Preparation and experience. According to C. Milton Wright coach Tony Blackburn, those two qualities are what puts Arundel over the top.
Those were the two attributes that drove Arundel to a 2006 state title, defeating Blackburn?s Mustangs in a thrilling, down-to-the-wire championship game at Ripken Stadium.
“They benefit from being able to play top-notch opponents all year long,” Blackburn said, giving credit to the talented teams in Anne Arundel County. “Not to take anything away from [Arundel], but you get better by playing better.”
With that in mind, Arundel should be playing at its peak all season long. With 18 county and 10 state championships, the Wildcats will get the other team?s best every game.
“We?re going to find out,” Arundel coach Bernie Walter said. “I know that we think we have a pretty good ball club. Anyone that beats this team, it?s going to be a real feather in their cap.”
Walter enters his 23rd season at Arundel with 626 wins. This year?s team returns some top-notch talent, in particular player of the year-caliber junior pitcher/shortstop Tyler Hibbs and slugging first baseman Shawn Pleffner.
Pleffner, who swings left-handed and throws right-handed, will play first base when he?s not on the mound. He?ll be a very strong No. 2 starter behind the team?s ace, Hibbs.
“He?s grown a lot, and put on about 15 pounds,” Walter said of the 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hander. “He?s really improved.”
Hibbs went 12-1 with a 1.21 ERA with 84 strikeouts to 18 walks in 75 innings pitched last season.
“He?s got great baseball instincts and he?s a competitor,” Walter said.
He was clocked in the low-90s on the team?s radar gun recently, while Pleffner touched 88 mph. Toss in left-hander Eric Potter, who throws in the mid-to-upper 80s, and the team has a formidable rotation.
“We?ve got three pretty darn good pitchers right there,” Walter said.
The field positions are shaping up, too, with the exception of some position battles at second and third base.
After playing at third last season, Hibbs will get a shot at shortstop when he?s not on the mound.
“We try to protect him at third base last year,” Walter said. “We?re going to give him a shot to play shortstop as much as possible. He has ambitions of going to college playing shortstop and pitching.”
While Hibbs hasn?t narrowed down his collegiate choices, Pleffner is destined for Tallahassee Community College in Florida – essentially a breeding ground for Florida State transfers.
The pieces are in place for another title run, and Walter?s concerns are similar to those of anyother coach at this time of year.
“We?ve got to stay healthy and we?ve got to play well,” he said. “You also have to have a little bit of fortune on your side as well.”
2005-06 CHAMPIONS
MPSSAA
» 4A: Arundel
» 3A: J.M. Bennett
» 2A North East (Cecil)
» 1A: Snow Hill
MIAA
» A: Calvert Hall
» B: St. Vincent Pallotti
» C: Glenelg Country
