Maryland JUCO Team Preview: Frederick CC

February 4, 2019
Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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JUCO programs across the state of Maryland began preseason practices back in early January. As the calendar quickly turns and with several teams getting ready to open up their 2019 campaigns in the next few weeks, we begin our coverage of the Maryland JUCO Conference with a preseason preview of all fourteen schools. In each preview, we will take a look back at the 2018 season, examine key players that have moved on or left the program, look at some new faces and key players for the upcoming season, and finally take a sneak peak at whats ahead for the 2019 season. Today we begin our preseason previews with a look at the Frederick CC Cougars.

Frederick cc 2019 Season Preview

Head Coach: Rodney Bennett (17th Season)
Mascot: Cougars
2018 Record: 36-17
2018 MD JUCO Finish: 3rd Place
2018 DII Region XX Finish: Runner-Up
Twitter Handle: @CougarPrideFCC
CLICK HERE to view the FCC Baseball Website
CLICK HERE to view the FCC 2019 Baseball Schedule
CLICK HERE to view the FCC 2019 Baseball Roster

2019 PBR JUCO NATIONAL PRESEASON RANK: #18

Returning Players with 2018 Postseason Honors

Hayden Kissel: NJCAA D2 All Region XX - Honorable Mention
Mitch Long: NJCAA D2 All Region XX - Honorable Mention

Returning Starters: 3

PLAYER	POS	GP	AVG	OBP	SLG	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Brandon Austin	3B	51	.278	.382	.437	31	42	9	0	5	32	11
Hayden Kissel	2B	51	.341	.431	.476	52	58	7	2	4	33	7
Mitch Long	OF	48	.336	.472	.591	43	46	12	7	3	29	7

Returning Pitchers: 2

PLAYER	POS	APP	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	ERA
Brayden Coe	RHP	16	2	1	3	25.1	25	17	12	9	27	4.26
Brad Foster	LHP	9	3	2	0	27.0	27	22	18	21	34	6.00

Key Losses

PLAYER	POS	GP	AVG	OBP	SLG	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Logan Appel	OF	37	.342	.500	.604	31	38	5	3	6	33	1
Brady Harju	1B	52	.331	.385	.525	42	60	12	1	7	40	3
Eric Naylor	C	50	.392	.453	.724	47	71	22	1	12	65	1
Jared Pine	SS	45	.382	.443	.497	51	63	17	1	0	25	3
PLAYER	POS	APP	W	L	S	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	ERA
James Beasley	RHP	12	4	1	1	36.2	35	21	18	14	47	4.42
Keagan McGinnis	RHP	12	5	1	0	48.2	50	42	30	43	68	5.55
Nick Pantos	RHP	13	9	1	1	67.0	39	29	22	23	90	2.96
Antonio Bianchini	LHP	12	5	2	0	56.2	52	34	29	36	55	4.61

James Beasley (George Mason University)
Keagan McGinnis (George Washington University)
Nick Pantos (Old Dominion University)
Brady Harju (James Madison University)

Top Newcomers

Brett Stallings (Fr.) SS West Springfield (VA)

Key Players for 2019

Brandon Austin (So.) 3B Battlefield (VA)
Jacob Berry (Fr.) C Thomas Johnson (MD)
Ryan Berry (Fr.) RHP Thomas Johnson (MD)
Brayden Coe (So.) RHP Red Land (PA)
Brad Foster (So.) LHP Oakdale (MD)
Hayden Kissel (So.) 2B Chambersburg (PA)
Mitch Long (So.) LHP/OF Annville Cleona (PA)
Brett Stallings (Fr.) SS West Springfield (VA)

2019 Committed Players

Hayden Kissel - Ashland University
Mitch Long - Francis Marion University

2019 Season Snapshot

It's rare to say that Frederick ever has to re-build as they have won at least 30 games each year for the past 13 seasons under 17th year head coach Rodney Bennett, but 2019 will certainly present a challenge. The Cougars return only eight sophomores from the team that finished third in the Maryland JUCO Conference and runner up in NJCAA D2 Region XX Tournament in 2018. Frederick's top four arms from a year ago have moved on in RHP James Beasley (George Mason), LHP Antonio Bianchini, RHP Keagan McGinnis (George Washington), and RHP Nick Pantos (Old Dominion). Combined, those four accounted for 55% of the innings pitched on the mound last season. Sophomores Brayden Coe (RHP), Brad Foster (LHP), and Mitch Long (LHP) will be looked upon to lead the way along with incoming freshman RHP Ryan Berry amongst others. At the plate, Frederick also lost some key big boppers in Logan Appel, Brady Harju, and Eric Naylor, whom combined to hit 25 home runs. Add Jared Pine to that mix and the Cougars enter 2019 with exactly 50% of their total run producers having moved on.

Look for returners Brandon Austin, Hayden Kissel, and Mitch Long to pave the way at the plate along with incoming freshman Jacob Berry and Brett Stallings. Despite the youthfulness of this years roster, Frederick still enters the 2019 season as one of our favorites to compete for a Maryland JUCO and NJCAA D2 Region XX championship. Playing a tough schedule early which includes a four game set at Surry CC (NC), and two games against each #8 Lansing CC (MI), #21 Monroe CC (NY), and ASA Brooklyn (NY) on their annual spring trip to Florida should help the freshman grow and prepare for the grind of the conference schedule once they return.