MPSSAA State Championship Saturday Preview
May 25, 2018
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3A
Huntingtown Hurricanes v Gov Thomas Johnson
How They Got Here:
Huntingtown
First Round – Bye
Sectional Semi – Def Northern 9-4
Sectional Final – Def Great Mills 19-1
Region Final – Def Baltimore Poly 12-1
State semi – Def Chesapeake 1-0
Gov. Thomas Johnson
First Round – Bye
Sectional Semi – Def Frederick 11-1
Sectional Final – Def Linganore 4-0
Region Final – Def Manchester Valley 12-11
State Semi – Def Towson 11-5
Both sides have been playing their best baseball as of late with both teams falling in the upper tier of their respective conference regular season standings. Huntingtown has been playing great lately, getting healthy at the right tiem and taking full advantage of the that with some impressive victories to get to Aberdeen. Huntingtown is one of two teams (La Plata) from the SMAC to play in the state championship. Thomas Johnson had a solid season as well this spring but were a bit inconsistent enroute to a .500 conference season.
Key Players
Huntingtown – Ryan Terrents, Clay Wargo, Caleb Karbowsky
Thomas Johnson – Jack Maruskin, Justin Bolden
Wildcard
Huntingtown – Cy Harwood
Thomas Johnson – Jacob Orr
2A
La Plata Warriors v Century Knights
How They Got Here:
La Plata
First Round – Bye
Sectional Semi – Def Southern 10-7
Sectional Final – Def Patuxent 9-1
Region Final – Def Marriotts Ridge 9-1
State Semi – Def Norh East 11-5
Century
First Round – Bye
Sectional Semi – Def. Oakdale 17-1
Sectional Final – Def Winters Mill 24-3
Region Final – Def Walkersville 14-9
State Semi – Def Hereford 9-0
Century comes into the state championship with the most dominating performances of the tournament, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 64-13. Though playing in the Coors Fields of Maryland Ballparks, having a team OBP of close to .500 (.465) is very impressive no matter the place you call home. They showed they can hit in any ball park, and combine one of the best offense/pitching combinations in the state. 2018 SMAC champs La Plata make their third consecutive run to the state tournament and that experience of playing top level baseball should once again prove for a tough opponent. The warriors have had one of the toughest roads to the championship and are well tested for this final game. This might be the top matchup of all the state championships.
Key Players
Century – Michael Marrale, Jeremy Lapp-Barger, Ethan Kiple
La Plata – Ryan Calvert, Austin Brown, Dean Kirby
Wildcard
Century – Matt Born
La Plata – Peytyn Gray
1A State Championship
St. Michaels v Boonsboro
How They Got Here
St. Michaels
First Round – Def. North Dorchester 18-2
Sectional Semi – Def Mardela 12-2
Sectional Final – Def Snow Hill 5-1
Region Final – Def Colonel Richardson 4-3
State Semi – Def McDonough 12-2
Boonsboro
First Round – Bye
Sectional Semi – Def Smithsburg 13-3
Sectional Final – Def Catoctin 6-5
Regional Final – Def Northern Garrett 5-4
State Semi – Def Sparrows Point 13-0
This is a rematch of last years state, championship with Boonsboro surely wanting to get some payback from St. Michaels championship of last year. Both teams have taken a tough road to get to this point, and Boonsboro will be playing the role of underdog in this game. St. Michaels played in one of the toughest regions in all of the MPSSAA to get to the state championship, having to go through the likes of Snow Hill, Colonel Richardson, and McDonough to get here. Boosnboro has played some tough opponents on this road to Aberdeen, and are playing some good baseball that they will need to continue v St. Michaels. This has the makings to be a good game as both teams have some similarities: they grind out at bats at the plate, play sound defense, and show aggressiveness and smarts on the basepaths.
Key Players
St. Michaels – Nick Newnam, Nathan Howeth, Trent Saunders
Boonsboro – Dalton Shank, Ryan Nolan, Colton Bare, Brendan Kemp
Wildcard
St. Michaels – Jack Vener
Boonsboro – Ben Burgan