Mon March 20, 2023
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Our 2023 Season Previews continues today with our preview of the MPSSAA 1A in Maryland. We will dive into key players and players to watch, as well as make our predictions on who we believe will win each region.
MPSSAA 2A Season Preview
MPSSAA 3A Season Preview
MPSSAA 4A Season Preview
MIAA "A" Preseason All-Conference Team
MIAA "A" Conference Preview Part 1
MIAA "A" Conference Preview Part 2
WCAC Preview
IAC Preview
Lets take a look into the 1A…
2022 Recap
The 1A State Championship featured the Clear Spring Blazers locking horns with the Colonel Richardson Colonels. After a tough Regional finals win over perennial powerhouse St. Michaels, the Colonels went on to roll through the State Quarterfinals before winning 6-4 over a highly competitive Snow Hill squad. Clear Spring got hot towards the end of the regular season and breezed through the playoffs, leading to an intriguing matchup with the Allegany Campers in the State Semi-Finals. A pitching matchup for the ages saw two Junior arms in Griffin Madden (James Madison/Allegany) and Hutson Trobaugh (Old Dominion/Clear Spring) go toe-to-toe. Trobaugh won the battle, advancing the Blazers with a 1-0 victory. Clear Spring kept the momentum rolling, eventually winning the 1A State title over Colonel Richardson by a score of 11-3.
2022 Preview
Players to Watch
| Player | High School | Year | Commitment |
| Evan Birch | Mardela | 2024 | |
| Taylor Blevins | Havre de Grace | 2024 | |
| Brice Bradley | North Dorchester | 2023 | Rutgers-Camden |
| Jaiden Brooks | North Dorchester | 2023 | |
| Michael Candy | Perryville | 2025 | |
| Peyton Castellow | Catoctin | 2023 | |
| Braden Cordrey | South Carroll | 2024 | |
| Oliver Ellison | Brunswick | 2023 | Coastal Carolina |
| Stacey Fisher | Mardela | 2023 | |
| Cole Gallihugh | Williamsport | 2023 | Penn State-York |
| Isaac Garonzik | Pikesville | 2025 | |
| Camron Gondeck | Colonel Richardson | 2023 | |
| Bryont Green | Catoctin | 2025 | |
| Jack Hamilton | Brunswick | 2023 | Wilson |
| Logan Helser | Clear Spring | 2023 | Frostburg State |
| Michael Hemelt | Patterson Mill | 2024 | |
| Daniel Hesson | Colonel Richardson | 2024 | |
| Kaden Jackson | Williamsport | 2023 | Hagerstown |
| Dawson Kehr | Clear Spring | 2024 | |
| Matthew Koeneke | Boonsboro | 2023 | East Tennessee State |
| Ryan Lawrence | North Caroline | 2023 | |
| Drew Lever | Williamsport | 2023 | Hagerstown |
| Noah Lichter | Pikesville | 2023 | Mary Washington |
| Caden Long | Allegany | 2024 | |
| Bryce Madden | Allegany | 2024 | |
| Griffin Madden | Allegany | 2023 | James Madison |
| Gavin McIntyre | Washington | 2023 | |
| Joey McMannis | Catoctin | 2023 | Maryland |
| Mason Miller | Catoctin | 2023 | |
| Hunter Rose | South Dorchester | 2023 | |
| Ethan Scott | Pocomoke | 2023 | |
| Will Sherwood | St. Michaels | 2025 | |
| Jackson Strzelczyk | South Carroll | 2023 | |
| Cole Swift | Snow Hill | 2023 | Radford |
| Danner Swift | Snow Hill | 2024 | |
| Hutson Trobaugh | Clear Spring | 2023 | Old Dominion |
| Garrett Williams | Snow Hill | 2024 | |
| Dyllon Zachry-Nance | Havre de Grace | 2024 |
Region Breakdown
1A West
| Region I | Region II |
| Allegany | Boonsboro |
| Fort Hill | Clear Spring |
| Mountain Ridge | Hancock |
| Northern Garrett | Smithsburg |
| Southern Garrett | Williamsport |
| Brunswick | |
| Catoctin |
Notes
Region I in the West will once again run through Allegany, and the Campers will be tough to beat once again in 2023. Griffin Madden (James Madison) is one of the top prep arms across the state and will lead Allegany on both sides of the ball once again this Spring, with standout Juniors in Caden Long, Cayden Bratton and Bryce Madden as three players to keep eyes on. Mountain Ridge returns a slew of Senior leadership on both sides of the ball, however we feel lacks enough fire power to contend with the depth that Allegany possesses, and Southern Garrett has since graduated standout lefty in Isaac Upole which should see the Rams take a step back.
Region II in the 1A West is arguable the deepest and most talented region across the state year in and year out, and we see no difference in 2023. Boonsboro returns standout two-way Matthew Koeneke (East Tennessee State), however lose key pieces on both sides of the ball from a year ago that may hinder them for a deep run this Spring. Smithsburg will rely heavily on their Senior leaders in Sam Bono (Hagerstown CC) and Griffin Lowman (Hagerstown CC) to carry the load, along with a few impact guys on both sides as well. Williamsport may be a sneaky contender this Spring, led by Seniors Cole Gallihugh (Penn State-York), Kaden Jackson (Hagerstown CC) and Drew Lever (Hagerstown CC). For Williamsport to make a deep run however, they will need their underclassmen to provide a spark on both sides of the ball. That leaves us with Brunswick, Catoctin and Clear Spring. Brunswick returns standout arms in Oliver Ellison (Coastal Carolina) and Jack Hamilton (Wilson), with a slew of pitching depth and younger players chomping at the bit for key AB's. If the Railroaders can consistently score enough runs, look for the pitching to be a mainstay and Brunswick make a run in 2023. Catoctin returns righty Joey McMannis (Maryland) who can change the game obviously on the bump, but at the dish as well. With plenty of depth on both sides and a slew of underclass talent ready to make an impact, look for the Cougars to ride the arm of McMannis and contend with their highly touted underclassmen talent. The defending 1A State Champions, Clear Spring is still the team to beat in our eyes in 2023. Hutson Trobaugh (Old Dominion) and Dawson Kehr may be the best one-two punch on both sides of the ball across the classification, and power bats in Logan Helser (Frostburg State) and Damien Pittsnogle should provide the fire power needed to stay consistent offensively.
Top 4
1. Clear Spring
2. Allegany
3. Catoctin
4. Brunswick
1A North
| Region I | Region II |
| Benjamin Franklin | ACCE |
| Francis Scott Key | Coppin Academy |
| Loch Raven | Edmondson-Westside |
| Pikesville | Forest Park |
| South Carroll | Frederick Douglass |
| Western STES | Lake Clifton |
| New Era Academy | |
| Reginald Lewis |
Region I should come down to Pikesville and South Carroll, as was the case in '22, where we saw South Carroll take the Region title over the Panthers 6-4. The Cavaliers lose their ace in Brayden Stutzman to graduation, along with other key pieces, and Pikesville is highly motivated for a re-match in 2023. Behind the big bat of Noah Lichter (Mary Washington) and a slew of highly talented Sophomores and Juniors, we look for Pikesville to avenge last year's loss and take this region in '23.
Region II saw ACCE defeat Douglass in a "barn-burner" by a score of 20-16 in last year's regional final. Returning an increasingly intriguing core of young players and a senior ace, we look for the Eagles to matchup with Douglass once again in '23. Although Douglass seems to return depth needed to avenge last year's loss, we'll take ACCE to make it back-to-back regional titles this Spring.
Top 4
1. Pikesville
2. South Carroll
3. ACCE
4. Frederick Douglass
1A South
| Region I | Region II |
| Bohemia Manor | Central-PG |
| Havre de Grace | CMIT North |
| Joppatowne | Crossland |
| Patterson Mill | International School at Langley Park |
| Perryville | International School at Largo |
| Largo | |
| Surrattsville |
Notes
Our staff believes pitching will be the winner in this region, and it comes down in our eyes to two programs in Havre de Grace and Patterson Mill. Taylor Blevins and Dyllon Zachry-Nance are two highly touted two-ways that look to lead Havre de Grace in '23, while the Huskies of Patterson Mill will lean on their own two-way standouts in Michael Hemelt and Ethan Shertzer to lead the way. Bo Manor seems to always stay competitive, having lost in the regional final 3-0 to the Huskies a year ago, however we see this Region being a two-team race in '23. We'll give it perennial powerhouse in Patterson Mill to repeat.
The 1A South Region II playoffs last year were absolutely wild, and keeping up with the scores made your eyes pop out. CMIT North and Central put up 17 runs and 12 runs in the semi-final matchups, respectively, en route to a matchup for the Region title. In what was the biggest scoring production all year, Central defeated CMIT North by a score of 36-16 to take the Regional title. With an offense that put up 48 runs in two playoff games, and not much to go on for this year, we'll stick with the high powered Falcons of Central to repeat.
Top 4
1. Patterson Mill
2. Havre de Grace
3. Bohemia Manor
4. Central
1A East
| Region I | Region II |
| Cambridge-South Dorchester | Crisfield |
| Colonel Richardson |
Mardela |
| Kent County | Pocomoke |
| North Dorchester | Snow Hill |
| St. Michaels | Washington |
Notes
The 1A East Region I seems to always be competitive, and we look for much of the same in 2023. Colonel Richardson, North Dorchester and St. Michaels seem to be the top three teams, and we look for all three to have a serious shot of making a deep run this spring. Two-way Daniel Hesson has had a superb offseason and we look for the Junior to have a breakout year with Senior Camron Gondeck providing a nice one-two punch. St. Michaels loses key pieces on both sides of the ball, most notably Josh Sherwood to graduation and Jacob Seek to transfer, however do return two Senior righties in Ryan Lawrence and Ethan Rash, along with Sophomore standout Will Sherwood. North Dorchester is a team on the rise and return a slew of key impact players on both sides of the ball from an 11 win team last season. We look for the Eagles to avenge their Regional Semi's loss to St. Michaels, behind the play of Seniors Brice Bradley (Rutgers-Camden) and Jaiden Brooks, as well as two Sophomore players in Blake Bramble and Jordan Regulski.
Region II looks to run through Snow Hill once again in 2023, although the loss of key pieces from a year ago will force Coach Todd Lampman to find key contributors throughout the the program. Senior leader Cole Swift (Radford) will look to lead the Eagles on both sides of the ball, with an intriguing Junior in Garrett Williams and Sophomore Dominic Kuipers vying for key playing time. Mardela, Washington and Pocomoke all return key pieces, however lack the depth and experience needed in our eyes to matchup with Snow Hill.
Top 4
1. Snow Hill
2. North Dorchester
3. Colonel Richardson
4. St. Michaels
