Baltimore Sun 2024 All-Metro baseball: Spalding pitcher Jake Yeager named Player of the Year

Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro baseball teams for the 2024 season.

Player of the Year

Jake Yeager, Archbishop Spalding, senior, pitcher

Yeager was the ace of a Spalding rotation that had four starters commit to NCAA Division I programs before the season began.

The Cavaliers relied heavily on that pitching staff to win their third straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship under coach Joe Palumbo.

Yeager, a Maryland commit, led the way with five wins and a 1.25 ERA with 84 strikeouts, 22 walks and 0.89 walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) over 56 innings. Opponents batted just .138 against him.

“It was incredibly rewarding,” Yeager said about winning three consecutive titles. “I loved every second of being a part of this program. I wouldn’t have wanted to go out any other way.

“Our coaches talk about doing the little things all the time. That’s what really sets us apart. Whether it’s in school, having our uniforms perfect — shirt tucked, correct shoes, correct sweater — Coach Palumbo really pushes us to be better in all aspects of life, as a person and a player.”

In addition to Yeager, Spalding’s other Division I commits are Nathan Wines (East Carolina), Peyton Mamula (Maryland) and Brayden Robinson (West Virginia).

Yeager was ranked the No. 1 pitcher in the state by Prep Baseball Report and kept batters off-balance with his pitch mix, including a fastball that could reach 94 mph.

“When he is able to command his fastball at the top of the strike zone, it generates [a lot of swings and misses] and is his best pitch. And his curveball works extremely well off of that,” Palumbo said.

Now, Yeager is gearing up to pitch for the Terps, who finished last season 33-21. He’s excited to play for the local program and is ready for the challenges of DI baseball.

“I’ve been a Maryland fan my whole life,” Yeager said. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play there. The biggest challenge I think will be the level of competition. Everyone is elite at the DI level.”

Coach of the Year

Corey V. Goodwin, Poly

Goodwin led Poly to another solid season as the Engineers finished 17-4, won their fourth straight Baltimore City championship and advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals before losing to eventual champion Magruder.

The key for the Engineers was leadership. They had eight seniors, five of whom will play baseball in college.

“Five kids from a Baltimore City team signing to play in college is unheard of,” Goodwin said. “We are trying to make that the norm, it should happen all the time. At least, that’s my mindset.

“All of my seniors are going to college, which sets a precedent for those behind them. Our program is built on consistency, hard work and family.”

Goodwin is a championship-caliber coach who has won 14 Baltimore City titles. He is also an 11-time Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches Coach of the Year and the author of a book called “Falling in Love with Baseball in 9 Innings.”

“Our program is strong because it’s built from love and compassion for the kids,” Goodwin said. “It also helps that they have a coach who is obsessed with baseball and teaching the game. Over the years, we’ve always had good players, but the chemistry from this group was monumental. These kids played for one another and as a coach, I can’t lose when that happens.”

First team

Dylan Adams, Chesapeake-AA, senior, pitcher

Adams was a key cog in helping the Cougars reach the Class 3A state championship game, going 6-2 with a 1.80 ERA and batting .383 with a .921 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS), three home runs and 27 RBIs.

Nick Bilotto, Glenelg, junior, pitcher

The Gladiators reached the Class 2A state title game behind Bilotto, who went 6-1 with a 1.39 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings while allowing 21 hits, eight earned runs and 0.97 WHIP.

Colton Bordick, Boys’ Latin, junior, first baseman-pitcher

The versatile Bordick is a three-time all-conference player. The MIAA B Conference Athlete of the Year batted .464 with four homers and 23 RBIs this past season.

Casey Carpenter, John Carroll, junior, infielder

The North Carolina Wilmington commit led the Patriots with a .375 batting average, posted a 1.241 OPS and finished with five homers and 21 RBIs while batting .407 with runners in scoring position.

Michael Copenspire, Calvert Hall, senior, first baseman

The Rider commit was the state’s top-rated first baseman by Prep Baseball Report, batting .384 with five home runs, 36 RBIs and a 1.085 OPS.

Sam Houchens, Archbishop Spalding, junior, pitcher, outfielder

The two-way player was instrumental in leading Spalding to its third straight MIAA A Conference championship, going 3-0 with two saves on the mound and batting .436 with a 1.102 OPS.

Isaiah Jones, Poly, senior, pitcher

The Tuskegee University commit was considered one of the best pitchers in the Baltimore area, going 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA with wins over Bel Air, Linganore and Winters Mill.

Kevin Sevilla, Frederick Douglass, junior, pitcher-infielder

Sevilla led Class 1A with 91 strikeouts while picking up five wins and one save. Opponents hit just .239 against him.

Sean Williams, Severna Park, senior, pitcher

The Penn State commit was one of the most dominant pitchers in Anne Arundel County with a fastball that reached 94 mph and a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Nathan Wines, Archbishop Spalding, junior, pitcher

The East Carolina commit, a key player for the MIAA A Conference champions, went 6-0 with a 2.76 ERA over 43 innings while recording 56 strikeouts and allowing 22 walks.

Henry Zatkowski, River Hill, senior, pitcher-infielder

The Duke signee was one of the best all-around players in the region, allowing just one earned run over 40 2/3 innings for a 0.17 ERA with 74 strikeouts and a 0.467 WHIP.

Second team

Aziz Bishop, Towson, senior, shortstop

Leo Boehringer, Poly, senior, first baseman

Henry Carbone, St. Mary’s, senior, outfielder-first baseman

Noah Forman, Broadneck junior, pitcher

Will Haacke, Calvert Hall, junior, outfielder

Jake Hauk, Loyola Blakefield, senior, infielder-outfielder

Michael Hemelt, Patterson Mill, pitcher-outfielder

Peyton Mamula, Archbishop Spalding, junior, pitcher

AJ Mendoza, Perry Hall, senior, pitcher-shortstop

Nate Martin, Liberty, junior, shortstop

Wyatt Randolph, Gilman, senior, third baseman

Nathan Rodriguez, Calvert Hall, junior, pitcher-designated hitter

Arian Vargas, Archbishop Spalding, sophomore, pitcher