The Maryland Eastern Shore baseball program has added a crop of talented freshman to it’s veteran roster for the 2021 season. The Hawks are building on being one of the top teams in the MEAC conference. The Hawks graduated 3 seniors, and have 27 returning players from the 2020 squad. The 8 freshman joining the squad will have more depth and experienced than in previous years.
The goal for the season is to lean on their experienced arms on the mound to win games. The veterans will be depended upon to help in the development of the newcomers. The Hawks will have solid starting pitchers with a couple relief pitchers who will help with stability on the hill. The Hawks will also have returning experience in most defensive positions. They will have a solid core of returning players with the hopes that the younger more inexperienced players will provide quality depth when their number is called.
UMES is currently not allowing its baseball program to start fall ball. The coaching staff and the athletic department will be reassessing the team after the labor day break.
The Hawks strengths for the 2021 season will include its returning pitchers who will provide experience for the younger players toeing the rubber. Dwayne Marshall, Marty Tolson, and Caleb Walston will head up the pitching rotation with Evan Nibblett, Derrick Rabb, Cameron Bratton and Cory Poulsen working in relief. Dillon Oxyer will provide talent and experience in the shortstop position, with Marcus Brown and Andrew Revels providing solid defensive play. KC Widdowson, Avery Tunnell, Brian Cordell (Black College Nines HBCU Baseball All-Elite 2nd team) and Brantley Cutler will be providing a great deal of experience in the outfield.
The Hawks will need to be solid defensively to keep the opponents off the board. The team offensively will need to continue to get timely hitting in order to win ball games.
Top Newcomers:
Mekhi Stevens – Catcher from Randallstown HS
Alec Greenblatt – Pitcher from Punxsutawney Area High School
Gary Hallmen – Pitcher from Baltimore Polytech HS
Alex McCoy – Pitcher from Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School
Zach Garcia – OF from Miami Southridge Senior High School