Mount Carmel Baseball Tops in MIAA 'B' Conference

baseball coach Mike Naunton says his team concept is based in the "family and friend aspect of our program."

That cohesiveness and familiarity is among the main reasons the Cougars are 9-2 overall, with a 7-0 record in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's B Conference Black Division at this point in the season.

"My team has 13 players, and 11 them contribute regularly," said the 43-year-old Naunton, in his 19th year as coach and whose son, Tyler, is a sophomore third baseman for the Cougars.

"All five of our seniors played on our middle school team at Mount Carmel together. And the five seniors played together for Mount Carmel the last seven years. They also played for Essex Express and Baltimore Blue Claws together. Those are the summer teams that they were a part of."

Naunton has a career record of 210-174, reached the league's playoffs 11 times—the title game on four occasions—and earned an MIAA B Conference crown in 2001.

But Naunton will be the first to tell you that his program is more about his players and those around him than it is about himself. Others such as parents Mike Krannebitter Sr. and Noel Arciaga also coached the middle school team.

"My assistant coach, Gus Smith, has been with school for over 35 years, including every year with me. I coached the boys at Hamilton, a youth league in Baltimore City, with another assistant, Tim Pugh," said Naunton.

"Tim's played at Cecil Community College and with the Philadelphia Phillies' organization, and his son, Zack, is our right fielder," Naunton said. "Our scorekeeper and my No. 1 helper on the field, Jamie Puller, also coached with us at Hamilton. And his son, Kory, is our left fielder."

Naunton believes All-Conference player Mike Krannebitter may be the best defensive catcher in league—he has thrown out 80 percent of the runners this year. Krannebitter also has a .345 batting average with 12 runs scored.

"Mike is great at blocking balls and calls a great game," Naunton said. "He's our leadoff hitter with a high on-base percentage and is a team leader on and off field."

First baseman/pitcher Ian Arciaga is 4-0 on the mound with 17 strikeouts and leads the team with a .556 batting average and six doubles. The Coppin State-bound Arciaga also has a team-high 20 RBIs.

"Ian is a good defensive first baseman and one of our starting pitchers. He has good control and is our cleanup hitter," said Naunton of Arciaga, another returning All-Conference player. "Ian was in the top three in all offensive categories last year and is again this year."
 
Another balanced All-Conference contributor is shortstop/pitcher Salisbury State-bound Bobby Sanzone, who is batting .483 with 20 RBIs and three doubles. Sanzone also lead the Cougars in runs (17), stolen bases (8) and home runs (3).

"Bobby led the team in almost every offensive category last year and is in the top three this year," Naunton said. "His strong arm makes good plays at shortstop."
 
Another key contributor is second baseman Nick Malec, who is batting.333 and is second on the team in runs scored (7) and stolen bases (7).

"Nick and Bobby make a strong double-play combination, and Nick is our setup man on the pitching staff," said Naunton. "Nick bats ninth, but he is more of a double lead-off guy with his on-base percentage."

Center fielder Alex Hansford entered the week batting .440 with four doubles, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored. Nauton said Hansford has "played flawless" in center field.

"Alex is hitting for average, but he has shown power with a home run against Friends," Naunton said. "He has made some diving catches."

Naunton also credits Paul Lagaz for his strong defensive play as an infielder, as well as juniors Zack Pugh, Kory Puller and Evan Covalley. Covalley is 4-1 on the mound, where he has struck out 45 batters and walked only 12.

"Evan plays at third base or at shortstop when he's not on the mound," said Naunton of Covalley, who has a .379 batting average, eight RBIs and two doubles. "Evan bats fifth or sixth and has a strong average. He may be the best pitcher I have ever coached."

Pugh and Puller are batting .432 and .333, respectively. Pugh's six steals ranks third on the team.

"Zack is a strong-armed right fielder and the No. 2 hitter. He has been hitting for average and has good speed on the bases," Naunton said.

"Kory Puller is the starting left fielder and second baseman and has been a very consistent defensive player," Naunton said. "He's the team's hardest worker and he had two home runs against St. Francis."
 
Courtesy runner Jon Cieslak, "is a team leader in runs scored and steals," said Naunton, highlighted by a passed ball in a close play during a come-from-behind win over league rival St. Mary's.
 
Naunton's son, Tyler, has contributed solid play at third base, keyed by a diving stop on a squeeze bunt against Friends and and an RBI single in a critical win over St. Vincent Pallotti.
 
Eastern Tech Softball set for Showdown

Eastern Tech's Liz Bondarenko earned her fourth victory without a loss with last week's 15-4 triumph over Edgewood of Harford County. The senior right hander struck out three, walked one and yielded six hits.

Supporting Bondarenko, who has an ERA of 2.50, was senior first baseman Carly Wheat, who went 2-for-3 with a bases-loaded triple. Wheat also scored three times and had six RBIs.

In addition, junior catcher Alexis Peay went 3-for-3 with five stolen bases while sophomore center fielder Lindsay Meyers was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.

improved to 6-0 as a team in preparation for Thursday's clash of unbeatens against Baltimore County rival Lansdowne. Eastern Tech hosts Lansdowne at 10 a.m.

Track Meet Rescheduled

Last week's track meet featuring and Eastern Tech, postponed due to rain, has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday.

The field events, however, were completed last week, including the high jump event, during which Kenwood's Shannon Foster cleared a school-record 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches.

In addition, Travis Jenkins cleared 21 feet in the long jump, a 41-1 triple jump and a 5-10 high jump. Jenkins should finish first in the long and triple jump and third in the high jump.

Kenwood's Jake Kryglik Goes Down Firing

Kenwood didn't win its boys lacrosse game last week against Owings Mills, but it wasn't for a lack of effort.

Jake Kryglik scored seven goals and assisted on an eighth during the Bluebirds' 11-9 loss to the Eagles.

Josh Leese made 20 saves for the Bluebirds in a contest that was tied, 5-5, at halftime.

Eastern Tech Falls To Franklin in Boys Lacrosse

Sophomore attackman Bobby Walsh scored twice with an assist, senior midfielder Josh Cannella scored twice and senior midfielder Alex Goodman, senior attackman Rob Price and junior attackman Hunter Oleszcuk scored once each during last week's 8-7 loss against Baltimore County rival Franklin.

The Mavericks' record slips to 4-3 overall.

"In the face of a 6-1 deficit early in the third quarter, they never gave up when some other teams would have packed it in. But they fought like the warriors that I know they are," said Mavericks' coach Tim Scherer, who received eight saves from goalie Wyatt Almond.

"We came within one goal of tying it in the final minutes of the game," said Scherer. "I could not be more proud of how they handled themselves tonight."

Mavericks down Patapsco in Baseball

Eastern Tech's Chris Hook struck out 10 batters and walked four during last week's 10-5 victory over Baltimore County League rival Patapsco.

Tim Heim drove in three runs, while Nick McElfish went 2-for-3 at the plate with four runs scored for the Mavericks, who improved to 4-1 overall.