MPSSAA State Championships Preview
May 24, 2019
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MPSSAA 4A State Championship
Sherwood vs. Old Mill
Date: Friday May 24th, 2019
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Ripken Stadium - Aberdeen, MD
Team Breakdown
Sherwood | Old Mill | |
Record | 22-1 | 16-8 |
Head Coach | Sean Davis | Charlie Chaffin |
Mascot | Warriors | Patriots |
County | Montgomery | Anne Arundel |
Conference | Montgomery | Anne Arundel |
Region | North | East |
State Semifinalist | 2012 | 1978, 1985, 1990, 2000, 2002 |
State Finalist | 2004, 2007, 2014 | 1984 |
State Champion | 2008, 2010 | 1980, 1989, 2003 |
How They Got Here
Sherwood
Sectional Quarterfinal: Bye
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Montgomery Blair 3-0
Sectional Final: Defeated Urbana 6-3
Regional Championship: Defeated Dulaney 1-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Eleanor Roosevelt 11-1
Old Mill
Sectional Quarterfinal: Defeated Meade 13-2
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated North County 2-0
Sectional Final: Defeated Severna Park 7-2
Regional Championship: Defeated South River 2-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Walt Whitman 4-3
Key Players to Watch
Sherwood
Ben Vok RHP 2019
Ian Brady RHP 2020
Bradshaw Steeley 3B 2019
Jack Becker 2B 2021
Jake Bowers OF 2020
Michael Bouma 1B 2019 (Maryland)
Luke Cheng SS 2020 (Illinois State)
Old Mill
Nick Cinquanto 2B 2019 (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Xander Waddell SS 2019 (UMES)
Kyle Summers RHP 2019
Ian Adams OF 2019 (Washington College)
Caleb Bailey OF 2020
Hunter Parish C 2019 (University of the Science)
Hunter McKean RHP/OF 2019 (Catonsville)
Quick Outlook
Sherwood comes into this tournament as favorites after putting together another impressive regular season in 2019. The Warriors have amassed a 22-1 record this spring with another deep and talented roster. Coach Sean Davis has formed a perennial power at Sherwood year in and year out and the Warriors are looking for their first state championship since 2010. A talented team from top to bottom, the Warriors have depth and balance in the lineup that is headed up by their big hitter in the middle of the order, Michael Bouma. Luke Cheng and Joey Bowers are of the top 1-2 combos in the state at the top of the rorder and both add strength in the middle defensively with Cheng at SS and Bower in CF. You could even argue that Cheng might contend for the best glove in the state. Sherwood saw a lot of their team return from last season but the biggest improvement might have to go to 2019 RHP Ben Vok, who has seen a major increase in velocity this year as a power arm with an attacking fastball up to 88 mph consistently…Old Mill has been a bit of a Cinderella this spring with an improbable run to the state championship game. The Patriots have a strong core of seniors on their roster and have been playing their strongest and most consistent baseball this back stretch and that is a big factor why they are here now. The have a great double play combo themselves in Xander Waddell and Nick Cinquanto, who are both solid middle infielders and solid sticks in the top half of the lineup. Continuing the strength up the middle is C Hunter Parish, who is an excellent backstop and strong hitter in the middle of the order. Parish has a very strong and accurate arm from behind the plate as well. Just watching the young man play the game is a pleasure with his passion and pure joy on the field. Old Mill has plenty of depth in their lineup as well that make fits for an opposing pitching with their ability to spread the ball around the field. The likes of Waddell, Cinquanto, Parish, Ian Adams, Caleb Bailey, and Hunter McKean make for no easy out throughout. With these two talented rosters it has the makings for a very exciting final on Friday night.
MPSSAA 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
C. Milton Wright vs. James M. Bennett
Date: Saturday May 25th, 2019
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Ripken Stadium - Aberdeen, MD
Team Breakdown
C. Milton Wright | James M. Bennett | |
Record | 13-9 | 15-4 |
Head Coach | Mike Amaral | Jay Fenoglietto & Jessie Serig |
Mascot | Mustangs | Clippers |
County | Harford | Wicomico |
Conference | Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic | Bayside |
Region | North | East |
State Semifinalist | 1999, 2017 | 1976, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1986, 1992, 2003 |
State Finalist | 1988, 1998, 2004, 2006, 2008 | 1975, 1985, 2004 |
State Champion | 2010 | 2006, 2011, 2012 |
How They Got Here
C. Milton Wright
Sectional Quarterfinal: Defeated Dundalk 9-1
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Bel Air 4-1
Sectional Final: Defeated Aberdeen 10-0
Regional Championship: Defeated Towson 10-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Northern (Cal.) 4-2
James M. Bennett
Sectional Quarterfinal: Bye
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Chesapeake-AA 5-3
Sectional Final: Defeated Stephen Decatur 8-6
Regional Championship: Defeated Atholton 6-1
State Semifinal: Defeated Thomas Johnson 3-2
Key Players to Watch
C. Milton Wright
Eric Brettschneider 2019 SS
Joe Burns 2021 3B/RHP
Michael Cummings 2020 1B/LHP
Lucas Frezza 2022 2B/SS
Dominic Jankovich 2020 OF
Jake Spurlock 2019 OF
Hunter Wright 2020 LHP/OF
James M. Bennett
Sang Baek 2020 RHP
Aaron Combs 2020 RHP
Blake Corbin 2019 RHP/SS - UMES (Injured)
Colby Dailey 2022 SS
Ryan Mitchell 2019 RHP/OF - Delaware State
Garrett Southern 2020 2B/SS
Brett Swift 2019 3B
Max Taylor 2020 1B
Quick Outlook
First year head coach Mike Amaral has C. Milton Wright playing its best baseball of the season right now. The Mustangs defeated Northern (Cal.) and the powerful left arm of Marcus Lee Sang in the State Semifinals on Tuesday at Joe Cannon 4-2 behind a dominant pitching performance by their ace Hunter Wright and a huge 3-RBI double by Zach Stiars. Amaral made a move in the 5th inning pulling Wright in hopes of saving him for this game but had to go back to him to for the final two and a third innings as Northern's bats woke up against reliever Joe Burns. Burns or Michael Cummings will likely get the start for the Mustangs in the Championship with the other ready to go when called upon. On the flip side, James M. Bennett comes to Aberdeen seeking their fourth state title in school history. The storied program is battle tested this postseason coming out of arguably 3A's toughest region, the East. With wins over Chesapeake-AA at home, and three straight on the road; the Clippers have faced adversity and will be up to the challenge. Bennett is loaded with arms and will have their ace Aaron Combs ready in this one. Ryan Mitchell and Sang Baek split the State Semifinal on the mound so both will also be available out of the pen.
MPSSAA 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
La Plata vs. Middletown
Date: Saturday May 25th, 2019
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Ripken Stadium - Aberdeen, MD
Team Breakdown
La Plata | Middletown | |
Record | 19-5 | 19-6 |
Head Coach | John Childers | Andy Baker |
Mascot | Warriors | Knights |
County | Charles | Frederick |
Conference | Southern Maryland Athletic | Central Maryalnd |
Region | South | West |
State Semifinalist | 1975, 1986, 1993, 2000, 2012, 2014, 2017 | 1976, 1987, 1991, 2011 |
State Finalist | 2002, 2011, 2013, 2018 | 1982, 2007 |
State Champion | 2008, 2016 | 2017 |
How They Got Here
La Plata
Sectional Quarterfinal: Bye
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Southern-AA 5-0
Sectional Final: Defeated Patuxent 10-0
Regional Championship: Defeated Wilde Lake 16-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Hereford 1-0
Middletown
Sectional Quarterfinal: Bye
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Poolesville 5-1
Sectional Final: Defeated Williamsport 4-2
Regional Championship: Defeated Oakdale 9-6
State Semifinal: Defeated Fallston 5-1
Key Players to Watch
La Plata
Alex Borges 2021 OF
Austin Brown 2019 1B
Ryan Calvert 2020 RHP/3B
Zach Harris 2019 C
Cameron Jones 2022 OF
Dean Kirby 2019 SS/RHP - Alderson Broaddus
Middletown
Graham Brown 2019 SS/RHP - Potomac State
Cole Crist 2019 1B/SS - Rollins
Zach Houck 2020 C/DH
Zach Martin 2021 OF - Maryland (Injured)
Jackson McDaniel 2020 RHP
Jacob Pryor 2020 OF
Luke Pryor 2019 RHP - Mount St. Mary's
Trevor Woelkers 2019 2B
Chase Weller 2021 C
Quick Outlook
Two historically strong programs will battle it out Saturday afternoon for the 2A State Championship. La Plata steam-rolled through the South Region for the seventh time in the last eight seasons in route to their thirteenth state final four appearance. The Warriors finished as state finalists last year losing to Century and will be looking for their third state championship in school history when they hit the field. Ryan Calvert came in for two innings in relief to earn the save Tuesday night against Hereford and will get the start against the Knights. Tuesday night's starter Dean Kirby will also be available if called upon again to pitch. Kirby and Calvert are also leaders on an offense that can put up some runs in a hurry. Middletown will counter with their ace right-hander Luke Pryor who is rested and ready to go. Pryor has been outstanding for the Central Maryland Conference Champions all season and is primed for the big stage. Jackson McDaniel went six innings picking up the win Tuesday night against Fallston to advance. Graham Brown has been used more in a closer's role this season but will be ready in relief should Pryor get in any trouble. The Knights also feature a well-balanced offense that's capable of slugging it out with their opponents should the game go that way. Several of the players listed above have had breakout seasons at the plate so this one has all the makings of a great game at Ripken on Saturday. Will La Plata make it two state titles in four seasons or will the Knights claim victory for their second state title in three years?
MPSSAA 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Colonel Richardson vs. Maurice J. McDonough
Date: Saturday May 25th, 2019
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Ripken Stadium - Aberdeen, MD
Team Breakdown
Colonel Richardson | McDonough | |
Record | 23-0 | 13-8 |
Head Coach | Dan Mangum | Mike Lydon |
Mascot | Colonels | Rams |
County | Caroline | Charles |
Conference | Bayside | Southern Maryland Athletic |
Region | East | South |
State Semifinalist | 1975, 1993, 2002, 2015 | 2018 |
State Finalist | None | 2015 |
State Champion | 2007 | None |
How They Got Here
Colonel Richardson
Sectional Quarterfinal: Bye
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Patterson Mill 7-3
Sectional Final: Defeated Perryville 11-1
Regional Championship: Defeated Mardela 3-2
State Semifinal: Defeated Boonsboro 8-7
McDonough
Sectional Quarterfinal: Bye
Sectional Semifinal: Defeated Lackey 4-2
Sectional Final: Defeated Surrattsville 17-0
Regional Championship: Defeated Frederick Douglass-PG 16-0
State Semifinal: Defeated Randallstown 5-2
Key Players to Watch
Colonel Richardson
Jamison Covey 2019 RHP - Harford CC
Remy Mangum 2019 RHP/C - Chesapeake College
Nathan Roth 2019 3B
Ty Scott 2019 SS/RHP - Chesapeake College
Tyler Stanley 2019 2B
Jackie Zebron 2020 OF
McDonough
Chase Hill 2021 C
Sean Joseph 2019 RHP/1B
Quin Robertson 2019 OF
Austin Simms 2019 SS/RHP
Quick Outlook
Colonel Richardson is making it's second appearance in the State Championship with a team that has not lost a game all season. The Bayside Conference champions took out a very strong Mardela team (who defeated arch-rival St. Michaels) in the Regional Championship for the fourth time this season and had to come back on Tuesday against the defending 1A State Champions Boonsboro to advance to Saturday. Senior Jamison Covey will get the start for the Colonels and should be well rested having last thrown against Mardela. Remy Mangum and Ty Scott split the State Semifinal game and will also both be at Head Coach Dan Mangum's disposal. Nathan Roth has been on fire at the plate this postseason and will look to lead the offense against the Rams. McDonough will counter with senior right-hander Austin Simms who picked up the win going four innings Tuesday night against Randallstown in the other State Semifinal. The Rams rolled through the South Region and are playing their best baseball of the season when it matters the most. Sean Joseph will also be available in relief and both he and Simms two will join leadoff spark-plug Quin Robertson at the top of the lineup against Covey. McDonough played a tough SMAC schedule this year facing several similar strong arms so while beating Covey and the undefeated Colonels may seem like a tall task, the Rams should be ready.