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 has fueled the Eagles’ 7^^2 start after losing in the quarterfinals of the 3A East Region Tournament last season. — Jon Clements/For The Examiner','pp'))
Northeast right-hander Brody Kean (3-0) has fueled the Eagles’ 7-2 start after losing in the quarterfinals of the 3A East Region Tournament last season. — Jon Clements/For The Examiner
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - As Northeast senior pitcher John Hodges walked off the field after his team’s 3-2 loss in the quarterfinals of the 3A East Region Tournament last season, he had a hard time accepting his season was finished.
“Heartbreaking,” he said of the Eagles’ early exit. “We had a lot better team than what we showed.”
With all but two starters players returning from last year’s team, Northeast is determined to have a happy ending this season. The Eagles are 7-2 and have a chance to win their first state title since 2001 behind two stellar senior pitchers. But Northeast’s players realize nothing is guaranteed in an Anne Arundel County league that is one of the state’s most competitive conferences.
“If we play our game, I’m confident we can go up against anybody in the state,” said Adam Bolling, Northeast’s first-year coach. “If we don’t, it’s a different story.”
Hodges (2-2) and senior Brody Kean (3-0) have powered the Eagles, and Bolling said his team’s pitching depth is so strong he can choose from eight starters.
“We are competitive,” Hodges said. “We keep each other going.”
Kean was the star this past Wednesday, as he picked up a slumping offense with a nine-inning gem, allowing just a run on three hits and striking out six before junior right fielder Josh Emge’s double scored Earl Geoghegan in the bottom of the ninth to give the Eagles a 2-1 win over Severna Park.
“This is Northeast baseball,” Kean said. “You better watch out.”
On Friday, Hodges pitched well, but not well enough in a 3-2 loss to Arundel, as the Eagles’ offense struggled. Northeast has scored just five runs in the past three games after plating at least 11 in three of its previous four, including a 27-7 win over Southern on April 2.
“We just need to be consistent,” Kean said. “We had it in the beginning, we kind of lost it, but I think now is the time we’re going to start getting it back.”
But Bolling is confident his team is too talented to be mired in an offensive slump very long.
“Our bats have fallen asleep a little bit,” he said. “They’re going to be back around and we’ll be OK.”
avitelli@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:39 AM MST on Fri., Jul. 25, 2008 re: "Empty Diamonds: Baseball loses its mythic grip on area youngsters"
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4:09 AM MST on Fri., Jul. 25, 2008
re: "Trying to revive Little League in the District"
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5:52 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008
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10:43 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 24, 2008
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6:15 AM MST on Mon., May. 21, 2007
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8:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
JJ said: little league in da district, HA! You couldnt aford the security or the bullet proof vest JJ you're an idiot!
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Rudy said:
The press can help with this situation by doing a little research and helpiong to get the word out about the oppurtunities that have long existed in the District. There are organizations out side of Little League and Ward 2, 3 and 4. Babe Ruth Baseball League has, in recent memory, been a much more competitive league than Little League. There are 12 or more clubs that play in this league from almost every ward in the city. Some of these teams play in both Little League and Babe Ruth League. There are several clubs that have a very rich tradition in baseball, Such as, The Woodridge Warriors, Takoma Rangers, #10 B&G Club and others. Most of these organizations are comunity based and don't have the budgets that NWLL may have, but still produce a great product and create a positive program for the kids.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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JJ said:
little league in da district, HA! You couldnt aford the security or the bullet proof vest.
3 agree | 4 disagree
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Rob said:
It's simply amazing how the local press and the so-called baseball experts in the District continue to ignore and refuse to acknowledge the level and quality of baseball being played by the Woodridge Warriors Youth Organization (NE DC). For over 40 years, the program under the leadership of Mason Clark, has fielded baseball teams for youth between the ages of 5 through 16. While this season may not have been one representative of past baseball seasons with our younger teams, we still have a great deal of pride in the efforts of our kids and coaches. Although it wasn't mentioned in the recent Washington Post article, Manny Burris of the San Francisco Giants played for 3 years with the Woodridge Warriors. There have been many former Warriors that have or are currently playing at the high school and college level. All we read about is the baseball that is played west of the park. These type of articles seem more intent on dismissing or trivializing the baseball efforts outside of upper NW
11 agree | 4 disagree
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Ron W. Alameda said:
If you were to listen to the Korach broadcast, and ever hear the name "Oakland", I would be shocked. They refuse to acknowledge the teams home. They dumped Oakland, so Oakland's dumped them.
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I had previously written to you about the insufferable A's TV play-by-play guy, Glen Kuiper. He rarely focuses upon the game itself, with his constant emphasis upon trivia ranging from uniforms to fans' signs. I suspect that is because he knows so little about the game. When fans don't attend, they usually watch the A's on TV and because of the television delay, can no longer silence Kuiper by turning to Korach on the radio. Kuiper alienates fans with his yawning trivialities and monumental ineptitude. I believe Kuiper's manifest boredom with broadcasting the A's leads to fan boredom and thus contributes to the scant attendance. Get this amateur off the air!
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I didn't see any "carrying" done by Lebron. I saw someone who choked and struggled AGAIN when facing REAL competition (like last year against the Spurs). Lebron played HORRIBLY in the Celtics series. Everyone thinks Lebron has carried the Cavs through the playoffs the last several years, when the fact is that all Lebron did was beat the Wizards 2 years in a row without Gilbert Arenas or Caron Butler playing, and the first year they met he made 2 game winners while traveling. If he plays in the west, he wouldn't even sniff the second round of the playoffs.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
lebron the best player in the game? what a ridiculously inane conclusion. until he masters even 2 fundamentals of the game, let alone most of the aspects of basketball that kobe has mastered, lebron is nothing but hype. no wonder this statement is relegated to "random thoughts", because there is no cogent analysis that even remotely leads to the conclusion that lebron is the best player.
11 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't get it. He didn't really write this letter, but did he actually write a letter to all the GM's looking for a job?? Confusing??
13 agree | 11 disagree
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CHC Alum said:
Congratulations to the Cardinals! Now, if only they could transfer some of that talent to the football team and start winning the Turkey Bowl...
313 agree | 285 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Ryan Rivers is by far one of the best pitchers in the county,his mechanics and smoothness, will fool you.
480 agree | 324 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
how come there are no articles on calvert hall players in the area they are 32-0 they have beat carvel academy, st.johns d.c.,notre dame of virgina,and 5 teams from other states in the disney world classic. can they get some print thanks
356 agree | 333 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Jacobs is no doubt best pitcher in the state
431 agree | 358 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The score was 9-3 not 7-2 and STA also beat prep for the championship 9-1. Just cuz we didnt play St. Johns doesnt mean you can look past us.
347 agree | 366 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Albans has a good record, but who have they played? Their obvious DC competitors are St. Johns and Gonzaga. Have they played them? The premier private school is Notre Dame. Have they played them? How good is the IAC this year?
801 agree | 405 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Brady dominating on the mound. Best pitcher in state
629 agree | 402 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Good Luck to the Panthers. PVI has a great program!
410 agree | 384 disagree
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