THE POLL
1. Arundel
Last season: 23-3, ranked No. 1
The Wildcats have the pitching with Tyler Hibbs, Shawn Pleffner and the emergence of senior left-hander Eric Potter. Hitting, experience and defense are also assets for a run at an 11th state title.
2. Calvert Hall
Last season: 27-8, No. 2
The Cardinals, who are seeking their third straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title, have at least four players who will be playing college baseball.
3. Arch. Spalding
Last season: 19-9, No. 3
Led by shortstop Jeff Kemp, pitchers Paul DeVito and Jason Patten and second baseman Cody Hines, the Cavaliers look to challenge Calvert Hall in the MIAA A Conference.
4. Centennial
Last season: 22-1, No. 4
The Eagles graduated ace Scott Swinson, but the defending Howard County champions look to stay on top with pitcher-outfielder Alex Bechta, third baseman-pitcher Austin Harclerode and outfielder-pitcher Ben Winter.
5. Eastern Tech
Last season: 18-6, No. 8
The Mavericks seek their second Class 2A state title in three years behind pitchers Ryan Rivers and Mike Sokolis and outfielder Josh Kempa.
6. Mount St. Joseph
Last season: 20-6, No. 6
The Gaels return five starters and coach Dave Norton is excited about junior right-hander Ryan Kemp, a Division I prospect, and outfielders Mitch Perez and Tommy Bowles.
7. Parkville
Last season: 16-6, unranked
Seven starters return for the Knights, including ace right-hander Kevin Jacob, third baseman Zack Samios-Uy and outfielders Brandon Stevenson and Eddie Mikula.
8. Franklin
Last season: 18-4, No. 7
Pitching is a strength as usual, with senior ace Mark Petersen back along with pitcher Dan Chaconas and several other key players.
9. St. Paul's
Last season: 15-15, unranked
After a rare down season, the Crusaders are ready to rise up again in the MIAA A Conference with the pitching of Louey Mari and Glenelg junior transfer Hunter Kitchens, who was All-Howard County as a freshman.
10. Severna Park
Last season: 17-5, No. 9
Coach Jim McCandless always finds a way to keep his Falcons in the county and Class 3A races He will be counting on right-hander Britton Quayle and the hitting of Ryan Joy, Cory Jensen and Brandon Bolander to lead a senior laden team.
11. Catonsville
Last season: 17-5, No. 12
Adam Kolarek is ready to step in as the ace for the Comets after the graduation of Neal Davis.
12. Chesapeake-AA
Last season: 18-6, No. 11
Graduation took a couple of key players, but senior ace Chris Moore returns with outfielder Glen Shreve and second baseman Dorsey Willey.
13. Perry Hall
Last season: 13-10, unranked
The Gators return all four starting pitchers, including Jason Mattison, who emerged late last season after catching, as well as six position players.
14. Westminster
Last season: 19-2, No. 5
Led by ace Brett Harman, the Owls should challenge defending Carroll County champion North Carroll.
15 . Atholton
Last season: 14-8, unranked
If the young pitchers mature, the Raiders will be a contender in Howard County.
Others considered -- Broadneck (16-6, No. 13), C. Milton Wright (17-9, No. 10), North Harford (16-6, No. 15), North Carroll (15-8, unranked), McDonogh (5-17, unranked), River Hill (12-10, unranked).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brett Harman
Westminster, pitcher-infield
The senior right-hander went 8-0 with a 1.32 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 42 innings last season. A second-team All-Metro pick, he also batted .444 with five homers and 33 RBIs.
Alex Bechta
Centennial, pitcher-outfield
The second-team All-Metro senior batted .373 with 25 runs, 19 RBIs and 14 stolen bases last season. The left-hander also went 7-0 with a 1.20 ERA.
Austin Harclerode
Centennial, third base
The second-team All-Metro senior batted .353 last season with a county-leading 36 RBIs, five homers and four triples. The team's closer, he had three saves and an 0.00 ERA.
Tyler Hibbs
Arundel, pitcher-shortstop
The returning All-Metro Player of the Year is coming off an oustanding sophomore season, when he led the Wildcats to a record 10th state title by going 13-1 with a 1.20 ERA and batting .424 with 17 doubles and 28 RBIs.
Kevin Jacob
Parkville, pitcher-first base
The Georgia Tech-bound, hard-throwing right-hander struck out 103 in 62 innings last year while walking just 14. He went 6-3 with a 1.02 ERA to earn second-team All-Metro honors.
Adam Kolarek
Catonsville, pitcher-outfield
A first-team All-Metro outfielder as a junior last year, he hit .480 with 10 doubles, three homers and 23 RBIs. The left-hander becomes the Comets' top pitcher after going 5-2 with an 0.87 ERA as the No. 2 pitcher last season.
Steve Lombardozzi
Atholton, shortstop
A slick fielder with soft hands and a good arm, the second-team All-Metro senior batted .537 with 14 runs, 18 RBIs and 14 stolen bases last season.
Shawn Pleffner
Arundel, pitcher-first base
A second-team All-Metro first baseman last year as a junior, Pleffner batted .406 with eight doubles, six triples and 37 RBIs. Shut down as a pitcher most of last season with an injury, the right-hander will be No. 2 on the team behind Tyler Hibbs.
Ryan Rivers
Eastern Tech, pitcher
The hard-throwing senior right-hander and second-team All-Metro pick went 6-1 with 70 strikeouts in 52 innings and an 0.67 ERA. The Mavericks' ace and first baseman also contributed at the plate, batting .354 with 18 runs and 11 RBIs.
Joe Yermal
McDonogh, pitcher
Yermal was a first-team All-Baltimore County first baseman last season as a junior, batting .412 with six homers and 20 RBIs. He also struck out 40 in 41 innings and has a scholarship to UNC-Charlotte.
Other notables -- Lee Anarino, North County; Tommy Bowles, Mount St. Joseph; Matt Bryan, Atholton; Nick Caddick, Calvert Hall; Dan Chaconas, Franklin; Reid Chenworth, Calvert Hall; John Collingsworth, Calvert Hall; Andrew Cunningham, North Harford; Jason Daniels, Arundel; Brian Ellis, Poly; Shane Eyler, Francis Scott Key; Matt Greene, South Carroll; Jeff Guthridge, Calvert Hall; Jared Jorgensen, McDonogh; Ryan Kemp, Mount St. Joseph; Jeff Kemp, Archbishop Spalding; Hunter Kitchens, St. Paul's; Drew Klapko, C. Milton Wright; Kevin Lingerman, Calvert Hall; Jason Mattison, Perry Hall; Hunter McIntyre, Loyola; Rich McWilliams, Dulaney; Chris Moore, Chesapeake-AA; Jason Patten, Archbishop Spalding; Drew Permison, Oakland Mills; Mike Rappazzo, C. Milton Wright; David Ringold, South Carroll; James Russo, Dulaney; Brad Shepherd, Oakland Mills; Greg Walter, C. Milton Wright; Ben Winter, Centennial.
GAMES TO WATCH
March 24
Eastern Tech at Arch. Spalding, noon
March 28
Eastern Tech at Parkville, 3:30 p.m.
April 2
Archbishop Spalding at Calvert Hall, 4 p.m.
April 18
Centennial at Atholton, 4 p.m.
April 24
Calvert Hall at Mount St. Joseph, 4 p.m.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 -- New coaches with connections to the Orioles. Former shortstop Mike Bordick is at Boys' Latin, and Ian Hendricks, the son of the late Elrod Hendricks, is at McDonogh.
4 -- Postseason wins by Arundel pitcher Tyler Hibbs last season, as the Wildcats won the Class 4A title, the school's state-record 10th state championship.
22 -- Consecutive wins by Centennial last season before the Eagles lost in the Class 3A East regional final to eventual state champion James M. Bennett of Wicomico County.
58 -- Wins for Calvert Hall over the past two seasons, as the Cardinals won back-to-back Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference titles.
103 -- Strikeouts for Parkville's Kevin Jacob last season, the most by a returning area pitcher. Drew Permison of Oakland Mills is next at 89.