Brady Afthim, Windham senior pitcher/catcher: As a sophomore, Afthim was known as a good-hitting, excellent-defending catcher. Now he’s a pitcher with a fastball in the low 90s and good feel on his breaking ball and change-up. He will pitch next season at the University of Connecticut.
Cody Bowker, Thornton Academy junior pitcher/outfield: An immediate standout as a freshman, starting in center field and hitting .317 with seven doubles and 14 RBI, Bowker will be Thornton’s top starting pitcher, with an upper 80s fastball and great command. He has verbally committed to Georgetown.
Sam Clark, Cheverus senior, pitcher/infield: Clark pairs with fellow senior Nick Giancotti, a left-hander, to form what other SMAA coaches predict will be the league’s best 1-2 pitching tandem. Clark, a right-hander, has committed to pitch for UConn.
Blaine Cockburn, Freeport junior pitcher: As an unflappable freshman, Cockburn pitched a seven-out save against top-seeded York in the 2019 Class B South title game and had a 0.00 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. Now he’s bigger and stronger, and has verbally committed to UMaine.
Nic Frink, Scarborough junior catcher/pitcher: A starter as a freshman, Frink hit .275 with five doubles, a triple and one home run while tying for the team lead with 13 RBI. Ranked as the top Class of 2022 prospect in Maine by scouting service Perfect Game because of his power hitting, Frink is undecided on college plans.
Josh Gennaro, York senior pitcher: As a sophomore, Gennaro moved into the starting rotation in midseason and went 4-0 with a 1.52 ERA in 23 innings for the Wildcats, who advanced to the 2019 Class B South final in a 16-3 season.
Justin Gould, Sanford junior pitcher/outfield: A second-team all-SMAA choice as a freshman after hitting .383, Gould also picked up two of the Spartans’ four wins on the mound and is one of four key returners for a team expected to improve.
Will Harriman, Biddeford senior pitcher: As a sophomore, Harriman was thrust into the ace role and showed a mature command of the strike zone while going 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 43 2/3 innings. He is planning to play basketball and baseball at UMaine-Farmington.
Jacob Humphrey, Bonny Eagle senior infield: He’s been a starter since his freshman season and was an SMAA first-team and all-defensive pick as a sophomore. Athletic and consistent in the field with good bat control, Humphrey has signed to play at Division I UMass Lowell.
Zach Johnston, Greely junior pitcher: The slender 6-foot-3 left-hander has yet to throw a varsity pitch but has verbally committed to the University of Maryland, a Big Ten program. Johnston has a moving fastball, sharp slider and bat-freezing curve.
Sam Kidder, Falmouth senior center field: Falmouth Coach Mike D’Andrea described Kidder as a five-tool player with the rare combination of power, strength and speed. A first-team SMAA pick as a sophomore, Kidder has signed to play at Division II Stonehill College.
Ty Knowlton, Morse senior catcher: The top player in Coach Niko Ruiz’s improving program, the hard-working 6-foot, 210-pound Knowlton has committed to Husson University. He has added power since hitting .296 with four doubles, a homer and 10 RBI in Morse’s 10-8 season in 2019.
Ryan Kolben, Greely junior catcher: Solidly built at 6-1, 195 pounds, Kolben has explosive quickness and a natural poise behind the plate, and the ability to hit for power. He saw limited varsity time as a freshman but has verbally committed to the University of Massachusetts.
TJ Liponis, Scarborough junior shortstop: As the every day shortstop as a freshman on the 2019 Class A state championship team, Liponis hit .296 with 10 RBI and 13 runs scored. Like Frink, he is undecided on college plans, but is considered a Division I prospect.
Oliver Leonard, Kennebunk senior pitcher/infield: As a sophomore, Leonard logged 44 1/3 innings with a 2-2 record and solid 2.05 ERA. He’ll also play the corner infield spots before moving on to pitch for Division II Shepherd University in West Virginia.
Chris Morton, Noble junior pitcher: The Knights had consecutive .500 seasons in the rugged SMAA in 2018 and 2019, and Morton will be the key to another solid campaign. He can hit with power and throw in the low 80s.
Brady Nolin, Greely senior center field/pitcher: Greely Coach Derek Soule calls Nolin “probably a top-10 player in the state” in part because he can play all nine positions. He hit .388 with seven doubles, a homer and 13 RBI in 2019 and will play next year at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.
Anthony Panciocco, Freeport senior shortstop/pitcher: The top returning hitter for the 2019 Class B South champions, he is also a key pitcher. As a sophomore, Panciocco hit .397 with 23 RBI and scored 14 runs while going 4-1 with a 2.80 ERA on the mound.
Kyle Skolfield, Gorham junior pitcher: While classmate Colin McDonald has committed to pitch for the Univeristy of Maine, Skolfield has the varsity experience. As a freshman, he went 3-3 with a sterling 1.02 ERA, allowing only 31 hits and 10 walks in 41 innings while striking out 34.
Jack St. Laurent, Massabesic senior pitcher/first base: Another player who has committed to play at UMaine, St. Laurent is a 6-foot-3 left-hander with a fastball in the mid- to upper-80s, an above-average breaking ball and nice change-up.
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