When Quince Orchard football coach Dave Mencarini watches his school’s baseball team, it’s easy for him to imagine.
Mencarini can visualize strong-armed pitcher Matt O’Keefe standing tall in the pocket. He can picture speedy center fielder Kevin Collins racing downfield. He can see power-hitting first baseman Mike Celenza sacking a quarterback.
But those are dreams Mencarini can play only in Whatif Park. The Quince Orchard stars are dedicated solely to their sport. In the fall, they pursue their diamond dreams in the Walter Johnson League.
“I told Matt and Kevin to come out and just return kicks,” said Mencarini. “They didn’t budge. They’re baseball players.”
And outstanding ones too. O’Keefe, Collins and Celenza bat 1-2-3, igniting the offense for No. 1 Quince Orchard (14-0). After graduating an outstanding senior class, including a pair of pitchers who went a combined 16-0, the Cougars didn’t enter the year stacked. But six weeks into the season, QO has proved itself the class of Montgomery County. Consider QO fully loaded.
“We have baseball guys. We have only one guy (Eric Price) who played another sport in the fall,” said QO coach Jason Gasaway. “Our guys play baseball in the fall and summer and lift weights in the winter. Playing all year makes them smarter baseball players. Their skills are a lot better too.”
Evidence was presented Saturday afternoon as QO smothered Gaithersburg, 13-3. The 10-run rule was invoked after Celenza went 3 for 3, smacked two home runs, and drove in six while senior pitcher Andy Moldawer improved to 6-0, limiting the powerful Trojans to five singles.
Last spring Moldawer was buried on the depth chart, getting 12 innings of mop-up work. A year later, he has a 2.14 ERA and pitched well enough to catch the eye of college scouts. Moldawer recently committed to Catholic University.
“I was kind of nervous, kind of anxious, really ready to show what I could do this year,” said Moldawer. “We have a lot of guys who can play. A lot of us have had to wait our turn.”
QO draws players from the Gaithersburg Sports Association youth program. It’s no accident that the GSA also feeds two of the other top teams in Montgomery County, Wootton (12-3) and Gaithersburg (10-4).
“My kids and their kids play together growing up,” said Woodward. “QO just has that swagger that they’re good and no one’s going to beat them. That’s the difference. Baseball is a game of confidence. They’ve got it.”
QO’s Big Four
» Leadoff hitter Matt O’Keefe (Salisbury) leads QO with 23 runs and 16 stolen bases. On the mound, he has a 4-0 record with a 2.09 ERA.
» No. 2 hitter Kevin Collins is hitting .373 with 22 runs and 13 steals. Next year, Collins will join brother Matt, an outfielder at Towson.
» No. 3 hitter Mike Celenza (Salisbury) is hitting .480 with four home runs and 27 RBI, all team highs. As a pitcher he is 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA and only two walks in 22 innings.
» No. 4 hitter Eric Weller, a catcher, is hitting .474 with three home runs and 16 RBI.
