2020 Carroll County Season Preview
March 4, 2020
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With the 2020 Maryland High School baseball season just underway and games right around the corner, we begin to close out our complete preseason coverage with a look at every conference throughout that state. We will break down each conference with a preview of teams expected to contend as well as key players from across the league that you won't want to miss play.
Note: A preseason questionnaire was sent out to all Maryland high school baseball coaches in Mid-January to gain pertinent information for this piece but not all forms were completed and returned. Below is a compilation of information received as well as thoughts from our staff at PBR Maryland.
CARROLL County
*Century Knights
Francis Scott Key Eagles
Liberty Lions
Manchester Valley Mavericks
South Carroll Cavaliers
Westminster Owls
Winters Mill Falcons
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLayers to Watch List
Century Knights
Conner Breitenbach OF 2021
Hunter Rose 3B 2021
Francis Scott Key Eagles
Jarred Hise C 2020
Liberty Lions
Robert Bratchie INF/P 2020
Garrett Geidel OF/1B/P 2020
Peyton Scheufele INF/P 2020
Manchester Valley Mavericks
Brett DeWees C 2020 (York College)
Eddie Meredith 2B 2020 (Albright College)
Jack Metz 3B/P 2020
Matthew Myers OF/P 2020 (Randolph-Macon)
Kyle Scott SS/P 2020
South Carroll Cavaliers
JB Berry RHP 2020 (Charleston Southern)
Alex Hess SS 2020
Nick Trey OF/RHP 2020 (Frostburg State University)
Aidan Greaney 3B 2021
Will Irwin RHP 2021
Nick Malone C 2021
Logan Miller 2B 2022
Westminster Owls
Haden Hoff C/OF 2020 (Fairmont State University)
Matt Annulis P/OF 2020
Tyler Buberl 3B/P 2020
Marcos Mendez 1B 2020
Riley Warren 1B/P 2020
Zach Kraft P 2020
Winters Mill Falcons
Travis Fullerton P/INF 2020
Conner Peters P/INF 2020
Josh Popeilski P 2021
Slater Seitz P/OF 2021
Cade Spreitzer C 2021
2020 Season Preview
FAVORITE
South Carroll Cavaliers: South Carroll enters 2020 as the favorites to win the Carroll County Championship with several key returners back from a season ago. Eighth year head coach Brian Zawacki and the Cavaliers were bounced early from the MPSSAA playoffs in 2019 losing 11-2 to Oakdale in the 3A West Sectional Semifinals. With a sour taste in their mouth from how last year's season ended, look for this strong group of upperclassmen to be hard to beat in county and make some noise come playoff time as they finish out their careers in 2020.
This year's staff looks to be very strong with senior RHP JB Berry (Charleston Southern) leading the way as the team's ace. The senior righty has seen a big jump in his velocity since striking out 48 batters in 39.2 innings pitched to the tune of a 1.06 ERA a season ago. Fellow seniors Nick Trey (19.1 IP, 0.72 ERA) and Will Irwin (4-1 record with 38.1 IP and a 2.92 ERA) also have a lot of experience toeing the rubber for the Cavaliers making this year's starting rotation strong with three big arms. Top newcomers Dylan Yourmans and Ryder Chaulk figure to hear their numbers called throughout the season and could end up playing key roles on the staff depending on how things shake out.
Trey, a Frostburg State commit will also be one of the main catalysts in a lineup that returns six starters overall in 2020. Trey hit .354 in 2019 and will be joined by senior SS Alex Hess (.383 AVG), junior 3B Aidan Greaney (.415 AVG, 18 RBI's), and junior C Nick Malone in the top-to-middle part of the order. Sophomore 2B Logan Miller (.319 AVG) and senior 1B Joe Westbrook also return as impact bats with top newcomers Noah Paglese and Christopher Durkin looking to get on base and in scoring position for those older guys.
CONTENDERS
Century Knights: The back-to-back Carroll County champions lose four major pieces in First Team All County selections Matt Born, Jared Lamb, Joe Rekus, and Bradon Will and ten seniors overall from a season ago. Second year head coach Chris Poe will need several younger players to step up if they hope to contend for a third straight county title relying heavily on junior Hunter Rose at the top of the lineup and junior Conner Breitenbach in the middle in 2020.
Liberty Lions: The Lions lose First Team All County catcher Austin Massey (Chesapeake College) from a season ago but return a strong core of upperclassmen. Seniors Peyton Scheufele, Garrett Geidel, and Robert Bratchie will look to lead the way both on the mound and at the plate in 2020.
BEST OF THE REST
Francis Scott Key Eagles: The Eagles went 5-12 in head coach Todd Hartshorn’s first season at the helm and will look to build on that this season with several returners back. Ryan Bennett and Lonnie McLain return as leaders and key pieces both on the mound and at the plate. Look for Logan Miller, Luke Breezy, Jacob Ingle, and Travis Williams to also see time on the mound as they look to fill the void left behind by Kyle Williams. At the plate, Bennett and McLain will be joined by fellow returning starters Mike Jones, Joe Eckard, and Jarred Hise. Hartshorn was formerly the head coach at Hereford where he built the Bulls into a perennial Baltimore County powerhouse. Expect the Eagles to continue trending upward under his watch.
Winters Mill Falcons: Winters Mill finished a disappointing 4-15 last season and lost key players Grant Bradt (California University of Pennsylvania) and Alex Barnes. While the Falcons still figure to be young, head coach Erik Barnes returns three starters and three arms led by senior Second Team All County pitcher/infielder Conner Peters. Peters and junior Slater Seitz will look to make an impact both on the mound and in the lineup this year with Josh Popeilski adding depth on the mound and junior catcher Cade Spreitzer looking to make a difference in the lineup. Look for top newcomers Travis Fullerton, Johnny Bobnar, and Jason Laguna to play key roles in the lineup also as the season progresses.