Sports
Spring Sports Preview: Century, Liberty and South Carroll Players Return to Baseball
The local high schools hit the diamond this week in their first games of the season.
When you say spring, one sport that comes to mind is baseball. With spring upon us, bats are warming up, ready to get the season into full swing.
Century
The Knights have only four seniors, so first year coach Jamar Garner will have a young team.
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Returning to lead Century on the diamond are seniors Dan Virbickis and Patrick Darnley, along with junior Michael Austin. Virbickis patrols the outfield, while Darnley starts in the infield and on the mound.
Austin missed part of last season with a broken ankle. He will start at shortstop.
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Century was 15-8 overall and 10-4 in the county last year.
Liberty
The Lions were 10-9 last year.
Coach Erik Barnes welcomes back junior shortstop Andrew Massey. Last year he swung the bat for .367 with four doubles, two triples, two home runs and 12 RBI. He also was 3-0 pitching with a 1.00 ERA.
Also returning are seniors D.J. Bennett and Bobby Conlon.
Newcomers are Greg Wheatley, Kevin Price, Frank Maccia and Sean Naylor.
Barnes has coached for 18 years at Liberty, 13 with the varsity.
"We need to develop some depth in our pitching staff and find replacements for the offense that we lost to graduation. The team has been working very hard to be competitive each time we take the field," Barnes said about the outlook for the season.
Like other coaches, he feels Westminster is the top of the county this spring.
The goals for the Lions this season are "continue to improve and play our best baseball when the playoffs start in May," said Barnes.
South Carroll
The Cavaliers look to rebound from 7-14 last year. They were 6-8 in the county.
Coach George Richardson III, entering his 14th year of leading the Cavaliers, will be looking at returning players Jake Smith, Ryan MacIvor and Joe Best.
"The players are working hard; pitching and defense will be the keys to how we do," said Richardson.
Matt Connelly and Todd Tackett are the top newcomers for South Carroll.
Richardson said Logan Malane, Smith and Tackett are the starting pitchers, but his position players will change.
"Our goals are to improve as baseball players every day," said Richardson, who feels Westminster is the team to beat in the county.