Maryland Power 25 Countdown: #11 Thomas Johnson

March 5, 2020
Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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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 #11 team, the Thomas Johnson Patriots from Frederick County. We will release one team in our countdown each weekday leading up to the release of our 2020 #1 Preseason Power 25 team on March 19th. Then, on March 20th our PBR Maryland staff will release it's final preseason predictions for the upcoming 2020 season as team get ready to square off on opening day later that afternoon.

Thomas Johnson Patriots 2020 SEASON PREVIEW

Head Coach: Billy Gross
Mascot: Patriots
County: Frederick
Conference: Central Maryland Conference
MPSSAA Classification: 3A West Region I
2019 Record: 17-7
2019 MPSSAA Playoff Run: Lost in the MPSSAA 3A
State Semifinals to J.M. Bennett (3-2).
CLICK HERE to view the Thomas Johnson Baseball Schedule

2020 PBR MD POWER 25 PRESEASON RANK: #11

Returning Starters: 6

Shane Bowie (Sr.) SS/RHP
AJ Enriquez (Sr.) OF/RHP
Matt Fowkes (Sr.) OF
Jacob Orr (Jr.) SS/2B
Alex Tyeryar (Jr.) 2B
Trevor Yusko (Jr.) C

Returning Pitchers: 4

Shane Bowie (Sr.) RHP/SS
AJ Enriquez (Sr.) RHP/OF
Ian Kline (Sr.) RHP
Trevor Yusko (Jr.) C

Returning Players with Post-Season / Pre-Season Honors

Shane Bowie - 2019 All-CMC First Team, 2019 All-CMC Second Team
Jacob Orr - 2019 All-CMC First Team, 2020 MSABC Preseason All-State Team, 2019 PBR Maryland Preseason All-State Third Team, 2019 PBR Maryland All-State Underclass
Trevor Yusko - 2019 All-CMC First Team, All-County 2019 PBR Maryland Preseason All-State Honorable Mention

Key Losses

Collin Bitler CF
Justin Bolden 1B
Michael McGee C

Top Newcomers

Justin Chappel (Jr.)
Devon Coldren (Jr.)
Torin Stones (Sr.) 1B
Jason Waguespack (Sr.)

2020 Key Players

Shane Bowie (Sr.) SS/RHP
AJ Enriquez (Sr.) OF/RHP
Matt Fowkes (Sr.) OF
Ian Kline (Sr.) RHP
Jacob Orr (Jr.) SS/2B
Trevor Yusko (Jr.) C

Players Signed / Committed to College

Shane Bowie (2020) - Wilson College
Jacob Orr (2021) - University of Maryland

Season Snapshot

Thomas Johnson looks to have the most balanced roster returning in the Central Maryland Conference in 2020. Head Coach Billy Gross returns six starters on offense and his top four arms from last season. Seniors Shane Bowie (Wilson College), AJ Enriquez, Ian Kline, and junior Trevor Yusko will anchor the staff once again this year with each coming off strong seasons on the bump in 2019. Offensively, Bowie, Enriquez, and Yusko will be joined by junior shortstop Jacob Orr (Maryland), junior second basemen Alex Tyeryar, and senior outfielder Matt Fowkes. Orr set the table last season at the top of the lineup and will look to do so again coming off a year in which he hit .403, scored 20 runs, stole 14 bases, and drove in 20 runs. Look for top newcomers Justin Chappel, Devon Coldren, Torin Stones, and Jason Waguespack to make an impact and play key roles also throughout the season for Patriots.

Last year's bid to defend their 2018 3A State Championship fell short losing 3-2 in the State Semifinals to eventual champion James M. Bennett. This year, Thomas Johnson will face a similar path in Region I of the 3A West as it remains unchanged under the new MPSSAA regional alignment. The Patriots will need to be a their best come playoff time if they hope to make it to the State Quarterfinal round in 2020 with Linganore, Fredrick, and Tuscarora posing as legitimate threats to contend for the Region title this time around.