Kulick uses clutch hit to win state title — and final 2018 ‘Prep Ballplayer’ honor

Ryan Kulick’s walkoff hit against Severna Park in the Class 4A championship game last Friday got the nod from our voters in the final “Prep Ballplayer of the Week” vote of 2018.

The junior, down to the team’s last strike, slapped a two-out, two-run single up the middle for Howard’s first state title.

That was plenty good enough to garner 61 percent of the more than 2,000 votes on our site this week.

Century’s Jeremy Lapp, the winning pitcher in the Class 2A state title game, finished second in the vote while Sam Grace, who starred on the mound for MIAA ‘B’ Champion Boys’ Latin, placed third.

I want to thank all of you for another successful ‘Prep Ballplayer’ feature and vote. The engagement between myself and Baltimore-area prep baseball fans throughout the season was amazing. From coaches sending in statistics to parents offering feedback to make this vote better, thank you.

To the students, schools and once again, the parents, who continuously voted and shared the weekly feature, we can’t thank you enough. You guys make this feature possible, and I’m still amazed by the voting turnout.

Finally, to the players: You rock! Your successes week in and week out made choosing weekly Top 3 candidates difficult. As the season went on, performances got better and better. So, thank you.

I’ve written it before and will again, there’s top notch baseball in Maryland and I’m looking forward to what next year’s high school season brings.