BEN WINTER
Centennial
After Centennial graduated last season's Player of the Year, pitcher-shortstop Scott Swinson,Winter stepped right in. The junior pitcher-outfielder led the Eagles (20-5) to the Class 3A state final and helped them repeat as Howard County champions.
The left-hander went 7-1 with a 1.33 ERA. His only loss came in the 3A final to Westminster, 4-1. That followed a two-hitter with nine strikeouts in a 7-2 win over Howard in the county championship game.
A fleet-footed outfielder, Winter batted .480 with 25 RBIs, 24 runs scored and 15 extra-base hits, including eight triples.
RICH JENKINS
Howard
The veteran coach watched his Lions start the season 2-3 before they won 13 straight to clinch a berth in the county championship game as the Division 2 winner.
Howard's winning streak, the longest in the county this season, ended in the county final with a 7-2 loss to Centennial.
Jenkins got the Lions back on track for the playoffs, guiding them to a couple wins before a loss in the 2A South regional semifinals. The Lions finished 17-5 and No. 11 in
The Sun's
final poll.
Name, School, Class, Pos.
Shane Mattingly Centennial Junior Pitcher
Drew Permison Oakland Mills Senior Pitcher
Dan Swartz Howard Senior Pitcher
Ben Winter Centennial Junior Pitcher
Brad Shepherd Oakland Mills Senior Catcher
Kevin Carlson Wilde Lake Senior First base
Jake Anderson Glenelg Senior Second base
Austin Harclerode Centennial Senior Third base
Steve Lombardozzi Atholton Senior Shortstop
Brady Baxter Mt. Hebron Senior Outfield
Alex Bechta Centennial Senior Outfield
Matt Hein Centennial Senior Outfield
Name, School, Class, Position
Steve Blucher Mar. Ridge Junior Pitcher
Drew Guty Reservoir Junior Pitcher
Matt Zarin Howard Senior Pitcher
Brian Wyman Long Reach Junior Catcher
Jeff Randolph Oakland Mills Senior First base
Tony Mierzara Reservoir Junior Second base
Billy West Glenelg Senior Third base
Tyler Curley Howard Senior Shortstop
Bobby Kunlo Hammond Senior Outfield
Casey Medairy Howard Senior Outfield
Brett McQuilkin Atholton Senior Outfield
Josh Futter Wilde Lake Senior DH
Note: Teams selected by Pat O'Malley after consultation with The Sun staff and some area coaches.
Rick Jenkins' name was misstated in the print edition of this article. The Sun regrets the error.