MIAA BASEBALL PLAYERS ARE LOADED FOR THE BATTLE ON THE SHIP

It’s become a focal point on the summer baseball circuit of aspiring college recruits seeking exposure and when the Mid-Atlantic High School Baseball Classic (a.k.a. The Battle on the Ship) returns for its fifth edition, in early August, it will be filled with top talent from the MIAA.

The creation of former Cardinal Gibbons baseball coach Lou Holcomb, who owns Diamond Recruiting, the showcase features a skills combine and an all-star game â?? two events which have become regular stops for college recruiters from throughout the region.

The combine portion of the event, which is divided into two sessions, is open to any player in the classes of 2008, 2009 and 2010 and will take place at Joe Cannon Stadium on Friday, August 3. Players from Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, which comprise the North Region will participate in the morning sessions, with pitchers and catchers going from 10 am to noon, followed by the position players from 12:30-2:30 pm.

The South Region, featuring Virginia, Washington, DC, North Carolina and South Carolina will take the stage in the late afternoon, with the pitchers and catchers working out from 4-6 pm, followed by the position players from 6:30-8:30 pm.

During the combine, the players will work through a number of drills, skills competitions and performance measurements. It is the work in these sessions which will be judged, allowing the staff to select the players who will participate in Monday’s All-Star Game, which will be played at noon at the University of Maryland’s Shipley Field.

Below is a complete list of players representing the MIAA at combine. However, candidates are still be accepted and application forms can be found on the Diamond Recruiting web site or by calling 410-593-9922. There is a registration fee of $100.

Kody Hines, Archbishop Spalding
Devon Jerrard, Boys’ Latin
Michael Dillon, Calvert Hall
Brooks Rothschild, Calvert Hall
Greg Terry, Calvert Hall
Luke Sawyer, Calvert Hall
Stephen Geiss, Calvert Hall
Pat Blair, Calvert Hall
Michael Schmidt, Cardinal Gibbons
Jon Marshall, Cardinal Gibbons
Matthew Siggins, Chapelgate Christian
Neil Hessinger, Gilman
Joe Loiodice, John Carroll
Christian Wolfe, John Carroll
Andrew Hahn, Loyola Blakefield
Drew Tokosch, Mount St. Joseph
Sander Beck, Severn
Austin Poretz, St. Mary’s
Colby Roane, St. Paul’s
Jack Carey, St. Paul’s
Kevin Hughes, St. Vincent Pallotti

On a related note, five MIAA baseball players, including three in the Classic, have made the prestigious Oriolelanders fall baseball team, run by legendary Orioles scout Dean Albany.

The team, which has been in existence since 1975 and has produced countless college and professional baseball prospects will barnstorm showcase tournaments at top college facilities on the East Coast.

The MIAA players include Baltimore Player of the Year Kevin Lingerman from Calvert Hall and teammate Patrick Blair, the Cardinals starting shortstop. Also on the team are a trio of top pitchers from the B Conference â?? Sanders Beck from Severn, Austin Poretz from St. Mary’s and Kieran Flannery from St. Vincent Pallotti.

Assisting Albany are Holcomb and former Archbishop Curley star Tim Norris. The squad was selected from more than 60 hopefuls who participated in tryouts at Camden Yards.