Players to watch
A Harford Community College commit, Blittersdorf hit .351 with 23 RBIs in 2018 for the 20-win Patriots. He is one of two preseason all-state picks for John Carroll, along with junior Tyler Leach. Coach Darrion Siler expects the outfielder to lead the team offensively, while also getting some repetitions behind the plate to spell veteran Stelio Stakias.
The Howard County Pitcher of the Year went 5-2 with a 1.92 ERA for the Class 4A State champions in 2018. He started three playoff games and finished with 73 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings. The UMBC commit, known for his tireless work ethic, also batted .339 with 13 RBIs. He pairs with Brendan Foster (Salisbury) as the Lions compete for their third straight region crown and first Howard County championship in some time.
The Navy recruit and preseason all-state selection is helping put the Falcons on the local baseball map. He hit .435 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 24 RBIs to lead Gerstell to an MIAA B Conference semifinal last spring. He struck out 60 in 45 innings and pairs with Westminster transfer Logan Satti to give Cap Poklemba’s team a strong rotation to move up the MIAA ladder.
Frederick led the Baltimore County champions with a .478 batting average, four home runs, two triples and 22 RBIs last season. The Radford commit added five doubles and is 24 hits shy of breaking the school’s career hits record. He is a preseason all-state selection.
Goodwin leads a young contingent of Saints that must replace ace Stephen Pelli (North Carolina) and closer Brandon Cook (Shepherd). A preseason all-state pick and Monmouth commit, Goodwin went 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA and 31 strikeouts as a junior. He, Andy Hood (Salisbury), Sam Daniels, McCormick Buchner and Luke Bessette give coach Mike Bronakoski a deep staff to work with.
Heubeck had a solid debut season for the Greyhounds in 2018, finishing 4-4 with 53 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched for the MIAA A Conference runners-up. The Wake Forest commit has a fastball that reaches the upper 80s mph and a solid breaking ball. His aggressiveness and tempo on the mound will be key for Larry Sheets’ young squad.
Kulick had perhaps the biggest hit in school history, a two-run single to deliver the Lions their first Class 4A state championship last spring. The two-time All-Howard County performer is a staple in the middle of the lineup. He batted .439 to lead the team for the second straight season, adding six doubles and 27 RBIs. The York College commit also went 3-0 with 22 strikeouts and a 1.81 ERA on the mound.
The Boston College signee has a solid frame (6 feet 2, 215 pounds) and a cannon arm to keep opposing running games in check. He was one of two Calvert Hall standouts to be named preseason all-state, along with Garrett McIlhenny.
Locklear hit 10 home runs and drove in 35 for the MIAA A Conference champions in 2018. The 6-3, 210-pound VCU commit batted .355 with seven doubles out of the lead-off position for the Friars. Locklear is a preseason all-state selection for the second consecutive year.
Moylan, a preseason all-state selection, had a strong debut year for the Cavaliers, hitting .341 with 17 extra base hits, including two home runs, and 27 RBIs as a sophomore. Already committed to East Carolina, Moylan joins Zach Powers (Navy), Justin Caesar (UMBC), Ethan McCormick (Liberty) and Noah Mrotek (Maryland) as Cavs already set on their college destination. His bat will play a big role in the MIAA A Conference title race this year.
The reigning Howard County Player of the Year went 8-2 with a 1.45 ERA and 53 strikeouts for the Class 2A South Region finalist Mustangs. He also batted .412 with three home runs and 17 RBIs and is already the school’s career leader in home runs.
Torres is committed to North Carolina State, but is also one of the top pro prospects in the state. He is smooth in the field and hits for both average (.472) and pop (six HRs, 27 RBIs). Torres combines with McIlhenny (.447) and Landwehr to form one of the most dangerous lineups in the area.
New coach Phil Kraska is counting on preseason all-state selection Torroella to lead the Gaels’ resurgence. Toroella led the staff with a 3.28 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 42 innings as a junior. The Brown commit boasted a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.31-to-1.
Wyatt went 7-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 61 strikeouts as a junior for the Dons. The ace and Virginia recruit is expected to lead a talented and deep staff that will determine how far coach Mike Kelly’s squad will go this spring. He is a preseason all-state selection.
The three-sport standout hit .431 with four doubles and 16 RBIs as a junior, and has won 12 games the past two seasons. He and Colby Buckheit (6-2, 1.9 ERA, 45 K’s, UMES commit) give the Cougars a strong mound presence. The preseason all-state selection is heading to Chesapeake CC.
Nate Beal, Loyola Blakefield
Pierce Bennett, Gilman
Cody Brick, Catonsville
Colby Buckheit, Chesapeake-AA
Kavai Caster, South River
Nick Cinquanto, Old Mill
Austin Dillon, Northeast
Dom Dinoto, Loyola Blakefield
Bobby Duffy, North Harford
Brendan Foster, Howard
Travis Garnett, Indian Creek
Sam Grace, Boys’ Latin
Tad Henley, Glenelg
Eliot Holcomb, City
Jeremy Huffman, Long Reach
Tyler Leach, John Carroll
Evan Lewis, Severna Park
Justin Looney, Mount Saint Joseph
Ben Looper, Oakland Mills
Ethan McCormick, Archbishop Spalding
Garrett McIlhenny, Calvert Hall
Todd Mozoki, Dulaney
Jake Murphy, North County
Nathan Reed, Harford Tech
Austin Rohlfing, Bel Air
Trevor Romaine, Reservoir
Tyler Russo, Glenelg Country
Marty Sawyers, Southern
Danny Selby, River Hill
Christian Shertzer, Patterson Mill
Cam Sklar, Eastern Tech
Dillon Smith, Broadneck
Matt Spind, McDonogh
Garrett Stanard, Arundel
Hunter Wright, C. Milton Wright
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