PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – A fresh season is about to be underway for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore baseball team, as the Hawks are primed and ready to begin a new campaign starting Saturday, February 18 in East Greensboro, North Carolina against North Carolina A&T with a three-game series. The series was originally planned to begin on Friday, February 17 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
 
After going 17-37 in 2022 under the guidance of head coach Brian Hollamon, the first time the Hawks have won 17 games since 2006, there are high expectations for a squad laden with quality long-term veterans and filled with competitive young student-athletes looking to make names for themselves.
 
"We've got some experience and depth on our pitching staff," Hollamon said. "I feel like we're going to be more mature on the field and I think that's going to pay dividends because they understand what we're looking to do."
 
The Hawks won't be able to rely just on their potential in 2023, as a new chapter has opened with movement to the Northeast Conference as an associate member alongside the remaining Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rivals who sponsor baseball – Coppin State, Delaware State and Norfolk State.
 
"Moving into the NEC – great – I'm looking forward to that," Hollamon said. "It's nice that we're going to be playing the MEAC schools as well, in the same conference. I do enjoy playing our teams, the teams that have been in the MEAC for as long as I can remember."
 
Down in the Dirt
 
With longtime infielders Nick Roets and Andrew Revels heading off to their post-collegiate lives, leaving holes at second and third base, there will be some new looks in the dirt for the Hawks this spring.
 
Shortstop Dillon Oxyer and his 170 career starts return to anchor the defense; the graduate student is expected to see time at third as well depending on the opposition. Riley Horner, who played second, third and short in 2022, will see an increased role at short during Oxyer's days at third and when others need a spell.
 
"We're definitely going to miss Andrew Revels at the top of the lineup," Hollamon said. "But I also feel we're defensively going to be in a good place. Depending on the game Dillon Oxyer is probably going to be playing some third base and Riley Horner is probably going to be playing some short."
 
At second, Luke Myers is the prime candidate to take over with his smooth glove – he filled in admirably last spring for Roets over 12 starts and 10 other appearances. Junior Anders Brown will also get the call on days to play second, making the move from the outfield.
 
"I'm feeling comfortable with Luke Myers (at second base)," Hollamon said "He played half the year there and really did a nice job. Anders Brown has transitioned to playing some second base. He's spectacular wherever he goes, he plays outstanding defense."
 
The two-headed monster of Marcus Brown and Alex McCoy both return to man first and pick up time at designated hitter. Brown brings his quiet leadership, McCoy brings his speed, they'll both be expected to bring the bats.
 
Behind the dish will be Kyle Cincinnati for most of the Hawks contests, the sophomore brought impressive defense in his first year while steadily bringing along the bat late in season. Junior Doyle McNew will help Cincinnati stay fresh during the 52-game season; the transfer brings a big left-handed presence for the Hawks to also see different looks in the lineup.
 
Picking up preseason Black College Nines – Large School Division honors at designated hitter, Ryan Howe will also don the protective gear to call games and grab his first base mitt as well when called upon. Gabe Williams will also see time at designated hitter after being one of the Hawks top hitters during offseason practices.
 
Carter Rieben and Ryan Davis will also be called upon, both have shown their defensive upside in both 2022 games and offseason workouts.
 
Observing the Outfield
 
With some shakeup in the infield, a much more consistent presence will be found on the grass as the Hawks return every outfield starter and role player from 2022. Hollamon will have the option of three lefties, two righties and a switch hitter to tinker his lineup with.
 
For the lefties, Brantley Cutler, Brian Cordell and Bryan Widdowson return, Zach Garcia and Jason Brown for the righties, and switch hitter Derrick Mayes II is back as one of the team's top spark plugs.
 
"Those six guys are going to be our outfield and they're going to be interchangeable at times," Hollamon said. "They're good defensively, I don't think you're going to find many outfields that are much better defensively. And they're going to bring a punch to the lineup in swinging the bat."
 
Cutler will patrol right for the Hawks and split time at designated hitter to keep his power in the lineup – he hit a team leading 12 doubles and was second with four home runs last season. Cordell can play anywhere in the outfield – he was a member of the Black College Nines "No Fly Zone" in 2020 and led the team with a .397 OBP. Widdowson provides defense across the grass, was second with a .385 OBP and proved he could take one for the team, getting 11 HBP.
 
Garcia missed much of last season due to injury, but is primed to return after a healthy offseason, offering a huge power bat. Speedster Brown was brought along slowly in 2022 but is ready to breakout in 2023 after showing continued improvement at the plate and in the field.
 
Not only will Mayes bring a presence to both sides of the plate to protect the lineup, but he also proved he could play anywhere in the outfield and can be a catalyst on the basepaths with his intuition.
 
Assessing the Arms
 
The Hawk pitching staff may be one of the deepest it's been in years, with proven starters returning, an experienced back end of the bullpen and impressive freshman ready to work those important middle innings.
 
A pair of Seaford, Delaware natives spearhead the top of the Hawks rotation in Evan Nibblett and Noah Covington.
 
Nibblett was one of the top pitchers in the MEAC during 2022, blowing away the conference with a 3.43 ERA and was 19^th in the nation at 1.40 walks per nine. He also earned MEAC All-Tournament team honors after coming out of the pen in relief against Coppin State.
 
Covington will return as the nation's complete game king, the junior tossed six in 2022, earned the first victory for the Hawks in over 800 days against Radford and ranked 13^th in the nation in walks per nine. He was also the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Male Athlete of the Year in 2022 for his efforts.
 
Behind Covington and Nibblett is a new, but experienced face, in Nick Gatton, a transfer from Hartford that will pick up the rock most Sunday's. Freshman Noland Genies is currently in the running to take over the midweek rotation role.
 
With the return of Blake Rebstock and noticeable improvement out of the pen from Caden Parker, the Hawks have confidence to keep games tight in the late innings. Alec Greenblatt will also bring experience after seeing time as both a reliever and spot starter last season.
 
There's an interesting set of young arms also waiting for their shot, lefties Porter Braddy and Kyle Speas will give the Hawks matchup options they haven't had in several seasons.
 
"Porter Braddy is going to be someone who we mix in as a starter and a middle relief guy," Hollamon said. "Depending on the week and depending on what guys are available, that will determine what we do."
 
New to the NEC
 
There will be several new teams the Hawks play in 2023, as moving from the MEAC takes conference play from four teams duking it out to an eleven-team conference. Aside from fellow MEAC members joining the conference, Stonehill has joined after moving up from Division II.
 
Sitting at the top of the conference last season was Long Island University, taking both the regular season title and the NEC Baseball Tournament title, this season they are picked to finish second in the conference to Central Connecticut State University.
 
"I don't think at any point we're going to be outmanned," Hollamon said. "It's whether or not we execute good quality baseball – fielding the ball, throwing the ball, hitting the ball, pitching the ball – those are the things that make for a good team."
 
Other institutions in the conference a Farleigh Dickinson University, Merrimack, Wagner and Sacred Heart. The Hawks were slotted tenth in the conference in preseason voting.
 
A big change with the new conference for the Hawks will be moving from four-game weekend series to three-game weekend series, allowing for more rest and more midweek games. Overall, the teams will see each other for one weekend series, a move from each team playing 12 times in 2022 with a smaller conference.
 
Sampling the Schedule
 
With three games in East Greensboro to start the season, the Hawks are scheduled for another 19 out of conference games.
 
"There's no doubt in my mind that we have the talent to compete with everybody," Hollamon said.
 
Following playing longtime MEAC member NC A&T to start the campaign, UMES plays a midweek against George Washington before hosting Quinnipiac for a double header and a getaway game. The Hawks have a history with the Colonials, but it will be the first time they have taken on the Bobcats in program history.
 
The next week the Hawks will host Manhattan and Lehigh for a weekend where each team will get two games of play. UMES last played Lehigh in 2019 to a 5-1 win and last played Manhattan in 2005.
 
After getting the first taste of NEC play against CCSU, the Hawks get a familiar opponent against UMBC in an almost yearly home-and-home between the two Maryland schools. It's then a drive to LIU for a weekend in Brooklyn, giving UMES a difficult start to the conference season.
 
As conference play progresses, the Hawks will also get five games against a former NEC member in Mount St. Mary's (MD) – two at home during midweeks and three during a weekend in Emmitsburg. In 2019 and 2020, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore went 4-0 against the Mountaineers.
 
The second midweek against Mount St. Mary's (MD) will be the only conference play break during a ten-game stretch after their initial meetings, heading to Connecticut to play Sacred Heart, then hosting Merrimack and Coppin State – a Wednesday hosting Navy ends that homestand.
 
A grueling month awaits the Hawks from April 14 to May 14, playing just three home games against FDU from May 5-7 but will have away games at Wagner, UMBC, Mount St. Mary's (MD), Navy, Norfolk State, Georgetown and Stonehill.
 
The Hawks finish out the regular season at home after the month on the road, with George Mason taking one last out of conference trip and longtime rivals Delaware State closing things out in Salisbury.
 
All About A&T
 
It's been a few years since the Hawks have met up with the Aggies, last playing in 2017 but with a long history dating back to MEAC days.
 
"It'll be nice to get back to playing A&T," Hollamon said. "Obviously, they made their rounds with the Big South and now the CAA but I look forward to playing A&T. It's always fun to go to Greensboro, it's a great place to go play baseball."
 
The Aggies bring back eight regulars back to the roster, highlighted by sophomore catcher Canyon Brown. The sophomore was a member of the Big South All-Freshman team last season, also grabbing honorable mentions for all-conference and was a three-time Big South rookie of the week.
 
Leadoff man Anthony Hennings also returns to the lineup. A contact hitter, Hennings put up a .335 average but walked just 13 times in 212 at bats. Other returners include Cameran Brantley, Caden Jackson and Cort Maynard.
 
There was a struggle from the Aggies pitching staff last season, with just one regular starter touching a 6.00 ERA who is now gone. Jaheim Brown is a leading candidate to be a workhorse for North Carolina A&T, behind him sits Daniel Carter, Jake Delisi, Xavier Mechum and Stirling Thomas. Carter is the expected Friday starter against the Hawks, with Brown taking the hill on Saturday, according to the North Carolina A&T baseball Twitter account.
 
In an effort to improve the staff, the Aggies brought in transfers Trent Simmons, Luke Brown and Connor Blantz. Simmons' two pitch mix slots him well in the pen, while Brown is reportedly starting the Friday game.
 
How to Follow

First pitch of the season opener is set for noon on Saturday with game two to follow, the getaway game for Sunday remains unchanged and is slated for 1:00 pm.
 
North Carolina A&T will be providing a stream via FloSports with a link accessible on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletics website, www.easternshorehawks.com. Live Stats will also be provided through NC A&T and updates are available via Twitter at @ESHawksBase.