2020 Howard County Season Preview

Atholton Raiders: Scott Peddicord takes over at the helm this year replacing long time skipper Jon Dupski in A-Town. The Raiders strong playoff run in 2019 ended in the 3A East Regional Championship game with a 6-1 loss to eventual State Champion James M. Bennett. This year’s team is not only older and more experienced but they are also loaded with talent. On the bump, Benji Thalheimer (Salisbury) returns as the team’s ace with hard throwing junior SS/RHP Branden Brown also looking to play a major role on the staff. Thalheimer went 4-1 a season ago striking out 59 batters in 39.1 innings pitched to the tune of a 0.53 ERA. Offensively, the Raiders are deep and figure to be able to score runs in a variety of ways with a balanced combination of speed and power. Brown, Michael Burton Jr. (West Virginia Wesleyan), Nick Varda, and Devin Hollingsworth will look to get on in front of senior power hitting catcher Zachary Geesaman (Salisbury) thus making up for the loss of First Team and Second Team All-County outfielders Jack Johnson and Carson Collier.

Howard Lions: After claiming the MPSSAA 4A State Championship in 2018, the Lions took home the Howard County Championship in 2019 before falling to Dulaney 6-2 in the 4A North Sectional Final. This year’s squad without a doubt will miss 2019 Howard County Pitcher of the Year Gabe Delgado (UMBC), hard throwing RHP Brendan Foster (Salisbury), speedy First Team All-County outfielder Jerras Murray, and Second Team All-County selection Jerry O’Neill, but they do return several key pieces with experience making them again a favorite within the county. Senior shortstop Alex Campbell garnered First Team All-County honors last season hitting .418 and will look to lead a lineup that includes returning seniors Will Simmons (Second Team All-County), Van Switzer, and Shayan Kassiri. Switzer and fellow junior right-handed pitcher Nathan Dawes will be asked to step up and anchor the staff in Delgado’s absence.

Mount Hebron Vikings: The Vikings return a host of talent and certainly look to be one of the favorites to claim the Howard County Championship in 2020. 2019 Howard County Player of the Year Magnus Dunn (Washington University MO) returns for his senior season as one of the best two-way players in the state. Last year, Dunn struck out 62 batters in 27 innings pitched to the tune of a 1.29 ERA while hitting .433 and scoring 19 runs. Dunn will be joined by Finn Devine (4-1, 1.56 ERA and 42 K’s in 36 IP) as a strong one-two combo on the mound. At the plate, senior First Team All-County selection Jimmy Jaecksch returns after hitting .403 in 2019, along with Dylan Holzman and talented junior middle infielder Josh Barke.

Reservoir Gators: 18th year head coach Adam Leader returns a strong squad in 2020 headlined by Christopher Newport commit and two-way standout Daniel Elliott. Elliott was recognized as an All County first teamer on the mound last year for striking out 52 batters in 37.2 innings pitched to the tune of a .75 ERA but also really swung it at the dish hitting .469 with 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored. Senior Bradley Davidson will join Elliott as anchors of the staff with Second Team All County pitcher Trevor Romaine gone. At the plate, look for senior All County Second Team first basemen EJ Sweet and fellow seniors Nick Helmick, Ryan Green (Wilson College) and JM Musser (Elizabethtown) to lead the way alongside Elliott and Davidson. 

Glenelg Gladiators: Glenelg is a wildcard with as good a starting pitching as anyone in the county. Junior lefty Andrew Johnson (Maryland) headlines a trio that also includes seniors Connor Leard and hard throwing RHP Alex Lawson. The trio has the ability to keep the Gladiators in every ballgame but the question will be if they can manufacture enough runs to win close ballgames. Sophomore infielder Kyle Carl figures to play a key role in the lineup alongside Leard but they will still need several others to have big years to be in contention in the end.

Hammond Golden Bears: Hammond returns five solid returners in 2020 headlined by Second Team All County senior catcher Colin Kosakowski. The Bears will look for seniors Asa Roberson, Brandon Eschman, and Tim Stryker to make a jump production wise offensively while junior Anthony Cline and Stryker figure to anchor the staff. 

Long Reach Lightning: Long Reach returns senior outfielder Alex King and junior first basemen Cooper Haberern in 2020. Both of whom hit over .320 and combined to drive in 20 runs a season ago.

Marriotts Ridge Mustangs: The 2018 Howard County champions will need several younger players to step up as they look to replace Second Team All County pitcher Josh Olsufka (Salisbury) and First Team All County infielder Gavin Ross in the lineup this season. Senior outfielder Justin Woodbury returns as the leader on offense after hitting .357 last year.

Oakland Mills Scorpions: The Scorpions lose 2019 First Team All County first basemen Ben Looper who hit .410 and drove in 19 a season ago but return two key pieces in junior outfielder Andrew Kell (Second Team All County) and junior right-handed pitcher Tyler Miles.

Wilde Lake Wildcats: The loss of Second Team All County pitcher Matt Johnson will hurt this year but the Wildcats do return talented junior infielder Grant Gladden. It looks to be a rebuilding year for Wilde Lake centered around Gladden as the key piece in the lineup coming off a sophomore campaign in which he hit .386 and scored 20 runs.