Baltimore City
Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders
1998 record: 4-17
Coach: Lou Holcomb
Top players: Nick Hoffman, Sr., C; Mark Meyer, Sr., 1B; Justin King, Jr., P-3B
Outlook: The Crusaders, of the B Conference, have a thin roster of 14 players, made up mostly sophomores, and a first-year coach.
Carver Bears
1998 record: 8-7
Coach: Terry Thomas
Top players: Melvin Lewis, Jr., LF; Hosea Davis, Jr., 2B; Mike Mitchell, Jr., 1B-P
Outlook: Thomas lists three returning starters among a nice turnout of 25 players "who have lots of enthusiasm."
City Knights
1998 record: 8-7
Coach: Bill Walker
Top players: Steve Fairbanks, Sr., P-IF; Dante Thaniel, Sr., C; Jake Wiest-Pierson, Sr., P-IF; Maurice Travers, Jr., CF
Outlook: Walker sees defense among the chief strength among his six returning starters and a 53-player turnout.
Curley Friars
1998 record: 15-10
Coach: Al Frank
Top players: Scott Kosmicky, Sr., C; Derek Fritz, Sr., 1B; Adam Schisler, Sr., 2B; Steve Althoff, Jr., SS; Mike Costello, Sr., 3B; Brian Salamone, Sr., LF; Vince Bush, Sr., CF; Steve Stran, Jr., CF; Brian Sommers, Sr., RF; Andy Welling, Sr., LF; Brooks Norris, So., C-P.
Outlook: With eight returning starters, and four key players up from a JV that reached the playoffs, the Friars have the potential to be among the top two or three teams in the MIAA A Conference.
Douglass Ducks
1998 record: 1-14
Coach: John Robinson
Top players: Chauncey Morrison, Jr., P-1B-3B; Charles Thomas, Jr., C; Robert Hopkins, Jr., OF
Outlook: The Ducks had a turnout of 20 players, but will have to improve on the mound to reach a .500 level.
Dunbar Poets
1998 record: 15-1
Coach: Don Gilbert
Top players: Mike Wolford, Sr., 2B; Sheldon McDonald, Sr., P-3B; Herbert Lucas, Jr., 1B-OF; James Matthews, Jr., OF; Bryan Jackson, Jr., OF; Craig Scott, Soph., P-3B; Antwoine Colvin, Soph., 1B; Damion Davis, Soph., OF
Outlook: From a team that went 15-0 against city opponents, nine starters are back, including McDonald (7-0, 0.92 ERA).
Edmondson Redskins
1998 record: 6-6
Coach: Tai Thompson
Top players: Carl Welch, Sr., P-C-SS; Corey Smith, Sr., P-OF; Charles Byrd, Sr., OF; Carl Byrd, Soph., OF
Outlook: Welch, among four returning starters, is getting looks from programs such as Norfolk State, Howard and Coppin. "The league's tougher, but we'll be very competitive," Thompson said.
Forest Park Foresters
1998 record: 1-12
Coach: Laney Prioleau
Top players: Akil Aziz, Sr., IF-P; Dolphus Dixion, Sr., IF-P; Brian Link, Jr., IF-P
Outlook: Prioleau returns for starters among his 33 players, and "with more experience," said the team should be better than last year.
Friends Quakers
1998 record: 9-5
Coach: Tom Randall
Top players: Josh Stien, Sr., C; Mike Kremen, Sr., 2B; Ben Pollak, Sr., P; Josh Pincus-Sokoloff, Jr., 3B; James Flinn, Jr., SS; Andy Gabriel, Jr., OF
Outlook: The Quakers return seven starters to a team that should again contend for an MIAA B Conference playoff berth.
Gilman Greyhounds
1998 record: 11-9
Coach: Mary Meloy
Top players: Chisom Opara, Sr., CF; Ricky Beyer, Sr., SS; Henry Russell, Sr., C; Matt Notzon, Sr., P; Bill Miller, Sr., 1B; Nick Nocar, Jr., 2B; David Kardian, Jr., LHP; Trevor Young-Hyman, Jr., LHP
Outlook: The Greyhounds return six starters to what Meloy calls "a good group."
Lake Clifton Lakers
1998 record: 7-9
Coach: Carroll Williams
Top players: Tim Pearson, Sr., LF; Antonio Green, Sr., SS-P; David Killett, Sr., RF; D. J. Willis, Jr., 2B; Ronald Jefferson, Jr., IF-P; Kush Lewis, Soph., 1B; Dominic Locan, Soph., P-3B; Dennis Lindsey, Soph., OF
Outlook: With eight returning starters, and its first season of junior varsity, the Lakers' program has plenty of potential.
Mervo Mustangs
1998 record: 9-4
Coach: Andy Corbett
Top players: Russell Fitzgerald, Sr., 3B-P; Dwight Smith, Sr., C; Pierre Jones, Sr., CF; Sam Thompson, Jr., P; Dearrick Coe, Soph., 2B
Outlook: The Mustangs had a 40-player turnout that includes five returning starters. And what Corbett thought would be a season of transition could be a competitive one.
Mount St. Joseph Gaels
1998 record: 16-10
Coach: Dave Norton
Top players: John Ritt, Sr., LHP; Joe Hargadon, Sr., 1B; Jim Dunn, Sr., 2B; Stevie Brown, Sr., 2B; John Kotofski, Sr., C; Paul Kern, Sr., LF; Ben Maggio, Sr., C; Allen Strick, Jr., SS
Outlook: Norton, who surpassed the 300 career victories milestone, hopes to improve on last year's MIAA A Conference runner-up effort.
Northwestern Wildcats
1998 record: 5-10
Coach: Derek Smith
Top players: Taavon Sommerville, Sr., SS-P; Jason Shephard, Sr., P-C; Gerald Evans, Jr., OF; David Campbell, Soph., 1B; Robert Bradley, Jr., 2B
Outlook: "We're a young team, but a really dedicated group of players," said Smith. "We're in a tough conference, but we'll make the most of it."
Patterson Clippers
1998 record: 23-2
Coach: Roger Wrenn
Top players: Brian McDonald, Sr., P-OF; Dino Alger, Sr., 3B; Rob Struhar, Sr., 2B-P; Terry Bell, Sr., 1B-P-C; Ryan Boarman, Jr., OF
Outlook: The Clippers reached last season's 4A state title game, but could have a difficult time defending their city league crown with an improved league.
Poly Engineers
1998 record: 12-8
Coach: Donald Arnold, Sr., RHP; Josh Vizzi, Sr., C; Eddie Henry, Sr., SS; Tim Frazier, Sr., RF; Nick Cox, Sr., LHP-1B; Lucas Seip-Williams, Sr., 3B; Dean Atkins, Jr., OF
Outlook: The Engineers should be a force in the city league with seven returning starters.
Southern Bulldogs
1998 record: 8-5
Coach: Bill Parker
Top players: Herbert Marshall, Sr., 1B; Wilbert Anderson, Sr., SS-P; Davon Cooley, Sr., IF-P; Joe Murphy, Sr., LF-P; Rodney Brush, Sr., CF; Jason Burke, Sr., RF
Outlook: The Bulldogs of the city league return six starters but will lack power at the plate as well as pitching.
Southwestern Sabers
1998 record: 5-8
Coach: Terry Leverett
Top players: Chris Meister, Sr., 1B-C; Travis Ezi, Jr., OF; Lateef AlvesRay, So., C-1B; Shannon Jones, So., 3B-LF; Willie Weaver, Fr., LF-RF; Darrell Spence, Fr., LF; Jason Davis, Jr., 3B-SS; Mike Haney, Fr., U; Travis Oden, Fr., 2B
Outlook: Leverett benefited from at least three transfers from Dunbar, Gibbons and Poly, and said his underclassmen are strong defensively.
Walbrook Warriors
1998 record: 11-3
Coach: John Turpin
Top players: Ryan Dent, Jr., OF; Darrell Collins, Jr., C; Nick Thompson, So., P; Terrence Medley, Soph., OF.
Outlook: The Warriors lack experience but have lots of potential.
Pub Date: 3/17/99