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Dylan Young (Chesapeake College) got the ball for the No. 16 Cougars on the mound in their home opener on Saturday and showed early on why he is one of the top pitchers in Anne Arundel County this season. It was a pitcher's duel early between Young and Eastern Tech starting RHP and uncommitted 2019 Michael Birchfield as both cruised through the opposing lineups through 2 1/2 innings. 

Chespeake-AA manufactured Colby Buckheit (UMES) into scoring position where he scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Young in the bottom of the third for the first run of the game. Young dominated the Eastern Tech lineup on the mound for the first four innings before leaving one up to Mavericks leadoff hitter Cam Sklar in the top of the 5th inning. With the wind blowing straight out, Sklar took one over the left field fence to knot the score a one a piece.

The tie wouldn't last long however, as the Cougars strung a leadoff hit and two walks in the bottom half of the inning off relief pitcher Connor Ignatz into a bases loaded situation for uncommitted 2020 James Hawkins. With two outs, Hawkins singled back up the middle for a two-RBI single to break the tie. Daniel Stern then singled back up the middle making the score 4-1 and a hit-batsmen later forced in what would prove to be the game-winning run.

Buckheit came on in relief of Young to start the 6th and struck out the side after giving up a lead-off hit. Eastern Tech would rally in the top of the seventh as Buckheit lost a little bit of his control. The Mavericks got a hit and two walks to load the bases with just one out. After another strikeout, Ryan Wagner stepped to the plate as the Mavericks last hope and lined one into centerfield that got by the center fielder clearing the bases and allowing Wagner to get to third base. On the ensuing batter, Buckheit recorded his fifth strike out to end the rally and game as No. 16 Chesapeake-AA survived the late surge for the 5-4 home-opening win. 

Young went five innings on the mound for the Cougars and showed excellent command of both his fastball and off-speed pitches. He threw 74% strikes and kept the Maverick hitters off balance with the ability to throw any pitch in any count. Birchfield was on a strict pitch count and threw four innings for Eastern Tech surrendering five hits and just the one run while striking out three along the way. Sklar and Wagner paced the Maverick's offense with two hits each while leadoff batter Colton Spangler led the Cougars offensively going 2-for-4 and scoring one run.