Baseball Preview: Eagles Attitude, Work Ethic Soaring Above Expectations

Although Owings Mills head coach Tom Blumenauer is utilizing a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to many aspects of his team—including his depth in the rotation and the ability of his several inexperienced hitters—he’s got one thing figured out for certain: his varsity squad’s work ethic and commitment to getting better is going to make this one enjoyable season. 

Before even taking the field for a regular season game, the Eagles’ attitude during practice has already sent a clear and strong message to their coach—they are ready to work.

“This is the first year I’ll end practice at 4:30 and I’ve got guys at 5:15 asking for more infield and outfield [practice],” Blumenauer said. “I’ve never had that before. It’s a great luxury to have.

“I have some guys that really want to work. Years in the past I’ve had to fight a couple guys here and there. They are high-schoolers, obviously they’re going to be a little lazy. This year, I have a lot of quality guys that will step up, do things when asked and won’t think twice about it. They are willing to accept whatever role they have.”

One of the roles vital to any baseball squad is that of the locker room leader. That void has been swiftly filled by senior captains Tyler Witt and Brooks Sandler, who have cemented themselves as the primary voices on the field in practice and have backed up their words with the effort they put in.

It’s no coincidence that both captains are two of the players that consistently ask to late at practice, setting a fitting example for the younger players they are trying to lead.

Most importantly, Blumenauer can rest assured knowing that if a practice starts out sluggish or if things breakdown on the diamond during a game, he doesn’t need to make a trip to the mound to settle everyone down.

“One of the things I’ve always communicated is I can yell and scream at the top of my lungs , it doesn’t always translate to the field, at some point somebody out there has to step up,” Blumenaer said. “I feel like I have got guys that absolutely, 100 percent have no problem stepping up when needed.”  

With the proper work ethic and team leaders in place, the Eagles can get to work honing the physical aspects of their game. 

Senior infielder Vaughn Tucker believes that his squad has the right pieces in place to be successful, adding that the team’s all-out passion for the game is something that can put them over the top.

“Physically the talent is there, it’s just getting that mental state of playing,” Tucker said, referring to the time it takes to get a feel for the game, especially with so many weather-induced, indoor practices.

“I can tell these guys really love the sport, so that’s the strong point right there. We have guys that love to go out there and play.”  

One of those guys is Witt, whose experience along with his strong fastball and consistent breaking pitch make him the headliner in Owings Mills’ starting rotation this season.

However, after Witt, the Eagles will send out far-less seasoned players to the mound in Sandler and sophomore Connor Horn.

With inexperience a major factor, Owings Mills must rely on consistent defense to make things easier on its pitchers, in addition to helping their confidence as the season progresses.

“We’re pounding infield and outfield [practice] because we know that our pitchers aren’t going to get ten strikeouts a game,” Blumenauer said. “We’re going to have to make the plays behind them and we’ve been really pushing making the plays, doing the little things, taking care of the mechanically sound things so we don’t have issues in the long run.”

Also helpful to any young pitching staff is run support, something that with a bevy of young hitters who don’t play much ball outside of high school, may take some time to develop.  

However, historically at Owings Mills and most recently under Blumenauer (now in his fourth season as head coach) the Eagles are a slow starting team that peaks when it matters most, come playoff time. That helps explain the squad’s two region final wins in 2008 and 2009 and their respectable 10-8 record last season before following to eventual region champ Harford Tech in the opening round of the state playoffs. 

This year, the Eagles will rely on a combination of speed sprinkled throughout the lineup with timely power from players like junior Jeremy Weinapple and senior Sean Lorden to spark an offensive attack eager to put up runs for its pitching staff.  

Although the Eagles appear somewhat raw in both hitting and pitching, their commitment to improving over the course of this season and the enthusiastic nature in which they do it, is what their head coach is really looking forward to seeing.

“It’s so enjoyable, and that’s what makes coaching fun—when you got the guys that are willing to come out,” Blumenauer said. “I feel like this it’s going to be one of those years that will be great to look back on, because these guys are great to work with.”