Clubhouse talk – preseason baseball rankings

Spring sports season right around the corner. After being inside all winter for sports it’s always refreshing to get out in the fresh air and see the green grass as spring arrives. Which means America’s favorite pastime is about to start, baseball. 

 

Last season the DMA Seahawks took the state championship behind player of the year Tyler August, now a Blue Hen. The Seahawks graduated a lot of talent from last season’s championship team which included Drew Simpson (West Chester), Payton Brannock (East Stroudsburg), Logan Willey (UMBC), and Jackson Dorsey (Coast Guard). 

 

However in Seahawks fashion the team is completely reloaded. That is why we have them sitting back at the top of our preseason rankings. They are the defending state champs behind DSB coach of the year Aaron Lewis who just produces talent every year.   Let’s take a look. 

No. 1 Delaware Military Seahawks (DMA) the defending state champs led by coach of the year Aaron Lewis. This team will look different then the past few seasons, but they have reloaded. They return Nate Golden, Tyler Leech, Sawyer Mezzatesta and Sammy Diaz-Martinez from last year’s team who played key roles in last season’s championship run. With so much talent last season as starters they had players on the bench that could have started on any other team in the state. A few new names to watch are Chase Sanvely (Delaware State), Charles Porter Jr. Dylan Delcollo, JJ Pankowski, Hunter Dicarlantonio and standout freshman Emmett Robinson. Even though they lost some thoroughbreds from last year’s team their backups have now been in training for 2 years behind last year’s seniors.

 

No. 2 The Conrad Red Wolves, the runner up last season to DMA in the state championship. Conrad also graduated some key players from last year’s team, but they return a few key players from last year’s team which is why they stay at No. 2. They return one of the top pitchers in the state Brady Wardell (Maryland Commit) just a junior, along with Kaden netta, Dylan Pirrung, Seth Strecker, and Andrew Stute. 

 

No. 3 Cape Henlopen lost to the eventual state champs last season in the semi finals, but was the defending state champs last season. The Vikings return Brian Fleming, Gage Joseph, Jase Mitchell, Isaac Terhune, Lex Wescott, Reed Thompson, Jaxon Clampitt, and Trey Hitchcock. Cape got a couple of Key transfers in this season to bolster their roster in Brad Marks and Jacob Smith. This team is led by seniors and returning varsity players, and has depth on the mound and offensively.

 

No. 4 The Caravel Buccaneers were at one point the No. 1 team in our Delaware Live rankings and grabbed the No. 3 seed in last year’s tournament. The Bucs return Tim Tyler (JMU), Truman Auwerda, Miguel Herb (West Point), Orvy Potts, Zane Bohn (Frostburg), Gavin Evans, Brady Thompson, Aidan Alston, Jack Bujnowski. Caravel returns all of their pitchers from last season’s staff and are led by a veteran group. 

 

No. 5 Sussex Central Golden Knights who were the No. 9 seed in last season playoffs lost to the No. 1 seed Spartans. Even though they did graduate a talented senior class they return some key players. Noah Burroughs (Salisbury) will lead the pitching staff and bat third Brayden Tidwell (Hit .430 in his sophomore year with 30 hits and 20 walks) , Joaquin Rodriguez-Costa, Osiah Kelley (top sophomore player in MD/DE), Talan Savage (Batted .377 in 2023), and Peter Onuschak (led our pitching staff in innings in 2023).  They also got three key transfers including Jace Jarmon (Indian River) was an All state shortstop as a sophomore Dylan Briggs (Delmarva Christian), and Chet Furmanek (Delmarva Christian). This team is loaded with talent this season which creates some real battles for playing time which will give them a competitive edge and they look to compete for a state championship. 

 

No. 6 Sussex Tech Ravens were the No. 5 seed in last year’s playoffs and will look to get back again. The Ravens return some key players from last season’s playoff team Kaden Hall (2nd team all state), Rosnell Lewis (1st team all state), Brock O’Day, Gavin Hudson as well as Kobe and Kameron Tindley. On the mound they return ace Jeremy Vest as well as Zane Adams with Hudson providing quality innings as well. This is a senior led team with some veterans, but they do have young experienced players from last year’s playoff team. 

 

No. 7 The Sanford Warriors had their best season in school history last season. They were led by DIAA coach of the year Jamie Clarks they went on to win their conference for the first time in 48 years white finishing with a 16-1 record and they returned all but one player from last year’s team. Key returners are Brady Fox (UMBC) who was a first team all state utility player and the ace of their pitching staff with Luke Filliben (2nd team all state, Gettysburg) Brady Bollman (Eastern Univ) and John Malloy.  Newcomers to look out for are Alex Ganon, right handed pitcher only a sophomore, but has great stuff that will add another arm, and Cole Ruhland, an excellent shortstop who started as a freshman, but will play a larger role in his second season.  This team is ready to make another playoff run this season. 

 

No. 8 The Saint Mark’s Spartans who were the No.1 seed in last season playoffs, but fell to Conrad in the semis. The Spartans did graduate a large senior class but do return both team captains Shawn Satterfield and Caleb King as well as Tyler Mosher and Devin Walsh all now senior leaders. They have a large Sophomore class from last season who will be Juniors this season that will need to step up for the Spartans. The one key loss is one of their top young arms Brad Marks who is now at Cape. They will be a young team led by a few key veteran leaders. Don’t forget they are led by the all time winningest coach Matt Smith.

 

No. 9  The Salesianum Sals had a down year last season but were still able to get into the playoffs as the No. 10 seed, but eventually fell to DMA. The Sals will return Alex Gambol, Jack Rossi, Matthew Spiecher, and Jude Swift. They did lose one of their main pitchers in Corey Sheridan who has started in both his freshman and sophomore season for the Sals. Sallies will be senior led, but will have to look to some of their younger players to step up for them to be competitive and keep themselves in the top 10 this season. 

 

No. 10 William Penn Colonials who went 14-5 last season and took the No. 8 seed in last season playoffs. The Colonials did lose two big seniors to college (Brandon Crygo WilmU, Micheal Lane DSU), but still have a lot of young talent. They return all state honorable mention Shawn Roy, John Grybowski, Mikey Baker, Dylan Bellamy, and Hassan Turner. The Colonials are young and will need to see who they can count on for innings with the loss of their two best pitchers from last season. 

 

Spring sports officially starts on Monday March 18th with a few games on the schedule. Be sure to get out and hopefully enjoy the nice weather while enjoying some high school baseball.