Coral Springs Colts Brinson, Sharkey and Schneider Early College Signees

The long-awaited National Signing Day was greeted with great anticipation and excitement by friends, family, teammates and faculty members as Lewis Brinson (center field), Alan Sharkey (first base) and Brett Schneider (pitcher), all signed on the dotted line committing to play for the University of Florida, Nova Southeastern University and Dominican College (Orangeberg, N.Y.), respectively, upon graduating from Coral Springs High School next year.

Brinson’s professional aspirations began at the age of 12. But they started to become more than just a dream two years ago when he entered his sophomore year and the scouts started to show up in great numbers to watch this budding super star.

“Lewis is a complete five-tool player,” Colts coach Frank Bumbales said. “He can do it all.”

Lewis credits his widowed mother, Susie, and his longtime strength and summer traveling teams coach and mentor, Alvaro Gomez, with much of his development since age 9.

When asked about team goals for the coming season, Brinson didn’t hesitate to point in the direction of that elusive but there-for-the-taking state championship in new Class 8A. The most immediate and formidable obstacle being crosstown rival and perennial powerhouse Douglas under new head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald.

“The loss to Park Vista in last year’s regionals was a huge disappointment,” Brinson said. “They went on to win the championship, and that was a bitter pill to swallow. But we will use that loss as incentive in our drive to the top this year.”

Alan Sharkey is the Colts’ powerful, slugging first baseman. His 2011 credentials include a .468 batting average, 31 RBI, 22 runs, .757 slugging percentage, .567 on-base percentage and a .988 fielding percentage. His postseason honors include being named to the BrowardHighSchoolBaseball.com inaugural All-County First Team. He also was a 2010 and 2011 First Team All-County selection by both the Miami Herald and the Sun-Sentinel.

Brett Schneider is a potentially very promising pitcher who has been severely limited in recent years by a misdiagnosed arm injury. He has been pitching for three years with an avulsion fracture of his pitching elbow, which was finally repaired on May 12, 2011 with a screw being surgically placed in the damaged joint. He’s already throwing at about 90 percent effectiveness and expects to be completely healed and ready to go when the spring season rolls around.

Schneider’s biggest baseball thrill came in his sophomore year when he pitched the Colts to the district championship with five strong innings, yielding one run while striking out four.

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