Last spring, the motivation for the Reservoir baseball team was clear.
Having lost in the regional championship in 2012 and 2013, the Gators were getting sick of watching their seniors endure devastation in the final game of their high school career.
But after breaking through last May 24 with a 2-0 win over North Harford in the 3A state championship game, Reservoir will have a new driving force this season.
"It was good to play a little angry and learn what it felt like to lose, but this year it's different," said Gators senior Cody Morris, who pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the state finals. "We won and we know how it feels, but remembering from our past experiences how it felt for the seniors, I don't want to go out that way ... we all know what it takes and everyone cares, everyone's been involved in the program. It's a good spirit. We definitely think we can get back and win again."
Morris, who has already committed to pitch for the University of South Carolina next year, is one of 13 seniors on the Reservoir roster, including first-team third baseman Jack Barry and first baseman John Mierzwa, who will fill out the pitching rotation around Morris, along with first-team second baseman Joey Janush.
In recent years, the Gators have ascended to become the class of Howard County, winning 94 games — 11 more than any other team — over the past five seasons.
"It's kind of hard to stay on top two years in a row but we just have to remember what we did last year and use the same game plan," said Morris, the three-time Howard County Pitcher of the Year, who is expected to be selected by a Major League Baseball organization during the First-Year Player Draft in early June. "We're training like we were midseason. We feel like we know what it takes this year, and I think that's going to help us get back."
Getting past the Howard County competition will be a difficult task as always.
Atholton — Reservoir's chief rival the past several seasons — finished the regular season 17-0 last spring, but fell to Morris and the Gators in the playoffs. The Raiders graduated Player of the Year Brady Acker — who is now playing for George Mason — along with five other seniors starters, but return third baseman Nick Raulin, who could be the team's best pitcher and hitter.
Perennial contender Marriotts Ridge was also hit hard by graduation, sending a quartet of all-county players on to college. Mustangs coach Paul Eckert knows that an experienced pitching staff is the key to a successful season.
"The sport revolves around pitching, particularly at the high school level where a top pitcher can strike out 15 or so batters a game," Eckert said. "That means for 5 of the 7 innings only two people need to be on the field, the pitcher and the catcher. There are several teams with pitchers of that quality."
Mt. Hebron, led by all-county ace Mark Smith, is one of those teams, according to most coaches, and River Hill, which boasts a rotation featuring senior Rohan Tilva and hard-throwing sophomore Kieran Garner, will also be particularly difficult to score runs against.
"It's going to be tough. (Garner) is up to 89 or 90 (miles per hour), so if we see him that's going to be tough," said Morris, who throws in the mid-90s himself. "Obviously Mark Smith from Hebron, he shut us down (last year). He's a solid guy. Everybody is getting better. It's going to be tough every game. You can't take anything lightly."
Glenelg and Howard each had winning records last year and should be competitive against the other top teams, and Hammond returns an enticing core of talented young players.
Among the private schools, Chapelgate (MIAA C) and Glenelg Country (MIAA B) have been on a steady rise, culminating with conference titles in 2013. Both teams look like they have the firepower to return to the conference finals this spring.
The public school season gets underway on Friday, March 20 with a full card of games: Hammond at Howard, Marriotts Ridge at Long Reach, Mt. Hebron at Atholton, Oakland Mills at Centennial, River Hill at Glenelg and Wilde Lake at Reservoir. On Saturday, March 21, many teams will turn around and play again, with Hammond at Wilde Lake, Howard at Northeast, Northern at Atholton, Mt. Hebron at River Hill and Oakland Mills at Meade.
Follow @ACHoCoSports on Twitter for diamond-side updates all season.
AROUND THE HORN
A look at all 14 local teams heading into opening day.