Archbishop Spalding possesses four Division I pitchers in its rotation: Jake Yeager (Maryland commit, ranked No. 1 in the state by Prep Baseball Report), Nathan Wines (East Carolina), Peyton Mamula (Maryland) and Brayden Robinson (West Virginia).
Should that heavily-talented arsenal match, or surpass, the accomplishments of last year’s squad, there should be no reason the Cavaliers can’t gun for a three-peat in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference.
“There will be some new faces to the offensive lineup,” Spalding coach Joe Palumbo said, “but it is a talented group that will look to make the team well balanced this season.”
The conference has changed its scheduling model this spring to a three-game series each week, resembling college and Major League Baseball.
“This new dynamic will make for an exciting regular season,” Palumbo said, “with only four teams making the playoffs this year.”
Meanwhile, the public schools and smaller private conferences are sticking to old-fashioned one-and-done meetings during the weeks — but that doesn’t make anything less exciting.
“The county should be up and competitive all the way throughout,” Arundel coach Frank Hood said.
When injuries struck Severna Park last May, the possibilities ahead in the Class 4A state tournament after winning the region withered. So for coach Eric Milton, keeping everyone healthy is a must as they head toward 3A.
He’s less concerned with shoring up talent — the Falcons have that in spades.
Angel Santiago-Cruz, a shortstop who committed to Richmond in the offseason and currently ranks No. 7 in Maryland by Prep Baseball Report, should have a season worth keeping an eye on, alongside a number of other top-college commits in Severna Park’s ranks and the elevation of skilled junior varsity players.
“Just as the case is every year, the schedule will be difficult,” Milton said. “There are many good teams in the county and we will tested every time out.”
Last year’s county champion, Broadneck, takes a hit after graduating two-time All-County ace Sean Murphy, who set the school’s career record for wins.
But such a loss doesn’t change a simple truth: the Bruins are frontrunners to make the county championship again. A dozen varsity players are back, including six regular starters, including preseason All-State pick Nick Cicale, and two pitchers.
Old Mill’s at a crossroads when Severn Run opens next year and potentially thins the Patriots’ turnout going forward. This season, in which the Patriots are packed with defensively-capable juniors and sophomores, will be crucial for the program’s future. The Patriots bring back seven starters from last year’s state quarterfinalists that upset North County in the region final.
Good pitching, as a whole, characterizes the county this spring. It’s what encourages South River coach Bryan Harris to circle the games with perennial powers on his calendar. Chesapeake, meanwhile, is still on the hunt for its ace. Senior Carter Drab and junior Sean Carroll will split time on the bump, members of an experienced lot that, according to coach Jeff Young, “played pivotal roles in deep playoff runs as underclassmen.”
“If pitching steps up,” Young said, “we should be able to compete.”
Southern, likewise, is uncertain who will lead from the mound, but generally, coach Kyle Lynch feels its offense could carry the Bulldogs.
“This year’s team will be more athletic and versatile than previous years. We have a lot of players who can play multiple positions,” Lynch said. “We return most of our lineup from last year, so I hope the offense can take a step forward.”
Given the behemoths roaming the county, Crofton will certainly need its battle armor every day. The Cardinals lost three bats from the top of the order and return just three with varsity pitching experience. But with a “core nucleus” of players returning and “strong group of underclassmen” promoted from a successful junior varsity squad, per coach Brooks Miller, Crofton will at the very least provide a difficult day to anyone who crosses the threshold.
Arundel skews inexperienced, and Hood hopes they’ll be able to “scratch enough runs across” to win. Deep pitching with good defense, too, will be an asset.
Numbers are slim for Annapolis, and yet, third-year coach Charles Heward is stoked.
“This should be the best hitting Annapolis team we have had in my tenure,” he said. “We are senior-heavy and will hit very well. We pride ourselves in putting pressure through baserunning. Our top pitching arms should carry us pretty well.”
Northeast, which let a hot 2023 start slip away through the season and features a pair of capable hurlers, is hoping for a continued incline. Glen Burnie is, too.
“We hope to build on back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in two decades,” coach Brian Kellner said. “We have a solid group of seniors back along with a couple young newcomers.”
St. Mary’s moves down to the B Conference, and as a heavily-seasoned, senior-heavy bunch, the Saints might be in a golden spot to conquer.
“We’re seeing many teams and players for the first time,” St. Mary’s coach Mike Bronakoski said. “I anticipate our pitching and defense to be a strength for us. If we can consistently put up runs on offense we should have an opportunity for a good deal of success.”
Severn, per coach Zak Starr, predicts improvement in the league as players continue to develop. Indian Creek, however, faces a fair share of adversity when it comes to navigating the B Conference. After graduating eight, a two-senior-led Eagles squad will likely deal with some growing pains early on.
Key will know something about that. The reigning MIAA C Conference champions made the best of a large senior class in 2023, but now will have to rebuild team chemistry and work out its pitching staff.
“The goal is to prove ‘experts’ wrong that our program cannot be successful without last year’s senior class,” coach Gary Gallant said. “We will be more disciplined at the plate, more ‘small ball’ focused.”
Here’s more on each team. Please note: not every coach responded to requests for information.
Annapolis
2023: 4-13
Coach: Charles Heward, third season
Top players: Seniors Dylan Katz (C/SS), Carter Bowen (C/1B), Josh Ryan (3B/P) and Tommy Colman (SS/P); juniors Colin Bashor (P/OF) and Malachi Quinn (IF/OF); and freshman Ben Sale (1B).
Archbishop Spalding
2023: 22-6-1, MIAA A Conference champions
Coach: Joe Palumbo, 12th season
Top players: Seniors Jake Yeager (RHP), Carson Merritt (UT), Carver Salazar (IF) and Brennan Inscoe (IF); juniors Nathan Wines (RHP), Peyton Mamula (RHP), Brayden Robinson (RHP) and Jack McNally (C).
Arundel
Coach: Frank Hood, 8th season
2023: 12-9
Top players: Seniors Tha’Mon McGriff (P/INF), Nick Dolbin (P/INF) and Dom Wilder (P/OF); juniors Dom Erculiani (P/OF), Rowland Thursby (SS) and Nick Billheimer (OF); freshmanLuke Gamble (OF).
Broadneck
2023: 18-4, county champions
Coach: Matt Skrenchuk, 7th season
Top players: Seniors Calvin Cook (SS), Devin McGowan (1B) and Nate Schilling (OF); juniors Nick Cicale (C), Noah Forman (3B/P), Mike Swick (OF) and Kobe Owen (P/INF).
Chesapeake
2023: 15-7
Coach: Jeff Young, thrd season
Top players: Seniors Cole Parsons (MIF) and Carter Drab (OF/RHP); juniors Sean Carroll (SS/RHP) and Jimmy Dreyer (OF).
Crofton
2023: 12-10
Coach: Brooks Miller, third season
Top players: Senior Travis Fleshman (SS), Matt Donaldson (LHP), Zack Leinemann (OF/LHP) and Jack Woods (INF); juniors Tyler Holt (OF), Will Davis (MIF/RHP) and Ryan Craig (3B/RHP); sophomores Jason Gifford (1B/RHP), Billy White (UTL/RHP) and Greg Frey (C/INF).
Glen Burnie
2023: 13-9
Coach: Brian Kellner, 11th season
Top players: Seniors Mason Williams (SS), Dylan Kellner (OF), Brandon Brown (P), Johnathan Maddox (3B/1B), Geoffrey Drowsky (P) and Elijah Simms (OF); juniors Joey Portera (C) and Peyton Ingle (P/2B); freshmen Adam Sexton (3B/OF) and Jordan Dailey (OF).
Indian Creek
2023: 14-12
Coach: Matthew Foster, second season
Top players: Seniors Ben Bucci (CF) and Michael DiBuccio (IF/OF/P); juniors Andrew Harris (SS/CF/P) and Adam Seidleck (C/P)
Key
2023: 20-5, MIAA C Conference champions
Coach: Gary Gallant, seventh season
Top players: Seniors Josh Kamins (SS/RHP) and Christopher Williams (OF/LHP); juniors Angus Lunt-Woodward (3B/RHP) and Erhan Ortiz (OF/RHP)
Meade
2023: 0-18
Coach: Mario Ranson, second season
Top player: Senior Ryan Maddrey (P/SS).
Northeast
2023: 8-12
Coach: Adam Bolling, 17th season
Top players: Seniors Jack Schreiber (OF/C), Brady Blackmer (IF/P), Andrew Blick (IF/P) and Austin Tewey (IF); Dakota Patton (IF/P), Landon Shriver (IF/P), Braiden Bolling (OF), Hayden Auster (OF), Josh Hackley (OF), Dawson Johnson (OF/P), Michael Kooser (IF/P), Trenton Lehnert (P), Jackson Palmer (OF/IF), Bryce Peacock (IF/OF/P), Greyson Petrusik (P) and Rodney Sterry (OF); sophomores Chase McLaughlin (IF/P), Cooper Meeks (C) and Jayden Saraullo (IF/OF/P).
Old Mill
2023: 13-11, Class 4A East Region I champions
Coach: Charlie Chaffin, eighth season
Top players: Senior Calen Witcher (OF); juniors Gavin Glos (RHP), Russel Stratmann (C), Brady Tingen (SS), AJ Cazzone (3B) and Ayden Burton (OF).
Severn
2023: 6-12
Coach: Zak Starr, second season
Top players: Seniors Sean Ward (IF) and Ben Campion (P/OF); juniors Caden Blanck (P/OF), Matt Fisher (P/1B) and Aiden Szydlik (SS); sophomores Fletcher Warner (CF) and Brendan Szydlik (C); freshman Andy Blanck (IF).
Severna Park
2023: 20-4, Class 4A East Region II champions
Coach: Eric Milton, 12th season
Top players: Seniors Angel Santiago-Cruz (SS), Sean Williams (P), Nathan Murphy (P) and Kody Phillips (C); juniors Charles Hartman (OF) and Jacob Williams (OF).
South River
2023: 10-13
Coach: Bryan Harris, second season
Top players: Senior Jack Schrader (P/SS), Quinn Yellin (3B/P), James Keeny (C/OF) and Derek Hooker (CF/P); sophomore Nolan Hooker (IF/P).
Southern
2023: 5-14
Coach: Kyle Lynch, ninth season
Top players: Senior Thomas Martin (IF/P), JC Wilson (IF), Andrew Cook (OF), CJ O’Brien (OF) and Jacob Zdun (1B); juniors Clint Dorval (C/P), Rhett Dorval (P/1B), Brendan Hinkle (C), Owen Meyers (IF/P) and Tyler Hutchison (IF/P); sophomore Gavin Crandell (OF/P).
St. Mary’s
2023: 5-16
Coach: Michael Bronakoski, sixth season
Top players: Seniors Henry Carbone (OF), Nick Hulme (RHP), Brennan Moran (C) and Harrison DeLoach (SS); juniors Brian Sands (RHP), Colin Talbot (3B) and Dominic Hicks (CF).