Prep Baseball Report

MD/DE Scout Blog: Urbana at Sherwood


Jamie Naill Jr
Maryland Scouting Director

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March 21st is opening day for public schools across the Old Line State, and we had a marquee matchup on tap between #5 Urbana and two-time defending 4A State Champion in #1 Sherwood. With deep and rich talent on both sides of the ball amongst both squads, this game on paper seemed to be a good one. 

The Urbana Hawks gave the ball to Junior righty Eli Derossi-Cytron (Radford), while the Sherwood Warriors handed the ball to Junior two-way Mac Crismond. In the top of the 1st, Senior infielder and two-sport standout Riley Smith led off the game for Urbana with a scorched double into right-center field, eventually coming around to score on a passed ball giving the Hawks an early 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the 1st, Sherwood answered right back with an eye-opening eight run inning, highlighted by a two RBI double from Junior first baseman Garrett Smith, a squeeze bunt from Senior shortstop Jack Andre and a bloop RBI single from Sophomore infielder Ryan Rey. Sherwood controlled the game from then on out, capped off by a "walk-off" two-run homerun in the fifth off the bat of Senior two-way Amari Allen (Chipola) to win the game 13-2. 

 

 

Urbana

 

Riley Smith OF / SS / Urbana, MD / 2023

Senior infielder Riley Smith impacts the game in multiple facets, showcasing plus speed and a consistent knack for finding the barrel and producing loud, hard contact. Hitting from an open, relaxed stance with the hands pre-set low, Smith engages into the lower half well with excellent balance and controlled aggression. The hands work quick with an advanced whole field line drive approach. Smith finished the game 2-for-3 with a double and a single. A two-sport athlete who had plenty of suitors to play both at the next level, has chosen to play football at Shepherd University. 

 

Gavin Allanach RHP / 1B / Urbana , MD / 2023

The Senior righty and Roanoke College recruit came out of the 'pen on Tuesday night, scattering three earned runs while striking out five over three innings. Working out of a low three-quarter slot, Allanach attacks hitters from the start, working the fastball to both sides of the plate with plenty of late life at 80-82 mph. The slider is the out pitch with the ability to produce consistent swing and miss at 72-75 mph. 

 

Christian Petrolle SS / Urbana, MD / 2024

A bat that caught my eye on the night was Junior infielder Christian Petrolle. Hitting from an open, slightly crouched setup, Petrolle attacks with intent with plenty of controlled aggression. Utilizing a more level path through contact, the approach is to the middle but can produce loud damage to the pull side on mistake pitches middle/in. Finished the game 1-for-3 with a single. 

 

Keegan Johnson LHP / OF / Urbana, MD / 2023

One of the top prep arms in the MD/DE Class of 2023, Johnson exudes confidence on the bump with three plus pitches that can be thrown in any count. The arm works quick out of a high three-quarter slot, getting down the bump in a hurry and over the front side well. The fastball comes out of the hand with easy ride through the zone at 87-90 mph and sat more 90 on the night. The curveball is a big 1/7 hammer with tight, sharp spin and created plenty of swing and miss at 69-71 mph. Although the FB/CB mix was extremely impressive, the changeup caught my eye, killing spin (~1100 rpm) and working with fade at the bottom of the zone at 79-80 mph. Johnson worked 1.2 innings, giving up two earned runs while striking out three at a 67% strike percentage out of the bullpen. 

 

Sherwood

 

Xavier Crismond SS / RHP / Sherwood, MD / 2024

The uncommitted Junior righty got the start for Sherwood and battled adversity throughout, working three innings, scattering one earned run on four hits while striking out three. Lands open to the first base side with some whip in the arm through release, showcasing feel for the FB/SL mix throughout the outing. The fastball showed occassional run and cut at 81-83 mph, touching 84 in the first before settling in the 79-81 range. Mixed in a shorter shaped slider for strikes at 68-70 and showed the ability, especially early to throw the pitch in any count with confidence. 55% strike percentage.

 

Garrett Smith 1B / 1B / Sherwood , MD / 2024

An impressive uncommitted Junior first basemen that should start to build some traction across the state is Smith. Hits from a balanced, crouched stance at the dish with some quickness in the hands through contact and plenty of strength portrayed to both gaps. Produced a huge two RBI double in the eight run first inning for the Warriors and finished the game 1-for-3.

 

Ryan Rey SS / 2B / Sherwood , MD / 2025

College coaches, circle this name. A smooth, athletic left-handed hitting shortstop who has positional versatility around the infield and can really handle the stick at the dish. A balanced setup and a shorter toe-tap load, Rey showcases strong awareness for the barrel and an aggressive middle to pull side line drive approach. Don't let the wiry 5-foot-9, 150 pound frame fool you, as the lefty has some sneaky strength in the bat and shows a consistent high contact rate. Finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI. 

 

Brian Scott CF / RHP / Sherwood, MD / 2023

A player I have had the luxury of watching bloom into one of the more high octane athletes in the state is the University of Maryland commit. Scott is the table-setter in a loaded Sherwood lineup and consistently utilizes a strong line drive approach to the middle. Showcasing some quick twitch in the hands, the back load is quiet and the hands explode through the zone with ferocity. Gap-to-gap strength for now should produce increased backspin at the next level. Finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI.

 

Amari Allen LHP / OF / Sherwood , MD / 2023

Allen was the PBR Maryland Player of the Year in 2022, and started off his 2023 campaign with a bang, showcasing why he is one of, if not the top two-ways in the state. On the bump, Allen came out of the 'pen and shut down a very substantial Urbana lineup to the tune of 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts and a 63% strike percentage. Predominately working the fastball on the night, it worked to both sides with light effort and feel to the arm side at 88-90, touching 91 three times. 

The bat was quiet early on, as he was getting beat by some fastballs and fouling them off, however showcased the plus pop in the fifth as he hit a two-run blast to deep right-center field for a homerun. It's a balanced, quiet setup with minimal load and some quickness with the hands through contact. A slightly uphill path, Allen creates lift to the pull side when he catches it out front and seems to lock in more as he sees higher velocity. Finished the game 1-for-3 with a homerun, 2 RBI, and a walk.