A message from Head Coach, Ed Lynch

a messege from late founder, Ed Lynch

I request that all parents of Maryland Legends and Lady Dukes players take time and read "THE MATHENY MANIFESTO." The manifesto was initially written in 2009, and I wish I had written it. Most of the points made in this article are systems and methodologies that have guided our program for years. Sometimes, it isn't easy to hear your son or daughter's name, as we bellow comments. Understand that this program has a thirty-year track record of success.

Read the entire manifesto to maximize your experience with the Maryland Legends and Lady Dukes. As a family, you will spend many hours with your child attending practice, games, and the many events surrounding baseball and softball. Please read the entire message and reflect on the many powerful statements within. Understand that the program is geared toward your son or daughter and not you (the parent).

We am very blessed to have the second-generation players return to our program. We are blessed to have many families with multiple children on our teams, even some with four children. We are confident about our methods and systems that guide us, and the Matheny Manifesto explains many of them.

Thank you, and please take the time to really reflect on the message.

Thank you,

Ed Lynch

MATHENY MANIFESTO

Ed Lynch - Late founder of the maryland legends and lady dukes

october 7, 1956 - May 5, 2024

Born and raised in Cecil County, Maryland, he attended Rising Sun High School and Cecil College. Ed was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a catcher and power hitter. After his professional career, he returned to Cecil County to give back to the young athletes in the area and share the experiences he had and what he learned. He coached a local semi-pro team, called the Johnnies, for many years, coached the Rising Sun High School softball team in the late 90s, taking them to 2 State Championships and formed the Maryland Legends shortly after that. Almost 30 years later, the Legends organization has grown tremendously and is thriving. Ed's goal was not to strive to win trophies, but to help each athlete become the best player they can be. His trophies were when players got scholarships to attend college and play the sport they love! See the scholarship recipient page for the extensive list of athletes that have reached that goal with the help of Ed and the Maryland Legends/Lady Dukes organization.

Meet The Coaches

Eric Buckland — Elkton, MD — Maryland Legends Baseball

Eric Buckland - MARYLAND LEGENDS PITCHING COACH

Eric is local to northern Delaware, attending school at Caravel Academy and playing Division 1 baseball at University of Delaware. He was drafted by the Phillies organization as a pitcher. After his professional career, he returned to the tri-state area to give back to the youth of the area. He started his own baseball training business, called Hardball Factory. Eric now operates Hardball Factory from our indoor facility and is a pitching coach for the Legends organization as well as training professional pitchers in their off-season.

Shelly (Mendez) Farris — Elkton, MD — Maryland Legends Baseball

Shelly (MENDEZ) Farris - LADY DUKES PITCHING COACH

Shelly is from northern Delaware, she attended St. Marks High School and played JUCO softball for Delaware Technical Institute. She led her team to 2 undefeated seasons, while having pitched 2 perfect games and appearing in the National tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. She gained nationwide exposure, earned regional MVP honors and quickly became a recognized student athlete. She was offered many scholarships to continue her collegiate career but instead declined in order to pursue her future (now current) career as a nuclear medicine technologist. Shelly had a passion for softball, like the rest of us, and as her 2 daughters started playing she, of course, started coaching. She is a certified Tincher Pitching Instructor, which she learned of from her daughter's pitching coach as they were growing up. Both her daughters are now pitching at Division 1 West Point University.

Coach — Elkton, MD — Maryland Legends Baseball

Kristi May Wyatt - executive director and recruiting coach

Kristi has been a part of the Maryland Legends and Lady Dukes organization since 2015, when her son joined the team at 10 years old. She is from just outside of Cecil County, in Chester County, PA. She graduated from Avon Grove High School and played softball at Division 2 Kutztown University. Kristi manages everything off the field for the Legends and Dukes organization. Her passion is in mentorship, leadership and community. As the recruiting coach, she brings many great qualities, like her own experiences, experiences of her son's recruiting process, teammates recruiting process, what she has learned from Ed, and many other mentors, over the years, and an extensive sales and leadership background.

kimmy lynch - Vice president and 18U Lady dukes Head Coach (Fall 2025)

Adam Slavin - 18U Legends co-Head Coach (Fall 2025)

Darren Racine - 18U Legends co-Head Coach (Fall 2025)

Jim Leitgeb - 15U Legends Red Head Coach (Fall 2025)

tim hoskins - 15U Legends Black Head coach (Fall 2025)

Amanda Allen - 14U Legends Head Coach and 10U Legends Head coach (Fall 2025)

andrea johnson - 13U Lady dukes Head Coach (Fall 2025)

Kurt Sanford - 13u Legends Head coach (Fall 2025)

Chris Walton - 12U Legends Head Coach (Fall 2025)

tyler Ore - 11U Legends Head Coach and 14U Legends Assistant coach (Fall 2025)