Prep Baseball Report

MPSSAA State Championships Preview


Kyle Campbell & Jamie Naill Jr.
PBR Maryland

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MPSSAA 4A State Championship

 

Sherwood vs. Severna Park 

Date: Friday June 18th, 2021
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Regency Furniture Stadium - Waldorf, MD

Team Breakdown

Class 4A Sherwood Severna Park
Record 13-0 16-0
Head Coach Sean Davis  Eric Milton
Mascot Warriors Falcons
County Montgomery  Anne Arundel 
Conference Montgomery Anne Arundel
Region North II East II
State Semifinalist 2012  2002, 2017
State Finalist  2004, 2007, 2014, 2019    2011, 2015, 2018  
State Champion 2008, 2010  2003, 2005, 2009

 

How They Got Here

Sherwood

North Region II Quarterfinal: Bye
North Region II Semifinal: Defeated Paint Branch 8-1
North Region II Final: Defeated Montgomery Blair 10-1
Regional Championship: Defeated Urbana 7-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Dulaney 3-1

Severna Park

East Region II Quarterfinal: Bye
East Region II Semifinal: Defeated Broadneck 4-0
East Region II Final: Defeated Leonardtown 6-0
Regional Championship: Defeated Howard 8-3
State Semifinal: Defeated Laurel 20-0

 

Key Players to Watch

Sherwood

Jack Andre SS 2023
Jake Becker 2B/RHP 2021 (Towson)
Ryan Bouma 3B 2023
Josh Hollowell RHP/2B 2022
Brendan Kleiman C 2021 (Cal U PA)
Niko Pernie OF 2022
Brett Seils RHP/SS 2021 (Towson)
Daulton Stewart 1B 2021 (Shenandoah)
Steven Tameris RHP/OF 2022

Severna Park

Andrew Bashor C 2022
Michael Bowles LHP 2022
Nick Carparelli RHP 2021
Drew Crowley C
James Henson OF 2022
Luke Herz 1B/3B 2022
Daniel Key OF/1B 2021
Tucker McDonough INF/OF 2022
Jackson Merrill SS 2021 (Kentucky)
Evan Stefanovich OF/INF 2021

 

Quick Outlook

The marque game of the MPSSAA State Finals features two undefeated powerhouse programs in the 4A, and will fittingly cap off the evening under the lights at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf. Both programs' last trip to the state championship resulted in heart-breaking losses. Sherwood fell to Old Mill 4-3 in 9 innings in 2019 while Severna Park entered the 7th inning with a 4-1 lead before Howard stormed back to walk it off 5-4 in 2018. Both teams navigated their playoff runs efficiently to save arms for what should be an absolutely phenomenal final game of the State Championships and whacky Covid-shortened 2021 season. Sherwood will send 2021 Towson signee Brett Seils to the mound while Severna Park will counter with 2021 RHP Nick Carparelli. Lineups on both sides are deep with quality bats up and down but non bigger than Severna Park's senior shortstop and University of Kentucky signee Jackson Merrill. The left-handed hitting Merrill has 12 jacks on the season tying him for the school record in just half the amount of games played. Both teams are on a roll and it should be a fantastic game with one of them guaranteed to hoist the hardware this year by nights end.

 

MPSSAA 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Atholton vs. Chopticon

Date: Friday June 18th, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Regency Furniture Stadium - Waldorf, MD

Team Breakdown

Class 3A  Atholton Chopticon
Record 12-3 12-1
Head Coach Scott Peddicord Ray Sapp
Mascot Raiders Braves
County Howard St. Mary's       
Conference Howard Southern Maryland Athletic (SMAC) 
Region East II South I
State Semifinalist 1986, 2006, 2010  N/A             
State Finalist 1994, 1996  N/A
State Champion 2002 2015

 

How They Got Here

Atholton

East Region II Quarterfinal: Bye
East Region II Semifinal: Defeated Long Reach 4-3
East Region II Final: Defeated Reservoir 4-0
State Quarterfinal: Defeated Stephen Decatur 3-2
State Semifinal: Defeated Linganore 4-3

Chopticon

South Region I Quarterfinal: Bye
South Region I Semifinal: Defeated Huntingtown 10-0
South Region I Final: Defeated North Point 11-1
State Quarterfinal: Defeated Towson 12-10
State Semifinal: Defeated Centennial 2-0

 

Key Players to Watch

Atholton

Branden Brown RHP/UTL 2021
Diego Carrion INF/RHP 2023
Tony D'Angeli C 2021
Jason Drucker LHP/OF 2022
Devin Hollingsworth INF 2021 (CCBC Dundalk)
Kurtis MacKenzie RHP/INF 2023
Liam Snow RHP/OF 2022
Nick Varda SS 2021 (USC-Aiken)
Scott Vaszil INF/RHP 2023

Chopticon

Shawn Cameron 1B/LHP 2021
Jordan Faunce RHP 2021
Aden Hill OF 2022 (VCU) 
Demetri Jamison OF 2021
Philip McCarthy SS 2021
Howard (Allen) Miller Jr RHP/3B 2022 
Tyler Quade 3B/RHP 2021

 

Quick Outlook

The first game on Friday morning will feature Atholton from Howard County against Chopticon from St. Mary's County and the SMAC Conference. Atholton comes into this one playing their best baseball of the season finding different ways to win three of their four playoff games by one-run. Head Coach Scott Peddicord will be without ace Branden Brown who pitched 6.2 innings in Monday's win at Stephen Decatur and sophomore Kurtis MacKenzie who kept the Raiders in Wednesday's semifinal in their huge upset win against Linganore. The offense is balanced and they are as scrappy as it comes getting on and making things happen. Senior Tony D'Angeli is a player to watch as has been a key contributor in the middle of the order with multiple clutch hits as of late. On the other side, Chopticon rolled through their two games in the Regionals before rallying to beat Towson at home late in Monday's State Quarterfinals, and eked out a close one Wednesday on the road against a very solid Centennial ball club. Ace Howard Miller Jr. and Tyler Quade will both be unavailable in this one due to pitch restrictions. Therefore, senior lefty Shawn Cameron figures to get the ball at some point on the mound and will also be a huge X-factor for the Braves sitting in the middle of the order as a big run producer with a ton a power at the plate. Cameron blasted a huge 3-run homer in the bottom of the sixth against Towson to break the 9-9 tie and added another RBI in Wednesday's game to put the Braves ahead 1-0 early. 

 

MPSSAA 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Sparrows Point vs. La Plata

Date: Friday June 18th, 2021
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Regency Furniture Stadium - Waldorf, MD

Team Breakdown

Class 2A Sparrows Point La Plata
Record 11-2 16-1
Head Coach Marc Kline John Childers
Mascot Pointers Warriors
County Baltimore Charles
Conference Baltimore Southern Maryland Athletic (SMAC) 
Region North II South I
State Semifinalist 1976, 1985, 1987, 2008, 2018   1975, 1986, 1993, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2017 
State Finalist 1980, 1984, 2014   2002, 2011, 2013, 2018
State Champion 1979 2008, 2016, 2019

 

How They Got Here

Sparrows Point

North Region II Quarterfinal: Bye
North Region II Semifinal: Bye
North Region II Final: Defeated Patterson 22-0
State Quarterfinal: Defeated Boonsboro 2-1
State Semifinal: Defeated North Harford 9-4

La Plata

South Region I Quarterfinal: Bye
South Region I Semifinal: Bye
South Region I Final: Defeated Southern-AA 7-3
State Quarterfinal: Defeated Randallstown 12-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Century 4-3

 

Key Players to Watch

Sparrows Point

Nevin Branham OF
Kolin Francis P/OF
Mike Gamble RHP/SS 2022
Adam Hamilton P/1B 2022
Ryan Karczmarek 1B 2022
Kameron Locklear OF 2022
Ryan Mitchell 3B/RHP 2022
Bryce Rannochia P
Mark Shelley 1B/RHP 2022 
Logan Wallace C 2023 

La Plata

Alex Borges RHP/OF 2021
Chet Bowling C/RHP 2022
Dylan Brown RHP 2021 (Mount Aloysius)
Tyler Day LHP/OF 2021
Shane Kirby 2B/RHP 2021
Andrew Leginze RHP/OF 2021 (Anne Arundel CC)
Brett Michael INF 2022
Colby Murphy 1B 2021 (Hood)
Robbie Shelton 3B 2023

 

Quick Outlook

The 2A State Championship game figures to be an interesting one with Sparrows Point out of Baltimore County coming into it as a real long-shot to win the title against the defending, and 3-time state champion powerhouse La Plata Warriors from Charles County. La Plata has won two of the last four state championships in 2A and have made it to at least the state semifinals in 9 of the last 10 years withstanding last year's cancelled Covid season. La Plata enters looking good arms wise with two of their three top arms with just Andrew Leginze unavailable after going five and a third in their win Wednesday night at home against Century. Senior Tyler Day was the hero in that one at the plate as he drove home the winning run with a single back up the middle in the bottom of the 7th for the walk-off winner. Sparrows Point went 8-2 in Baltimore County's top division but still come in a bit under the radar. A huge 2-1 win over Boonsboro on Tuesday though proves their toughness and a 9-4 win over North Harford in the state semifinals on Wednesday just further speaks to the job head coach Marc Kline has done since taking over the program. They are serious contenders with quality wins under their belt as of late making this a really intriguing matchup. 

 

MPSSAA 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

Catoctin vs. St. Michaels

Date: Friday June 18th, 2021
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Regency Furniture Stadium - Waldorf, MD

Team Breakdown

Class 1A Catoctin St. Michaels
Record 9-6 11-4
Head Coach Mike Franklin Brian Femi
Mascot Cougars Saints
County Frederick Talbot
Conference Central Maryland (CMC)   Bayside 
Region West II East II
State Semifinalist 2004, 2006 2009, 2016
State Finalist 2002, 2003, 2009 2000, 2012, 2018
State Champion 2013 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2017 

 

How They Got Here

Catoctin

West Region II Quarterfinal: Bye
West Region II Semifinal: Defeated Clear Spring 6-5
West Region II Final: Defeated Smithsburg 16-4
State Quarterfinal: Defeated Patterson Mill 3-2
State Semifinal: Defeated Northern Garrett 13-5

St. Michaels

East Region II Quarterfinal: Defeated Washington 10-0
East Region II Semifinal: Defeated Mardela 4-3
East Region II Final: Defeated Snow Hill 4-0
State Quarterfinal: Defeated Fairmont Heights 34-0
State Semifinal: Defeated McDonough 8-5

 

Key Players to Watch

Catoctin

Bryson Cabellero RHP/INF 2021 (Florence-Darlington Tech JC)
Peyton Castellow LHP/OF 2023
Dylan Click INF 2021
Connor Crum OF 2023
Dustin Isanogle C 2021 (Messiah College)
Joseph McMannis RHP 2023 (Maryland)
Dylan Nicholson C/OF 2022
Ayden Shadle LHP 2021 (Shenendoah) 
Logan Simanski INF 2022
Dalton Williams OF/RHP 2022 (Mount St. Mary's) 
JJ Zirkle LHP 2021 (Messiah)

St. Michaels

Owen Baum 3B 2021 (Plymouth State)
Chandler Dyott OF/RHP 2022
Austin Glessner LHP 2022
Matt Gostomski C 2022
Ryan Lawrence OF/RHP 2023
Jeremy Patchett 1B 2021 (Delaware Tech CC) 
Ethan Rash RHP 2023
Jacob Seek LHP/1B 2024 (Maryland)
Josh Sherwood RHP/INF 2022

 

Quick Outlook

Two very storied programs with two elite caliber head coaches will meet Friday for the 1A State Championship as Catoctin from Frederick county and the CMC take on St. Michael's from Talbot County and the Bayside Conference. Head Coach Brian Femi and the Saints are seeking their sixth state championship while head coach Mike Franklin and the Cougars are looking to claim their second title and first since 2013. Frederick County was one of the strongest conferences this season so disregard their sub - .500 regular season record entering the playoffs. We even mentioned it a couple weeks back on our Crabcakes and Baseball Podcast that Catoctin was an extremely dangerous team entering the playoffs. Battle tested, they proved how deep they are on the mound and found ways to score a bunch more runs than many thought they could throughout their playoff run. While the offense can sputter at times, the arms keep the Cougars in most every game. St. Michaels on the other hand came through a much easier side of the bracket this week even though they trailed McDonough 5-0 early on Wednesday and rallied back to win 8-5. St. Michaels figures to have a slight edge starting pitching wise in this one but it shouldn't surprise anyone to see several guys toe the slab Friday afternoon in what figures to be a very tight game start to finish. Offenses on both sides do the little things to move runners over and it will most likely come down to just a couple timely hits for who eventually takes the 1A title.