Gatorade on Wednesday named Hammond senior Travis Clark its 2010 Maryland Baseball Player of the Year.

The third baseman had a monster year for the No. 3 Bears (21-3), batting .456 with eight home runs, 35 RBIs and an .897 slugging percentage. He reached base via a hit or walk in every game this season.

Clark, who will continue his career at the University of South Carolina-Aiken, also was a top pitcher, posting a 5-0 record with one save, and a 1.98 ERA. He struck out 32 in 28.1 innings.
He maintains a weighted 3.07 GPA and volunteers locally as a summer youth baseball coach.

The award recognizes not only athletic achievement, but also academics and character on and off the field. Clark is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award, to be announced later this month.

-- Rich Scherr