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Made the trip back to Anne Arundel County for the second time in the last week, checking out Severna Park for the first time this spring against rival Northeast-AA. The weather forcast projected low-50s temperatures, which would've been nice for it only being the second week. But instead, we had the pleasure of having upper-30s with swirling wind throughout the game. This matchup saw a tale of two halves of the game, as Northeast came swinging out of the gate, jumping out to an early and demanding lead. All it took was one inning for Severna Park to implement themselves back into the game, putting up a six spot in the fourth to cut the deficit to one. Some back and forth scoring would take place, and after over 150 minutes of gametime, the result was a suspension in the top of the seventh inning due to darkness, likely to be completed when these two teams matchup once again in Pasadena on May 1st.

Both starting pitches would find themselves in a jam early, as Severna Park's sophomore flamethrower Charlie Delobe battled against Northeast's Mason Koldejeski. Both would battle through their respective adversities, resulting in a scoreless first from both sides. Northeast wouldn't allow that to happen again, as they put a three-spot with two outs in the second inning. Cooper Meeks jumpstarted the inning with a single, followed by an RBI double from sophomore Cason Selke and a 2 RBI single from Jayden Saraullo (Neumann). Northeast would another in the third off a sac bunt and three more in the fourth with RBI base hits from Alex Merlino, Cason Selke, and Gavin Williams, making the score 7-0 in the fourth inning.

Severna Park wasn't going to lay down and admit defeat though, as they took advance of four walks and a single from Dylan Phillips (Scranton), making the score 7-2 with the bases still loaded and nobody out. But here came senior Evan Boucher (Roanoke), who launched a grand slam to dead center for his third hit of the contest, cutting the deficit to one. Jaxon McLain would settle in after that in relief, collecting three quick outs to preserve a one-run lead for the Eagles. Each team would add a run to their total in the fifth; Northeast's Alex Merlino hit a RBI single and Severna Park's James Malena added a RBI double in response, making the score 8-7 Eagles headed to the sixth. Both pitchers would throw up a scoreless frame in the sixth, and following a leadoff HBP in the seventh, it was determined it wasn't safe enough to continue the game. So that's where we stand as of now.

Northeast-AA

 

Jayden Saraullo 1B / Northeast, MD / 2026 After being one of the more consistent arms in the entire county over the last few seasons, it was disappointing to hear that the Neumann commit would miss his entire senior season with an elbow injury. But as he's shown his entire high school career, he wasn't going out like that, opting to delay the surgery in order to play his senior season in a strictly DH capacity. Northeast is certainly benefiting from the decision, as Saraullo collected two hits in yesterday's contest: a single to center in the second off a breaking ball that scored two, and later took a first pitch fastball back up the middle that took a favorable hop over the shortstop's head. This has been one of our favorite two-ways for a long time now, and although he isn't able to contribute on the mound, the addition of his bat to the lineup has worked wonders for this Eagles team looking for extra firepower.

Chase McLaughlin OF / Northeast-AA, MD / 2026 The UMBC commit has seen himself in various different roles over the course of the season thus far, seeing time both in centerfield (vs Chesapeake) and at shortstop (vs Severna Park). The versitility and athleticism from such a physical frame allows him to do so, and he played well defensively at both positions at each look. The hit tool has such a high ceiling, but it'll all come down to consistency for McLaughlin, who has seen streaks of hot and cold throughout his career. Yesterday could've been the start of a hot streak though, as he sat on this breaking ball and laced a bullet back up the middle for a single. With his ++ run tool and the ceiling offensively, this will be a strong pickup for the Retrievers if the consistency is there.

Alex Merlino 3B / Northeast-AA, MD / 2027 Merlino put on an impressive performance out of the eight-hole in the lineup yesterday afternoon, going 3-for-3 with a trio of singles. The junior also drove in a pair of runs, a RBI single in the fourth and the current winning run, a RBI single to left field in the fifth inning. Not afraid to attack pitches early in the count and showed he can handle upper-80s velocity, this is a name that should be a major contributor in the back half of the order, turning the lineup over nicely throughout the season.

#18 Severna Park

Charlie Delobe RHP/SS / Severna Park, MD / 2028 The 10th ranked player in the sophomore class took the mound for Severna Park in this conference matchup, and although ran into a couple barrels throughout the game, showed some flashes with the arsenal. The fastball worked 88-90 in the first inning and settled more 87-88 in the second and third inning. He was able to fill up the zone constantly with some arm side run, but sometimes attacked the zone a little too agressively, leaving the ball over the middle of the plate. The slider didn't have quite the feel in the first, but gained more throughout the outing, flashing an impressive changeup on occasion that had late action, best for swing and miss below the zone. The righty worked at 66% strikes over 3.1 innings, surrendering three walks while striking out two. If he can land the slider more consistently and generate more swing and miss with the fastball, expect him to progress throughout the spring. He also flashed the hit tool, hitting in the two-hole for the Falcons, with a hard lineout right to the left fielder (video).

James Malena OF / Severna Park, MD / 2027 Severna Park's leadoff hitter has been a massive addition to the Falcons lineup, transferring over from Archbishop Spalding this year. The junior is hitting .455 through three games this season, which included a 2-for-3 performance yesterday. His afternoon started in the bottom of the first, attacking the first pitch for a backside single down the right field line. His second hit showed off his clutch gene, sending a bolt into the left-center field gap for a RBI double in the fifth inning with one out to pull Severna Park within a run. One of our standouts this winter at the API Scout Day in late February, it's nice to see that the hit tool is translating nicely in game situations, starting the season on a positive note.

Evan Boucher RHP / Severna Park, MD / 2026 The last few years, it's been the ability on the mound that has impressed us, working into the upper-80s with the fastball. However, the offensive ability is what Boucher put on display yesterday afternoon, contributing in each at-bat, turning in a three-hit performance. His first hit came in the first inning after the Malena single with a ground ball single, followed by a double in the third that snuck down the left field line. His biggest swing, though, came in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, smashing a grand slam to dead center that put the Falcons from out of reach to a one-run deficit. The team needed a powerful moment, and Boucher delivered. The offense sees itself with a plethora of new faces after the last few seasons, and guys like Boucher will need to step up as he did yesterday evening. And this doesn't even count his contributions on the mound, likely finding himself in a reliever/closer capacity to hold things down on the backline.