Travis Clark is hard at work creating the next Wonderboy.

As a teacher's assistant in a technical education class at Hammond High School, the junior is afforded ample freedom to work on his own projects. His latest is using a lathe to handcraft his own bat from ash.

"We actually can use (them) for our summer league," says Clark, whose twin brother, Tyler, is making a bat as well.

Travis' bat won't be carved from an oak branch felled by a lightning bolt, as Roy Hobbs' was in Bernard Malamud's classic baseball tale, "The Natural," but it will undoubtedly have it's own charm, nonetheless.

Whether he's carving his own bat, trading equipment with opponents or taking a snack food road trip with teammates, Clark brings his own unique spin to the game of baseball.

"I love the competition, going out and playing everyday," said Clark, the 2009 Columbia Flier/Howard County Times Player of the Year. "Baseball players are a lot more obsessed with their sport than anyone else. We'll go out and play everyday and if we're not playing we'll go buy something for baseball even though we don't need it."

A sage economist, Clark sometimes get new gear by swapping.

"A lot of (players) around Howard County trade ... when they think they're hitting bad, just to get their confidence up," Clark said. "Tyler ended up using (a Long Reach player's) bat toward the end of the year and it got his confidence up and that's when he started hitting everything on a line. Two kids at Centennial had gloves I used to have."

Travis and Tyler Clark have played baseball together since they were toddlers. They used to hit balls over the backyard fence.

"If we hit it over the fence my father would say it was far. He kind of tricked us I guess because we really didn't know if it was far or not," Travis said.

For almost a decade, Travis pitched and Tyler caught. Now, Tyler plays first base and Travis plays third when not pitching.

"They're unbelievable to have on a team. Travis is very boisterous, he doesn't mind being the center of attention. They both want to make everyone around them feel good," Hammond coach Mike Lerner said.

It was a feel-good season for Hammond this year as the Bears won their first county title since 2001.

Travis Clark led the team with 25 runs, seven home runs, 14 walks and a .500 batting average. His on-base plus slugging percentage was an astounding 1.727. Tyler's OPS of 1.389 wasn't far behind.

"There are very few guys who want the ball at the end of the game, or want to be at bat. They do more than anyone I know. If they ever get nervous they don't show it," Lerner said.

Last year, the brothers were as recognizable for their Babe Ruth-like swings as they were for their Babe Ruth-like waistlines.

But in the offseason, the Clarks, along with teammate and pitcher Danny Wissmann, worked out with a personal trainer and cut out fast food and soda.

"I was about 230 last year and I'm about 185 right now," said Travis, who would like to add about 10 pounds of muscle this summer. "It was a lot easier to stay in games. I had a lot more stamina and I never really got tired during the season."

As a result of his sleek new frame, Travis was able to play a slick third base, making only one error in 99 innings (he made nine last year). And he was a bulldog on the mound. Adding a change-up to array of fastballs, Clark went 4-1 with a 2.50 ERA, striking out 36 batters in 28 innings.

The county title, and a 14-3 record, was the reward for the Clark brothers and shortstop Jared Christensen, who have been expected to carry Hammond since they arrived as freshman starters in 2007. But after being bounced in the regional semifinals this spring, they are still hungry.

"Now that everyone knows what it's like to play in the playoffs ... We all know what we have to do next year to make it to the state championship game, and win it," Travis Clark said.

Named to the Columbia Flier/Howard County Times All-County First Team are:

Pitchers

Jeff Crosswhite, River Hill senior. When the playoffs started, it was as if Crosswhite decided to make sure his high school career ended with a state title.

In the opening round, he beat Southern of Anne Arundel with a complete game, three-hit shutout. In the regional semifinals he hit a two-run home run in a 5-4 win over Calvert. In the state semifinal, he hit a three-run homer -- a towering shot over the scoreboard at Arundel High -- and pitched a complete game four-hit shutout of Parkside. In the grand finale, Crosswhite pitched a complete-game, five-hitter, striking out nine and walking none, to beat Eastern Tech for River Hill's first baseball state title. He also scored the walk-off run in that game.

Crosswhite, who throws in the high 80s, made only four starts during the regular season as coach Wes McCoy wanted to save him for a playoff run.

"Once the weather started to warm up, then his arm started to warm up," McCoy said.

He struck out almost 12 batters for every walk he issued (71 strikeouts, six walks) and went 6-1 with a 1.19 ERA.

Next year, he will play for Northwest-Shoals (Ala.) Community College.

Wes Niemela, Glenelg junior. A lefthander, Niemela went 5-1 with a 2.24 ERA and beat Atholton, Marriotts Ridge, Chesapeake and Harford Tech to send the Gladiators to the regional championship game.

He threw a complete-game, one-hitter against Marriotts Ridge. He also hit a home run in that win.

"He finished every game he started," coach Tom Thrasher said.

Niemela played first base when he wasn't pitching and led his team with a .390 batting average, .561 slugging percentage and 14 RBIs.

Danny Wissmann, Hammond junior. Since his debut in a Hammond uniform on opening day, Wissmann was the ace for the county champions. Using a pin-point curveball and a hard fastball, he threw six innings of one-hit, 11-strikeout baseball that day.

"Danny got the ball and never gave it back," coach Mike Lerner said.

Wissmann finished the season 6-2 with a miniscule ERA of 0.65, three complete-game shutouts and 58 strikeouts with only 16 walks.

"Having a left-handed stopper like that is huge," Lerner said. "He has more poise on the mound than anyone I've ever seen."

Catcher

Ben Bleyer, Mt. Hebron junior. Bleyer was the rare defensively superior catcher who also swung a scorching bat.

He caught almost half of the baserunners that tried to steal on him (eight of 18), allowed only two passed balls and did not make an error.

"He did a great job back there. What he lacks in arm strength he made up for with a quick release," coach Brian Culley said.

Batting cleanup, Bleyer led the Vikings in batting average (.451), doubles (seven), home runs (three) and RBIs (23).

Culley says that he naturally hopes that Bleyer puts up even better numbers as a senior, but "I'll settle for a do-over" of 2009.

Infield

Tyler Clark, Hammond junior. Clark moved from catcher to first base this season where he provided a big, sure-handed target. He made 93 putouts and let just one ball get past his mitt.

"All you have to do is throw the ball in the vicinity and he'll catch it or knock it down," coach Mike Lerner said. Clark is known for his patient approach at the plate (12 walks) and his ability to drive the ball to the opposite field.

He hit a grand slam in a come-from-behind, regional quarterfinal win over Patuxent.

Kory Britton, Atholton sophomore. A baseball junkie, Britton made sure to improve his defense after a freshman campaign in which he made 19 errors at shortstop. This year he made only five errors, improving his fielding percentage by more than 100 points.

"That makes a tremendous difference in terms of wins and losses," coach Kevin Kelly said.

Indeed it did, as Atholton won 11 more games this year than in 2008.

Kelly saved Britton's arm for the postseason. In a regional semifinal loss to Fallston, Britton pitched a complete-game, four-hitter. On the season, he was 3-2 with a 2.07 ERA, 26 strikeouts and five walks.

Hitting out of the leadoff spot, Britton batted .362, drew 10 walks and slugged .569 (five doubles, two triples and a home run).

Jared Christensen, Hammond junior. Judging by his numbers, but not his appearance or fielding position, Christensen could almost be a third Clark brother.

This year, he hit .481 with nine doubles, five home runs, 23 runs scored and a team-best 25 RBIs. He used a discerning eye to draw 10 walks. Christensen also has speed and he used it to steal seven bases.

Christensen improved his defense at shortstop this year, boosting his fielding percentage 35 points.

"That kid would be all-county wherever he played," coach Mike Lerner said.

Kevin Kratochwill, Marriotts Ridge junior. Last year, Kratochwill was the slick-fielding, sharp-hitting shortstop on the Mustangs' team that reached the state championship game. This year, he helped fill a need by going out of position to pitch, leading the team with 29 innings and five starts. Pitching was not his greatest skill, but he brought his competitive spirit to the mound and continued to shine on defense and with the bat in his hand.

"He's a fierce competitor and his competitiveness was reflected in our whole team," coach Paul Eckert said.

With above-average range for a middle infielder, Kratochwill made only one error all season. Along with second baseman Nick Marinelli, the pair formed arguably the best double-play combination around.

He batted a team-best .483 with 22 runs, seven extra base hits, 14 RBIs and five stolen bases.

Corey Mantanona, Reservoir senior. Known by his nickname, "Guam," Mantanona has stood out on the baseball field ever since coming over from the U.S. territory in the western Pacific before his freshman year.

"He's just happy to be on the field, always smiling," coach Adam Leader said.

Always chattering, as is the custom back in Guam, Mantanona could often be heard before he was seen. And though early on in his career he was known mostly as a curiosity, by his junior year his bat started to make the most noise.

This year he not only played his best defense -- he made only four errors at the hot corner -- but he also had his most productive offensive season. He batted .475 with 19 RBIs, 17 runs, two home runs and eight doubles.

"He takes 200 swings every night before he goes to bed off a tee in his basement," Leader said.

Mantanona, along with teammate Jake Saunders, will play for Chesapeake Junior College next year.

Outfield

Christian Laidley, River Hill junior. Laidley's single in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Class 2A state championship game drove in the winning run and set off the River Hill celebration. It was appropriate, because Laidley was the Hawks' best hitter all year.

"He's as close as you can get to a five-tool player in high school," coach Wes McCoy said.

Laidley batted .448 in the No. 5 hole, with team-bests of 30 hits (nine for extra bases), 27 RBIs and nine stolen bases. His speed also gave him great range in centerfield and his live arm became a weapon to cut down opposing base runners once he got the ball in his glove.

Tyler Steele, Reservoir junior. Steele was coach Adam Leader's most well-rounded player. He batted .468, smacked seven doubles and two triples and posted team bests in runs scored and RBIs (19). Patrolling center field, Steele did not make a single error all season. Still, he wants to get better.

"He is not happy with where he is, even though he did extremely well," Leader said. "He was hot all year. He's a perfect two or three guy because he's always putting the bat on the ball."

Brody Tennant, Mt. Hebron junior. In a game against Glenelg, Tennant fielded a clean single to center field and came up gunning for first base. The ball popped the first baseman's glove on a laser line just a split second after the Glenelg runner touched the bag.

Tennant, who can also play catcher, possesses a Howitzer for an arm, but that's not his only baseball asset.

"There's absolutely nothing on the baseball field he can't do," coach Brian Culley said. "He's the best defensive outfielder I've ever seen. Rocket for an arm, power, average and he can run."

He had six assists including stopping three baserunners at home and made only one error all season.

At the plate Tennant batted .434 with 20 RBIs, 15 runs, five doubles and nine stolen bases.

Designated hitter

Jeff Snyder, Hammond senior. Snyder, one of the few seniors on Hammond's junior-laden roster, set a great example for the team by using a veteran approach at the plate.

"He hits to all fields. He's 5-foot-nothing, 100-nothing pounds, he's not the greatest athlete, but he loves baseball and there was no way I could take him out," coach Mike Lerner said.

Snyder, a lefty, never gave Lerner a reason to even think about taking him out. He batted .481 with at least one hit in all 17 games this season, and 26 total hits.

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