Olney Cropdusters

The Cropdusters have made the playoffs in each of their first three seasons in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League. Photo by Tim Pruss. 

By Mahaley Wise

Head Coach: Adam Leader

2024: 17-19 (3rd in North Division, lost in play-in game)

First game: Wednesday, June 4 at Braves

The Olney Cropdusters are soaring into the 2025 season with a mix of exciting new talent and familiar faces, all poised to play key and influential roles on the team.

Adam Leader is going into his fourth year as head coach for the Cropdusters. He currently holds the position of head coach at Reservoir High School, where he has secured 300 wins. He has also taken his team to win the 3A state championship in 2014 and has won the Howard County Coach of the Year three times. His dedication and passion for baseball are bound to foster a positive, driven culture with the Cropdusters this season.

The Cropdusters finished second last season in the North Division standings with a 17-19 record. They were eliminated in the opening round of the League Championship Series after a loss to the Southern Maryland Senators. 

This setback has inspired the Cropdusters to assemble a powerful, well-rounded roster for this season. They focused on selecting strong arms for the bullpen, strong bats, and aggressive fielders who have a good vision of the game.

In the bullpen, Olney boasts a deep pool of skilled and talented right- and left-handed pitchers to choose from. One standout is Peyton Brannock (East Stroudsburg), who played for the Cropdusters last season. This spring, he appeared in 13 games, making eight starts, with a total of 39.1 innings pitched. He totaled 35 strikeouts and 19 walks, finishing with a 4.58 ERA.

Shawn Rosemond (Salisbury University) is another pitcher who promises to be a challenge for other teams’ batters. He received an All-C2C Honorable Mention ranking fifth in wins and fifth in saves. He won his season debut with 4 strikeouts and 1.2 scoreless innings. “I’m very excited to have the chance to compete with my new teammates as well as build relationships with them. I’m also excited to grow and face new challenges as a player,” Rosemond said on the Cropdusters' Instagram. 

A rising star in the Cal Ripken Sr. League is Ryan Bouma (Frostburg), who played for the Olney Cropdusters last summer. He has soared this spring season, appearing in 48 games for Frostburg. He finished the spring season with a .293 batting average with 46 hits, including a team-high eight home runs, 41 runs, and 46 RBIs. He also carries incredible speed on the base paths with six stolen bases in eight attempts. He will be one to watch this summer season. 

Another up-and-coming sophomore is Jackson Toberman, a new face in the Cropduster community from Gaston College. He concluded his spring 2025 season with a high .365 AVG. 

Flying under the radar as a freshman at the University of Maryland is Luke Keefer. Before college, he was ranked as the No. 10 player and No. 3 shortstop in Maryland by Perfect Game. He also received the honors of being a two-time UCBAC player of the year and a four-time All-County player. 

Andrew Kell (Salisbury University) is also expected to be a formidable challenge for other teams. He is eighth in on-base percentage (.484) in Salisbury Career Rankings. He was also selected Division III Player of the Year by Perfect Game. All these players bring a lot of experience, skill, and talent to the table. 

The Cropdusters' first game of the season will be an away game on Wednesday, June 4, against the Metro South County Braves at South County High School. Their home opener will be on Thursday, June 5, against the Bethesda Big Train.