Maryland Power 25 Countdown: #6 James M. Bennett
March 12, 2020
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 continue our Preseason Power 25 countdown by taking a look at our #6 team, the James M. Bennett Clippers from Wicomico 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.
James M. Bennett Clippers 2020 SEASON PREVIEW
Head Coach: Jay Fenoglietto and Jesse Serig
Mascot: Clippers
County: Wicomico
Conference: Bayside
MPSSAA Classification: 3A South Region II
2019 Record: 16-5
2019 MPSSAA Playoff Run: Won in the MPSSAA 3A
State Championship against C. Milton Wright (5-3).
CLICK HERE to view the James M. Bennett Baseball Website
CLICK HERE to view the James M. Bennett Schedule
2020 PBR MD POWER 25 PRESEASON RANK: #6
Returning Starters: 6
Anders Brown (Sr.) Of/RHP
Colby Dailey (So.) SS
Naythan Lewis (Jr.) C
Paul Oscar (Sr.) C
Garrett Southern (Sr.) 2B/RHP
Max Taylor (Sr.) 1B
Returning Pitchers: 5
Sang Ho Baek (Sr.) RHP
Anders Brown (Sr.) RHP
Aaron Combs (Sr.) RHP
Alex Smoot (Jr.) LHP
Garrett Southern (Sr.) RHP
Returning Players with Post-Season / Pre-Season Honors
Sang Ho Baek - 2020 MSABC Preseason All-State Team, All Bayside First Team
Anders Brown - All Bayside Second Team
Aaron Combs - 2020 MSABC Preseason All-State Team, All Bayside First Team
Paul Oscar - All Bayside First Team
Garrett Southern - All Bayside Honorable Mention
Max Taylor - All Bayside First Team
Key Losses
Ryan Mitchell
Hunter Smith
Brett Swift
Top Newcomers
Chase Dixon (Jr.) OF
Jacob Hare (Jr.) UTL
Chase Illian (Jr.) OF
Jake LeCates (Jr.) OF
2020 Key Players
Sang Ho Baek (Sr.) RHP
Anders Brown (Sr.) RHP/OF
Aaron Combs (Sr.) RHP
Naythan Lewis (Jr.) C
Paul Oscar (Sr.) C
Alex Smoot (Jr.) LHP
Garrett Southern (Sr.) 2B/RHP
Max Taylor (Sr.) 1B
Players Signed / Committed to College
Sang Ho Baek (2020) - George Mason University
Anders Brown (2020) - University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Aaron Combs (2020) - Salisbury University
Season Snapshot
The Clippers defeated C. Milton Wright 5-3 last year to claim their fourth state championship in school history and first since 2012. This year's team will have a bunch of familiar faces as co-head coaches Jay Fenoglietto and Jesse Serig return six starters and five arms from 2019.
On the mound, Aaron Combs (Salisbury) returns as the team's ace with the hard throwing Sang Baek (George Mason) available to close out tight games as he did all throughout the playoffs a season ago. Look for seniors Anders Brown (UMES), Garrett Southern, and junior Alex Smoot to also play key roles on the staff that looks to replace Ryan Mitchell (Delaware State). Brown and Southern figure to also make an impact in a lineup that also sees back seniors Max Taylor, Paul Oscar, junior Naythan Lewis, and talented sophomore shortstop Colby Dailey. Look for juniors Chase Dixon, Jacob Hare, Chase Illian, and Jake LeCates to also contribute this year at the plate and in the field as the Clippers look to defend their title in 2020.
Bennett's run at another state title begins in the same 3A South Region II as it did in 2019. This time however, if they can get past the likes of Stephen Decatur, Chesapeake-AA, and Northeast-AA as contenders in the six team pod that also includes Easton and Oxon Hill; they will be re-seeded heading into the State Quarterfinal round which was formerly the 3A South Region Championship.
MORE PBR MD POWER 25 PREVIEWS