Maryland Power 25 Countdown: #25 Arundel

February 14, 2020
Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

Follow @PBRMaryland
Facebook & Instagram

It's hard to believe but the start of the 2020 Maryland high school baseball season is just two weeks away. 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 begin our Preseason Power 25 countdown by taking a look at our #25 team, the Arundel Wildcats from Anne Arundel 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 season as team get ready to square off on opening day later that afternoon.

Arundel Wildcats 2020 SEASON PREVIEW

Head Coach: Frank Hood (5th Season)
Mascot: Wildcats
County: Anne Arundel
Conference: Anne Arundel
MPSSAA Classification: 4A East Region I
2019 Record: 13-9
2019 MPSSAA Playoff Run: Lost in the MPSSAA 4A Sectional Semifinals
to Severna Park (5-2).
CLICK HERE to view the Arundel Baseball Website
CLICK HERE to view the Arundel Baseball Schedule

2020 PBR MD POWER 25 PRESEASON RANK: #25

Returning Starters: 5

Anthony D'Urso (Jr.) OF
Chris Koennel (Sr.) 3B
Sam Merchant (Sr.) C
Corbin Warner (So.) OF
Champ Wert (Sr.) 1B/RHP

Returning Pitchers: 4

Andrew Barrett (Sr.) RHP
Chris Beatty (So.) RHP
Cam Cook (Sr.) RHP
Champ Wert (Sr.) RHP

Returning Players with Post-Season / Pre-Season Honors

Sam Merchant - 2019 All Anne Arundel County 2nd Team
Anthony D'Urso - 2019 All Anne Arundel County 2nd Team
Champ Wert - 2019 All Anne Arundel County Honorable Mention

Key Losses

None

Top Newcomers

N/A

2020 Key Players

Andrew Barrett (Sr.) RHP
Chris Beatty (So.) RHP
Cam Cook (Sr.) RHP
Anthony D'Urso (Jr.) OF
Sam Merchant (Sr.) C
Champ Wert (Sr.) RHP

Players Signed / Committed to College

Sam Merchant (2020) - PSU - Harrisburg
Champ Wert (2020) - Methodist University (NC)

Season Snapshot

5th year head coach Frank Hood returns a balanced squad in 2020 that figures to be in contention for the Anne Arundel County Championship and 4A East Region I Title. Last year the Wildcats lost early in the playoffs to Severna Park in the Sectional Semifinals.

On the mound, Arundel returns their top four arms from a season ago in seniors Champ Wert (Methodist University), Andrew Barrett, Cam Cook, and talented sophomore Chris Beatty Jr. Wert, Barrett, and Beatty all threw over 30 innings a year ago and recorded sub 3.40 ERA's. That experience figures to really help the Wildcats this season and should keep them competitive day in and day out.

Offensively they return seniors Sam Merchant (PSU-Harrisburg), Chris Koennel, and Wert. Junior Anthony D'Urso will look to supply the power in the middle of the order coming off a sophomore season in which he hit .361 with seven extra base hits and drove in 17 runners. Look for sophomore OF/LHP Corbin Warner to also make an impact at the plate and on the mound this season.

The new regional alignment keeps Arundel in that 4A East Region with most of the same schools. While Severna Park moves to Region II of the 4A East, perennial state powerhouse Howard joins Region I with Arundel. Glen Burnie, Meade, North County, and defending 4A State Champion Old Mill round out the six-team pod. The 4A East Region I should be fun to watch come playoff time as the potential for several big match-ups with a trip the State Quarterfinals on the line is imminent.