BAYHAWK BOUNCES BACK: Loch Raven's Coutland Sullivan (above) has won four of five games as a pitcher for the 16-and-under Chesapeake Bayhawks, who are 21-1-2.
Members of the 16-and-under, Perry Hall-based Chesapeake Bayhawks (above) include players from Calvert Hall, C. Milton Wright, Eastern Tech, Fallston, Gilman, Loch Raven and Mount St. Joseph.
by Lem Satterfield
Last month, Loch Raven of Baltimore County's Courtland Sullivan suffered an injury that was born out of success.
More specifically, the problem was the result of his double in the top of the eighth inning of the Raiders' Class 2A North Region title-winning victory opposite perennial Baltimore City power Poly.
The Raiders' junior had just nailed a solid hit to right center. But as he ran the basepaths, his left arm dangled seemingly without life at his side.
Time was called for the insertion of a pinch runner -- one who would ultimately score the game-winning run -- and Sullivan prepared himself, mentally, to shake off the injury.
Sullivan returned to his position at shortstop. He endured the searing pain long enough to help the Raiders shut down the Engineers for the regional championship.
As he walked off the field at game's end, Sullivan still had to deal with a tough issue that could affect his future as a player -- even though he refused to believe it.
"I didn't think much of it at all," said Sullivan, who made an apperance in one more game. "I thought it was just a one-time thing, and that I could play through it."
And nearly a month later, Sullivan has indeed perservered -- this, despite an MRI earlier this month that revealed a slight tear in his left labrum.
A 6-foot-3, 155-pound right-handed pitcher, Sullivan has continued to thrive, having been given permission by doctors to play the field and pitch.
Sullivan is 4-1 on the mound for the 16-and-under, Perry Hall-based Chesapeake Bayhawks. Winners of four of their five tournaments, the Bayhawks are 21-1-2, having suffered their lone defeat in the rain during their first weekend when the team lacked three key players.
In their most recent tournament, the Bayhawks went 5-0 to win the Flag Day Festival at Sports At The Beach in Georgetown, Del., with Sullivan picking up another win.
"During the season at Loch Raven, I didn't really get as much of an opportunity to pitch as I do now. I mostly DH'd," said Sullivan, who boasts, among his summer ball victories, a one-hitter accomplished during a tournament in Prince George's County's Upper Marlboro, MD.
"I've been able to concentrate on improving my pitching skills," with the Bayhawks, said Sullivan. "I've been able to focus on getting a lot better at it."
Even after suffering the injury during the Poly game, Sullivan took the field in the Raiders' next outting.
Sullivan started in left field for the Raiders' Class 2A state semifinal opposite eventual state champion, Kent Island.
In that game, Sullivan managed Loch Raven's first hit -- another line drive to right center. Again, as he ran, Sullivan's left arm hung limply.
Finally, in his next at bat, the anguish got the best of Sullivan. Following a swing and a miss, Sullivan was in agony, even as he finished out that game -- a season-ending, 2-1 loss.
Sullivan ended his junior year having batted .306, and, as a pitcher, going 1-0 with a save during a season in which he had helped the Raiders to complete one of their program's best efforts in history at 15-6.
Sullivan was among a solid group of players up from a junior varsity squad that had gone 13-1 a year earlier.
As a junior varsity player during his sophomore year, Sullivan had batted .537 and gone 2-0 on the mound with a 0.00 ERA. Included in Sullivan's victories was a one-hitt win over Woodlawn.
As a junior varsity catcher, Sullivan threw out five of nine runners. A versatile fielder, Sullivan also saw action at third base, shortstop and both left and right field.
He batted .306, and was 1-0 with a save.
Now, with the Bayhawks, Sullivan is beginning to hit his stride, yet again, even though he is not physically performing at 100 percent.
Among Sullivan's teammates are Calvert Hall's Ryan Welling and Rob Tune; C. Milton Wright's Brad Markey; Eastern Tech's DJ Williams; Mount St. Joseph's Zach Spahn; Gilman's Cameron Lauf; and Fallston's Taylor Nelson.
"We may not have the best players around, but we have the best team when it comes to having really good team chemistry," Sullivan said. "We all do things together, and we work hard, and that's what's kind of been the key to our success."
For more youth sports news and information, visit the DigitalSports Community Spotlight page.