The Final Score - FNP Podcasts

Kevin Kendro, FCPS Supervisor of Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Building on an annual tradition, Kevin Kendro, the supervisor of athletics and extracurricular activities for Frederick County Public Schools, stops by The Final Score podcast to deliver what's affectionately been dubbed The State of FCPS Athletics Address.

Kendro and host Greg Swatek review the school year it was for Frederick County sports as 10 teams and more than 30 individuals won state championships over the course of the fall, winter and spring seasons.

They also talk about big achievements away from the field as Carroll County Public Schools is set to join the Central Maryland Conference for the 2027-28 school year and girls flag football became an officially sanctioned varsity sport by the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association after starting in Frederick County in 2023.

What other big projects might be in the works for FCPS in regards to athletics? How do people feel about the CMC championship games? What's on the summer agenda leading into the start of fall sports practice in August? Kendro answers those questions as well.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy is back from his week of vacation. He and Greg wrap up the spring sports season for Frederick County schools and touch on all of the state championships. They also discuss the surprising success so far of the Washington Nationals.

State Champion Urbana High Girls Lacrosse

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After Urbana High School to became the first Frederick County team to win a state championship in girls lacrosse, the coach of the Hawks, Ryan Hines, his daughter, Josey, a senior attack, and Colby Johnson, a senior attack, are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

The trio chats with host Greg Swatek about the significance of the achievement and the significance of the breakthrough, finally getting past Broadneck after the Bruins had knocked them out in closely contested state finals in each of the last two seasons.

They describe the dramatic final minute of the state-quarterfinal win over Broadneck and how the team maintained its poise and determination and positive frame of mind when the momentum of the game had switched against them, potentially setting the stage for more heartbreak. Johnson describes what it was like to sprint the length of the field and score the game-winning goal with seven seconds to play.

The players and Hines also talk about finishing the job with victories over Perry Hall and Leonardtown in the state semifinals and championship game, respectively, and what the future holds now that they have achieved this remarkable feat.

State Finalist Urbana High Baseball

After advancing to a state final for the third time in the last four years, coach Mike Frownfelter, senior pitcher Evan Zarroli and senior catcher D.J. Staub are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Host Greg Swatek asks Frownfelter and the players if this is the season the Hawks finally get the monkey off their backs and overcome that final hurdle and claim their first state title in baseball. Weather permitting, Urbana is scheduled to face Dulaney in the Class 4A championship game at 4 p.m. Friday at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

Frownfelter and the players talk about why the team is playing its best at the right time — Urbana has outscored the opposition 25-2 in three playoff games so far — and why the program has been so remarkably consistent. Tuesday's 5-0 victory over Broadneck marked the Hawks' fourth consecutive appearance in the state semifinals.

They discuss a lineup that doesn't have any easy outs and a pitching staff that has consistently shut down the opposition when it has mattered most this season. They talk about what it's going to take to beat Dulaney, how previous adversity in big games has strengthened the team and what it would mean for all three of them to finally break through and claim that elusive state title.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss state finals week for Frederick County teams in baseball, softball and boys and girls lacrosse.

Andy Baker, Cory Godlove, Middletown High Baseball

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After Middletown High's baseball team won its third consecutive regional championship, coach Andy Baker and senior center fielder Cory Godlove are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Baker and Godlove chat with host Greg Swatek about the Knights' momentous and memorable 5-4, come-from-behind victory over Century in the Class 2A West Region I championship game. It marked the third straight year Middletown had beaten Century in a regional final.

The discussion centers around Baker's longevity in his job and the Knights' ability to pull through and overcome adversity. Godlove talks about being a three-year varsity player, a three-time regional champ and a state champ with the Knights back in 2024.

Baker and Godlove also talk about why this has been such a successful season for Middletown baseball.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the state playoffs for Frederick County teams in baseball, softball and lacrosse.

Angelo Torres, Gavyn Dodson, Walkersville High Boys Lacrosse

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After the Walkersville High boys lacrosse team won the Central Maryland Conference small school championship, continuing one of its best seasons in school history, star face-off man Angelo Torres and standout goalie Gavyn Dodson are this week's guests on The Final Score podcast.

Torres tells host Greg Swatek how he became a face-off man and the key to becoming a good one, while Dodson explains why he wanted to be a goalie and how fearless one has to be to play the position.

Torres and Dodson also discuss why this has been such a great season for Walkersville lacrosse, some of the most memorable moments and victories along the way and the key going forward for the Lions if they are going to seriously challenge for the Class 2A state championship.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the spring sports playoffs across Frederick County and the paths forward for some of the top state-title contenders in various sports.

Keivette Hammond, Frederick High Athletic Director, Maryland Athletic Director of the Year

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After being honored last weekend in Ocean City as the Athletic Director of the Year by the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association, Frederick High athletic director Keivette Hammond is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Hammond chats with host Greg Swatek about the honor and how it fittingly coincided with the state's athletic directors voting to make a sport she championed from the very beginning, girls flag football, an officially sanctioned varsity sport in Maryland just three years after its inception here in Frederick County.

She talks about the growth and impact that girls flag football has made on the high school sports scene statewide and the opportunities it has generated for young female athletes.

Hammond also talks about her biggest role models and influences growing up and how they helped shape her as a person, as a coach and now an athletic director. She also talks about how sports can be a great vehicle in the lives and young people and create opportunities for them that they might not have expected.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss girls flag football becoming a varsity sport in Maryland, two former Frederick County football players, Jalen Huskey and Cameron Dorner, joining the NFL as a draft pick and priority free agent, respectively, and the upcoming spring sports playoffs for Frederick County teams.

Dean Coccia, Linganore High Girls Lacrosse Coach

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After his team produced a momentous and unusual victory over arch rival Urbana last week, Linganore High girls lacrosse coach Dean Coccia is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Coccia talks with host Greg Swatek about the Lancers' 9-7 victory over Urbana, the two-time reigning Class 4A runner-up. Both Coccia and Urbana coach Ryan Hines agreed to end the game with 8 minutes and 35 seconds to play because both teams were severely short-handed due to the number of yellow cards issued in the game.

On the podcast, Coccia discusses why that decision was made, the way the game was being officiated and the gesture made by Hines in a game his team still had a chance to come back and win. How big of a victory was it for Linganore and how might the Lancers benefit from it going forward?

Now in his fourth season on the job, Coccia also talks about the growth and development of his young team, why it is having such a strong season and his overall expectations as the playoff approach. Can the Lancers contend for a state title in Class 3A?

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy stops in to chat with Greg about that unusual Linganore-Urbana girls lacrosse result, the pecking order on the boys lacrosse scene in the county behind Urbana and other happenings with spring sports around Frederick County.

Steve Melewski, Longtime Baltimore Orioles Insider

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Following the Frederick Keys' home opener this week and their big return to affiliated baseball, Steve Melewski, a familiar voice who has covered the Baltimore Orioles and their minor-league system for more than two decades, is the latest guest on The Final Score podcast.

Melewski chats with host Greg Swatek about the overall significance of the Keys being the High Class A minor league affiliate for the Orioles once again after a five-year separation. He talks about the home opener and the energy and excitement around it, as well as the upgrades at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium that made the return possible.

The conversation then moves to the parent club. How does he feel about the Orioles start to the season? What does he think of the new manager, Craig Albernaz? What will define a successful season for the team? And what might happen if they fail to make the playoffs or fail to win a playoff game?

Melewski also talks about his overall fondness for Frederick, enjoying his chance to come back here often to cover the Keys, and how his longtime reporting career began in this town.

Prior to that conversation, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about the Keys home opener and important games this week on the high school sports scene in Frederick County.

JM Sienkowski, Walkersville High Boys Lacrosse Coach

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During a week in which he faced his former team and his former player, Walkersville High boys lacrosse coach JM Sienkowski is the guest on The Final Score podcast.

Sienkowski chats with host Greg Swatek about facing Middletown, the Lions' arch rival and a place where he coached for many years prior to taking the Walkersville job. He talks about the awkwardness of jumping to the other side of the rivalry and how that move was received by family, friends colleagues and people on both sides of it.

He also talks about facing Middletown coach Dominic Ceresini, with whom he has a close relationship after previously coaching him.

Sienkowski talks about the good start to the season for the Walkersville boys, how he changed the direction and culture of the program and what reasonable expectations are for the Lions for the rest of this season.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports writer Alexander Dacy joins Greg to discuss what he is working on for the news side of the company, as well as the start of the Frederick Keys' season with the home opener on the horizon Tuesday night.

Chris Jenkins, General Manager, Frederick Flying Cows

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With Frederick's professional basketball team, the Frederick Flying Cows, in the early stages of its third season, the team's general manager, Chris Jenkins, is this week's guest on The Final Score podcast.

Jenkins chats with Greg Swatek about the new eight-team league the Flying Cows are playing in. After playing their first two seasons in The Basketball League and reaching the TBL semifinals last June, the Flying Cows joined the United States Basketball League, which was renamed 94x50 League through a fan vote.

He also talks about the team's intentional effort to become more local with a coach (Dan Prete) and players on the roster (Garrison Linton and Zach Thomas) who are from Frederick. Jenkins discusses how the team and the new league plan to grow, new things the team is trying this season, how it plans to dig out of its slow start this season with losses in five of their first eight games and his upcoming trip to Indianapolis for the NCAA Final Four.

Prior to that discussion, FNP sports reporter Alexander Dacy joins Greg to talk about his temporary transition to a news reporter to assist that side of the newsroom and some of the different assignments he has been working on, as well as his thoughts on the upcoming Frederick Keys season, which begins Friday night in Spartanburg, South Carolina with their return to affiliated minor league baseball.