COACH OF THE YEAR

* Joe Binder, Calvert Hall -- With arguably the toughest schedule in the state, Binder's Cardinals maintained a consistently high performance level, going 27-3. Calvert Hall lost twice to Gilman -- each time by one run. The Cardinals' only other loss came by 10-5 to McDonogh. But McDonogh, the eventual Private Schools state champion, was beaten by the Cardinals on three other occasions, including twice in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association title game series. The Cardinals, last year's MSA A Conference champs, also boasted victories over last year's 4A state champ Arundel, last year's 2A champ Glenelg and Riverdale Baptist (top-ranked in the Washington area). Calvert Hall went 4-0 against Private Schools' state runner-up Mount St. Joseph.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

* Andy Bair, Calvert Hall, Jr., Pitcher -- The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Bair dominated the opposition all season, collecting 123 strikeouts and just 21 walks in 66 2/3 innings. Bair, whose 11-0 record included an 0.822 ERA, also was a success at the plate, hitting .375 with 17 RBIs, six doubles, a triple and four home runs. In his three victories over McDonogh, Bair allowed just three hits against 29 strikeouts. Those wins include a 10-0 shutout via the 10-run rule on March 31, and a 3-0, 14-strikeout perfect game on April 21. In the latter, Bair was in on 18 of his team's 21 outs.

THE FIRST TEAM AT A GLANCE

* Jesse Moore, Perry Hall, Sr., Pitcher -- This 6-foot-7, 220-pound right-hander posted an 11-0 record, including the Gators' come-from-behind 5-2 victory in the 4A state championship game to dethrone Arundel. Moore also had an 0.56 ERA, struck out 76 batters in 70 innings, and had a 15-0 no-hit victory over Woodlawn. "He was a leader whether he was pitching or not," said coach Larry Butts. "He really matured since last year [when Moore went 4-1]," Butts said.

* Mike Ginsberg, McDonogh, Jr., Pitcher -- Ginsberg was the Eagles' best all-around performer, going 10-2 on the mound with strikeouts in 81 innings and a 1.65 ERA to lead McDonogh to a runner-up finish in the MIAA and to the Private Schools state championship. Ginsberg also batted .410 with 29 RBIs, 17 runs, three doubles and 10 steals. Three of his four errors came in the first game of the season. Ginsberg, the Private Schools state tournament MVP, had victories over Calvert Hall and Washington's top-ranked Riverdale Baptist.

* Peter Bogue, Gilman, Sr., Catcher -- Bogue's pitch-calling was the main reason the Greyhounds were the only team to beat top-ranked Calvert Hall twice. On the year, he hit .433 with 25 RBIs and 26 runs scored. He had four home runs, three triples and two doubles. Bogue successfully got 15-of-23 base stealers with his lone error coming in the Greyhounds' final game. In one of the Calvert Hall wins -- a 4-3 decision -- Bogue drove in all four runs.

* Gene Woods, Dundalk, Sr., 1B -- Among the most consistent first basemen in the area, Woods was a leader on a team that lost its 3A state semifinal game, 5-4, to eventual runner-up

Thomas Johnson. Wood hit .481 with 15 runs and 18 RBIs, four doubles and a triple. He had just one error -- a pop-up he lost in the sun. "He's very proud of his defense," said coach George Scheulen. "He played an excellent first base."

* Ian Hendricks, McDonogh, Sr., 2B -- Despite missing four games with a severely stretched knee ligament, Hendricks (.421, 24 runs scored) rebounded in the Private Schools state tournament, which he begged doctors to allow him to play in. In McDonogh's 6-3 semifinal victory over Riverdale Baptist, Hendricks' eighth-inning two-run double broke a 3-3 tie. He also had a two-run double in the 4-2 title game victory over Mount St. Joseph. On the year, Hendricks had 12 RBIs, eight steals, five doubles, two triples and just three errors.

* John Kopajtic, Overlea, Sr., 3B -- A repeat All-City/County performer, Kopajtic (6-2, 210) hit and pitched excellently to lead the Falcons to a school-record 14 straight victories. Kopajtic, who played pitcher and third base, was the team leader or was tied for the lead in these categories: batting (.515), RBIs (33), runs scored (24), doubles (six), triples (four) and errors (one). On the mound, he went 8-0 with 62 strikeouts in 53 innings with a 1.46 ERA.

* Charles Wilhelm, Poly, Sr., SS -- Wilhelm, a repeat All-City/County performer, had another explosive batting season. Wilhelm hit .596 with 26 RBIs, 27 runs scored, five home runs, eight doubles, seven triples and just two errors.

* Liam Healy, Calvert Hall, Sr., OF -- Simply put, Healy packed power in his bat, racking up 46 RBIs -- believed to be a state record. Healy hit seven home runs, eight doubles and two triples on .442 batting and also scored 25 times.

* Dom Liberto, Calvert Hall, Jr., OF -- Liberto was the perfect lead-off man for the Cardinals, scoring an area-leading 44 times with 22 RBIs on a .462 average. Liberto, who erred just twice, led the area with 13 doubles, had a triple and one home run.

* Dennis Badham, McDonogh, Jr., OF -- Badham, who had no errors, was fleet-footed and could zero in on even the most difficult fly balls. The No. 3 batter in the Eagles' lineup, Badham hit .400 with five triples, two doubles, 21 RBIs, 23 runs scored and 19 steals.

* Mandell Marsh, Perry Hall, Sr., OF -- Marsh, the Gators' lead-off hitter, was the spark for his team and routinely gave opposing coaches fits with his base-running abilities. In the playoffs, Marsh stole 10 of 25 bases and scored eight of his 31 runs. Marsh led the team in batting at .478 with 15 RBIs, two doubles and two triples. The Gators hit two home runs all year and both belonged to Marsh, who went 5-for-5 with three RBIs and a home run in two regional games.

* Eric Cuppett, Dundalk, Sr., DH -- Cuppett, who had no errors, hit .478 with eight triples, six doubles and two home runs. He was at his best in three playoff games, where he batted 6-for-8 with six RBIs, four runs scored, two home runs, a double and a triple. Cuppett hit for the cycle in the regional semifinal victory over Franklin, and had a home run that brought the Owls within 5-4 -- the final margin for Thomas Johnson -- in a state semifinal loss.

ALL-BALTIMORE COUNTY TEAM

Pitchers: Jesse Moore, Sr., Perry Hall; E'mar Fleming, Sr., Dundalk; Bob Wheelton, Sr., Lansdowne. Catcher: Rob Parsons, Lansdowne. Infielders: Gene Woods, Sr., Dundalk; Luke Bell, Sr., Dundalk; John Kopajtic, Sr., Overlea; Craig Schoepflin, Sr., Overlea. Outfield: Clint Eaton, Jr., Hereford; Mandell Marsh, Sr., Perry Hall; Brandon Thomas, Jr., Randallstown; Josh Katz, Sr., Pikesville; Eric Cuppett, Sr., Dundalk. Designated hitter: Todd Pinson, Soph., Randallstown

8, * Note: Team selected by county coaches.

ALL-BALTIMORE CITY TEAM

Pitchers: Mike Burrows, Jr., Patterson; John Hamilton, Sr., City; James Benton, Jr., Southern. Catcher: Curtis Pope, Soph., Mervo. Infielders: Billy Thomas, Sr., Southern; Chris Ryon, Sr., City; Pat Mowray, Jr., City; Charles Wilhelm, Sr., Poly. Outfielders: Earl Smith, Sr., Patterson; David Green, Sr., Poly; Harry Martin, Sr., City; James Loetz, Sr., Southern. Designated hitter: Damien Clifton, Jr., Walbrook. Utility: Robert Duckett, Sr., Edmondson

9- * Note: Team selected by Lem Satterfield.

ALL-MIAA TEAM

Pitchers: Andy Bair, Jr., Calvert Hall; Steve Matcuk, Sr., Mount St. Joseph; Mike Ginsberg, Jr., McDonogh. Catcher: Peter Bogue, Sr., Gilman. Infielders: Eric Jeschke, Jr., Mount St. Joseph; Ian Hendricks, Sr., McDonogh; Ryan Kenealy, Sr., Mount St. Joseph; John McKay, Jr., Calvert Hall. Outfielders: Dom Liberto, Jr., Calvert Hall; Liam Healy, Sr., Calvert Hall; Jason Goeller, Sr., Gilman; Joel Davis, Sr., Lutheran; Dennis Badham, Jr., McDonogh. Designated hitter: Chuck Friedel, Jr., Mount Carmel

9- * Note: Team selected by Lem Satterfield.