Photo by Matt Ryan
Photo by Matt Ryan

Baseball: Carter Earns National, Local Coaching Awards

Baltimore County, Md. -- Knights head baseball coach Mike Carter has been selected as the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches' Maryland College Coach of the Year, and American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond NJCAA Division II Northeast Regional coach of the year for the 2018 season. 

Carter led the Knights to a 30-26 (.536) overall record in 2018, including its second Region XX Division II title in two years, an NJCAA Northeast District championship and a trip to the NJCAA Division II College Baseball World Series in Enid, Okla. It was the Knights first trip to the national tournament since 1992.

"It's a tremendous feeling to be recognized in this way after such a great season," Carter said. "I immediately think of everyone that has been involved from the beginning. So many people have had a hand in what we have been accomplishing as a program. Including student athletes, assistant coaches, administration, family and friends. You don't get these things unless you are surrounded by great people." 

According to its website, the mission of the MSABC "is to promote, unify and develop amateur baseball and its coaches, players and parents throughout the [s]tate of Maryland," and help players "develop academically and physically all the while learning the importance of self respect, discipline, integrity, teamwork and sportsmanship." 

The MSABC has a six-member executive board and awards are selected based on a nomination process, which is then voted upon by the membership, which averages 100 members each year. The award includes all Division I coaches from NCAA and NJCAA.

Founded in 1945, ABCA/Diamond has become, according to its website, "the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level." It is comprised of nearly 10,000 members over eight divisions, including all 50 states and 25 countries around the world. 

The ABCA/Diamond has a 42-member board of directors that ranges from high school coaches to those employed by Major League Baseball teams. Their NJCAA regional awards are given annual to the coach at the helm of the district champions.