The Waynesboro baseball team has some unfinished business to take care of this spring after finishing one win shy of a trip to states last year.
The good news for the Tribe: They appear to have the pieces to go on another run this season.
We’re projecting Waynesboro to be the top returning team in the Local.News1 coverage area — which also includes Greencastle-Antrim, Chambersburg, Fairfield, North Hagerstown, South Hagerstown, and Smithsburg — as the season kicks off with games this week.
Greencastle, the 2023 District 3-5A runner-up, would love to return to postseason form after missing the playoffs last year, while North Hagerstown is aiming for a return trip to the MPSSAA 3A West I Region Final after making it to the big game last spring.
We’ll take a closer look at all of these teams today as we wrap up our spring preview coverage.
Below is a team-by-team preview for each of our area’s baseball squads:
Waynesboro Tribe
Coach: Travis Hardman
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: Waynesboro played to a 15-7 overall record last spring and won the Colonial Division with an 11-3 mark. The Tribe’s season ended in the District 3-6A third-place game with a 7-3 loss to Wilson.
Top projected returners: John Kahl (Jr., SS/OF/P), Blake Daywalt (Sr., P), Brett Powell (Sr.), Ethan Hotchkiss (Sr., 1B/3B), Riley Eaton (Jr., RHP/Util), Gunner Shifflett (Sr., OF/IF), Bryan Alford (Sr., LHP/1B/OF), Ryan Jenkins (Jr., 3B), Nate Nystrom (Jr., LHP), Brody Daywalt (Sr., 2B), Eric Knepper (Jr., C/OF), Bryan “Tank” Benedict (Sr., 3B).
Notable: Travis Hardman returns for his fifth season at the helm for Waynesboro after being named the Colonial Division Coach of the Year last spring … The Tribe graduated five seniors, including two Colonial All-Stars in pitching ace Mason Gochenour (1st Team) and Logan Clapsaddle (2nd Team) … Even with the loss of Gochenour, Waynesboro’s pitching staff should remain intact with a group that returns a wealth of varsity experience, including right-handers Blake Daywalt, John Kahl, and Ethan Hotchkiss, and tall southpaws Bryan Alford and Nate Nystrom, who stand at 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-3, respectively … Look for the Tribe’s offense to be led by Kahl, Hotchkiss, and Brett Powell, an Allegheny College recruit … Waynesboro has won three District 3 championships, with its last title coming in 1994.
Opener: Wednesday, March 19, at New Oxford
Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils
Coach: Eric Shaner
Division: Mid-Penn Colonial
Last season: The Blue Devils were 10-8 last spring, and 7-7 for fourth place in the Colonial. Greencastle did not qualify for the postseason.
Top projected returners: Carter McCauley (Sr., OF/RHP), Avery Horst (Jr., RHP/OF), Cam Niland (Sr., RHP/OF), JD Flynn (Sr., 1B/3B/OF/RHP), Jaxson Bostick (So., 1B/OF/LHP), Ben Horst (Sr., RHP), Ryder Linn (So., LHP)
Notable: After missing the playoffs last season, Greencastle-Antrim will be aiming to return to its 2023 form, when it finished as the District 3-5A runner-up and advanced all the way to the state semifinals … The Blue Devils will have to get the job done with a roster that graduated eight seniors, including Colonial Division Third Team seelction Briggs Remenick, who batted .339 last season and is now playing for Hagerstown Community College … Greencastle brings back two Colonial All-Stars in Carter McCauley (2nd Team) and Avery Horst (3rd Team) … McCauley, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound outfielder and right-handed pitcher, batted .327 with four extra-base hits and posted a 2-1 record on the mound with a 1.42 ERA and 19 strikeouts … Horst also pulled double duty last year, batting .382 with nine RBI, while also compiling a 1-2 record with a 4.14 ERA and 21 strikeouts … McCauley and Horst are the only returners in the lineup who batted above .300 last spring … While coach Eric Shaner tinkers around to find the right batting order, look for Greencastle to stay competitive with a deep pitching staff that includes McCauley, Horst, Cam Niland, Jaxson Bostic, Ben Horst, and Ryder Linn, a left-handed hurler who pitched 11 1/3 scoreless innings as a freshman last year.
Opener: Wednesday, March 19, at home vs. Delone Catholic
Chambersburg Trojans
Coach: Scott Folmar
Division: Mid-Penn Commonwealth
Last season: The Trojans posted a 6-12 record last spring, including a 4-10 mark in the Commonwealth for seventh place. Chambersburg did not qualify for the postseason.
Top projected returners: Evan Brown (Sr., OF), Aaron Vasquez (Jr., 2B), Wyatt Martin (Sr., OF/RHP), Ceagan Truett (Jr., OF/C), Kadyn McMullen (Sr., 1B), Tyler Foreman (Sr., 3B), Jacob Pyne (Sr., LHP/1B)
Notable: No high school baseball team has won more District 3 championships than Chambersburg, but the 11-time champion Trojans have struggled in recent years, with their last winning season coming in 2018, when they played to an 11-9 record … Chambersburg, which received the Commonwealth Division’s Sportsmanship Award last spring, lost eight seniors to graduation, including Second Team All-Star Joey Diaz … Evan Brown, a Third Teamer in the Commonwealth, returns for his senior season after batting .309 with seven extra-base hits, eight RBI, and four stolen bases … If the Trojans hope to be competitive this season, Brown will need help with offensive production from Aaron Vasquez (.260) and Wyatt Martin (.290), among others … Chambersburg graduated almost its entire pitching staff, with Jacob Pyne and Harrison Benedict, two players who combined to work 7 2/3 innings last spring, representing the only returners.
Opener: Tuesday, March 18, at home vs. James Buchanan
Fairfield Knights
Coach: Steve Bell
Division: YAIAA IV
Last season: Fairfield was 6-12 on the diamond last spring, and posted a 4-11 mark in YAIAA IV for fifth place. The Knights did not qualify for districts.
Top projected returners: Jayden Bell (Jr., P/DH), Stephen Higgs (Sr.), Riley Brown (So.), Jacob Liller (Jr.), Ethan Taylor (Jr.), Brady Cahill (So.), Eddie Eichenlaub (Jr.), Gavin Cramer (Sr.), Mike Petkoras (So.), Layton Wilhide (So.), Vaughn Lewis (Jr.), Chase Clapsadl (So.).
Notable: Following back-to-back losing seasons, Fairfield will be aiming to return to its 2022 form, when it posted a 14-5 record … The Knights lost a YAIAA IV First Team selection in Knox Deming, but they return two other All-Stars in Jayden Bell (1st Team) and Stephen Higgs (Honorable Mention) … Bell was brilliant on the mound last season, accounting for five of Fairfield’s six victories. In 34 innings of work, Bell posted a 2.68 ERA and struck out 34 batters … Higgs is back for his senior season after batting .341 with three extra-base hits, 14 runs, nine RBI, and six stolen bases last year … The Knights return several players who racked up varsity experience last season, including Jacob Liller (.275), Gavin Cramer (.269) and Riley Brown (.229) … Fairfield’s pitching staff returns a number of experienced arms, but will need a solid No. 2 behind Bell … Aside from Bell, Vaughn Lewis is the only returner who worked more than 10 innings last season. Lewis pitched 16 innings and posted a 6.12 ERA with 11 strikeouts.
Opener: Tuesday, March 18, at York Suburban
North Hagerstown Hubs
Coach: Justin Lewis
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: North Hagerstown played to a 13-8 record last spring, with the Hubs campaign coming to an end with a 4-3 loss to Linganore in the MPSSAA 3A West I Region Final.
Top projected returners: Ian Kelley (Sr., LHP/OF), James Ortiz (Jr., SS/RHP)
Notable: Getting back to the region final will be no easy task for North Hagerstown, which graduated three of its top players in Luke Bragunier, Luke Frazee, and Mac Stiffler … Bragunier (.492) and Frazee (.354) combined for 18 extra-base hits last spring, while Stiffler was an All-CMC Large School First Team pitcher who struck out 74 batters over 42 innings … The Hubs will be leaning heavily on returning senior Ian Kelley, a left-handed pitcher with a fastball that can touch 90 mph. Kelley has committed to continuing his career at Division I NC State next year … James Ortiz, a junior shortstop/right-handed pitcher, is also expected to lead the Hubs this season.
Opener: Friday, March 21, at home vs. Clear Spring.
South Hagerstown Rebels
Coach: Zach Frazier
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: South Hagerstown was 2-16 last spring, with the Rebels’ campaign coming to an end with a 12-2 loss to North Hagerstown in the MPSSAA 3A West I Region Quarterfinals.
Top projected returners: Ryan Ragland, Cam Kelley, Braydon Ocasio, Grant Louchery, Tyson Mangold
Notable: South Hagerstown won MPSSAA state titles in 1996 and 2003, but it’s been decades since the Rebels last had a winning season in 2008 … South Hagerstown recently got its first live action of the season in a scrimmage with Berkeley Springs (W.Va.) … In that scrimmage the Rebels were highlighted offensively by Ryan Ragland (1 for 2, triple, run, 3 RBI), Cam Kelley (2 for 2, double, RBI), Braydon Ocasio (2 for 2, double, 2 RBI), and Grant Louchery (1 for 2, run), while pitchers Kelley, Ocasio, and Tyson Mangold combined for a two-hitter over five innings with 11 strikeouts.
Opener: Friday, March 21, at home vs. Musselman
Smithsburg Leopards
Coach: Patrick Moore
Division: Washington County Public Schools
Last season: Smithsburg posted a 7-12 mark last spring, with the Leopards’ season coming to an end with an 11-8 loss to Clear Spring in the MPSSAA 1A West II Region Semifinals.
Top projected returners: Chase Sarber (Jr., SS/2B, RHP), Jaxon Teson (So., OF/RHP), Garrett Gibson (Sr., RHP), Eli Bowman (Sr.), George Mantz (So., 1B), Heath Githens (Jr., RHP), Issak Nunez (Sr.), Lucas McFarland (Sr.), Mythius Smith (Sr., C/1B/OF), Owen McFarland (Sr.), Ryan Darr (Jr., C/2B), Tommy Becker (Jr., 3B/SS), Trey Norton (Sr.)
Notable: The Leopards lose All-CMC Small School First Teamer Preston Githens, a player who batted .411 last year, but will have some star power spring in the form of Garrett Gibson, a senior transfer from St. Maria Goretti … Gibson was a monster both on the mound, where he posted a 7-1 record with a 1.83 ERA and 31 strikeouts, and at the plate, where be batted .351 with 18 RBI … Jaxon Teson made an impression as a freshman last season, showing pop at the plate and a reliable arm on the mound … Chase Sarber is also coming off a solid season as an underclassman, and the junior returns to lead Smithsburg in the middle infield, and on the mound.
Opener: Friday, March 21, at Thomas Johnson
