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After a busy stretch of games with some unrelated travel mixed in, Cole Ledger highlights nearly 20 players from games scouted between March 31st and April 12th. During that time, Ledger scouted 11 games across the state of Maryland and Delaware. A slew of uncommitted and top-end committed arms, mixed with a couple of big-time bats that made significant contributions to their respective squads. 

Monday, March 31st

Matthew Sowers RHP / Chesapeake-AA, MD / 2027 The final of the talented underclassmen flamethrowers on this Cougars squad. There’s definitely some easy velocity here from a lower intent delivery. Fastball velo did fluctuate at times throughout the four-inning look, but was able to sit 85-87, T88 early before settling in at 83-86, T87, collecting whiffs in the zone with arm side run. Continues to develop the secondary mix, flashing a couple of low-70s curveballs in this outing. Struck out nine on the afternoon, as this will be a potential 90mph arm in the summer as he continues to add strength to the frame and increase intent. It feels like every time I write up some standout players, I run into another talented 2027 Chesapeake arm.

Tuesday, April 1st

Noah Thompson SS / Saint Mark's, DE / 2027 You just knew there would be a left-handed hitting middle infielder thrown into the mix, and Noah Thompson is the perfect candidate. Thompson was one of our biggest fall 2024 standouts, and our first spring look showed much to dream on. Even as a sophomore, the 6’2” frame is strong, but it is more of a line drive approach. Worked a walk along with two strong line drives, one into the gap for a double, and then another right at the centerfielder. As Thompson continues to add strength and as long as the hit tool stays consistent, this is definitely an underclassman to circle.

Landon Johnston C / Salesianum, DE / 2026 A key middle-of-the-order bat in this Sals lineup, Johnston showed impressive flashes last spring but has taken a big step as he moves into a much larger role for this squad. Collected one hit in their game on Monday under the lights, coming up big to tie the game with an RBI single straight back up the middle. Athletic frame with some versatility, there is definitely facets to like with this junior on both sides.

Brandon Emig RHP / Salesianum, DE / 2027 Here’s another flamethrower in the 2027 class, but now we head over to the First State up in Wilmington. Our biggest standout at our Delaware preseason event just over 2 months ago, Emig showcases the ability to land four pitches in the zone. Coming out of the bullpen earlier than expected, he was able to induce weak contact throughout with the fastball, getting up to 90 early while settling in at 85-88. Slider continues to develop but had success in-game, working to both sides when ahead in the count. Worked a couple of low-80s cutters away for occasional whiffs. Possesses an impressive changeup as well, but rarely utilized this pitch during this outing. For a Sallies team looking to repeat in the DIAA playoffs, look for Emig to be a key piece of this staff out of the ‘pen.

Carter Schurman 3B / Appoquinimink, DE / 2027 Schurman was the most impactful hitter in the Jaguars' lineup on this Monday night, collecting 2 hits and driving in a run late in the contest to put the game out of reach. The sophomore jumpstarted the Appo offense early in the contest, sending a line drive into the left-center gap for a double before lining a single past the shortstop later in the game. It’s a gap-to-gap approach with some strength behind the swing, and the corner infielder definitely opened some eyes.

Brody Fleming RHP / Appoquinimink, DE / 2027 This was the first time I’d seen Fleming since my initial look last summer in Richmond. It was a very brief one, as he took the hill for one inning out of the pen, picking up one strikeout while forcing two weak grounders in the infield. In this outing, he mostly worked the fastball, having success with the ability to work the outer half. He flashed a couple of breaking balls that varied in shape, playing more like a slider but had more success on the arm side.

Anderson Tuten RHP / Appoquinimink High School, DE / 2027 My first look at Tuten was impressive as he came out for the final inning to close the game for the Jaguars. Up to 83 with the fastball in the outing, he was able to hide the ball and mix the FB/CB efficiently and effectively, finishing with a lights-out inning. The curveball stood out as he showed feel for it below the zone, getting heavy swings and misses while missing barrels in the zone. Definitely an intriguing follow, and was one of my favorite looks this spring.

Wednesday, April 2nd

Brady Wardell RHP / Conrad Schools of Science, DE / 2025 My first look at Wardell came early this season, getting the chance to see the Maryland commit in a rivalry game against DMA. Wardell, a Future Games alum, has continued to impress us over the course of many years and he seems to always put together a lights out campaign, and that was no different on this day. Not going to be a huge strikeout guy but induces a ton of weak contact from a deceptive, lower slot. Carried a no-hitter through five innings while having success in the zone for all three pitches. Fastball was up to 88, consistently sitting in the mid-80s while working the SL away from righties. Conrad is now up to 8-0 on the season and Wardell is a huge reason why.

Jonathan Downes RHP / Conrad Schools of Science, DE / 2026 This was certainly an intriguing first look at Downes on the mound, coming out of the bullpen in relief following Brady Wardell's stellar outing, slamming the door in the final innings. At a solid 5'11" frame, there is definitely more room to grow as the fastball consistently sat in the mid-80s up to 87 in the brief look. Showed some solid feel for the mid to high-70s secondary pitch as well, generating whiffs in and out of the zone. Conrad has started off hot this season, and Downes has embraced the shutdown closer role, and this day was no different as he picked up the save in a big-time win over rival DMA.

Thursday, April 3rd

Mark Williams Jr. 1B / Southern MD Christian Academy, MD / 2027 On April 3rd, I finally made the much-anticipated trip down to Southern Maryland to check out a slew of underclassmen arms, and Mark Williams started off the game for SMCA. He came out firing with a near immaculate inning in the first, striking out the side on ten pitches. He would eventually finish the game with four innings, allowing zero earned runs with seven strikeouts. One of the biggest things that stood out was the uptick in velocity with the fastball, sitting 87-89, touching 90 in the first inning while holding velo, still 86-88 late in the fourth inning. With how overpowering the FB was on this day, the breaker wasn’t relied on as much, but still flashed a few with success. Williams may have been more well-known for his ability at the plate, but certainly showed off the arm talent from a physical 6’3” frame.

Marcus Blaqman RHP / Southern MD Christian Academy, MD / 2028 Following Mark Williams, I had the chance to see the number two player in the freshman class on the bump, and Marcus Blaqman definitely showed why he is in that spot. In only one inning out of the bullpen, Blaqman was able to strike out two while allowing weak contact throughout the outing. Worked mainly the fastball throughout in the mid-80s, sitting 82-84, grabbing an 85 on the first pitch. The breaking ball continues to develop, but it was able to beat bats in the zone for occasional swing and miss. As the arsenal continues to develop and the younger brother continues to add strength, expect this arm to be touching in the high-80s this summer.

Malcolm Blaqman RHP / Southern MD Christian Academy, MD / 2027 I had the chance to see all 3 underclassmen arms on this day and Malcolm Blaqman, the number 3 player in the MD/DE 2027 class, finished off Thursday’s contest against Riverdale Baptist, and the stuff came out explosive early. Even without much time to warmup, Blaqman came out firing with the fastball which came out well, sitting 88-91 in his first inning out. Slightly scattered on this day with the curveball, but still showed the ability to locate to both sides. Also possesses a changeup but didn’t throw many in this outing as the FB/CB mix was dominant enough to blow hitters away. The stuff is certainly there and if Blaqman can continue to command the three-pitch arsenal, this may be the arm to watch headed into the summer.

Friday, April 4th

Ryder Keidel RHP / Delmar High School, MD / 2025 This was one of the best looks I’ve seen at Keidel over the last three years against a highly-ranked out of state opponent in Decatur. Worked a no-hitter through five innings, finishing after 5 ⅓ with one hit allowed, striking out double digit batters. It’s a strong frame with a strong two-pitch mix, pounding the zone with a high-80s fastball that is now ticking into the low-90s. What impressed me was the success with the curveball that had shown some control issues in the past but was efficient throughout this Friday. If Keidel can stay consistent throughout the spring, this will be an arm that can give some top teams struggles come playoff time.

Thursday, April 10th

Myles Dickerson RHP / Northwest, MD / 2025 On the opposite side of Von Behren, Myles Dickerson got the start for the Jaguars and earned the win this afternoon. On a rainy day in Montgomery County, Dickerson ran into some trouble early but worked out of it beautifully. Worked mostly fastballs early on up to 86, getting whiffs in the zone while ripping a couple mid-70s curveballs in and out of the zone as a finisher. Was able to hold velo throughout, still grabbing 86s up until the fifth inning while mixing in a third pitch, a changeup later in the outing at 76-78 to keep hitters off balance. Also showing off the ability to get it done at the plate, Dickerson ripped a bases-clearing 3 RBI double late in the contest that was ultimately the deciding factor in Northwest’s win.

Alex Von Behren RHP / Richard Montgomery, MD / 2025 After returning back from my four-day journey in Pittsburgh, I made the trip to check out an intriguing MoCo pitching matchup between Richard Montgomery and Northwest. Going to touch on uncommitted senior Alex Von Behren first, the righty pounded the zone early with all three pitches for strikes. Not going to be a guy to blow someone away with an overpowering fastball, but mixes efficiently and the fastball dances around the zone with evident ASR up to 85 on this day. Consistently worked the low-70s breaking ball away that varied shape, but used it more as a curveball as he was deep into the outing. Von Behren is the ace of this Rockets squad and when he is on the mound, RM will always have a chance as we saw earlier in the season against Whitman.

Andrew Joncas / Walter Johnson, MD / 2027 With a deep group of sophomore arms, Joncas may not be the hardest thrower in the class, but possesses some of the top stuff among that group of arms, especially when looking at the secondary mix. Joncas tossed two innings out of the bullpen, showing off a three-pitch mix with feel for all three in the zone. Fastball was efficient to both sides, sitting in the mid-80s up to 87. Continued to rip breaking balls, playing more like a curveball that had some whiffle ball action as hitters whiffed through them all night long, allowing him to rack up four strikeouts. In every grad class that comes through WJ, they always seem to have a dominant arm, and Joncas may have cemented himself as that guy for their 2027 class.

Saturday, April 12th