Dylan's number retired at Severna Park; Former Oriole Sheets hired by Gilman; Former NBA star Williams to coach Towson Catholic.
Frederick banged out 11 hits and took advantage of its opponents’ four errors to coast to a 7-2 victory over Fallston in the Class 3A state championship baseball game, held at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.
The Cadets took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Eric Hayes’ sacrifice fly scored E.J. Logan, who reached third on a throwing error.
Fallston scored a run in the top of the third but had a potential rally thwarted when Taylor Nelson made a double play.
Frederick scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the third when Fallston pitcher Jordan Lozzi gave up three singles and a walk, giving the Cadets a 4-1 lead.
Jimmy Lanning earned the win for Frederick (20-3), giving up just three hits.
Fallston finished with a 20-2 record.
More Baseball: Severna Park dominates 4A final
Senior Dylan Taylor pitched a one-hitter to lead Severna Park to its first 4A state championship with an 11-1 win over Quince Orchard.
"To be honest, I was thinking about this game all day," Taylor told the Baltimore Sun. "Now, to be the first team at our school to win the 4A championship, we're feeling pretty good about it now. When we got that first hit and that first-run lead in the first inning, it made it a lot easier to pitch."
The Falcons had 13 hits, including five during a seven-run outburst in the fifth inning when they batted around to take a commanding lead. Junior catcher Alex Ramsay led the surge with a three-run homer.
Severna Park won the 3A state title in 2003 and 2005 under coach Jim McCandless, but moving up to the more competitive class made this year’s championship even more special.
"This is a group of kids who worked hard all year," McCandless told the Baltimore Sun. "They thought they could win it last year and got tripped up, and it only made them work harder this season as a result. This is very satisfying."
Taylor became only the second player in school history to have his baseball number retired when it was announced at the Falcons' spring banquet that his No. 17 would never be worn again.
Taylor went 9-0 this season. His No. 17 joins the retired No. 5 jersey, worn by Chris Crum, who was one of Severna Park's top hitters and undefeated pitcher for the Falcons' 2003 and 2005 3A state championship teams.
A special ceremony will be held next spring to formally retire Taylor’s number, where it will then hang next to Crum’s on the outfield fence.
More Baseball: Gilman hires ex-Oriole
Former Baltimore Oriole outfielder Larry Sheets has been named baseball coach at Gilman. He will also serve the roles of assistant strength and conditioning coach and physical education teacher on a part-time basis.
Sheets played for the Orioles from 1984 to 1989. He currently owns Larry Sheets' Players Family Amusement Center in Westminster, where he also serves as a hitting instructor.
Sheets, who spent eight years in the major leagues, was a part-time assistant on this year’s team which finished with a disappointing 2-16 record.
“During the 2009 season, the varsity and junior varsity teams struggled to win games,” Gilman athletic director Tim Holley said in a statement released by the school. “It was very clear to me that a new direction was needed.”
Boys Basketball: Towson Catholic hires Williams
Towson Catholic has announced the hiring of former Georgetown University star and NBA player Reggie Williams as boys basketball coach.
Williams, who was a prep star at Baltimore's Dunbar High School, coached previously at Prince George’s County and most recently coached Jericho Christian Academy to a 24-6 record this past season. The Landover school recently announced it is closing its doors at the end of the school year.
Williams, who played alongside Patrick Ewing on the Hoyas’ 1984 NCAA championship team that defeated Houston in the finals and was a star on Dunbar’s 1982-83 undefeated squad, will inherit a team which finished 17-13 and placed third in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and fourth in the Baltimore Catholic League.
Williams replaces Josh Pratt (98-40, two MIAA titles, and one city title in four seasons), who was told in February that he would be laid off from his position of physical education and health teacher. Pratt has accepted a job as teacher and head girls basketball coach at St. Vincent Pallotti.
Jon Buzby is the Maryland correspondent for MaxPreps.com.
