State champion TJ Baseball and Frederick girls, Oakdale boys champion track & field teams - a podcast by The Frederick News-Post

On this week's special episode, streamed live on Facebook, members of the three champion teams from the spring sports season in Frederick County share their success stories.

First, the Thomas Johnson baseball team chats with host Greg Swatek about winning its first state championship since 2002. How did senior outfielder Jack Maruskin feel when a fly ball fell into his glove for the final out in the Patriots’ 3-2 victory over Huntingtown in the Class 3A championship game last Saturday at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen? How does coach Billy Gross get his team to play so well in the postseason every year? What makes senior infielder Jacob Berry such an integral part of the team?

Then, the Frederick High girls team reflects on winning their second consecutive 3A team championship at the state outdoor meet at Morgan State. Could senior sprinter Jaida Smith, who posted record times in defending her titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as winning the long jump for the first time, scripted a better finish to her high school career? How did a willingness to step outside of her comfort zone help senior Hannah Meredith, who placed in the 100 and 300 hurdles, as well as the triple jump? And how does coach Rob Dixon plan to keep the team competitive after a talented group of seniors depart?

Finally, the Oakdale boys track team explain how its tremendous depth led to it winning its first outdoor team championship at the state track meet. What is coach Dave Lillard’s philosophy for building a team to win a state championship? How did senior George Stultz feel about breaking through to win the triple jump? What did junior Haran Nadarajah learn over the course of the season that led him to winning the 300 hurdles for 2A boys? Are the Bears poised for more success in the future?

The Final Score is presented by Players Fitness and Performance (PFP). All three segments were broadcast on Facebook Live and available to watch there.

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