Team Takes College Spring Break Games to Myrtle Beach
College of Southern Marylands baseball team is taking the field against teams from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Delaware at the Ripkin Experience Complex in Myrtle Beach March 12-17 for spring break. They will resume their schedule playing home games at Regency Furniture Stadium beginning with a double-header against Allegany College at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 22.
CSM Head Baseball Coach Joe Blandford says he is looking at an abundance of talent on the team this year, with eight experienced sophomores and 13 freshmen.
The highlight of the team through fall ball was their willingness to play unselfishly. We have experience and maturity at every position and the potential of the team can only be dictated by staying healthy and peaking at the right point in the season. We have high expectations for the players including garnering a run for the MDJUCO conference title, said Blandford.
One promising aspect of the team is the depth and skill at the pitching position. Returning from last years team is Jonathan Nagy (Chopticon) and James Powers (Northern). Both ranked in the top 10 earned run average (ERA) in the conference last year. In addition, the Hawks have two pitchers returning from surgery, Kevin Bauer (Lemoore, Cal.) and Ryan Neeley (Lackey). The Hawks have added recruits David Sapp (Leonardtown), Jason Funkhouser (Arundel), Mike Sknerski (Patuxent), Justin Moore (South River), Tyler Crowe (La Plata ) and Ryan Evans (Calvert ).
Sapp and Funkhouser are hard-throwing righties. Sknerski is a lefty that is crafty with good movement on his pitches, according to Blandford. Crowe closed many games in the successful fall ball season due to a good curve ball.
Returning in the field are catcher Mitchell Seifert (Chopticon), who led the team in hitting last year, and Brandon Remalia (North Point), a speedy center fielder who successfully stole 19 bases. Donnie Holtzclaw (Patuxent) returns as a slick fielding infielder with Nick Willoughby (De Matha) a stitch hitter with power from both sides of the plate.
Heading a good class of freshmen with promise are big-hitting first baseman Jared Eaker (Leonardtown), outfielders Jeff Fitch (Westlake) and Devin Mackey (Ryken), catcher Adam Carman (Conrad Weiser High,Pa.), third baseman Troy Calvert (La Plata), middle infielder Bailey Buckler (Ryken), first baseman Ryan Evans (Calvert) with some pop from the left side of the plate, and infielders Ryan Espeleta (Westlake) and John Miller (Calvert).
To view the Hawks 2012 schedule, visit www.csmd.edu/athletics.