2020 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Season Preview
March 9, 2020
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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.
SMAC "Chesapeake" Division
Calvert Cavaliers
Chopticon Braves
Great Mills Hornets
*Huntingtown Hurricanes
Leonardtown Raiders
Northern (Cal.) Patriots
Patuxent Panthers
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLayers to Watch List
Calvert Cavaliers
Michael Floria OF/RHP 2020
Adam Gott 2B 2022
Chopticon Braves
Jordan Faunce RHP 2021
Aden Hill OF 2022
Demetri Jamison OF 2021
Philip McCarthy SS 2021
Elijah Tydings LHP/OF 2020
Travis Wedding 1B/LHP 2020
Great Mills Hornets
Chase O'Dell SS 2020 (Frostburg State)
Huntingtown Hurricanes
Stafford Allison OF 2020 (Frostburg State)
Jayson Brunclik OF 2020
Joey Downing 1B 2020
Brian Ferreira P 2021
Brandon Harris P 2020 (Cabrini)
Cy Harwood SS 2020 (Salisbury)
Jack Rosnage P 2020
Clay Wargo C 2020 (Coastal Carolina)
Leonardtown Raiders
Matt Bobrowski OF 2020
Logan Brock 2B 2020
Jalen Camp OF 2020
Dylan Henderson C 2020
Ethan Ledig RHP/3B 2020
Austin Olszewski LHP 2021
Matt Robinson SS 2020
Al Stumm RHP 2020
Cole Tarleton LHP/OF 2021
Northern (Cal.) Patriots
Jonathan Barber 3B 2020
Zach Crounse C 2022
Matt Jarman SS 2020
Josh Johnson OF 2020
Cam Snyder OF 2020
Patuxent Panthers
Jeff DeLair RHP/3B 2022
Brady Powell SS/2B 2022
Dalton Roberts 3B/C 2020
Nathan Robey UTL/RHP 2022
Bryce Whitney SS/RHP 2021
2020 "Chesapeake" DIVISION Season Preview
FAVORITES
Huntingtown Hurricanes: The 2019 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Chesapeake Division champion Huntingtown Hurricanes look poised to defend their title and compete for a MPSSAA 3A State championship once again in 2020. Head coach Guy Smith returns a balanced team with five returners on offense and three arms back on the mound. Shortstop and ace RHP from 2019 Ryan Terrents will surely be missed but this team will be old, experienced and battle tested.
Seniors Brandon Harris (Cabrini), Jack Rosnage, and Brian Ferreira will anchor the staff in Terrents' absense. Combine their experience with team captain and senior Coastal Carolina commit Clay Wargo (First Team All SMAC) catching behind the dish and all three of them figure to give the Hurricanes a very good opportunity to win every time out. At the plate, Huntingtown will look to Wargo, and a quartet of returning seniors to lead the way. First Team All SMAC selection Cy Harwood (Salisbury), and Jayson Brunclik, as well as Joey Downing will look to get on in front of Wargo and the power hitting bat of Stafford Allison (Frostburg State).
Leonardtown Raiders: Leonardtown looks poised to make a strong run at the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference Championship and 4A State Title in 2020 with seven starters returning on offense and their top four arms back from a season ago. While the Raiders do lose star First Team All SMAC outfielder Nick Burch (Navy), this senior laden - experienced group is talented and will look to build on yet another strong season in 2019 that saw them finish 15-6.
2019 First Team All-County and All-SMAC Honorable Mention pitcher Ethan Ledig, junior lefty Cole Tarleton, senior righty Al Stumm and junior lefty Austin Olszewski will anchor a strong and well-balanced staff. The quartet combined to throw over 100 innings on the mound for the Raiders last season. Look for right-hander Dylan Hobbs to also contribute in various ways on the bump this year.
At the plate, Leonardtown will look to Tarleton, and seniors Jalen Camp and Matt Robinson to lead the way with each of them coming off a strong season offensively in which they all hit over .350. Ledig, Matt Bobrowski, Logan Brock, and Dylan Henderson also return as key pieces in the lineup. It's nearly impossible to replace the impact and production Burch made last season with one player, so sixth year head coach Chris Schoenbauer will hope that collectively this group of returners can match that in 2020. Look for other top newcomers, Gavin Wathen and Derek Zumpano to fill spots and add depth in the lineup this year as well.
CONTENDERS
Chopticon Braves: Chopticon returns a younger squad in 2020 but one that is deep with talented players across the board. The Braves will certainly miss their star middle of the order bat in catcher Chase Burroughs (UNC Charlotte) so it will be even more important that everyone step up collectively if they want to contend again in the strong Chesapeake Division this year. At the plate, the Braves figure to be led by super sophomore Aden Hill, juniors Demetri Jamison, Phiiip McCarthy, and Travis Wedding. Wedding will also see time on the mound alongside senior Elijah Tydings and junior Jordan Faunce.
Northern (Cal.) Patriots: The Patriots run at a State 3A Title in 2019 fell just shy losing to C. Milton Wright 4-2 in the State Semifinals at Joe Cannon. This year’s team has a lot to replace with star two-way talent Marcus Lee-Sang (drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 11th round), pitchers Grayson Lewis, Robert Jurney, as well as Mason Davidson and Nick White gone. Head coach Steve Crounse will look to Matt Jarman and Cam Snyder to anchor the staff with Jon Barber, Zach Crounse, and Josh Johnson joining them as returners in the everyday lineup. Look for top newcomer John Erickson to also make an immediate impact for the Patriots in 2020.
Patuxent Panthers: Keep an eye out for Patuxent this season as 17th year head coach Keith Powell returns a balanced squad with seven returning starters and three of their top arms. Sophomore Jeff Delair figures to slide into the role of the team’s ace with the loss of All SMAC infielder and pitcher Nate Kistler. Also returning to anchor the staff this season will be junior Bryce Whitney and sophomore Nathan Robey. DeLair, Whitney, and Robey also figure to be key pieces in a lineup that returns outfielders Garrett White, Robert Stone, sophomore infielder Brady Powell and 2019 All SMAC third baseman Dalton Roberts, who will move to catcher to replace last year’s starter behind the dish, Curtis Robey. The Panthers have a strong freshman and sophomore class which will help them add depth as the season rolls along.
BEST OF THE REST
Calvert Cavaliers: The Cavaliers return talented two-way senior Michael Floria on a team that will look to remain competitive in a tough SMAC Chesapeake Division. 2019 All SMAC outfielder Duke Marlowe has since graduated turning the reins over to Floria to lead the way in 2020. Look for sophomore infielder Adam Gott to also play a key role in the lineup for Calvert this season.
Great Mills Hornets: Great Mills will look to build around senior shortstop and Frostburg State commit Chase O’Dell in 2020. O’Dell garnered All SMAC honors a season ago leading the Hornets in several offensive categories.
SMAC "Potomac" DIVISION
*La Plata Warriors
Lackey Chargers
McDonough Rams
North Point Eagles
St. Charles Spartans
Thomas Stone Cougars
Westlake Wolverines
*Denotes 2019 Conference Champion
PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
La Plata Warriors
Alex Borges OF 2021
Chet Bowling C/RHP 2022
Ryan Calvert RHP/3B 2020 (UNC Wilmington)
Brandon DeAtley RHP 2020
Shane Kirby 2B/RHP 2021
Tyler Moody SS/RHP 2020
McDonough Rams
Joey Arnold INF/P 2022
Austin Coombs OF 2020
Chase Hill C 2021
Calvin Johnson III 1B/RHP 2022
Tyler Lopez 2B 2022
Derrick Musser 3B 2020
C.J. Shuff C 2022
North Point Eagles
Aaron Hampton 2B 2021
Zane Lehosky P 2020
John Lusk 3B/P 2021
2020 "Potomac" DIVISION SEASON PREVIEW
FAVORITE
La Plata Warriors: La Plata reached the State Final Four for the ninth time in eleven years last season and captured their third State Title in school history defeating the Middletown Knights 4-2 at Ripken Stadium. Ninth year head coach John Childers returns another strong squad in 2020 with aspirations of defending that title.
The Warriors return five starters from last year's team and five arms on the mound headlined by First Team All SMAC right-handed pitcher and infielder Ryan Calvert (UNC Wilmington). Calvert was named 2019 PBR Player of the Year for his efforts in leading La Plata to the 2A State Championship both on the mound and at the plate last season. The senior went 8-1 on the mound striking out 121 batters in 62 innings to the tune of a 0.45 ERA. He also hit .444 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs, 40 RBI's and scored 24 runs.
Returning alongside Calvert on the mound this season are seniors Tyler Moody, Brandon DeAtley, junior Shane Kirby, and sophomore First Team All SMAC C/RHP Chet Bowling. Calvert, Moody, Kirby, and Bowling are also key pieces in the Warriors lineup that also returns senior outfielder Jake Gleason and junior outfielder Alex Borges. Gleason and Borges hit .400 and .373 respectively last year while Bowling hit .408 in his freshman campaign, good for second highest on the team behind Calvert. Look for juniors Dylan Brown, Landon Jewell, Brandon Lee, and Colby Murphy to also make an impact this season adding depth both on the mound and at the plate.
CONTENDERS
McDonough Rams: McDonough loses ten seniors off of last year's 1A State Finalist team headlined by star shortstop and right-handed pitcher Austin Simms (College of Southern Maryland). Simms garnered All SMAC First Team honors for his work both on the mound and at the plate leading the Rams to just their second ever appearance in the State Championship and first since 2015. This year’s squad will also need to replace the offensive productivity of Sean Joseph and Quinlan Robertson in their lineup. Leading the way in 2020 figures to be junior Chase Hill and sophomore Calvin Johnson III. Look for returners Derrick Musser, Austin Coombs, Tyler Lopez, Joey Arnold, and C.J. Shuff to play key roles on a younger squad in 2020.
North Point Eagles: The Eagles will be young this season losing all but two starters from their lineup a season ago. Head coach Wade Nadolsky will rely heavily on senior Zane Lehosky and juniors John Lusk, and Aaron Hampton to lead the way in 2020. Lehosky and Lusk figure to be the team’s number one and number two starters on the mound with Lusk also being a key force again this season in the lineup. Look for top newcomers: Tommy Brill, Robert Polk, Kasey Wharton, Victor Harley, Anthony Bonaccorsy, Evan Sheldon, and Tariq Johnson to see early playing time as they figure out their roles and work to replace 2019 All SMAC selections Dylan Sheldon, Patrick Estevez, and Jordan McKenzie.