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Guru Grades

1. Quince Orchard

2. Good Counsel

3. Whitman

4. Damascus

5. Georgetown Prep

Avalon Black Knights

2009 record: 16-9

Players to watch: C/P Nick Testo, 1B/P Harry Klein, SS/P Josh Brunvoll, P/3B John Mason

Outlook: "We should be a solid team offensively, but need to find arms to fill the void of losing All-Gazette pitcher Bennie Sanchez, who is now pitching for NAIA Savannah College." — Patrick Duffy

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons

2009 record: 9-8

Players to watch: P Adam Levine, OF Matt Fiedelholtz, OF Casey Fitzgerald

Outlook: "We are moving up to 4A this year, so we have a lot to prove. I think that we have the talent and work ethic to surprise a lot of teams." —John Schmidt

Blair Blazers

2009 record: 9-11

Players to watch: C/1B Alex Egber, LHP Sammy Denenberg, LHP Peirce Marston

Outlook: "We should win more games than we lose this year and break our four-year losing record streak, but the intangibles are always health and the strength of our opponents." — John MacDonald

Blake Bengals

2009 record: 8-10

Players to watch: SS/P Tommy Cunningham, 2B/SS Taylor Miller, C Brian Battaglia

Outlook: "We graduated four starting seniors including the entire outfield, but our infield will be very experienced with three returning starters and another who saw considerable playing time as a reserve the last two years." — Steve Murfin

Bullis Bulldogs

2009 record: 5-14

Players to watch: 1B Harrison Farmer, C/OF/P Jack Simons, P/SS Kevin Tenebaum

Outlook: "I think we have a very good team this year. I think they are bonding more than they have in the past, which could be attributed to the off-season workouts. We have more depth on our pitching staff this year, which will help us immensely." — Brian Lumpkin

Churchill Bulldogs

2009 record: 6-11

Players to watch: 1B/P/OF Harris Fanaroff, P/C/SS Bryce Shemer, P/OF Jameson McGrane

Outlook: "Our strength is our senior leadership [but] in order to improve on last year's record, it will take a total-team effort." — Scott Blackwood

Clarksburg Coyotes

2009 record: 7-8

Players to watch: 1B Brody Milligan, 2B/P Derek Hall, LF Andrew Lyles, SS/P Palmer Scalzi

Outlook: "We have a very solid group of players and I look for them to take the next step and make a run in the playoffs." — Will Gant

Damascus Swarmin' Hornets

2009 record: 15-3

Players to watch: SS Ryan McGuigan, P Chris Betts, P Justin Razmic, P Brody Heflin

Outlook: "Our strength will be our seniors. They have a lot of experience. Ryan McGuigan is the best shortstop in the county." — Jim McManus

Einstein Titans

2009 record: 6-9

Players to watch: SS/P Bobby Stover, C Nicky McMillan

Outlook: "We're going to be very young. We lost a lot last year. It's going to be two seniors and the rest are all sophomores." — Mike Moreland

Gaithersburg Trojans

2009 record: 9-10

Players to watch: P/INF Nick Riley, P John Hallock, SS Max Heldman, OF Matt Monroe

Outlook: "Nick Riley is a pre-season All-State selection who is committed to Mount St. Mary's and needs to have a big year on the mound and at the plate for us to be successful." — Jeff Rabberman

Georgetown Prep Little Hoyas

2009 record: 18-5

Players to watch: P Rob Tatum, P Charles Zubrod, C Austin Richards, SS Mike Norton

Outlook: Not available

Good Counsel Falcons

2009 record: 11-10

Players to watch: CF/P George Smith, OF Kyle Porter, 2B/P Nick Trotta

Outlook: "I'm looking to get the whole thing. We have a very strong team from top to bottom. I have high expectations." — John McGowan

The Heights Cavaliers

2009 record: 20-13

Players to watch: 2B Elias Naegele, C/SS Sebastian Loria, P/1B Joe Kelly, P/1B Rick Kitchen

Outlook: "We are young and have a lot of new players, I think the team will be competitive in league play and the state tournament." — Brian Carroccio

Walter Johnson Wildcats

2009 record: 10-8

Players to watch: P/SS Robin Mowat, C Carson Kenney, P/3B/SS Mac Gill

Outlook: "We have 10 or so very good players and should be very competitive. I have some concern with pitching depth because of injury [but] I really like this team." — Kim Ahearn

Kennedy Cavaliers

2009 record: 1-12

Players to watch: LHP/OF Noah Gray, C/P/INF Richard Brandeo, INF/P/C Kyle Kozsusek

Outlook: "Our strengths are that the pitchers are more experienced and the defense should be better than last year's, but our weaknesses include no depth (12-13 varsity players), a lack of power in the lineup, and a terrible baseball field." — Pat Skellchock

Landon Bears

2009 record: N/A

Players to watch: C/OF Keegan Dolan, CF Cal Richards, LHP/OF Joe Barlia, P John Lewyckyj

Outlook: "We're excited about our team. We have pretty good team speed and several guys that may not have overpowering stuff but several guys who can keep us in games on the mound." — Drew Johnson

Magruder Colonels

2009 record: 7-10

Players to watch: OF Matt Luber, SS Andrew Daskalakis, 1B/OF Sean Weddell

Outlook: "We should have a good team this year. These kids have been playing together for a while and know each other very well." — Matt Avery

Richard Montgomery Rockets

2009 record: 5-10

Players to watch: SS Kyle Silver, P/OF J.P. Hoover, 2B Steve Kinderman

Outlook: "There's a good nucleus there and they're pretty dedicated baseball kids. We're hoping to turn things around." — Bill Wright

Northwest Jaguars

2009 record: 12-4

Players to watch: CF/P Nick Karis, RF Chris Rados, P Brandon Baker

Outlook: "I'm cautiously optimistic if our pitchers are going to be effective. At times [at early scrimmages] they looked good. It's just a question of finding the right rotation and our juniors who are coming up." — Matt Noble

Paint Branch Panthers

2009 record: 15-4

Players to watch: OF Todd Schultz, INF Colin Cox, C Alex Yee, OF Michael Bryan

Outlook: "It will be interesting to see how well this team gels with a mix of seniors, juniors and sophomores in the starting lineup. I know these guys are hungry to get some games under their belt in the 4A." — Tommy Rey

Poolesville Falcons

2009 record: 8-7

Players to watch: LHP/1B Drew Karlin, SS/P Jimmy Tyler, C/P/3B Tanner Werkmann

Outlook: "We're really excited. We have a lot of veteran leadership. We have 12 of our 15 returning from last year. It's definitely nice and we're in the 2A for the first time." — Ted Gardiner

Quince Orchard Cougars

2009 record: 17-5

Players to watch: P Brett Sliwiak, 3B/P Greg Price, SS Frank Barkanic, CF Tommy McCartin

Outlook: "I think we will be very solid defensively, with a lot of versatility at the plate and on the bases. Brett Sliwiak is one of the top pitchers in the county. How well we do will depend on who else steps up on the mound for us." — Jason Gasaway

Rockville Rams

2009 record: 7-7

Players to watch: C Chris Brown, SS/P Chris Osgood, OF/P Sean Van Gieson, OF/P Danny Moroney

Outlook: "We have some talent to compete. We just need some early success to get us going. That's going to be tough. We start out with five of our first seven games against 4A schools." — Farron Riggs

Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles

2009 record: 13-4

Players to watch: SS/P Max Nicholson, CF Steve Ruiz, C/LF Nathan Pauley

Outlook: "We're deep with pitching but all are kind of average. We have six left-handed bats on the roster. Our defense is good but needs to be better because the pitching won't dominate." — Terry Changuris

Sherwood Warriors

2009 record: 10-6

Players to watch: P Will Bouey, SS Brad Bolan, 1B Gary Mullings

Outlook: "I like this club; all depends if we're going to hit the ball or not. I like these guys. Most of the started last year as sophomores." — Billy Goodman

Springbrook Blue Devils

2009 record: 4-14

Players to watch: OF Connor McKnight, INF Jordan Haxton

Outlook: "I have a young team which will be tested right out of the gate. We need to produce offensively and improve defensively." — Kevin Andre

Watkins Mill Wolverines

2009 record: 4-11

Players to watch: P/INF/C Carlos Escobar, P/RF Simon Atnafu, C/P/INF Carlos Sanchez

Outlook: "We are returning one of the county's top hitters in Carlos Escobar, who batted .475 and had an on-base percentage of .580. We are looking to improve from last season, [but] we have a very tough schedule." — David Diggs

Wheaton Knights

2009 record: 5-11

Players to watch: C/P Miles Lieder, P/SS Lucas Bremerman, 2B Carlos Santana

Outlook: "We return all our pitchers from last year [so] I am looking for them to have more consistency. Overall we are more athletic this year, which I am hoping will help us generate more runs as well as improved defense." — Eric Zolkiewicz

Whitman Vikings

2009 record: 14-4

Players to watch: P/3B Michael Flack, C Danny Lee, P Reid Kellam

Outlook: "We need to find ways to score runs. I think we will have guys who can throw strikes when they pitch, and we will play good defense. I am not sure where the offense is going to come from." — Joe Cassidy

Wootton Patriots

2009 record: 13-5

Players to watch: P/RF Max Simon, SS Alex Kelly, P/3B Alex Hindman

Outlook: "We should be pretty competitive. We're similar to last year. We have a lot of pitching but we don't have anybody who can blow it by anybody, so defense has to be a big key for us." — J.D. Marchand