AAABA tournament: Baltimore excited to be back in Flood City

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August 9, 2010

Mike Mastovich mmastovich@tribdem.com The Tribune-Democrat Mon Aug 09, 2010, 12:42 AM EDT

JOHNSTOWN — The most shocking news of last year’s AAABA Tournament happened a week before the first pitch.

Six-time defending champion Baltimore went 0-2 in the 2009 Altoona Regional and failed to advance to Johnstown for yet another title defense.

It was only Baltimore’s third ever elimination in regional play and the first time since 1999 (the other happened in 1975).

The powerhouse from Maryland has appeared in 62 of 65 previous tournaments.

Youse’s Maryland Orioles of Baltimore will be back in the national tournament this year. Most AAABA followers expect the Orioles to return with a baseball vengeance.

“For the most part, it’s all new kids, but from the coaches’ standpoint we’re motivated to get back up there and do well,” said second-year manager Tim Norris.

“We’re trying to teach this group how this is such a great tournament. The whole year we talk about Johnstown. We could go 0-30 in the Cal Ripken League, but if we’d win in Johnstown that would be a good year.”

Youse’s Maryland Orioles actually won the Cal Ripken League with a 29-13 record.

Baltimore also went undefeated in its AAABA-qualifying City League with a 10-0 mark.

“We’re a little banged up, mainly on the pitching side, but I think we’ll do OK,” Norris said. “I’ve been dropping kids and picking up kids as we go. I have kids out with mono, broken fingers and bad backs. I’m picking up four kids. I don’t think we’ve ever picked up four kids. Three of my top five pitchers are at home. We have some guys I think will step up. As long as the guys on the mound give us a shot to win I think we’ll do fine.”

Even with a somewhat depleted lineup, Baltimore is formidable.

Right-hander Ben Carhart, a junior at Stetson, was 3-0 with six saves and didn’t allow an earned run during 181/3 innings in the highly-regarded Ripken League.

He also had a .308 batting average with 11 doubles, a triple, two homers and

27 RBIs. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Carhart in the 19th round of the June draft.

“His numbers say he should be the MVP of the Ripken League,” Norris said.

Right-hander Blake Geiger was 4-1 with a 0.63 ERA in 43 innings.

“He ended up giving up three earned runs in the Ripken League all year,” Norris said. “He’ll probably be our No. 1 guy once we see the draw.”

University of Florida-bound Keenan Kish was 3-1 with 16 strikeouts in

231/3 innings. The Yankees picked him in the 34th round.

“He’s a high school kid who’s starting to face college kids,” Norris said. “He’s got a good, live arm. From the start of this year to the end he’s really learned a lot.”

George Mason product Christopher O’Grady was 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA in

491/3 innings. “He’s been a steady pitcher all year. He’s a left-hander, real smooth,” Norris said.

Georgia Tech-bound Bradley Markey was 2-1 with two saves and a 1.61 ERA.

“He’s one of our top relievers,” Norris said.

Second baseman Patrick Blair had a .348 average with nine doubles and 18 RBIs.

“Pat’s really come into his own this year,” Norris said. “Not only is he hitting, he’s starting to drive the ball.”

Catcher Dante Rosenberg will attend the University of South Carolina, and prospect Glynn Davis was added to the lineup.

Norris believes the pieces are in place for Baltimore to re-establish itself in a tournament it had owned through most of the 2000s.

“We lost two at the regional and that was it for the summer,” Norris said. “It was hard for me to take considering it was my first year as the head guy and we couldn’t get back to Johnstown to defend our six straight national championships. Dean Albany (former manager and current GM) said it happened to him, too. He said his first year they lost in the regional (1999).”

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AAABA tournament: Baltimore excited to be back in Flood City

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