Follow @PrepBaseballMD
Facebook + Instagram

Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (SMAC)

Calvert Cavaliers  

2025 Record: 4-12

A rough go of it in 2025 has the Cavaliers turning their attention to 2026, and the return of some key bats in the lineup and their “ace” back on the bump, this Calvert squad has the chance to make some noise this spring. A roster that will need some younger players to step up and make an impact on both sides will be interesting to watch as the spring rolls on. 

Senior Jaxson Lee and junior Myles Merriman are back and should provide a spark in the middle of the order, as they did a year ago. Look for depth to be provided by junior John Conochan and a talented sophomore tandem in Gavin Groom and Dominic Sauls. On the bump, Joey Rodenhaver (US Marine Corps) will get the ball in the big games, as he did a year ago and look for depth from two-ways Lee and Conochan on the back end. Some younger players will need to fill some holes, but look for Rodenhaver to stamp his stellar high school career so far with another strong season on the bump. 

---

Chopticon Braves  

2025 Record: 17-6
Key Departures: Logan Carver, Kody Adkins, Noah Pessagno

Chopticon put together an impressive regular season last year, but their postseason run may have been even more notable. The Braves seemed to cool off every red-hot opponent in their path—living up to the idea of being “ice” when it mattered most. Their run ultimately ended in the state championship against the powerhouse Sherwood Warriors, but the deep playoff push firmly established them as one of the top teams in the state. Entering 2026, Chopticon may be without a few pieces that defined last year’s roster, but plenty of key contributors remain.

Offensively, the Braves bring back roughly two-thirds of last season’s lineup, though they will need to replace the production of two of their top bats in Carver and Adkins. Even so, this group returns with plenty of motivation following last year’s title game loss and features one of the more experienced lineups in the state, made up largely of juniors and seniors. Ryan Welch, Maverick Trueman, and Trace Haggard headline the offense, while Sean Beach, Aiden Norris, and Austin Garner provide valuable depth. On the mound, Welch and Beach are expected to lead the staff as the Braves look for a few new arms to step in and round out the rotation.

With one of the higher-upside offenses back and plenty of motivation fueling them, Chopticon enters the season with something to prove. Expect opponents to take them much more seriously this time around as they pursue another run at the state title game. Winning their region is never easy, but with Northern moving out of the region, the path may be a bit more manageable for the Braves in 2026.

---

Huntingtown Hurricanes  

2025 Record: 22-3
Key Departures: Trevor Robbins

Huntingtown could hardly have scripted a better season last spring, capturing the 2A state championship in dominant fashion with a shutout in the title game. The victory validated the preseason belief in the Hurricanes and added yet another milestone to Coach Guy Smith’s already impressive legacy. As the program turns the page to 2026, Huntingtown once again looks like the team to beat in the SMAC and should firmly remain in the championship conversation.

Offensively, several key contributors return from the lineup that powered last year’s title run. Senior Ryder Bolger (Allegany JC) headlines the group, joined by a strong junior core featuring Jacob Cadden, Robby Kessler, and Chase Wargo. The back half of the lineup could see a few younger players emerge into bigger roles, with sophomores Joshua Walter and Blake Marlowe standing out as potential contributors. With experienced leadership and plenty of talent returning, this offense has the pieces to once again produce consistently from top to bottom and potentially match—or even surpass—last season’s success.

On the mound, the Hurricanes will need to replace Trevor Robbins, who delivered a complete-game shutout in the state championship. The staff now shifts into the hands of junior Noah McMurray, one of the premier right-handers in the junior class. Marlowe and Kessler are expected to help round out the rotation, though the biggest question entering the season will be the pitching depth behind that trio. Early in the year, several arms could get opportunities as the staff looks to identify who will step into those key innings. Even with that uncertainty, Huntingtown once again appears well-positioned for a strong 2026 campaign, and if last season was any indication, the Hurricanes should still be a factor when the postseason arrives.

---

Leonardtown Raiders  

2025 Record: 16-5
Key Departures: Eli Bean, Daniel Knott, Ryan Ludlow, David Austin Ford, Camden Riley

Leonardtown enters the spring with some familiar names gone, especially on the pitching staff. This is a roster who still has pieces remaining from the 2024 championship team that went on a miraculous run and pulled off one of the bigger upsets we’ve seen in a while. Unfortunately for them, they ran into a senior-led Broadneck team that was finally destined to get over the hump, falling in extra-innings.

Transitioning to 2026, the offense remains a strong unit. Seniors Troy Jordan, Seth Massey, and Troy Smith (Prince George’s CC) will provide senior leadership with junior leadoff Owen Zartman back at the top of the order and junior Mike Bittle receiving a significant role with spots up for grabs. Look for sophomore Benny Parsons to see some significant playing time towards the bottom half of the lineup after a strong showing at our preseason showcase. There’s no doubt that the pitching staff will have a lot of work ahead of them to replicate their unit from last year, but returning senior Brayden Owen (Chesapeake JC) is a good start. Junior Bradley Hager looks to be a significant contributor on both sides, but look for him to cement himself as a strong No. 2 option. Bittle and Massey should fill out the majority of the available innings as Leonardtown looks for strong balance on both sides.

This team went 16–5 and does see more turnover compared to other teams on this list, but regardless, this team still possesses the stability and experience on both sides of the ball to put themselves likely right back in position to take the region once again.

Maurice J. McDonough Rams   

2025 Record: 12-7

If you’re looking for a team loaded with experience and depth, McDonough immediately comes to mind. The Rams are coming off a heartbreaking finish to the 2025 season, falling to eventual state champion Huntingtown on a walk-off in the eighth inning of the regional playoffs. The silver lining, however, is that McDonough returns its top seven hitters from that roster along with significant depth on the pitching staff.

Senior Ian Morton once again leads the Rams on both sides of the ball and has firmly established himself as one of the top senior talents in the SMAC. Offensively, he’ll be supported by fellow seniors Brodhi Sanders, Nick Mudd, Jaiden Tressler, Landon Newsome, Michael Brill, and David Cocroft — the same group that filled spots one through seven in the lineup last season. This experienced core consistently proved capable of producing enough runs and capitalizing on opportunities to keep the Rams in tight contests, often finding ways to come out on top.

The true strength of this team, though, lies on the mound. Morton headlines the staff, with Tressler, Newsome, Brill, and Mudd all expected to contribute significant innings — many of the same names that anchor the lineup. In high-stakes matchups last season, McDonough frequently found itself in low-scoring battles, a testament to a pitching staff that competes aggressively and isn’t afraid to challenge opposing hitters.

Returning this many contributors on both sides of the ball is a strong formula for success. While it was only a scrimmage, an early shutout win over SMAC rival Chopticon offered a glimpse of what this team could be capable of. If there’s one thing to watch for this spring, it’s whether McDonough can add a bit more offensive explosiveness in marquee matchups.

---

Northern Patriots   

2025 Record: 13-9
Key Departures: Jack Bisang, Dylan Rice, Miles Halbert

There should be plenty of excitement surrounding this Northern squad heading into the spring. With another year of development and experience under their belts, the Patriots impressed our staff with a strong showing this past weekend and look poised to compete as one of the top teams in the SMAC.

Offensively, Northern returns a number of key contributors from last season, led by David “Tony” Holson (Frostburg State). His athleticism and leadership will set the tone for the lineup, while his younger brother, Jaxson Holson, returns to spark the offense from the leadoff spot. Senior Connor Renzi has also developed into one of the conference’s most dangerous hitters, cementing his role in the heart of the order. Jett Vagnier and Oliver Fox are two additional names expected to take on expanded roles after gaining valuable experience last year.

On the mound, the Patriots are anchored by senior Brice Boling (Clarion), who recently turned heads in front of our staff with an upper-80s fastball complemented by a sharp splitter. Sophomore Dominic Rivera is another arm to watch and could be in line for a breakout season despite his youth. Renzi and Vaginer should also carry meaningful innings within the rotation. The biggest question for Northern this spring will be the staff’s consistency and ability to consistently throw strikes. If they can command the zone at a high level, the Patriots have the pieces to make a legitimate run in 2026.

---

North Point Eagles  

2025 Record: 10-9
Key Departures: Jaiden Wismer, Jordan Daniel

An Eagles squad that returns a ton of pieces on both sides of the ball has our staff intrigued to see how North Point will fare in 2026. Experience, especially at the dish with plenty of depth, look for the Eagles to be competitive throughout the SMAC this spring. 

Offensively, the Eagles return their standout leadoff hitter in senior Aidan Espejo (St. Mary's College of MD), along with junior two-way Ahmire Thomas right behind him in the two-hole; a dynamic one-two punch at the top of the lineup. Jaiden Wismer and Jordan Daniel were the powerful middle of the order, run producing bats for the Eagles a year ago, and their departure to graduation should see the likes of senior Austin Harding and junior Zavier Bowman slide up in the lineup and fill those holes. A name to watch is sophomore Sean Dixon, an athletic outfielder who should add some nice depth to the lineup. 

On the bump, the replacement of star-studded right-handers in Jaiden Wismer and Jordan Daniel is certainly a tall task, however, a handful of two-ways in Thomas, Harding, and Bowman ate up some innings a year ago and we look for all three to make a nice jump in 2026. Keep eyes on freshman Cayden Pettko, a freshman on varsity this spring that may have the chance to play a pivotal role on the bump for the Eagles this spring. 

---

Patuxent Panthers  

2025 Record: 14-6
Key Departures: Ivan Sypa, Justin Thies, Carson Vercoe

An early exit in last year’s playoffs has the Patuxent Panthers hungry for a deep run in 2026. The departures of Justin Thies, Ivan Sypa, and Carson Vercoe are certainly big holes to fill on both sides of the ball, however, you can never count out Coach Powell; a battle-tested head coach who gets the most out of his players. 

Offensively, it starts with senior Logan Powell (Siena); a power-hitting backstop with legit game-changing ability on both sides of the ball. Behind Powell, look for two-way seniors in Riley Whitney and Nick Kelly to provide a spark throughout the lineup and provide some protection for Powell. Fellow senior Dylan Bradley, junior Chase Jones, and sophomore Bradley Cowan all provided key at-bats for the Panthers a year ago, and look for all three to add some well-needed depth in the lineup. On the bump, Sypa and Thies were the horses for Coach Powell’s rotation and both pitched in the big games last spring. Turn the page to 2026, and Patuxent will need to rely on some versatility and inexperienced arms to provide some depth behind Whitney and Kelly. 

---

St. Charles Spartans  

2025 Record: 4-11
Key Departures: Cameron Venezuela, Xavier Proctor

St. Charles comes off a disappointing 4–11 season, which included an eight-game losing streak in April. They did pick up some momentum at the end of the season with a playoff win over Great Mills, but the momentum couldn’t carry over to the semifinals, falling to state runner-up Chopticon. This should be an improved unit in 2026 that sees significant jumps, especially on the pitching side.

This pitching staff will be led by senior Kory Queen (Norfolk State), one of our favorite arms in the conference and will likely put his name up there for the top arm in the conference. He will see a much more significant workload last season after only pitching a little over 10 IP. I’d expect that number to exceed 30 this spring, which could provide a substantial boost to this staff as he has the ability to take over games and win them all by himself. They also return senior Tristan Hyde, who led the team in innings last spring. 

Offensively, they return four of their top five hitters; seniors Ethan Paredes, Queen, Robert Generette, and Hyde. The Spartans possess one of the oldest rosters in the SMAC, filled with seniors on both sides of the ball — but they will be forced into much more high-stakes situations even with their limited experience. St. Charles will be a team to watch when it comes to upsetting some of the top teams in the conference, especially with Queen on the mound. 

---

Additional Players to Watch 

Kaine Simon ('26) - La Plata
Tyler Hancock ('26) - La Plata
Luke Grimsley ('27) - La Plata
Grant Cooper ('28) - Henry E. Lackey
Carter Rager ('27) - Henry E. Lackey
Justin Fields ('28) - Henry E. Lackey
Damon Brown ('28) - Thomas Stone
Antonio Gross ('26) - Thomas Stone
Damien Cox ('27) - Thomas Stone
Jamari Miller ('26) - Westlake
Ja'den Keys ('28) - Westlake
Aiden Brickner ('26) - Great Mills
Ryan Conrad ('26) - Great Mills
Carter Moore ('27) - Great Mills
Landon Atkins ('27) - Great Mills
Kyle Myers ('27) - Great Mills