Baltimore reloaded this week before its game in Denver on Saturday night. The Bayhawks had three of the top five picks in the Major League Lacrosse collegiate draft held at Sacred Heart University on Wednesday night.
Coach Scott Hiller said he is concerned with his team adapting to the mile-high conditions in Denver. “Adjusting to the climate and altitude will be tough for a one-day road trip,” Hiller said.
“We know a lot about [Denver] because a lot of those guys played for Baltimore last year,” Hiller said. Benson Erwin, Josh Sims, Jeff Sonke, Trevor Tierney and Lee Zink were all members of the 2005 MLL champion Bayhawks. Erwin was the only player drafted away from Baltimore in the 2005 expansion draft; the others left in trades.
Denver Outlaws has started its first year in the league with wins over fellow expansion teams Chicago and San Francisco.
“Denver has got some very good players out there and we need to come out and play a very strong game against them,” Hiller said. “The key will be stopping Sims and Sonke; both those guys can make two-pointers.”
The departure of Erwin, Sonke and Sims form the Baltimore midfield has been a concern for the franchise.
After Baltimore?s win Saturday, attackman Tom Marechek discussed points the team could strengthen. “We need one or two good midfielders, maybe one defenseman,” Marechek said.
Marechek was close with his analysis. In the draft Wednesday, Baltimore (1-1) took four midfielders, two goalies and an attackman.
“We filled a lot of the holes we had on offense,” Hiller said. “We got bigger, stronger and faster in the midfield and that is want we wanted.”
Rochester chose Joe Waters (University of Maryland) with the first pick, and with the second pick Baltimore grabbed Virginia midfielder Kyle Dixon. Baltimore rounded out its first-round picks by taking attackman Matt Ward (Virginia) fourth and midfielder Bill McGlone (Maryland) fifth.
“Dixon and Ward are a little banged up from the season, so we are going to give them a few weeks off,” Hiller said. According to Hiller, McGlone and 13th pick and midfielder Brendan Healy (Maryland) will be in uniform for Saturday night?s game in Denver.
FLEDGLING BAYHAWKS
A look at Baltimore?s draft picks:
Player (Round, Pick, Position) College
Kyle Dixon (1, 2, Midfield) Virginia
Matt Ward (1, 4, Attack) Virginia
Bill McGlone (1, 5, Midfield) Maryland
Brendan Healy (2, 13, Midfield) Maryland
John Keysor (2, 15, Midfield) Hofstra
Greg Havalchak (4, 32, Goalie) Rutgers
Matt Russell (5, 51, Goalie) Navy
