1998 Baseball previews Baltimore City

Carver Bears

1997 record: N/A

Coach: Terry Thomas

Top players: George Spencer, Sr., C-3B; Michael Micthell, So., P-1B; Sydney Millner, So., P-OF; Jose Davis, So., C-2B.

Outlook: After being forced to fold from lack of interest last season, Thomas is enthused about his turnout of 23 players.

City Knights

1997 record: 9-6

Coach: Bill Walker

Top players: Mike Anderson, Sr., LF; Brandon Purnell, Sr., C; Jabari Carrington, Sr., P; Jake Wiest-Pierson, Jr., P; Steve Fairbanks, Jr., P; Dante Thaniel, Jr., C.

Outlook: In its league, the Knights are contenders with seven returning starters, including power-hitting seniors Eric Lee and Aaron Smith.

Curley Friars

1997 record: 13-9

Coach: Al Frank

Top players: Ken Borst, Sr., P; Jeff Kurth, Sr., P-1B; Greg Moxey, Sr., OF; Brian Rosenberger, Sr., OF; Adam Shisler, Jr., 2B; Dan Demming, Jr., P; Mike Costello, Jr., 3B; Scott Kosmicky, Jr., C.

Outlook: Don't call this team a sleeper. Call it an eye-opener. With nine different players listed as being capable of pitching -- four of them southpaws -- some have compared it's talent to that of Frank's championship team of 1991. Costello (.405, 15 RBIs), Kosmicky (.329, 18), Kurth (.300, 14), Moxey (.307, 18) , Rosenberger (.304, nine) and Schisler (.328, 15) are solid at the plate for 36th-year coach Frank.

Douglass Ducks

1997 record: 2-13

Coach: John Robinson

Outlook: Robinson has talent, but didn't want to list any of his 17 members as top players because he wants to highlight the balance of his program.

Dunbar Poets

1997 record: 7-9

Coach: Cesar Forcellese

Top players: Ivan Williams, Sr., C; Kellan Wallace, Sr., P-CF; Pat Pearson, Sr., 2B; Curtis Willis, Sr., SS; James Matthews, Sr., LF; Sheldon McDonald, Jr., P.

Outlook: Forcellese is going to benefit from the presence of assistant Don Gilbert, and the fact that six starters return for the Poets.

Edmondson Redskins

1997 record: 8-6

Coach: Tai Thompson

Top players: David Bass, Sr., C; Darrio Davis, Sr., P-1B; Antwoine Demory, Sr., C-OF; Travis Gayle, Sr., OF; Carl Welch, Jr., P-SS-3B; Corey Smith, Jr., P-SS-3B; Jeffrey Page, Jr., SS-P; Charles Byrd, Jr., 2B-OF.

Outlook: With eight returning starters, the Redskins "have good pitching and fielding," Thompson said, and are "looking to finish better than .500."

Forest Park

1997 record: 3-9

Coach: Laney Prioleau

Top players: Jason Woodford, Sr., OF; Dolphus Dixon, Jr., P-IF; ,, Akil Aziz, Jr., IF-P; Tjon Hinton, 1B.

Outlook: The Foresters had a turnout of 25 players, led by Dixon, a member of the surprising 1A state champion basketball team.

Friends Quakers

1997 record: 14-2.

Coach: Tom Randall

Top players: Scott Fritze, Sr., C; Matt Hackman, Sr., P; Omar Kahn, Sr., 3B-OF; Nick Wilson, Sr., OF; Ben Pollock, Jr., P; James Flinn, So., SS-P.

Outlook: Randall likes his team's chances of defending its MIAA B Conference title, but said "we'll have to manufacture runs and play good defvense." The Quakers graduated seven seniors, which hurts, but are solid on the mound and in the field. Flinn (.392), Fritze (.393), Wilson (.428), Hackman (.470, 3-0 pitching) and Pollock (.575 on JV) are reasons to be confident.

Gibbons Crusaders

1997 record: 3-17

Coach: Joe DiBlasi

Top players: Matt Gilbert, Sr., P; Sean Kromeke, Sr., OF; Brad Hundermark, Sr., 2B; Nick Hoffman, Jr., P-C-U; Mark Meyer, Jr., 1B; Justin King, So., P; Craig King, Fr., SS.

Outlook: "We have no holes, defensively, and I've got 14 kids who know how to play baseball," said DiBlasi. "We have a very athletic, very enthusiastic team. If we come through at the plate in this league [MIAA A Conference], we'll go .500. If we don't, we'll struggle."

Gilman Greyhounds

1997 record: 13-10

Coach: Marty Meloy

Top players: Nick Funk, Sr., LHP; Tom Prevas, Sr., C; Scott Homa, Sr., 2B; Ben Mersey, Sr., 1B; Kevin Culbertson, Sr., RF; Adam Goeff, Sr., LF; Ricky Beyer, Jr., SS; Chisom Opara, Jr., CF; Mike Faust, So., CF.

Outlook: Always known for taking his talent beyond its capabilities, Meloy has plenty of it this time, beginning with Funk (4-2), one of the league's craftier hurlers. Meloy calls Prevas his the top hitter, but Homa (.377) isn't far behind. "We have six kids who pitch, but only one [Funk] who's tried and tested," Meloy said. "Against the difficult MIAA A league, we'll have to step it up."

Lake Clifton Lakers

1997 record: 4-8

Coach: Carroll Williams

Top players: Sean Williams, Sr., 2B; Tony Green, Jr., SS-P; Timothy Pearson, Jr., LF; Emmanuel Glover, Jr., C; Ronald Jefferson, So., P-3B.

Outlook: Williams had an incredible turnout of 49 players (25 freshmen), and thinks "we'll grow more and more competitive as the season goes along." Only four starters return.

Mervo Mustangs

1997 record: 16-2

Coach: Andy Corbett

Top players: Tim Owens, Sr., P-1B; Dennis Bailey, Sr., 2B; Tim Wilkins, Sr., LF; Pierre Jones, Jr., CF; Dwight Smith, Jr., C; Duran Kelly, Jr., SS-P; Mike Quattrocche, Jr., 3B-P; Sam Thompson, So., P-OF.