Baseball Coach

High school baseball Former major league pitcher Eric Milton was named Friday as the baseball coach at Severna Park, according to athletic director Wayne Mook . Milton, 37, was a first-round pick of the New York Yankees (20th overall) in the 1996 draft after playing in college at Maryland from 1994 to 1996. He was 89-85 with a 4.99 ERA in 11 seasons in the major leagues. Milton was an American League All-Star selection in 2001, when he was 15-7 with a 4.32 ERA in 35 games for the Minnesota Twins.

Mike Gottlieb feels like the Death Row inmate who gets a last-minute reprieve from the governor. Only in this case, the governor came up with $300,000 out of the state budget to keep Gottlieb's Towson University baseball team alive for a couple more years. So there was Gottlieb on Wednesday afternoon at Towson's Schuerholz Park, standing in the bright sunshine and biting wind before the Tigers' 5-3 loss to Navy, marveling at what a close call it had been for his team. "I remember growing up in the 60's," he was saying now, "and there was a Superman episode where they found out a guy who was on Death Row was innocent.

After 14 years as Dunbar's baseball coach, Don Gilbert has decided to take a break. "I have decided to leave now and watch my son, who is a rising senior baseball college prospect player at Glen Burnie High School," Gilbert said. "I have not had the opportunity to see him play that much, so I need to leave coaching at Dunbar to do so. " The Poets went 17-1 this past season and ranked No. 15 in The Baltimore Sun's final baseball poll. Gilbert said it was his best "team" because it had "a little less talent, but great chemistry.

Matt Tilley hasn't had much free time outside of practice this year. In fact, Gilman baseball coach Larry Sheets said the senior has taken just two days off since August -- both between the football and basketball seasons and none between the basketball and baseball seasons. Such is the life of a three-sport athlete. And he hasn't just participated in football, basketball and baseball -- he has excelled in all three. He played wide receiver and free safety for the Gilman football team that won the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference last fall, served as captain for the basketball team that was one win away from winning its second consecutive MIAA B Conference title in the winter and stars all over the field for the No. 10 Greyhounds in baseball.

It didn't take long for Maryland to find its new baseball coach. John Szefc, who was last an assistant coach at Kansas State, was named to the position Wednesday, less than a month after former coach Erik Bakich announced he was leaving to coach at Michigan. "Erik [Bakich] did a really good job creating a strong foundation for this program," Szefc said. "Now it's my job to continue that and move our program ahead. " Szefc served as Kansas State's hitting coach for two years as the team advanced to an NCAA regional in 2011.

Norris began his job in the fall by physically working on the playing field — shoveling in dirt, rebuilding the pitcher's mound and watering the infield every day knowing it would bloom in the spring. Then, when the season came, the first-year head coach delivered a familiar message to his team: Baseball is simple; don't complicate it. "He was committed to the program from the day he got the job," Curley athletic director Bill Dawson said. "Every day he'd show up and work on the field.

Severna Park baseball coach Jim McCandless, who guided the Falcons to three state championships in his 12 seasons coaching his alma mater, died Tuesday. He was 43. The state's medical examiner confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday that McCandless' death was ruled a suicide. "Jimmy meant everything to our program," said Wayne Mook, Severna Park's athletic director. "He ran a first-rate baseball program. He was always a first-class individual who made sure his players always did things the right way. " McCandless was also general manager of the Greater Severna Park Athletic Association, a youth sports organization that commonly goes by the name the Green Hornets.

Archbishop Curley High School will join the list of schools looking for a new baseball coach for next season after Jack Thomas resigned. Thomas, 60, led the Friars to a record of 104-88 in seven seasons. His most successful year was 2008, when the Friars finished 23-8, third in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and ranked No. 5 in the state. "I loved my years coaching at Curley and am grateful to have had the opportunity to coach in the MIAA A Conference," Thomas said.

There were 22 players, seven on scholarship, on the Towson University baseball roster when Mike Gottlieb took over as the coach at his alma mater in 1988. The Tigers won the East Coast Conference championship that season. There will be 35 players on the roster, 15 on scholarship, when Towson plays its next -- and presumably last -- season of baseball next spring. In hearing the news Tuesday that a program that has been a big part of his life since he came to Baltimore in the mid-1970s from Long Island will likely be cut as part of the athletic department's proposed reorganization, Gottlieb's emotions swirl in a mix of sadness and anger.

Mike Gottlieb feels like the Death Row inmate who gets a last-minute reprieve from the governor. Only in this case, the governor came up with $300,000 out of the state budget to keep Gottlieb's Towson University baseball team alive for a couple more years. So there was Gottlieb on Wednesday afternoon at Towson's Schuerholz Park, standing in the bright sunshine and biting wind before the Tigers' 5-3 loss to Navy, marveling at what a close call it had been for his team. "I remember growing up in the 60's," he was saying now, "and there was a Superman episode where they found out a guy who was on Death Row was innocent.

The second annual Detroit Tigers & St. Frances Academy Youth Baseball Clinic will take place on Feb. 16 in the school's gymnasium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Willie Horton will be the special guest for the clinic, which is open to coaches and players of all ages. It is free for children 17 years old and under and adults are asked to donate $25. During the two-hour event, several topics will be discussed by Horton, Brian Boles (former St. Frances baseball coach and current Tigers scout)

Colleges Ex-Terp Merriman to hold annual coat drive Saturday Shawne Merriman , a former Maryland standout who now plays linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, will hold his annual coat drive Saturday before the Maryland-Florida State game at noon at Byrd Stadium. Over the past 10 years, Merriman and his Lights On Foundation have collected more than 20,000 coats to benefit numerous communities in the region. This year, Merriman's efforts will be focused on those affected by the storm Sandy in New York and New Jersey.

During an offseason workout Wednesday, St. Frances baseball coach Brian Boles told his players he will not be returning as head coach next season. Boles will be replaced by Carey Cheek, a former player in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and a three-year assistant at St. Frances. "After much deliberation, I've decided to take on a new challenge," Boles said. "While it is a hard decision, because I've enjoyed my eight years with the kids here, I know Carey brings a wealth of baseball knowledge to the program and I'm looking forward to the team continuing to grow in the program he leads.

High school baseball Former major league pitcher Eric Milton was named Friday as the baseball coach at Severna Park, according to athletic director Wayne Mook . Milton, 37, was a first-round pick of the New York Yankees (20th overall) in the 1996 draft after playing in college at Maryland from 1994 to 1996. He was 89-85 with a 4.99 ERA in 11 seasons in the major leagues. Milton was an American League All-Star selection in 2001, when he was 15-7 with a 4.32 ERA in 35 games for the Minnesota Twins.

There were 22 players, seven on scholarship, on the Towson University baseball roster when Mike Gottlieb took over as the coach at his alma mater in 1988. The Tigers won the East Coast Conference championship that season. There will be 35 players on the roster, 15 on scholarship, when Towson plays its next -- and presumably last -- season of baseball next spring. In hearing the news Tuesday that a program that has been a big part of his life since he came to Baltimore in the mid-1970s from Long Island will likely be cut as part of the athletic department's proposed reorganization, Gottlieb's emotions swirl in a mix of sadness and anger.

Varsity baseball Lombardozzi's dad to coach Good Counsel  Good Counsel in Olney announced the hiring Friday of Steve Lombardozzi Sr. , 52, as baseball coach. When his schedule will allow it, Steve Jr. (Atholton), a Washington Nationals infielder-outfielder, hopes to lend a hand, too. "I'm excited for him," Steve Jr., 24, said. "I think he's going to have fun. It's close near our house. He works really well with kids. And he spends a lot of time and enjoys helping kids and he'll be able to see progress and hopefully impact kids lives on and off the field.

Each morning, Monday through Friday, we'll hook you up with some reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday. ** Tommy Hunter surrendered just one run Wednesday in his start for the Orioles, who beat the Twins 2-1 . ** Quarterback Joe Flacco and the Ravens are looking long term as training camp nears . He is in line to be a free agent next offseason.  ** Orioles manager Buck Showalter seems confident that Chris Tillman and Zach Britton can be a part of a playoff run . ** Former Maryland quarterback Scott Milanovich has landed in the CFL as the Toronto Argonauts' head coach.