Baker to broadcast county games Veteran radio, TV personality will provide play-by-play on selected high school contests PREP NOTEBOOK Prep Notebook

Anyone connected with athletics in Anne Arundel County has most likely run into Wiley Baker at some point. Some might have heard him on the radio. Some might have even seen him on TV, and if not, they'll have plenty more chances throughout the year.

Baker, a fixture in county athletics dating back to his playing days at Old Mill High School, is broadcasting select games over the NFHS network after cameras were installed prior to the school year in stadiums and gyms throughout the county. While most athletic events in the county will be live streamed, Baker has been contracted by the county to provide live play-by-play for select events. The games can be viewed on nfhsnetwork.com.

"TV is my baby. That's where I grew up at Old Mill High School," said Baker, who has broadcast several games in recent years on WNAV Radio. "To really be able to go back to my roots means the world. I feel blessed and honored because it's really what I wanted to do. This is really a dream for somebody like me."

The idea to broadcast the games came about in meetings between Baker and county coordinator of athletics Clayton Culp. With the cameras now in place at schools across the county, it seemed like the perfect time.

"Our primary goal with this project is to provide access to fans who are not able to attend our events, whether that be a military parent stationed oversees or a grandparent who lives out of state or can't travel to games," Culp said. "We are very proud of the effort our student-athletes and coaches put in every day and look forward to this new tool as a way to further highlight their accomplishments across the county. Tied in with the new camera system, we are excited to work with Wiley Baker to provide play-by-play for select events this season, including most county championships."

Baker, who is celebrating his 35th year as a radio and TV broadcaster, has been on camera highlighting those associated with athletics in the county. He's been the host of Athletes N Action, a show that profiles a team from a county school each episode, and The Score, another show that highlights anyone associated with athletics in the county, since 2012. Those shows are available on the Anne Arundel County Public Schools YouTube channel, as well as the county's public access station available on most cable companies.

Baker, who is also a teacher and coach in the county in addition to his duties at WNAV, graduated from Old Mill in 1986. He was a three-time county tennis champion and is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. He's won two Associated Press Awards as Top Sportscaster in the Chesapeake Region (MD/DC/DE) for Year-Round Sports (2016, 2018), won the National Communicator Award as Announcer and Producer of the Athletes N Action Feature on AACPS-TV and YouTube Channel (2018), and was inducted into the Baltimore Touchdown Club Hall-of-Fame as Media Person of the Year in May.

"I agree with Clayton in his belief that every sport should be recognized," Baker said. "We are both excited about play-by-play contests being called on nfhsnetwork.com now and the great possibilities in the future."

In addition to Friday's Severna Park-Chesapeake football game, Baker has broadcast the Annapolis-Meade football game, the Broadneck-Old Mill football game and the Severna Park-Broadneck volleyball match. He'll broadcast two games each week, including the boys and girls soccer, volleyball and cheerleading county championships as well as a football playoff game in early November.

MCCORMICK HONORED: Old Mill football coach Chad McCormick was named the Ravens High School Coach of the Week for Week 2. The Patriots ran out to an early 14-0 lead on their way to a 28-12 victory over Broadneck on Sept. 13. McCormick was invited to the Baltimore Ravens training facility for a tour. McCormick also won the award during the 2012 and 2016 seasons.

PETIBON SELECTED: Annapolis resident Luke Petibon, a senior at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., has been selected to play in the 2020 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game. Petibon, the No. 4 ranked center in the Class of 2020 ESPN rankings, is committed to play at Wake Forest. The 13th annual Under Armour All-America Game is slated for Jan. 2 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

MUSTANGS TO PLAY IN INTERNATIONAL BOWL:Junior wide receiver Andre Jacobs and junior linebacker Darin Taylor have been selected to the U.S. U-18 National Team and will play in the International Bowl XI against Canada on Jan. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

KELLY EXCELS:Annapolis resident Finnian Kelly was one of only two Maryland players on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes 2021 team that captured its division at the prestigious Lake Placid Lacrosse Tournament.

Kelly, a junior midfielder at Archbishop Spalding, was a member of the FCA "Super Soph" squad comprised of players from eight different states along with Canada. Earlier this summer, Kelly was named to the All-CruitCast 2021 team based off his performance at the Naptown National Challenge as a member of the Annapolis Hawks.

Finn Kelly is the son of Chesapeake Bayhawks owner Brendan Kelly.

Caption: Sports

announcer Wiley Baker interviews Orioles relief pitcher

Mychal

Givens for 1430 WNAV before Givens signs

autographs for fans in Annapolis in 2018. Baker has been contracted by the county to provide live play-by-play for select events.

Wiley Baker will broadcast two games each week.

Jen Rynda/BSMG

Courtesy Photo