David Keiling will lead the Lancers as the new varsity baseball coach. Keiling played baseball and wrestled for Linganore, graduating in 2004. He went on to West Virginia University but did not play any sports in college. He has coached at Middletown High School for the past five years as an assistant on the JV and varsity teams. He is also a physical education teacher at West Frederick Middle School. Physical education teacher and former varsity coach Chris O’Connor resigned from coaching at the end of last year’s season.

Keiling says, “I knew very early that I wanted to coach.” Coach Richard Connor, the current football coach for Linganore, was a major influence on him to become a P.E. teacher and a coach. Linganore had a mediocre finish at the end of last year with a record of 8-12, so Coach Keiling hopes to improve the team’s performance. “We have the players that want to put in the time to get better, and I am here to point them in the right direction.”

Senior Garrett Wiles has been one of the varsity team’s top pitchers since his sophomore year. He is expected to be the team’s ace this upcoming year and will be a leader for the team throughout the season.

Wiles said the team was “worried” when Coach O’Connor resigned because they had bonded under their coach and would have to regain that chemistry with their new coach. “I would like to see better dedication every day from everybody,” said Wiles.

The team lost 5 starters from last year to graduation. They will have to deal with powerhouses like Catoctin, Middletown, and Walkersville this season.