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_____Player to Watch_____
Mike Moss, Walter Johnson, Sr.
A second-team All-Met catcher last season, Moss is one of the Washington area's top returning hitters after posting a .623 average with nine doubles, four homers and 28 RBI. The University of Maryland signee has also thrown out 40 percent of runners trying to steal and was his team's top pitcher, going 2-1 with 30 strikeouts in 31 innings and a 1.13 ERA.
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_____Story Lines_____
Is this the end of the run for DeMatha in the WCAC?
Although the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference has been dominated by DeMatha, the three-time champion Stags might be challenged by a team that hasn't won the league since 1993: Paul VI Catholic. The Panthers came on late last season, capturing the Virginia Independent School Division I title. They have brought back eight starters. That lineup is led by two of the area's standouts, Radford recruits Alex Gregory and Will Naylor. Gregory, a senior infielder, batted .459 with 29 RBI last season; Naylor batted .403 and stole 13 bases.
Time for Gaithersburg?
The Trojans have never won a state title and have not won a region title since 1998, but with seven returning starters, perhaps this will be the season. Gaithersburg has two players who have signed Division I scholarship papers (P Austin Hurd with Towson and SS Ian Marshall with Richmond), and CF Greg Dunn also has scholarship offers.
Can Chesapeake make do?
The Cougars must overcome an injury to All-Met pitcher Jake Shibilsky. After going 7-1 with a 1.84 ERA and 80 strikeouts last season, the senior had elbow ligament replacement surgery over the winter and is unable to pitch this season. However, Shibilsky, who batted .438 with seven homers, is able to bat and play first base.
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_____Key Dates_____
• WCAC baseball final: May 13, Shirley Povich Field.
• Maryland region baseball and softball finals: May 20 at school sites.
• Maryland state softball finals: May 26-27 at University of Maryland Softball Complex.
• Maryland state baseball finals: May 27-28 at Joe Cannon Stadium.
• WCAC softball final: May 29, site TBA.
• DCIAA baseball final: May 27, at Banneker High School.
• DCIAA softball final: May 31, at Eastern High School.
• Virginia region baseball and softball finals: June 3.
• Virginia state baseball and softball finals: June 11.
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St. John's will be led by senior Mike Rozak, a Maryland signee who will play several positions for the Cadets. He pitched a no-hitter with nine strikeouts and went 2 for 2 with two runs scored in a 2-0 victory over Mount St. Joseph last Saturday. St. John's has a talented pitching staff with Greg Seville, Wade Newman and Ivor Hodgson. . . . There's no shortage of talented pitchers in Montgomery County, led by Northwest senior Jensen Pupa, Richard Montgomery senior Brendan Clark and Bethesda-Chevy Chase junior lefty Will Hamlin . . . Northwest also has one of the area's top hitters in Brady Stauffer. . . . High-scoring Damascus returns several players from last season's Maryland 4A West Region finalist team, including senior Kevin Keith, who has moved to first base because of an arm injury. . . . In the Southern Maryland Athletic Conference, second-team All-Met 3B Paul Burch returns for Leonardtown after batting .380 with 19 RBI and posting a 5-0 record with a 1.27 ERA. . . . C Dan Shillingburg returns for Maryland 3A defending champion Centennial. Shillingburg, who signed with Maryland, batted .354 with 23 RBI last season. . . . The usual suspects should contend in Anne Arundel County: Broadneck, Old Mill, Arundel, Chesapeake and Severna Park. Keep an eye on Broadneck lefty Bryan Hoffman, who has signed with Maryland. . . . Landon OF Marcus Jones, one of the top players in the area, has signed with North Carolina State. . . . Pallotti picked up a pair of talented transfers from Laurel in Ps Steve Henry and Joe Murray. . . . After becoming the first state champion from Prince George's County in 20 years, Maryland 4A champ Bowie has a new coach (former assistant Bob Estes) and several new players, though seniors Mike Chartos and Kent Showler return..
