Gary Williams will lead Potomac State this weekend as the Catamounts head to the 2009 Region XX Baseball Tournament in Wye Mills, Maryland.  Photo Courtesy: www.raymondburner.com

Keyser, WV- With quality teams top to bottom, this year's Region XX Division 1 Baseball Tournament looks to be as good as ever.

Potomac State College will open the 2009 Tournament on Friday when they travel to Chesapeake Community College in Wye Mills, Maryland to face Anne Arundel Community College at 10:00 am in the opening game of the tourney.

Potomac State has won the Region XX baseball title seven out of the last nine years, but was upended last season by Hagerstown Community College in the championship game by a score of 8-5.  Hagerstown eventually ended their season at the NJCAA College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The first two games of the tournament will take place Friday. Hagerstown Community College (37-15), the top seed, faces the number four seed and host Chesapeake Community College (33-13) at 1:00 p.m. That will be preceded by the number two seed Potomac State College (32-12) against the number three seed Anne Arundel Community College (32-15) at 10:00 a.m.

For complete Region XX Tournament schedule, click here.

The winner of the double-elimination tournament will then travel to the  NJCAA Eastern District Baseball Tournament beginning May 15 against the winner and runner-up of the Region X (North Carolina-South Carolina) tournament and the winner of the Region XV (New York-New Jersey) tournament with the Region XV winner hosting.  The winner of the District finals will advance to the 2009 Alpine Bank Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Potomac State went to three straight JUCO World Series in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and with Hagerstown's trip last season, the Eastern District has been represented by a Region XX school four of the last five years.

"There is no doubt that Region XX is one of the strongest baseball regions in the country," said Potomac State Head Coach Doug Little.  "The fact that all four teams in this year's tournament have 30-plus wins, tells you that there is quality baseball being played here."

Hagerstown looks to defend their title behind some quality arms in Spencer Cromer and Kyle Briggs.  Cromer comes into the Region XX Tournament with a record of 8-3, a 3.58 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings pitched.  Briggs has compiled some stellar strikeout numbers as well, as the sophomore has struck out 55 hitters in 63 2/3 innings pitched.  Also, a surprise for the Hawks this year has been the pitching of Garrett Harrison, who is 4-3 with 46 Kýs in 55 innings pitched.

The Hawks are led offensively by infielders Daniel Heatwole, who is hitting .393 with two home runs and 50 runs batted in, and Matt Greene, who is hitting .412 with seven home runs and 60 RBI's. Greene was one of the team leaders of last season's World Series team.

Despite being the one seed, HCC has a difficult opening game as they face the host school Chesapeake. 

"We have a tough draw in Chesapeake", said Hagerstown Community College Head Coach Scott Jennings. "Playing the host team on their field will not be easy.  Last year and the regular season means nothing starting on Friday.  Hopefully this group is up to the challenge. It doesn't matter if you hit .400 or .200. The only thing that counts is winning and advancing to the next day."

Chesapeake, the four seed defeated the fifth-seeded Garrett College (25-21) 8-3 in the play-in game last Saturday.  The fact that the Skipjacks are hosting the Final Four, gave them extra incentive for earning the last available slot in the double-elimination event.

"We've waited a long time to host it," said Frank Szymanski, who serves as both Chesapeake's athletic director and head baseball coach. "Obviously we wanted to be playing in it."

"We have the advantage of playing at home, which is a big benefit," said Szymanski, whose team has averaged almost 11 runs per game over the last six contests while going 5-1.

"We've gotten back to where we were in the beginning of the year where we're making solid contact, putting the ball in play, and having fun," said Szymanski of a team built more around balance than individual brilliance.

Four regulars:  J.J. Corriveau (.403, 23 RBI), Mike Liddell (.322, 29 RBI), Jesse Savage (.342, 17 RBI), and Michael Turner (.326, 38 RBI)  are hitting .320 or better with at least 100 at bats. And that doesn't include Mathieu Vallieres (.315, 28 RBI) or Derek Richards (.325, 21 RBI in just 83 at bats), who both have a knack for getting hits at critical times.

"We have miles to go right now," said Szymanski. "To this point, we also have a lot of players that have committed themselves to Chesapeake College and the program and given us everything they have day in and day out. We still have the post season ahead of us. We just hope our good play continues."

Anne Arundel comes into the tournament with some-out-of-this world numbers on the base paths.  Second-year Anne Arundel Head Coach Steve Ballance loves that his team is always on the move, especially since the Pioneers' home field is not conducive to waiting around for the long ball.

"The way our field is and the way the college game is, we aren't going to hit that many home runs," Ballance said.  "Our philosophy is to get singles and then steal second base; thatýs the way we are in our approach.  We recruit athletes with speed.  We have at least six guys who can steal whenever they want."

The numbers would certainly back that up.  Justin Robey leads all of JUCO baseball with 58 stolen bases.  Mike Scicutella has 40 and Britton Qualye has 29.

They are led on the mound by sophomore Britton Quayle, (4-3) who has 64 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched and Seth Bova who is 4-0 with 45 Kýs in 50 innings pitched.

Potomac State, who started the season 2-6, are led by sophomore shortstop Gary Williams who has 73 hits, including sixteen doubles, three triples and three home runs, 47 RBIs and 44 runs.  The Chesapeake, VA native has been hitting near .470 most of the year and comes into the Region XX Tournament with a .474 average.

"Gary has had a really nice season for us," said Head Coach Doug Little.  "He started off the season really well and has been able to maintain that pace throughout.  We hope he can continue to lead us in the post season."

Right behind Williams is sophomore second baseman Cody Dalton has 70 hits, including 11 doubles, and four triples, 41 RBIs and 55 runs.  "Cody has had a solid year, but I still think he is just starting to play his best baseball," said Little.  "I look for him to have a very good tournament."

Sophomore outfielder Dominick Hayes has 69 hits, including 15 doubles, 57 RBIs and 46 runs on the season.  Hayes who transferred to Potomac State from New Jersey Tech has been a solid hitter all season for Little.

"Dom is a really hard worker, and he has made himself a very consistent hitter."

The Catamounts, who are hitting at a .380 clip, good enough to rank in the top five in the NJCAA, have seven other batters hitting above .400. Along with Williams, Dalton and Hayes, Jason Lombard, and Josh Birthisel are hitting .400 or better.

Lombard, a Winchester, VA native has 13 doubles, six home runs and 45 runs batted in.  Birthisel, who didn't become a starter until mid-way through the season is hitting at a .413 clip

Sophomore catcher Kevin Griffin is hitting at a .331 clip with six doubles

and a team-leading nine home runs.

On the mound, the Catamounts will look to sophomore Eric Hinkle, (pictured at right) to lead the PSC pitching staff. The left-handed pitcher is 7-1 on the season, striking out 45 batters, walking 13 and allowing 18 earned runs on 57 hits.

"Eric has matured a lot since the start of the season," added Little.  "Early in the year he only relied on his fast ball, but now he can throw three pitches for strikes and can throw them in any count.  He really completes and wants the ball and has an energy that the other guys feed off of.  I'm proud of what he has accomplished and I think his best games are ahead of him."

After Hinkle, Little can turn to other pitchers with that have had big wins this season for the Catamounts.  Sophomore Paul Chenoweth is expected to start either game one or game two for Potomac State.  The Martinsburg, WV native is 5-3 on the year, striking out 30 hitters in 48 2/3 innings pitched.  Chenoweth defeated Anne Arundel earlier this season when he pitched a complete game effort when he struck out five and allowed just six hits.

Sophomore right-handers Andy Berry (2-1, 4.64 ERA, 28 K, 14 BB 42 2/3 IP) or Jonathan Hash could also get a start in the tournament.  Hash is 3-3 on the season, striking out 38

batters in 45 innings pitched. Little could also turn to David Higgins, Cole Hardway or Matt Moceri all of which have pitched well down the stretch for the Catamounts.

Little thinks this tourney will come down to execution.  "I really think this will be a great tournament.  I know Hagerstown and Chesapeake both have two or three shut down arms, and Anne Arundel really hits the ball and steals a ton of bases.  It will really come down to the team that executes the best.  I thought last year's tournament was good but I really think this year is the best the region has ever been.  We will certainly have our hands full if we hope to move on."