2020 Central Maryland Conference Season Preview
March 16, 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.
CMC "Gambrill" Division
Boonsboro Warriors
Brunswick Railroaders
Catoctin Cougars
*Middletown Knights
Oakdale Bears
Smithsburg Leopards
Walkersville Lions
Williamsport Wildcats
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLayers to Watch List
Boonsboro Warriors
Peyton Mason C 2020
Jake Neff OF 2021
Brunswick Railroaders
Kyle Cruz P 2021
Noland Genies INF 2022
Adam Watkins P 2021
Catoctin Cougars
Mason Albright LHP 2021 (Virginia Tech)
Bryson Cabellero RHP 2021
Briar Castellow LHP/1B 2020 (Wilson)
Dylan Click INF 2021
Hayden Dextradeur OF 2020
Colby Honing RHP 2020 (Fairmont State)
Dusty Isanogle C 2021
Joseph McMannis C/1B 2023 (Maryland)
Logan Simanski INF 2022
Ayden Shadle LHP 2021
JJ Zirkle LHP 2021
Middletown Knights
Drew Maly RHP/1B 2020
Zach Martin OF 2021 (Maryland)
Jackson McDaniel RHP/1B 2020
Jacob Pryor OF 2020 (Wilson)
Chase Weller C 2021
Trevor Woelkers INF 2020
Oakdale Bears
Graham Albers INF 2020
Dylan Bliven RHP 2021
Logan DeBord OF 2020
Liam McFadden RHP 2020
Ethan Reifer INF 2020
Jake Turner 1B 2020
Smithsburg Leopards
Josh Black LHP/1B 2021
Daniel Walter LHP/1B 2020
Walkersville Lions
Brett Ahalt SS 2020 (Clemson)
Brett Buschman P 2020 (SUNY-Maritime)
James Clegg INF 2020
David Karszen SS/P 2020
Gavin Swaney C 2021
Williamsport Wildcats
Curran Earnest RHP 2021
Corey Jamison C/1B 2020 (Shepherd)
Luke McVicker RHP 2022
Bryce Romsburg P 2020
Hunter White 3B/RHP 2021
2020 "Gambrill" DIVISION Season Preview
FAVORITES
Catoctin Cougars: Catoctin returns a deep roster with seven starters and six pitchers back from a season ago. Junior LHP Mason Albright (Virginia Tech, First Team All-Gambrill) headlines the staff which also includes returning seniors Briar Castellow (Wilson College, Second Team All-Gambrill) and Colby Honing (Fairmont State), and juniors Bryson Cabellero, Ayden Shadle, and JJ Zirkle. At the plate, head coach Mike Franklin will look for his seven returning starters; Albright, Cabellero, Castellow, Dylan Click (Honorable Mention All-Gambrill), Hayden Dextradeur, Dusty Isanogle (Second Team All Gambrill) and Logan Simanski (Honorable Mention All-Gambrill) to lead the way. The Cougars will also get a boost both on the mound and at the plate in 2020 from the very talented freshman and University of Maryland commit Joseph McMannis.
Middletown Knights: The defending Central Maryland Conference champions finished the 2019 season 18-7 suffering a heart-breaking defeat in the MPSSAA 2A State Championship to la Plata. Three key pieces are gone from last year’s State Finalist team but the Knights still figure to be one of the favorites to win the Gambrill Division in 2020 led by University of Maryland commit Zach Martin. Martin was sidelined with a fractured hamate bone for a majority of last year’s season including their run at the State Championship. Joining Martin as key returners in the lineup this season are Jacob Pryor (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill), Jackson McDaniel (Second Team All CMC-Gambrill), Trevor Woelkers (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill), Drew Maly, Kaleb Kline, Chase Weller, Gage Queen, and Paul McHugh. McDaniel, Maly, and Kline will also anchor the staff with some younger arms needing to step up as they look to fill the void left behind by ace Luke Pryor (Mount St. Mary’s, First Team All CMC-Gambrill) and Graham Brown (Potomac State JC, First Team All CMC-Gambrill).
CONTENDERS
Oakdale Bears: With First Team All-Gambrill catcher Rob Wachter and infielders Reese Antognoni (Second Team) and Justin Ritter (Honorable Mention) gone, the Bears will lean on another solid core of seniors to lead the way in 2020. Outfielder Logan DeBord (Second Team) figures to be the spark-plug at the top of the lineup getting things going for fellow senior returners Ethan Reifer (Honorable Mention), Graham Albers, and Jake Turner. Look for senior Liam McFadden and junior Dylan Bliven to be two of the team’s key arms on the mound this season.
Walkersville Lions: First year head coach Mike Minch takes over a Lions program that went 7-11 a season ago but returns a very talented group that looks poised to contend in the Gambrill Division this year. Leading the way amongst seven returning starters is Clemson commit and Second Team All CMC-Gambrill selection Brett Ahalt. Ahalt will be joined by James Clegg (Second Team All CMC-Gambrill), David Karszen (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill), Jacob Saylor, Brett Buschman (SUNY-Maritime), Adam Dellamura, and Mickey McEllwain. On the mound, Minch should have plenty of options with Karszan, Clegg, Buschman, Dellamura, Brooks Burnett, Andrew Stroka, and Malcolm Holman returning with another year of experience under their belt. Look for top newcomers Justin Ropp, Jack Edwards, Gavin Swaney, George Childers, and Dylan Polchito to contribute as well.
Williamsport Wildcats: Williamsport will be young in 2020 losing three All CMC-Gambrill selections from a season ago in pitchers Corey Walters (First Team), Maddux Grove (Honorable Mention), and infielder Justin Taylor (First Team). Senior Bryce Romsburg (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill) returns to anchor a staff that includes fellow senior Curran Earnest, junior Hunter White and sophomore Luke McVicker. White figures to be a key piece also in a lineup that also sees back a healthy Corey Jamison (Shepherd).
BEST OF THE REST
Boonsboro Warriors: It figures to be a complete re-build out at Boonsboro as the Warriors, one year removed from winning the MPSSAA 1A State Championship lose six All CMC-Gambrill Division players. Those gone include: TJ Kalagher (First Team), Ryan Nolan (Second Team), Dalton Shank (Second Team), Aaron Hartle (Second Team), Adam Mathias (Honorable Mention), and Josh Deroacher (Honorable Mention). Look for senior catcher Peyton Mason (First Team All CMC-Gambrill) and junior outfielder Jake Neff to be key players on this year’s squad.
Brunswick Railroaders: The Railroaders look to continue their re-build with Tyler Polesky (First Team All CMC- Gambrill) and Matt Walker (Second Team All CMC-Gambrill) gone. Juniors Kyle Cruz (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill) and Adam Watkins figure to anchor the staff in 2020 with sophomores Noland Genies (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill), Joseph Sweeney, and junior Joshua Wagner returning in the lineup.
Smithsburg Leopards: Smithsburg looks to be in re-build mode with two of their top arms gone from a season ago in Alex Cuevas (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill) and Chase Miller (Honorable Mention All CMC-Gambrill). Senior Daniel Walter and junior Josh Black return as two key pieces to build around as they figure to both make a major impact on the mound and at the plate.
CMC "Spires" DIVISION
Frederick Cadets
*Linganore Lancers
North Hagerstown Hubs
South Hagerstown Rebels
Thomas Johnson Patriots
Tuscarora Titans
Urbana Hawks
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
Frederick Cadets
Kyle Brown C 2021
Brady MacDonald SS/RHP 2021
Nik Struntz OF 2020
Jack Surdez RHP/C 2021
Linganore Lancers
Ryan Barthlow SS 2020 (Penn State - Harrisburg)
Matthew Cunningham SS/RHP 2021 (Mount St. Mary's)
Ben Moore LHP 2022
Cameron Rokisky RHP 2021
Garrett Swartzbeck SS (Elizabethtown)
North Hagerstown Hubs
Ian Selby OF 2020
Sam Semler RHP 2020
Graham Spitz 1B 2020
Owen Strite 2020
Ryan Talbert INF 2021
South Hagerstown Rebels
John Carter RHP 2020
Thomas Johnson Patriots
Shane Bowie SS/RHP 2020 (Wilson)
AJ Enriquez OF/RHP 2020 (St. Thomas)
Jacob Orr SS 2021 (Maryland)
Trevor Yusko C/RHP 2021
Tuscarora Titans
Ryan Blaszczk 1B/3B 2021
Tommy Osneek 1B/P 2020
Jackson Van Tassell RHP 2021 (Radford)
John Webber UTL/C 2020
Urbana Hawks
Josh Baker LHP 2020 (Lancaster Bible)
Armani Bullock C 2020
John Dhima RHP 2020
Garrett Kile INF/P 2020 (York)
Garrett Osborne RHP 2021
Kameron Walters SS/RHP 2020 (Shepherd)
Brendan Yagesh 1B/LHP 2022
2020 "Spires" DIVISION SEASON PREVIEW
FAVORITES
Linganore Lancers: Linganore enters the 2020 season with one of the strongest starting rotations in the Central Maryland Conference. 2019 All-CMC First Team selection Matthew Cunningham (Mount St. Mary's), junior Cameron Rokisky and sophomore lefty Ben Moore all return and are coming off strong campaigns 2019. The trio worked 95 innings for the Lancers on the bump last year striking out 92 batters and each posted sub 3.00 ERA's. Head coach David Keiling will lean on them to set the tone once again this season with a few key bats from last year's lineup having graduated. With Jake Santis, Jacob Ference (Salisbury), and Cruz Cortez gone, the Lancers will be looking for guys to step up and produce in the middle of the lineup. 2019 All-CMC Honorable Mention selection Garrett Schwartzbeck figures to be the spark plug at the top of the order with his ability to get on base and make things happen. Cunningham and senior All-CMC Second Teamer Ryan Barthlow are also returning impact bats looking to increase their production in the top to middle part of the order in 2020. Look for top junior newcomers Brody Earnes and Adam Everett to contribute immediately in the lineup with Everett and RHP Kai Hardesty adding depth to the already strong staff on the mound.
Thomas Johnson Patriots: Thomas Johnson looks to have the most balanced roster returning in the Central Maryland Conference in 2020. Head Coach Billy Gross returns six starters on offense and his top four arms from last season. Seniors Shane Bowie (Wilson College, Second Team All-Spires), AJ Enriquez (Honorable Mention All-Spires), Ian Kline, and junior Trevor Yusko (First Team All-Spires) will anchor the staff once again this year with each coming off strong seasons on the bump in 2019. Offensively, Bowie, Enriquez, and Yusko will be joined by junior shortstop Jacob Orr (Maryland, First Team All-Spires), junior second basemen Alex Tyeryar, and senior outfielder Matt Fowkes. Orr set the table last season at the top of the lineup and will look to do so again coming off a year in which he hit .403, scored 20 runs, stole 14 bases, and drove in 20 runs. Look for top newcomers Justin Chappel, Devon Coldren, Torin Stones, and Jason Waguespack to make an impact and play key roles also throughout the season for Patriots.
CONTENDERS
Frederick Cadets: Frederick could be a sleeper to watch this season as the Cadets return junior SS/RHP Brady MacDonald (Second Team All-Spires), junior catcher Kyle Brown (Honorable Mention All-Spires), and senior outfielder Nik Struntz (Honorable Mention All-Spires). Junior first basemen Tyler Prather also returns and junior Jack Surdez figures to play a key role both on the mound and in the lineup this season.
Tuscarora Titans: Tuscarora returns one of the top arms in the Central Maryland Conference in junior right-hander Jackson Van Tassell (Honorable Mention All-Spires). He will look to anchor a staff that also features fellow two-way talents Ryan Blaszack (Honorable Mention All-Spires) and Tommy Osneek. Third year head coach Mike O’Brien will look to those three along with seniors John Weber, Savion Maultsby, Calbe Brocket, junior Elijah Morris, and a solid group of freshman and sophomores headlined by Kyle Sagner to fill the lineup in 2020 with six key players gone from a season ago.
Urbana Hawks: The Hawks look primed to contend for the division title in 2020 returning six starters and six arms on the mound. Kameron Walters (Second Team All-Spires) and Garrett Osborne (Honorable Mention All-Spires) look to anchor the staff once again combining to throw just over 70 innings in 2019. Seniors John Dhima, Josh Baker, Kyle Wang, and star sophomore two-way talent Brendan Yagesh add depth and options for 15th year head coach Mike Frownfelter this year on the bump. Walters and Yagesh also return as key pieces in a lineup that sees back seniors Armani Bullock (Second Team All-Spires), Garrett Kile (Honorable Mention All-Spires), and juniors Julian Samonte and Joey Galloway. Look for junior right-hander Dalton Willis, junior outfielder Mikey Gonzalez, and sophomore infielder Brody Lindsey to also contribute as the season progresses.
BEST OF THE REST
North Hagerstown Hubs: The Hubs return a strong core of returners from a season ago led by First Team All-Spires senior first basemen Graham Spitz. Second team selections Ryan Talbert and Ian Selby also both return in the lineup as key pieces with Ryan Clark gone. Look for Owen Strite (Honorable Mention) to contribute throughout the season and senior Sam Semler to be one of their top arms on the mound.
South Hagerstown Rebels: The Rebels lose three key pieces from a season ago in Dru Yates (First Team All-Spires), Michael Hawbaker (Honorable Mention), and Rhoan Bromfield (Honorable Mention) but do return senior ace righty John Carter to anchor the staff.
MORE MARYLAND HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE PREVIEWS