2016 Team Preview: Gaithersburg
February 22, 2016
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By Jerry Shank
Maryland Scouting Director
As we prepare for the upcoming 2016 high school season, we will be taking a glimpse at programs from around the state.
Team: Gaithersburg
Nickname: Trojans
Class: 4A
Conference: Montgomery County 4A/3A West
Head Coach: Jeff Rabberman
Years as HC: 8th
Twitter: @CoachRabs16
Team Website: www.leaguelineup.com/ghstrojans
2015 Record: 22-2
2015 Conference Record: 6-0
2015 Post Season: 4A State Champions
Returning Starters/Position: 8
Returning Starters/Pitcher: 3
Players with Post-Season Honors
Anthony Felitti ??? 1st Team All-Met, 1st Team All-Division, MSABC All-District 2
Nick Pantos ??? Honorable Mention All-Met, 1st Team All-Division, MSABC All-District 2
Brad Sawyer ??? 2nd Team All-Division, MSABC All-District 2
Zack DeCarlo ??? 2nd Team All-Division
Players to Watch
LHP Anthony Felitti 2016 (George Mason)
RHP/2B Nick Pantos 2016 (Maryland)
1B/LHP Brad Sawyer 2016 (Hood)
OF Zack DeCarlo 2016
SS Andy Kwiatkowski 2016
3B Grant Mixell 2016
OF Aaron Vargas 2017
Season Outlook
Gaithersburg has their sights set on repeating as 4A state champions in 2016 with the majority of the pitching staff and lineup returning from the 2015 State Championship Squad. Offensively, the Trojans will have to find a replacement from middle of the order and key backstop C Trey Martinez, who is now at Towson. Matinez led Gaithersburg in homeruns (5), RBI (26), batting average (.453) and was third on the team in hits (29). The Trojans have plenty of players that should pick up with Seniors Brad Sawyer (Hood) and Nick Pantos leading the way. Sawyer hit .419 in the leadoff spot and Pantos is coming off a .429 BA along with leading the team in doubles with 13. Others looking to build off the 2015 season include Zack DeCarlo (Averett, .344 BA 25 R), Grant Mixell (.328 BA), Aaron Vargas (.339 BA), and Andy Kwiatkowski (.278 BA). Keep an eye on Dillon Scholl who hit .333 in limited time last season along with Urbana transfer 2018 C Tyler Woodward.
On the mound for Gaithersburg look no further than George Mason recruit LHP Anthony Felitti. Last year Felitti went 10-0 in 49.2 innings with 70 strikeouts and a 0.85 ERA. Felitti picked it up for the Trojans after RHP Nick Pantos (Maryland recruit) had to limit his innings due to injury. This year Pantos looks healthy and should give Gaithersburg one of the top 1-2 punches in the state. Sawyer should once again be a top option out of the bullpen and pick up for the loss of Brendan Deyo to graduation. Keep an eye out for newcomer 2016 RHP Alex Rojas, an arm that the coaching staff are excited about and currently getting some interest from junior colleges around the state.
Overall Gaithersburg looks to have the pieces to make another run for a state title. With Felitti back and a healthy Pantos, the Trojans look like they could do so.
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