PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Steve Clevenger
Mount St. Joseph
The four-year starting shortstop led the Gaels to their first league tournament championship in 17 years, as they captured the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference crown.
Clevenger hit .500 with 32 RBIs and 32 runs. The senior had 15 doubles, a triple and three home runs.
Clevenger saved his best performances for the title run. He did not commit an error during the Gaels' last seven games, including five playoff contests. During that span, Clevenger was 13-for-21 with five doubles, two home runs, six RBIs and five runs.
Clevenger is headed for Southeastern Louisiana University on a full baseball scholarship.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dave Norton
Mount St. Joseph
It seemed Norton's Gaels were always in the running for a conference title, having been first 11 times, second nine times and third twice during his 22 seasons as coach.
But since winning consecutive crowns in 1986-'87, the Gaels had not been able to win another championship until defeating Archbishop Spalding for the MIAA A Conference title this season.
Norton, whose career record is 447-152, attributed his sometimes fiery demeanor on the bench as a factor in his team's title drought. "I'm a very competitive, high-strung person, and sometimes, the kids feed off of what you're doing," said Norton, 50. "This year, I kind of went along for the ride more. I was like, 'I know the kids are prepared, and they know they're ready. '"
FIRST TEAM
Buddy Breidenbaugh
Perry Hall
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior right-handed pitcher went 6-2 with a 1.79 ERA for the Gators, striking out 53 and walking 13. He also had a triple, home run and 15 RBIs. Breidenbaugh will play next spring for Towson University.
Steve Bumbry
Dulaney
Bumbry, the son of former Oriole Al Bumbry, was a bright spot for the Lions. The sophomore outfielder hit .468 with 10 doubles, two triples and 16 RBIs. He stole 32 bases in 34 attempts and scored 20 times. Bumbry's play was critical in wins over Carroll County power South Carroll and Baltimore County division winners Parkville and Hereford.
John Cummings
Hereford
The junior shortstop was the leadoff batter for Baltimore County's 2A-1A league champions, hitting .466 with six doubles, 15 RBIs, 12 runs and eight steals. Cummings had perhaps his best game in a victory over Eastern Tech, as he went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and was the winning pitcher.
Chad Durakis
St. Paul's
Not only is the senior regarded as one of the state's best defensive catchers, but he doesn't lack power when it comes to hitting. Bound for the University of Maryland, Durakis hit .413 with nine doubles, six home runs, 28 RBIs and 44 runs. A repeat first-team All-City/County selection, Durakis also had 21 steals.
Brandon Erbe
McDonogh
The versatile junior played pitcher, third base and shortstop in leading the Eagles to a 12-8 record. Erbe went 5-3 with a 1.29 ERA and 84 strikeouts. He hit .353 with seven doubles, a triple, a home run, 21 RBIs and 22 runs.
Chris Hildreth
Mount St. Joseph
The Gaels second baseman hit .343 with 10 doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs. He also scored 28 times and made just three errors. The talented senior has accepted a full baseball scholarship to Saint Joseph's.
Steve Johnson
St. Paul's
Johnson, an All-Metro selection last season, went 9-2 with an 0.89 ERA, striking out 96 in just over 70 innings. The junior batted .288 with six doubles, two triples, six home runs, 24 RBIs and 41 runs.
Scott Krieger
Calvert Hall
Krieger had a breakthrough junior season at third base. He hit .500, had a team-high 45 RBIs and ranked second on the Cardinals with 47 runs. Krieger also had 10 home runs, seven doubles, five triples and 14 steals.
Mike Newton
Calvert Hall
The junior outfielder was a steady contributor for the Cardinals, batting .431 with 11 doubles and three each in triples and home runs. Newton also produced 27 RBIs, scored a team-high 48 runs and stole 27 bases.
Jeff Poff
Mount St. Joseph
The repeat All-City/County outfielder had the range and vision to cover ground efficiently, and committed just one error. Despite being slowed by a groin injury, the senior batted .392, scored 36 runs and had 15 RBIs and 18 steals. Poff is headed for Northwest Shoals (Ala.) Community College to play baseball.
Brad Rifkin
Park
The junior first baseman and pitcher contributed both from the plate and from the mound. Rifkin hit .490 with 19 RBIs and 22 runs. He stole seven bases, led the team with 10 doubles and had a home run. The left-hander also went 3-1 with a 0.78 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 10 walks in 27 innings. Rifkin committed just one error in leading the Bruins to a 14-5 record and the No. 3 seed in the MIAA B Conference playoffs.
Gerard Sokolis
Eastern Tech
The junior led the Mavericks to their second straight Class 2A North region title. A left-hander, Sokolis contributed both as a pitcher and as a solid hitter. Sokolis went 8-1 with a 1.60 ERA, striking out 57 against 16 walks. He hit .435 with seven home runs, 21 RBIs and 23 runs.
Gavin Swanson
Calvert Hall
The power-hitting senior hit .462 with nine home runs, nine doubles and five triples. Swanson's 43 RBIs ranked second on the team, and he scored 37 runs. He also was solid defensively. Swanson will play baseball at George Washington.
Travis White
McDonogh
A senior pitcher and third baseman who bats left-handed but throws right-handed, White went 6-3 with a 1.66 ERA and 42 strikeouts. He also hit .430 with nine doubles, two home runs, two triples, 30 RBIs and 23 runs.
THE BASEBALL TEAMS
Player of the Year: Steve Clevenger, Mount St. Joseph Coach of the Year: Dave Norton, Mount St. Joseph First team
Name School Class Position
Buddy Breidenbaugh Perry Hall Senior Pitcher
Brandon Erbe McDonogh Junior Pitcher
Steve Johnson St. Paul's Junior Pitcher
Gerard Sokolis Eastern Tech Junior Pitcher
Travis White McDonogh Senior Pitcher
Chad Durakis St. Paul's Senior Catcher
Gavin Swanson Calvert Hall Senior First base
Chris Hildreth Mount St. Joseph Senior Second base
Scott Krieger Calvert Hall Junior Third base
Steve Clevenger Mount St. Joseph Senior Shortstop
John Cummings Hereford Junior Shortstop
Steve Bumbry Dulaney Sophomore Outfield
Mike Newton Calvert Hall Junior Outfield
Jeff Poff Mount St. Joseph Senior Outfield
Brad Rifkin Park Junior DH
Second team
Name School Class Position
Richard Clover Hereford Senior Pitcher
Neal Davis Catonsville Sophomore Pitcher
Wes Donehower Gilman Senior Pitcher
Nick Sigismondi Poly Senior Pitcher
Andrew Vaught Parkville Junior Pitcher
Matt Malczewski Parkville Senior Catcher
Michael Goodman Owings Mills Senior First base
Joe Palmer Perry Hall Senior Second base
Kenny Miller Eastern Tech Senior Third base
Adam Kalafos Catonsville Senior Shortstop
Akeem Richards Overlea Junior Shortstop
Jeff Ambrose Hereford Senior Outfield
Mike Hodges Parkville Senior Outfield
John McFadden Towson Senior Outfield
Kenny Primeaux Perry Hall Senior Outfield
Note: Teams selected by Lem Satterfield after consultation with The Sun staff and area coaches.