Maryland Power 25 Countdown: #10 Thomas Johnson

March 6, 2019
Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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It's hard to believe but the start of the 2019 Maryland high school baseball season is almost here. Every week throughout the season we will release our Power 25, ranking the top twenty-five teams from across the Old Line State. Today we continue our Preseason Power 25 countdown by taking a look at our #10 team, the Thomas Johnson Patriots from Frederick County. Be sure to stay tuned as we release one team each weekday leading up to the release of our 2019 #1 Preseason Power 25 team on March 19th. Then, on March 20th our PBR Maryland staff will release our final preseason predictions for the upcoming 2019 season.

Thomas Johnson 2019 SEASON PREVIEW

Head Coach: Billy Gross (6th Season)
Mascot: Patriots
County: Frederick
MPSSAA Classification: 3A West Section II
2018 Record: 17-8
2018 MPSSAA Playoff Run: Won the MPSSAA 3A State
Championship 3-2 over Huntingtown.
Twitter Handle: @tj_patriot
CLICK HERE to view the Thomas Johnson Athletics Website
CLICK HERE to view the Thomas Johnson Baseball Schedule

2019 PBR MD POWER 25 PRESEASON RANK: #10

Returning Starters: 5

Collin Bitler (Sr.) CF
Justin Bolden (Sr.) 1B
Matt Fowkes (Jr.) RF/RHP
Michael McGee (Sr.) C
Jacob Orr (So.) SS

Returning Pitchers: 4

Shane Bowie (Jr.) RHP
Alex Dunheimer (Jr.) LHP
Matt Fowkes (Jr.) RF/RHP
Ian Kline (Jr.) RHP

Returning Players with Post-Season / Pre-Season Honors

Matt Fowkes - 2018 All-Area 2nd Team
Jacob Orr - 2018 All-Area 1st Team

Key Loses

Jacob Berry (Frederick CC)
Brett Coughlin
Jack Maruskin (Frostburg State University)
Tyler Rhoderick (University of Maryland - Eastern Shore)
Gabe Stitley (Chesapeake College)

Top Newcomers

AJ Enriquez (Jr.) OF/RHP
Torin Sones (Jr.) 1B
Alex Tyeryar (So.) 2B
Trevor Yusko (So.) C/RHP

2019 Key Players

Shane Bowie (Jr.) RHP
Matt Fowkes (Jr.) RF/RHP
Ian Kline (Jr.) RHP
Jacob Orr (So.) SS

Players Signed / Committed to College

Collin Bitler (2019) - Wilson College
Michael McGee (2019) - Wilson College
Jacob Orr (2021) - University of Maryland

Season Snapshot

Thomas Johnson enters 2019 with a target on their backs in the MPSSAA 3A classification. The defending 3A State Champions defeated Huntingtown 3-2 last season at Ripken to claim the school's fourth state title. Five key players are gone from last year in Jacob Berry (Frederick CC), Brett Coughlin. Jack Maruskin (Frostburg State University). Tyler Rhoderick (University of Maryland - Eastern Shore), Gabe Stitley (Chesapeake College) but 6th year head coach Billy Gross is looking forward to the challenge of defending that title with a good mix of returners and newcomers hoping to fill those voids.

University of Maryland commit Jacob Orr (.432 AVG, 29 R's, 13 RBI's, 10 SB's), and Matt Fowkes (.328 AVG, 14 R's. 12 RBI's) return as the leaders on offense with seniors Collin Bitler (Wilson College), Michael McGee (Wilson College), and Justin Bolden also figuring to play key roles in the lineup. On the mound, the Patriots will need returners Shane Bowie (Jr.) RHP, Alex Dunheimer (Jr.) LHP, Matt Fowkes (Jr.) RF/RHP, Ian Kline (Jr.) RHP to step up and collectively replace the 84 innings that both Stitley and Rhoderick accounted for last season. Look for a strong group a newcomers in AJ Enriquez (Jr.) OF/RHP, Torin Sones (Jr.) 1B, Alex Tyeryar (So.) 2B, Trevor Yusko (So.) C/RHP to add depth and find roles both in the lineup and on the mound.

Repeating in 2019 won't be easy but the Patriots do have another well-rounded team. Expect Thomas Johnson to grow over the course of the regular season and be right there in the thick of things come playoff time with several returners leading the way.