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High School Baseball Poll - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release: Wednesday (March 10, 1999) ARUNDEL H.S. NO. 1 IN EASTON SPORTS COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER (www.baseballnews.com) POLL TUCSON, Ariz. — Arundel H.S. of Gambrills, Md., which capped a 22-4 record last season with 15 consecutive wins en route to the Maryland state championship, has been named the No. 1 team in the first Easton Sports Original National High School poll of 1999. Arundel returns 11 seniors this spring, including a superb pitching staff. Coached by one of the nation’s legendary skippers, Bernie Walter, who has guided his team to eight state crowns and 11 appearances in the state finals — not to mention six consecutive region championships — many sports followers feel the ’99 Arundel team could be one of the strongest in years. Arundel was hitting on all cylinders en route to the state title last year. In the championship game against Patterson H.S., Arundel galloped to a 12-1, five inning "mercy rule" win. The team batted .400 and scored 67 runs in six playoff games. Several returning players excelled in summer and fall competition. According to Walter, this year’s pitching-rich team could be one of the more physical to come out of AHS. "Arundel players are 100 percent committed to the continued improvement of strength and conditioning," said Walter. "This excellent attitude and work ethic is what sets Arundel apart from the rest. Our players are willing to pay the price in advance — they simply wear down our opponents." Arundel was to begin its season on March 24.
Poll Notes…Moses Lake, Wash., No. 12, is from a small rural community with two possible first-round picks plus a third who may be drafted. The three — B.J. Garbe, OF/P; Jason Cooper, OF/1B; Ryan Doumit, C/OF — led the way for the 16-18 Babe Ruth World Series title. They accounted for 31 home runs in 24 high school games and 56 HR last season. Rich Hofman, who left Westminster Christian to coach at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., (No. 19) was surprised to see his new team romp to a quick 10-0 record, including a win over Southridge of Miami, Fla. Bellaire of Texas, coached by Rocky Manuel, returns seven all-district position players plus two outstanding pitchers — LHP John Gonzalez and RHP Matt Laird, who had a combined 20-3 record last season. (Top 30 Agate Follows)
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