats in the order in seniors Taylor Ellis, Patrick Wutka, and Chris Coombs, followed by impact bats in senior Adam Bowling and sophomore standouts in Matthew Bowling and Luke Grimsley. The balance and vast amount of impact players on both sides makes for this to be an exciting spring for the Warriors, and the experience could potentially be the difference maker come playoff time.

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Leonardtown Raiders  

2024 Record: 15-8

Leonardtown may have been THE story of the 2024 season, coming out of absolutely nowhere when it got to early May and navigating through a difficult region before advancing all the way to the 4A state championship, to which they were crowned with a thrilling low-scoring win over powerhouse Walt Whitman. Although state title hero Will Buckler has graduated, there are still a list of upperclassmen names throughout the rotation that should be impactful pieces. Ryan Ludlow, Brayden Owen, and Eli Bean are names to watch that could provide crucial innings for the Raiders. Offensively, Daniel Knott highlights this LTown offense as he returns for one final season. Look at names such as Austin Ford, Bean, Jacob Floyd, and Owen Hugel to be significant depth pieces throughout the lineup as Leonardtown begins their quest to go back-to-back.

Northern Patriots  

2024 Record: 13-9

Northern caught our attention last year and we look for another strong 2025 campaign for the Patriots as we inch closer to the spring. On the bump, Northern brings back a slew of impact arms in Tony Holson, Boston Jones and Jack Bisang who look to lead the staff. Offensively, the Patriots do lose a bulk of their impact bats at the top of their lineup, as Nicholas Dempsey, Oliver Santana, Jackson Owings, and Will Ellis all graduate. Look for David Holson and Myles Halbert, along with some younger talent to fill the void throughout the lineup. On the pitching side of things, the Patriots could potentially match up well across the conference, however, the question remains of how much production the offense can manufacture.

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North Point Eagles  

2024 Record: 8-12

The Eagles enter the 2025 spring with some intrigue on both sides of the ball, although the transfer out from two-way standout Ian Morton to McDonough hurts. Senior Jaiden Wismer is one of the top arms in the conference and returns to headline the staff. Offensively, North Point returns a slew of impact bats with the likes of Jordan Daniel, Austin Harding, Wismer, Logan Robertson, Zavier Bowman, and Aidan Espejo. Depth is a luxury in this lineup and should pay dividends throughout the spring. Questions remain with pitching depth behind Wismer, however, this lineup should turn some heads throughout the spring. 

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Patuxent Panthers  

2024 Record: 20-3-1

A storied program across the SMAC, Coach Powell has his team poised for another deep run in 2025. The reigning SMAC Pitcher of the Year in Ivan Sypa is back for his senior year, and paired with fellow senior lefty in Justin Thies makes for a strong two-headed monster once again this spring. Look for junior Riley Whitney to add reliable innings once again, following a strong sophomore campaign. At the dish, senior outfielder Carson Vercoe and juniors Logan Powell and Riley Whitney look to lead the offense with some younger talent vying for key AB’s throughout the spring. The pitching staff will once again need to be dominant if Patuxent wants to make a run in 2025, and look for some younger players such as sophomore Chase Jones to make some noise in the offense and provide depth behind Powell, Vercoe, and Whitney.

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Additional Players to Watch 

Nick Mudd - McDonough
Ian Morton - McDonough
Jamari Miller - Westlake
Connor Hall - Calvert
Joseph Rodenhaver - Calvert
Jaxson Lee - Calvert
Travis Ritz - Calvert
Kyle Kost - Lackey
Nick Hevner - Great Mills
Brayden Langley - Great Mills
Kory Queen - St. Charles
Travis Parker - St. Charles
Tyke Hunter - St. Charles
Ethan Paredes - St. Charles