Maryland JUCO Conference Preview and Predictions
February 22, 2019
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With the JUCO season just underway, we recap our preseason previews of all 14 Maryland JUCO Conference teams and make our predictions for how we see the 2019 season shaking out. Be sure to follow us throughout the season on our three social media platforms above and right here at Prep Baseball Report Maryland.
Where else do you begin when talking about the Allegany baseball program than with their legendary skipper Steve Bazarnic? Bazarnic enters his 49th season at the helm of the Trojans this year and has amassed over 1,400 wins throughout his extraordinary career. The only head baseball coach Allegany College of Maryland has ever had figures to have his hands full in 2019 though as the Trojans return just three starters from a year ago: John Ackerman, Ryan Wentzal, and Matt Huston. 2018 NJCAA 2nd Team All-American Dan Fry is gone, as too are aces Josh Stegmaier and Carson Imes.
Bazarnic will look to his three sophomore returners to step up and lead this young group early in the season. Ackerman and Wentzal figure to steady the offense while Huston steps into the ace role for the Trojans in 2019. Other than Fry, Ackerman was the only other player to appear in all 40 games last year. The All-Maryland JUCO Conference 2nd teamer and sophomore first basemen hit .336 with 11 doubles, 3 home runs, and 38 RBI's last season.
Catcher Ryan Wentzal also looks to build upon a solid freshman campaign in which he batted .348. On the mound last season, RHP Matt Huston led the staff with a 4.43 ERA in 40 and two-thirds innings pitched and will need to be the anchor for this year's staff. It's hard to say anyone has more experience in developing and growing a young group of men over the course of a season than Coach Bazarnic, so expect to see this year's Trojans defend "The Rock" and make a run come tournament time.
CLICK HERE for the full 2019 Allegany College team preview.
Third year head coach Chris Jenkins will have his work cut out for him in 2019. The Riverhawks lose arguably their three best bats from a year ago in Dustin Gosnell (UMBC), Sam Ryan, and Brady Ward (Hood College). Gosnell and Ryan both garnered All-Maryland JUCO 2nd Team honors and Gosnell also doubled as the team's ace throwing 53 and one-third innings on the mound while striking out 76 batters. Anne Arundel also loses RHP Brady Helinski, LHP Ryan Richardson, and RHP Dominic Stanbery whom combined made 46 appearances on the mound in 2018.