BALTIMORE, Md.—The Maryland District of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States (AAU) has announced that Maryland RBI's Chris Cummings has been named the 2017 AAU Baseball Coach of the Year.

Cummings, who serves as the Maryland RBI head coach and pitching coach, guided the advanced skills development team to its fourth Maryland AAU championship since 2012.

Under his field direction, Maryland RBI’s roster of college, high school, and former high school players put together an undefeated season in the AAU Mid-Atlantic Wood Bat League.

“Words cannot adequately describe how honored and proud I am to have the opportunity to coach the Maryland RBI advanced skills development team,” said Cummings. “I am thrilled to have this wonderful experience in my life, and am humbled and grateful for this recognition.”

Among highlights of Maryland RBI’s championship season:

Maryland RBI's pitching, hitting, and fielding carried it to an 18-0 record earning the AAU Mid-Atlantic Wood Bat League regular season championship and No. 1 seed in the Maryland AAU 19U Championship Tournament.

Shortstop Jake Willis (Calvert HS, 2018) blossomed into the 2017 Maryland AAU Player of the Year. 

Catcher Jake Fedorczyk earned Outstanding Sportsmanship honors for the Maryland district athlete who demonstrated the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season.

As a unit, the pitching staff produced two aces: Salisbury University club RHP Scott Mudd (5-0, 0.70 ERA) and Garret Corry, 5-0, 2.20. All together eight Maryland RBI pitchers earned pitching victories and saves, including Alex Coull 3, Jake Hoyer (Towson University club) 2, and Fedorczyk, Willis, and Zach Gamblin 1 each. Billy Albaugh, Willis, and Corry each collected 1 save. 

The pitching staff combined racked up 18 wins, 1.76 ERA, .234 opponent batting average, 97 strikeouts (5.4), and four shutouts. 

Mac McGrath (Eastern University/Shenandoah University), .500/.651/.567; Connor Graham (Virginia Wesleyan University/Anne Arundel CC), .447/.585/.723; and CJ Cummings (University of Mary Washington club), .452/.574/.595, led the team in hitting.

Conor Cochran (.987), Corry (.974), and Willis (.962) led the team defensively (min. 30.1 total chances).

Albaugh, Coull, and Mudd were named to the Maryland AAU Championship Tournament All-Tournament team.

Maryland RBI general manager Mike Graham on Coach Cummings:

“On the field, Coach Cummings has established a culture of excellence that represents our sport with respect, dignity, and with class. Our student-athletes see how winning is just a byproduct of Coach Cummings’ expectation to work, to prepare, and how to respect the game and act with class.”

As coach at Maryland RBI, Cummings has coached 21 players who have played college baseball and signed or committed as well as four AAU All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans. 

Additionally, Coach Cummings was also named AAU Coach of the Year in 2015, member of the Collegiate Baseball League Europe Coaching Staff of the Year in 2016 and 2017 and Maryland AAU Coaching Staff of the Year in 2015 and 2017, and the CBLE’s Sant Boi Barcelona (Spain) Falcons Coach of the Year in 2016.

“I really enjoy working with student-athletes and watching them grow and mature as athletes and future citizens. I like the challenge of engaging young people and challenging them to reach their potential,” Cummings said. “I really enjoy the time I get to spend with the team and our coaching staff, but most of all I enjoy watching our players enjoy playing the sport we love."