harford 
BEL AIR, MD – One week removed from a commanding Region 20 tournament run, Harford Baseball is gearing up for its biggest challenge this season. The Fighting Owls outpaced Potomac State and Monroe College in a three-game stretch, outscoring their opponents 21-11 to clinch the NJCAA Division I Region 20.
Now, Harford turns its attention south as it travels to Florence, South Carolina to take on Florence-Darlington Technical College in the East District Championship. The best-of-three series begins Saturday at 11 a.m., with game two following after a 30-minute break. If necessary, game three will be played Sunday, with the start time yet to be determined. The winner will punch their ticket to the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The Fighting Owls (49-8) enter the weekend on a tear, having won 23 of their last 25 contests — a stretch that includes a 20-game winning streak. Despite the Stingers' impressive 25-1 record at home, Harford boasts a 23-3 mark on the road, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown between two elite programs.
The Stingers (49-9) got the better of Harford in their early-season meeting, claiming a 6-2 win in just the Fighting Owls' fourth game of the year. But that was then. This Harford squad has evolved into a balanced, explosive force — and one more than capable of flipping the script in Florence.
Balanced, Explosive Offense
Harford's offense has been nothing short of relentless. The team is slashing .334/.483/.513 with a combined OPS of .996 and features seven everyday players hitting .300 or better.
Ryan Albin (.392), Keldrin Rodriguez (.369), and Frank Adamski (.367) lead the lineup in batting average, while AJ Guiliana (.350), Rueben Livingston (.336), Jeremy Reyes (.331), and Yariel Rodriguez (.309) add depth throughout the order.
The power numbers are equally impressive. Four players — Keldrin Rodriguez (1.166), Albin (1.142), Adamski (1.085), and Livingston (1.003) — boast an OPS north of 1.000, making it difficult for any opposing pitching staff to catch a break.
Harford's aggression on the base paths adds yet another layer to its offense. The Fighting Owls have swiped 207 bases in 231 attempts, good for an 89.6% success rate. Albin (22-for-24) and Yariel Rodriguez (21-for-25) headline a long list of base stealers. Adamski (18), Reyes (15), Livingston (14), Keldrin Rodriguez (13), Ty Mercado (13), and Christian Elliott (10) all have double-digit steals as well.
Timely, Reliable Pitching
On the mound, Harford leans on a deep and dependable pitching staff led by starters Ryan Garcia and Liam Diehl.
Garcia has emerged as a top arm, logging 50 innings across 14 appearances (13 starts) with an 8-1 record and a team-low (starting pitchers) 3.24 ERA. He's tallied 63 strikeouts, issued just one home run, and limited opponents to a .235 batting average.
Diehl has been steady across the board, going 6-2 with a 3.97 ERA. He leads the staff in strikeouts (64) and has walked only 31 over 56.2 innings.
In the bullpen, Titus Shay and Ben Christine have been workhorses. Shay owns a 5-1 record and a 2.50 ERA, with 51 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 36 innings of work. Christine has gone 3-0, posting a 2.63 ERA while punching out 34 batters over 27.1 innings.
The Road Ahead
Harford enters the East District Championship as one of the hottest teams in the country. With a deep lineup, aggressive base running, and reliable pitching, the Fighting Owls are positioned to challenge Florence-Darlington — and potentially earn a long-awaited trip to Grand Junction.
Players Mentioned
-
#1
Ty Mercado
- MIF
- 5' 8"
- Freshman
- R/R
-
#2
Ryan Albin
- OF
- 6' 1"
- Sophomore
- L/L
-
#3
Yariel Rodriguez
- MIF
- 5' 9"
- Sophomore
- R/R
-
#6
Jeremy Reyes
- MIF
- 5' 7"
- Freshman
- L/R
-
#7
Keldrin Rodriguez
- OF/1B
- 6' 3"
- Sophomore
- L/R
-
#11
Liam Diehl
- RHP
- 6' 4"
- Freshman
- R/R
-
#13
Rueben Livingston
- INF
- 6' 4"
- Redshirt Sophomore
- R/R
-
#5
Frank Adamski
- INF
- 6' 1"
- Sophomore
- R/R
-
#25
Ben Christine
- RHP
- 6' 0"
- Freshman
- R/R
-
#29
Titus Shay
- RHP
- 6' 0"
- Redshirt Sophomore
- R/R
Players Mentioned
-
#1
Ty Mercado
- 5' 8"
- Freshman
- R/R
- MIF
-
#2
Ryan Albin
- 6' 1"
- Sophomore
- L/L
- OF
-
#3
Yariel Rodriguez
- 5' 9"
- Sophomore
- R/R
- MIF
-
#6
Jeremy Reyes
- 5' 7"
- Freshman
- L/R
- MIF
-
#7
Keldrin Rodriguez
- 6' 3"
- Sophomore
- L/R
- OF/1B
-
#11
Liam Diehl
- 6' 4"
- Freshman
- R/R
- RHP
-
#13
Rueben Livingston
- 6' 4"
- Redshirt Sophomore
- R/R
- INF
-
#5
Frank Adamski
- 6' 1"
- Sophomore
- R/R
- INF
-
#25
Ben Christine
- 6' 0"
- Freshman
- R/R
- RHP
-
#29
Titus Shay
- 6' 0"
- Redshirt Sophomore
- R/R
- RHP
