Follow @PBRMaryland
Facebook & Instagram

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 2020 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 JUCO Headquarters.

 

                                                               

After 49 seasons, legendary NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Steve Bazarnic retired following the 2019 season. The storied program amassed over 1,400 wins during his tenure, won nine district championships and played in the NJCAA World Series nine times. While the 2020 season will certainly have a different feel without Bazarnic in the dugout, the legacy of Coach Bazarnic will live on with former Trojan infielder Mike Carter returning home to take the reigns. Carter spent the last nine seasons as the head coach at CCBC Essex where he led the Knights to a Region XX title in 2016 and trip to the NJCAA D2 World Series in 2018. 

This year's team returns just one member of the starting lineup in sophomore outfielder JT Stevenson and three pieces on the mound with RHP Troy Fink, LHP Garrett Pullium, and RHP Ethan Stewart. With so much gone from last year, it was imperative for Carter and his staff to hit the recruiting trail as early as possible which they did assembling a solid roster year one with players from over nine states represented. 

The trio of returning arms significantly contributed as freshman combining to make 39 appearances, throwing over 130 innings and will be asked to lead the way again in 2020 with sophomore transfer RHP Alex Garban looking to add depth. Freshman Brendan Brady, Matthew Gonzalez and Casey White have the ability to make an immediate impact in the lineup alongside CCBC Essex transfer Gage Shaffer who hit .345 with eight home runs and had 44 RBI's a season ago under Carter with the Knights. Both Brady and Shaffer are also expected to see time on the mound as key two-way players. 

An early trip to North Carolina for a three games series against Lenoir CC will provide Carter an early look at his young squad before they return home and really get after it with meaningful Region XX D2 games beginning early March. Expect this team to grow as the season progresses and don't be surprised if come tournament time they make a splash. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Allegany College team preview.

 

                                                          

The Riverhawks were on the outside looking in last season when the NJCAA D2 Region XX Tournament began. For the first time during Chris Jenkins' tenure they failed to make the playoffs finishing 11-32 and 13th place overall in the Maryland JUCO Conference. It's fair to say that Jenkins had some idea that last year would be a re-building campaign after losing arguably their three best bats and four arms that saw significant time on the mound in 2018.

This year's team loses just one key piece on the mound from a year ago in John Iaquinta and will turn to sophomore RHP Zach Rees to step up as their ace. Rees appeared in 20 games last season throwing 46 innings and figures to grow from that valuable experience in 2020. Freshman Logan Kirk and top two-way newcomers Matt Johnson and Cameron Rees look to be a couple of the top arms hoping to help bolster the staff alongside Z. Rees.

At the plate, Anne Arundel returns two starters from 2019 in Shelby Wheeler and Tripp Templetonand Lennie Lehner returns for his sophomore season after sitting out last year due to an injury. Those three will lead the way in 2020 with a bunch of young and hungry newcomers Jenkins is excited about looking to earn spots in the lineup along the way. Top newcomers battling for time include the aforementioned two-way freshman, Johnson and C. Rees, as well as KJ Jarrett, Jaden Jones, and Noah June. The lineup figures to also get a boast this season with the addition of three transfers in Jon Alderman (Ferrum College), Patrick Mason (Stevenson University), and EJ Santana (Keystone College). 

An early trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for six games at the end of February will be a good opportunity for the team to grow and gel before returning home to open Maryland JUCO Conference play. Coach Jenkins will have his team ready and you better believe that the bitter taste of missing out on the playoffs last year will be in the back of their minds all season long. Expect to see the Riverhawks battling for one of the top eight playoff spots by season's end and after that it's a roll of the dice come tournament time. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Anne Arundel CC team preview.

 

                                                       

CCBC Catonsville finished 9th in the Maryland JUCO Conference in 2019 with a .500 record and advanced to the NJCAA DII Region XX Final Four after defeating Allegany College of Maryland and Montgomery College in the opening round play-in games. While making it to the weekend Final Four with a very young squad was a positive, 17th year head coach Dan Blue and the Cardinals left the weekend double-elimination tournament with a bad taste in their mouth after dropping their first two games by one-run each. This year's team figures to have a good shot to make it back and avenge that feeling with several key pieces returning. 

Anchoring the staff for the Cardinals in 2020 will be sophomores Travis Weaver, Tyler Green, and Trevor Smoot. The trio combined to throw nearly half of the innings on the mound last year making 49 total appearances between them. Fellow sophomore returner Adonis Escano will be asked to expand is role with top newcomers Hunter McKean, Jason Skeen, Ryan Clatterbuck, and Austin Galda looking to fill the void left behind by Kieran Garner, Andrew Caccamisi, and Alex Bolton on the staff. 

Aronne Dutton, Matt Migliozzi, and Smoot figure to be key pieces in the top of the lineup this year looking to get on in front of the big bats of fellow sophomore returners Julio Aguilar Yon and Nick Carpio. Freshman Necumba Booker, Shady Farah, Adrian Lucre, Sam Rodriguez, Chris Pizarro, Dellon White, Tyler Shadle, as well as the aforementioned Clatterbuck, McKean, and Galda will get opportunities early to break into the lineup and fill holes left behind by Easy Goita, Zeke Moldonado, Moises Aristy Jr., Hunter Todd, and Caccamisi. 

As with every year, the Cardinals will pack their bags and head south to Florida to kick off the season. The seven game, eight-day trip will certainly test them early with games scheduled against Seminole St. (FL), Lake-Sumter State (FL), Central Florida CC, and Daytona St. (FL). It will be a good opportunity for the Cardinals to bond and grow together before the grind of the Maryland JUCO Conference schedule begins when they return back to Baltimore. Expect Coach Blue to have this year's team contending once again for what would be a fourth straight trip to the Region XX DII weekend Final Four. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 CCBC Catonsville team preview.

 

                                                      

CCBC Dundalk enters the 2020 season with their third different head coach in as many seasons. Matt Backert started the fall as an assistant under Jon Karsos and was quickly named the head coach after Karsos' resignation in August. Without a doubt, this year will be a re-building year for Backert and the Lions with well over ten players that made significant contributions to the team in 2019 have since graduated and/or moved on to four-year colleges and universities to continue playing.

Returning this season on the mound are LHP Grahme Akehurst and RHP Jalen Edmondson. They will look to anchor a staff that includes Cecil College transfer Nate Griffin and two-way players Jake Brack, Kyle Hansel, and Eric Harrison. 

At the plate, the Lions do return a combination of some speed and power with Chris Dockins, Kaleb Whitlock and the aforementioned Brack. Other top newcomers looking to make an immediate impact in the lineup this season include Bennett Musselman, Nick White, and Eliot Holcomb. 

Along with making the top eight by seasons end, setting the tone for the future will be the key goal for Backert in his first year at the helm. The young players will have several opportunities to grow and develop over the course of the season in what can sometimes seem like a relentless grind to the finish. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 CCBC Dundalk team preview.

                                                          

In the past two seasons under Mike Carter, CCBC Essex reached the NJCAA DII World Series in 2018 and finished as the runners-up in the NJCAA DII Region XX Tournament in 2019. The Kingdom will have a different feel this season however with Carter gone to coach his alma matter, Allegany College of Maryland. 

Former DeMatha Catholic head coach Sean O'Connor will look to continue the recent trend of success but it won't be easy year one with several key pieces gone from a season ago. The Knights lose five key bats from the lineup including two-way standout Gage Shaffer. Nolan Watson(Dayton), Nelson Laviosa (Florida Memorial), Lucas Nakich, Armando Prieto and Shaffer each played in over 40 games a season ago, and combined to score 52%, and drive in 67% of the teams runs. 

With Luis Gonzalez returning as the only position player from last year, O'Connor will rely heavily on transfers Chase Ragsdale (Harford CC) and Lucas Carr (CCBC Catonsville) to provide leadership for the young freshman class. Look for William Cheatham, JJ Erazo, and Cam Powers to be a few of the freshman with the ability to step in immediately and make an impact.

On the flip side, the positive looks to be on the mound with three key arms returning. Jeffrey Youngand Rocco Marquez figure to slide right into the one and two spots in the rotation after logging over 40 innings each in 2019 while going a combined 12-4. Fellow sophomore returner Ronald Jones will need to step up also this season to help add depth and leadership on a staff that will also feature a bunch of freshman. 

It will be interesting to see how the Knights fare this season with almost a completely new look. Coach O'Connor has an opportunity to really excite the young team, develop them, and prepare them for what most likely in all reality will be a run at the playoffs next season rather than in 2020. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 CCBC Essex team preview.

                                                        

Earlier this month 22nd year head coach Charlie O'Brien was selected to the NJCAA Hall of Fame Class of 2020. A wonderful honor for the long tenured Cecil College coach who has experienced much success with the program. The last two years however have been tough for O'Brien and the Seahawks finishing most recently just 8-30-1 and in 12th place in the Maryland JUCO Conference. The Seahawks also missed out in qualifying for the NJCAA DII Region XX Tournament in 2019. 

This year's team will be young again with 14 freshman and just 6 sophomores slated to make the opening day roster. Coach O'Brien will rely heavily on his returners this year beginning with red-shirt sophomore Michael Worthington. Worthington had a fantastic freshman season and was off to a great start last year before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Other returners figuring to make an impact in the lineup include Reese Crounse, Connor Dulin, Kipp Hillson, and Andy Imbierowicz. Look for top newcomer Patrick O'Brien to also make an immediate impact in the lineup for the Seahawks.

On the mound, Cecil loses their top two arms in ace Jaily Paredes who garnered 2019 Maryland JUCO All Conference Second Team and NJCAA All Region XX DII Second Team selections and Zachary Strong. With Paredes and Strong both gone, O'Brien will need Hillson, Imbierowicz, and sophomore Paul Layton to step up even more on the mound this year. The Seahawks are set to open their 2020 campaign this weekend with a four game set at Delaware Tech CC. Expect some early growing pains as the freshman gain experience but by seasons end Cecil figures to be in the mix for qualifying as one of the top eight seeds in the NJCAA DII Region XX Tournament. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Cecil College team preview.

 

                                                           

Frank Szymanski returns almost an entirely new roster in his 21st season at the helm in 2020. The Skipjacks lose essentially their entire pitching staff with just Mason Calvert returning from a season ago. Likewise, Chesapeake returns zero starters from their lineup with the likes of All Maryland JUCO First Team and All NJCAA DII Region XX First Team selection Dayan Reinoso, All Maryland JUCO First Team and All NJCAA DII Region XX First Team selection Livan Reinoso, All Maryland JUCO First Team and All NJCAA DII Region XX Second Team selection Christian Murphy, and All NJCAA DII Region XX Second Team selection Jordan Glazer having moved on to four year schools. 

Chesapeake entered the NJCAA DII Region XX Tournament last year as the #3 seed thus receiving a bye and home field advantage for a one game play-in to the weekend final four double elimination round. Disappointingly however, the Skipjacks were upset by Garrett College 5-3 in that game thus abruptly ending what was otherwise another strong year for the guys on the other side of the bridge. 

Over time, Szymanski has built a perennial powerhouse in the Maryland JUCO and he and his staff have done a nice job of recruiting to ensure that they will once again be competitive. Freshman Brady Carter, Nick Gatton, Danny Leo, Dylan Young, and Radford transfer Joe Seidler will anchor a staff loaded with talent and the potential to be one of the best in the state. Offensively, freshman Alex Correa, Austin Massey, and North Carolina Central transfer Garrett Nepert figure to make immediate impacts in the new lineup. Transfers Andrew Brady, Devin McClendon, Avery Neavesand the aforementioned freshman Young will add depth in that lineup as well.

The Skipjacks open the year with a tough double-header verse Region XIX and Northeast District Champion Lackawanna (PA) and will make two trips down to Myrtle Beach, SC before getting into the brunt of their Maryland JUCO and DII Region XX schedule. Even with a ton of new faces, expectations are that Chesapeake will be contending for another Maryland JUCO and NJCAA DII Region XX Championship by season's end. 

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Chesapeake College team preview.

 

                                                

A season after finishing as the runner up in the NJCAA D2 Region XX Tournament in 2018; Frederick returned determined to take the next step in 2019. The Cougars did just that last year, defeating CCBC Essex 21-6 to claim the region title and advance to the Northeast District Championship against Region XIX champion Lackawanna CC (PA). In game one of the best-of-three series, the Cougars were shut out 7-0 but rebounded later in the day winning 19-5 in game two to force a winner take all one game championship. The Cougars eventually fell the following day by a score of 14-8 thus ending their run at reaching the World Series. That experience should however really help them this season. 

Even with nine players from last year's team moving on to four-year schools, 18th year head coach Rodney Bennett returns 20 players and they are as hungry as ever for another shot to make it to the NJCAA D2 World Series in Enid, Oklahoma by season's end. Six of the seven returners on the mound this year appeared in at least 10 games a season ago led by Maryland JUCO All Conference First Team and NJCAA D2 All Region XX - First Team selection AJ Cieslinski. Cieslinski appeared in 13 games for the Cougars in 2019 going 8-1 with a save. The righty struck out 61 in 62.2 innings pitched to the tune of a 2.01 ERA. Other key pieces returning on the mound include lefty Nick Karlinchak(15 APP, 6-2 record, and a 3.05 ERA in 41.1 IP), righty Max Proctor (19 APP, 1-1 record with a save, and a 3.94 ERA in 32 IP), righty Brodey Neveker (10 APP, 3-1 record, 4.32 ERA in 25 IP), and righty Max Cannon (15 APP, 2 saves, 5.87 ERA in 23 IP). 

Two transfers in RHP Riley Grant (Belmont Abbey) and RHP Matt Parson (Lackawanna CC) figure to really help bolster the staff this season with freshman RHP/OF John Cummings, RHP David Gingras, and two-way standout Jacob Wetzel adding the necessary depth on the mound to make a deep tournament run. 

At the plate, Frederick returns six starters from 2019 led by Maryland JUCO All Conference First Team / NJCAA D2 All Region XX First Team selection Priamo Lozado (.404 AVG, 47 R, 10 HR, 67 RBI), Maryland JUCO All Conference First Team / NJCAA D2 All Region XX First Team selection Jacob Wetzel (.377 AVG, 64 R, 7 2B, 11 3B, 6 HR, and 55 RBI), and Maryalnd JUCO All Conference Honorable Mention selection Brett Stallings (.327 AVG, 47 R, 10 2B, 29 RBI). Jacob Berry, Connor Hanafin, Neveker, and Karlinchak also figure to make an impact again for the Cougars offensively with transfer Nicco German (Delaware Tech CC), freshman Justin Acal, Spencer Rhoads, and Cummings adding strength and versatility to the lineup. 

Bennett's teams have now won at least 30 games for the last 14 seasons and look poised to push that streak to 15 in 2020. Expectations are high for this year's squad but Coach Bennett is accustomed to that as his teams are perennially considered as one of the favorites to win the Maryland JUCO Conference and NJCAA D2 Region XX Tournament. The Cougars open up the season with a four game series in North Carolina against Surry CC and will play a double-header at Piedmont College (GA) on their way down to Winter Haven, Florida for 11 more games.

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Frederick CC team preview.

 

                                                     

Garrett played their way in once again to the Region XX D2 Final Four double elimination tournament last season with wins early in the week over CCBC Dundalk and Chesapeake College. But for the second time in as many years the Lakers came up just short on the weekend placing third after losing twice to CCBC Essex. 

For the Lakers to contend for another Region XX title in 2020, 16th year head coach Eric Hallenbeck will need several young players to step up with many key pieces gone from a year ago. Reilly Rutgers, Daniel Osafo, and Justin McDaniel combined to throw 179 innings and make 41 appearances on the mound but have since moved on turning it over to sophomore RHP Michael Joyce to lead the staff. Also gone from a season ago are All Maryland JUCO second team and honorable mention members Derek Gaisbauer and Winston Davis along with stating shortstop Jacob Goodnight. 

Tim Hanible looks to be one of the top returners following a stellar freshman campaign in which he hit .276 and had 35 RBI's, scoring 42 runs with 20 stolen bases. Other returners sure to make an impact in the lineup are All Maryland JUCO honorable mention selection Juan Pinero, NJCAA D2 Region XX All Tournament Team member Cam Douglas and first basemen Colby Johnson. 

Some local talent, Peyton Carr (Northern Garrett), Brandon Lucas (Southern Garrett) and Eli Hott(Hampshire WV) have the ability to make an immediate impact in the lineup while other top newcomers Justin Fluhart and Skylar Kanacsky look to make a difference both at the plate and on the mound. 

It will be tough but if Hallenbeck can get some of the younger arms to step up and help out Joyce on the mound, it looks like they have the bats to slug it out against the other teams in the conference. Two trips down to Myrtle Beach, SC for 15 guaranteed early season games should also really help prepare them for a back-loaded Maryland JUCO and Region XX D2 schedule. Should the Lakers make it back to the Final Four again this season to contend for the regional crown it would be their 4th such appearance in six years.

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Garrett College team preview.

 

                                                   

Hagerstown returns a significantly older squad in 2020 with three returning starters and six pitchers that saw regular time on the mound. It's far cry from the young and inexperienced roster 20th year head Coach Scott Jennings set forth with a season ago that included 19 freshman. 

Even with the absence of NJCAA All Region XX First Team and All Maryland JUCO Second Team RHP Josh Colliflower, Hagerstown's strength looks to once again be on the mound. Dylan Reid, Brock Smith, Will Grove, and Steven Ricketts will likely anchor the staff with Seth Hartman and Zach Depoy adding depth. The Hawks will also figure to get a tremendous boost on the bump from transfers Ryan Delorbe (ASA-Brooklyn) and the hard throwing Kam'ron Mays-Hunt (Arkansas State). 

Two of their three starting position players from a season ago earned postseason awards and figure to be key pieces of the lineup this year. Shortstop Josh Menders garnered Maryland JUCO All Conference First Team and NJCAA D1 All Region XX First Team honors while first basemen Branden Lynch received Maryland JUCO All Conference Honorable Mention and NJCAA D1 All Region XX First Team awards. Menders and fellow returning sophomore double play partner Andrew Mathias are as good of a middle infield combination you will see in the conference this year and should surely make a difference defensively as well as at the plate. 

The Hawks will once again open the main portion of their early season schedule down in Vero Beach, Florida where they are set to play fourteen games before returning home to open the Maryland JUCO Conference regular season. It looks as though this team may be once of the best Jennings has assembled during their run of 19 consecutive winning seasons and look poised to compete not only in the conference but also in the Region XX D1 tournament with a berth to the Eastern District Championship on the line.

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Hagerstown CC team preview.

 

                                                           

Harford CC enters the 2020 season with yet another new skipper at the helm. Josh Houser was recently named the interim head coach for the upcoming season after RJ Heinlen stepped down to be an assistant again earlier this spring. Record wise, the Fighting Owls are coming off their best campaign in school history finishing 46-9 overall. The 2019 Maryland JUCO Conference Champions steam-rolled through the NJCAA DI Region XX Tournament before their season ended abruptly losing the first two games in the NJCAA DI Eastern District Tournament to Monroe College (NY) 14-2 and Spartanburg Methodist College (SC) 8-0. It was a rather disappointing finish to what was otherwise a phenomenal year. 

Every year Harford loses several talented players to four-year programs but their ability to recruit and attract top-end quality players from across the region has enabled them to re-load rather than re-build. This year's roster is no different with five key starters gone from last year's lineup in catcher Spencer Smith (UNC Greensboro), outfielder Spencer Harbert, (Ohio University) and infielders Matt Shilling (Liberty), Nolan Charlton (UMBC), and Jordyn Smith (Grambling State). 

The Fighting Owls will look to returners Reyce Curnane and Ajay Szcepkowski to lead the offense in 2020 and figure to get a boost with Brayden Parr returning from an injury last season helping to solidify one of the spots in the middle infield. Transfers Tom Brosnahan (Dyersburg St. CC) and Brelon Harden (Virginia Military Institute) will be looked upon to make an immediate impact while freshman Tyler Blittersdorf and Mason Hicks figure to see some regular time early as top newcomers. 

On the mound, Harford loses their top three arms with the departure of Braeden Fausnaught, Mike Taylor and Marty Neal. The trio combined to go 21-6 with four saves amongst them and accounted for 40% of the total innings thrown in 2019. Mitch Hoon, Miles Matanguihan, John Torres, and Blake Johnson return from last year's staff as well as two red-shirts in Antonio Buckley and Jack Slade. Transfers Chris Hamann (Montgomery College), Jeremy Lapp (West Virginia), Caleb Musco(Anne Arundel CC) and Zane Grimes (Loch Haven) are expected to make immediate impacts on on the mound alongside what is a very talented young group of freshman arms. Expect to see Jamison Covey, Nick Collier, Cameron Kalandros, Colton Knoble, Hunter Bell, and Carter Heller get innings early as Houser tries to solidify roles on this year's staff. 

Another strong recruiting class combined with some keys returners make Harford once again one of the favorites to win the Maryland JUCO Conference and contend for a berth to the NJCAA DI World Series in Grand Junction, CO. The Fighting Owls open the 2020 season in Sumter, SC with a four game set against USC Sumter this weekend before returning home for back-to-back double headers against perennial powerhouses Mercer County (NJ) and Lackawanna (PA). This year's schedule is absolutely stacked which should help them really prepare for a strong playoff run at season's end.

 

CLICK HERE for the full 2020 Harford CC team preview.