2020 Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference Season Preview
March 11, 2020
Follow @PBRMaryland
Facebook & Instagram
With the 2020 Maryland High School baseball season just underway and games right around the corner, we begin to close out our complete preseason coverage with a look at every conference throughout that state. We will break down each conference with a preview of teams expected to contend as well as key players from across the league that you won't want to miss play.
Note: A preseason questionnaire was sent out to all Maryland high school baseball coaches in Mid-January to gain pertinent information for this piece but not all forms were completed and returned. Below is a compilation of information received as well as thoughts from our staff at PBR Maryland.
UCBAC "Chesapeake" Division
*Bel Air Bobcats
C. Milton Wright Mustangs
Fallston Cougars
Harford Tech Cobras
North Harford Hawks
Patterson Mill Huskies
Rising Sun Tigers
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLayers to Watch List
Bel Air Bobcats
Matt Fino C 2020
Zach Furrow RHP 2020
Cole Meyer RHP/INF 2021
Caden Morris INF 2021
Brendan Purtell INF 2021
C. Milton Wright Mustangs
Lucas Frezza INF 2022
Dominic Jankovich OF 2020
Nick Kopczynski INF 2021
Zach Stiars 1B 2020
Hunter Wright LHP/OF 2020
Fallston Cougars
Jake Bogdan INF 2021
Joe Gizinski INF 2021
Collin Lipinski OF/RHP 2021
Connor Pickle LHP 2020
Ryan Pickle LHP 2020
Jesse Schuster OF 2020
Dillon Sperl INF 2020
Harford Tech Cobras
Conor Henderson OF 2021
Ryan Hunt INF 2020
TJ Kobert INF 2020
Nate Reed P 2020
Brennen Schneider INF 2020
Parker Smith C 2021
North Harford Hawks
Charlie Canapp C 2021
Bobby Duffy INF/RHP 2020
Luke Kelly INF 2020
Mike Mills DH 2020
Mitchell Wittkamp RHP/SS 2021
Patterson Mill Huskies
Caleb Heymann C 2021
Michael Segreti OF 2021
Christian Shertzer INF 2021
Ethan Shultz OF 2020
Nathan Vujanic INF 2020
Rising Sun Tigers
Calen Kampes C 2020
Jackson Sowers OF 2021
Evan Wallace SS 2020
2020 "Chesapeake" DIVISION Season Preview
CONTENDERS
Bel Air Bobcats: Bel Air enters the 2020 season with a new head coach for the first time in eighteen seasons. There will be continuity however as Jonathan Andrews takes over for John Swanson after sixteen seasons serving as an assistant. The Bobcats figure to contend once again for the Chesapeake Division crown but they will have to do it without three All-UCBAC selections from a year ago. First Teamer Tyler Schimming and Second Teamer Austin Rohlfing have both graduated along with middle of the order bat and 2019 First Team All-UCBAC infielder Josh Stocum. Returning to anchor the staff this year are senior Zach Furrow and junior Cole Meyer. Meyer will also play a key role in the lineup alongside senior Matt Fino and junior infielders Brendon Purtell and Caden Morris. Expect sophomores Jordan Reiswig, Jack Snyder, and Dyllon Barret to also add depth and find roles in the everyday lineup.
C. Milton Wright Mustangs: The Mustangs enter 2020 hungry for another chance to get back to Ripken and play for the 3A State Championship after finishing runner-up in 2019 losing 5-3 to James M. Bennett. Second year head coach Mike Amaral returns five starters from last year's team and ace left-handed pitcher and 2019 First Team All-UCBAC selection Hunter Wright. Second Team All-UCBAC selection Nick Kopczynski also returns in a lineup that looks to replace shortstop - leadoff stick Eric Brettschneider and three-hole hitter Jake Spurlock. Look for fellow returning starters Dominic Jankovich, Zach Stiars, and talented sophomore Lucas Frezza to make major impacts again this year in the middle of the order.
Fallston Cougars: Head coach Grant Morlock returns a solid squad in 2020 and looks to be one of the favorites led by seniors Connor and Ryan Pickle. C. Pickle garnered Second Team All-UCBAC honors in 2019 going 4-1 on the mound with a 2.62 ERA and hit .310 with 16 RBI’s at the plate for the Cougars. Ryan Pickle on the other hand fanned 46 batters in his 33.1 innings of work last season. Joining C. Pickle as returning starters in the lineup from 2019 are Second Team All-UCBAC INF/C Jake Bogdan, seniors Dillon Sperl, Jesse Schuster, and juniors Joe Gizinski and Collin Lipinski. Lipinski will also see time on the mound this season adding depth to the rotation. Look for junior Nathan Popp to also break into the starting lineup and play a key role for Fallston in 2020.
Harford Tech Cobras: Harford Tech moves up this year to the Chesapeake Division where they look to have a solid chance to contend for the title returning five All-UCBAC selections from a year ago. Senior Nate Reed (First Team) returns as the team's ace while fellow first teamers Ryan Hunt, Brennen Schneider, Conor Henderson, and Second Team selection TJ Kobert return to anchor the lineup again in 2020. Expect the big bat of junior catcher Parker Smith to also play a key role on this year’s squad.
North Harford Hawks: Keep an eye on North Harford this season. Head coach Tim Larrimore returns three All-UCBAC selections from a year ago to go along with a strong group of juniors and underclassmen looking to make impacts in 2020. Senior Bobby Duffy (Second Team) and Mitchell Wittkamp return to anchor the staff and will also play a major role in the middle of the order for the Hawks. Look for fellow returning seniors Luke Kelly (First Team), Mike Mills (Second Team) and junior catcher Charlie Canapp to play key roles in the lineup again this season.
Patterson Mill Huskies: Thirteenth year head coach Matt Roseland returns a younger but talented squad this spring hoping to contend for the Chesapeake Division title a year after finishing 11-8. First team All-UCBAC selection Nathan Vujanic and First Teamer Christian Shertzer return as the Huskies two top arms working a combined 55 innings on the mound last year as juniors. Vujanic and Shertzer also return as leaders in a lineup that also includes senior outfielder Ethan Shultz, junior outfielder Michael Segreti, and junior catcher Caleb Heymann. Look for top newcomers Evan Celuch, Jonah Vujanic, Jackson Wheeler, and Ethan Shertzer to also play key roles in the lineup throughout the year.
UCBAC "SUSQUEHANNA" DIVISION
Aberdeen Eagles
*Bohemia Manor Eagles
Edgewood Rams
Elkton Elks
Havre De Grace Warriors
Joppatowne Mariners
North East Indians
Perryville Panthers
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
Aberdeen Eagles
Kevon Davis INF 2020
Adam Siedlecki P 2020
Bohemia Manor Eagles
Jake Harris OF 2020
Tyler Hayden SS/RHP 2020
Aidan Pressler OF 2021
Elkton Elks
Austin Oliver INF 2020
Gavin Tereszuk INF 2020
North East Indians
Matt Ross DH 2020
Perryville Panthers
James Able P 2022
Austen Bowman INF 2020
Sam Richie C 2020
Daniel Tserkis OF 2022
2020 "SUSQUEHANNA" DIVISION SEASON PREVIEW
FAVORITE
Bohemia Manor Eagles: The 2019 Susquehanna Division champions look to defend that title in 2020 with three All-UCBAC players from a season ago returning. Senior Tyler Hayden (Second Team) returns as the team’s ace in 2020 with Andrew Lorman gone and will also play a key role in the lineup and in the middle infield. First Team All-UCBAC outfielder Jake Harris and Second Team outfielder - junior Aidan Pressler also return in a lineup that will need others to step up in with catcher Austin Goudeaux (First Team) and Michael Davidson (Second Team) also gone.
CONTENDERS
Aberdeen Eagles: The Eagles return two major pieces in 2020 with Second Team All-UCBAC pitcher Adam Siedlecki returning as the team’s ace and senior infielder and First Team All-UCBAC selection Kevon Davis anchoring the lineup.
Elkton Elks: Elkton returns two Second Team All-UCBAC selections from a year ago in senior infielders Gavin Tereszuk and Austin Oliver. The Elks will look for several younger players to step up in assisting those two seniors leading the way as they hope to contend for the Susquehanna Division championship one year removed from claiming the title in 2018.
North East Indians: North East moves from the Chesapeake Division last season to the Susquehanna in 2020. Star First Team All-UCBAC selection Kyle Miller and Second Teamer Anthony Mrzowski are both gone this year having graduated leaving the Indians to look to senior Matt Ross (First Team) as the leader on offense.
Perryville Panthers: Perryville returns a fairly experienced group in 2020 and figure to be one of the top contenders in the Susquehanna Division. James Able garnered Second Team All-UCBAC honors on the mound in 2019 as a freshman and looks poised to make a jump again this season as one of the Panthers top arms. Offensively, seniors Austen Bowman (First Team) and Sam Richie (Second Team) return alongside another top underclassmen in the UCBAC - sophomore Daniel Tserkis.