Senators' Head Coach Scott Middleton talks with catcher Nate McHugh at the end of an inning. Photo by Brandon Lauchnor.

By Tim Wilcox

Three years ago, the Southern Maryland Senators formed. But that first year, they did not compete in the Cal Ripken Sr. League right away. Instead, the Senators – led by head coach Scott Middleton – were an independent team, playing local collegiate teams, including the Bethesda Big Train, as they prepared to find a league to play in. 

Middleton, a long-time friend of Big Train manager Sal Colangelo, said their relationship dating back to 2014 was helpful during the process of joining the CRSCBL.

“When we were trying to get into the Cal Ripken League, [Colangelo] was my first phone call,” Middleton said.

The Senators were accepted into the Cal Ripken Sr. League in 2023 and made the playoffs in their inaugural season. This summer, the Senators returned to the postseason, winning their first three games and advancing to the championship to face the familiar Big Train. Although Southern Maryland fell in the championship series to Bethesda, the season was full of success for a team in just its second season.

After finishing the regular season with a 16-20 record, the Senators earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. In the first round, Southern Maryland defeated the No. 5 Cropdusters 14-4 to collect the organization's first playoff win, just one year after falling to the Cropdusters in the same round.

In the semifinals, the Senators swept the top-seeded Alexandria Aces, who had made it to each of the last three League Championship Series, outscoring them 13-3 across two games. Starting pitchers Jacob Whiteman (Towson) and Wyatt Bunch (Longwood) each tossed at least five scoreless innings and earned wins in the series. Meanwhile, Nathan Brewer (Middle Tennessee State) tallied five RBI across both games to power the Senators offense.

Climbing to the championship proved another momentous step by the Senators, and it came after a change in philosophy. In 2023, Middleton rostered many redshirt freshmen, but ahead of this season he prioritized recruiting players with more experience.

“I was looking for guys that were getting playing time during their springtime season and it shows,” Middleton said.

Carter Groen (UConn) was among the players Middleton sought after. The right fielder hit .314 and totaled 29 RBI in 45 starts at Iona this spring. With the Senators, his success carried over as he led the CRSCBL with nine home runs and registered a 1.153 OPS in the regular season while earning an All-Star nod.

Players like Groen and Brewer, who each ranked top two on the team in hits and stolen bases, propelled the Senators development in their second season in the CRSCBL. The combination of a deep lineup and pitchers like Davis Rivers (Wofford) and Ty Harris (Brown), who each threw scoreless relief outings in the semifinals, gave Middleton more versatility on the roster.

“Any of the guys, I can plug in, whether it's for defense purpose or hitting, I could pop anybody in this lineup and they’re going to perform,” Middleton said.

In the league championship, the Senators’ matchup with the Big Train united a 10-year relationship between Middleton and Colangelo. In 2014, Colangelo was looking for a coach to help run Bethesda’s summer camp. Middleton stuck out for his strong ability to work with players.

Not only did Colangelo hire Middleton to coach at the camp, but he also became the head coach of the BCC Big Train – affectionately known as the “Little Train” – of the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League (MCBL). From 2014-2018, Middleton coached the “Little Train” and continued at the camp before the opportunity to coach the Senators arose ahead of 2022.

As the Senators got off the ground, Colangelo guided Middleton with the recruiting process and how to deal with an ever-changing collegiate summer team roster. The pair of head coaches were in constant communication.

“We talk non-stop about the league, how our teams can get better, and what we need to do better in the league to make it great,” Colangelo said.

Middleton credits Colangelo for a lot of his knowledge which has led to the Southern Maryland’s growth. Despite the Senators’ season ending with the Big Train winning their 11th CRSCBL Championship, there was mutual respect across the dugouts.

“To be able to do it with [Scott], I know how hard he works and how hard I work at it,” Colangelo said. “To be in the finals, it's not easy.”