District 6A-15 Preview: Mavericks Looking For Third Straight State Title

Of all the district realignments, District 6A-15 is one of the ones that most resembles itself from last season as four of the seven teams return. The squad every team will be gunning for is the two-time defending state champion Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks. Archbishop is coming off a national title last year and has hopes of continuing its impressive run this season. Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines Charter, Hollywood Hills and Stranahan all will be looking to upend the defending district champs.

Here is a preview of what to expect from District 6A-15.

Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks

2011 Record: 29-3
Head Coach: Rich Bielski
Key Returners: Andre Martinez (Sr. P), Nick Travieso (Sr. P/1B), Nick Basto (Sr. SS), Brandon Roberts (Sr. 3B), Jason Morozowski (Sr. 2B), Ryan Castellanos (Sr. P), Adam Duarte (Sr. CF)
Newcomers to Watch: Mikey Hernandez (Jr. C), Brian Gonzalez (So. P/1B), Ryan Sinzenich (So. C/OF), Johnathan Quintana (Jr. OF)
Team Strengths: Pitching
Team Weaknesses: Need to improve all around

Our season will be a success if….

“We have good pitching and defense and situational hitting.”

Archbishop McCarthy head coach Rich Bielski is feeling good these days. Not only is Bielski the head of a program that has won two straight state titles, but he also can boast of a bunch of returning players who do not intend to rest on their laurels.

“I actually think having the two titles has the reverse affect on us,” senior ace Andre Martinez said when asked whether this team could become complacent. “Because of the stuff people are saying. People are always going to say ‘you can’t do it twice, you can’t do it three times.’ To us, we’re the type of team that feeds off that, and that is a big credit to our coaches. They taught us to think like that.”

The coaches know that this baseball season will bring change to high school baseball. With new BBCOR bats mandatory, the offense is expected to be down. That, according to Bielski, could not have come at a better time for this group of Mavericks.

“It just so happens that, this year in particular, we’re not going to have the offensive power that we’ve had the past two years,” Bielski said. “So, our team is changing as well. Each year you have to evaluate what type of team you have and coach accordingly. So with the bat change or not, we are going to be a different team this year, and our success will be predicated on pitching and defense.”

Anchoring that pitching staff are Martinez, Nick Travieso and Brian Gonzalez. Defensively, the Mavericks return senior shortstop Nick Basto, Brian Roberts, Jason Morozowski and Adam Duarte. Morozowski is considered one of the leaders defensively. Duarte had game-saving assists in both the state semifinal and final last year, and moves this season from right field to center.

Offensively, the Mavericks will rely on gap-to-gap hitting and the power supplied by Travieso.

Archbishop again will play one of the toughest schedules in the country. Miami Columbus, West Orange, Florida Christian and Key West are just a sampling of the type of competition the Mavericks will be facing as they prepare to defend their state title.

Fort Lauderdale Flying L’s

2011 Record: 14-11
Head Coach: Terry Portice
Key Returners: Brad Smith (Jr. P/1B/OF), Kenny Miggins (Jr. C), Alec Bryant (Jr. 1B), Alex de la Cruz (Sr.), Hunter Kay (Jr. SS), Alex Honner (Jr. OF)
Newcomers to Watch: Brandon Rodriguez (Jr. OF), Enrique Rodriguez (Jr. 3B/P), Matt Gibson (Jr. 2B), Ryan Romash (Sr. P), Matt Freeman (So. UTL), Jason Jeffrey (Jr. P).
Team Strengths: Defense, base running
Team Weaknesses: Lack of offensive power

Something people not around your program need to know about your team?

“Not an overly talented or physically gifted group, but their outstanding work ethic keeps them extremely competitive.”

The Flying L’s are coming off of one of their most successful seasons in years and bring back a top pitcher, Brad Smith. He went 6-4 with 61 strikeouts in 63 innings and had a 3.11 ERA.

Fort Lauderdale coach Terry Portice likes to refer to Smith as the “silent assassin.” Why? “He doesn’t get revved up, he doesn’t get down. He just pounds the strike zone. His presence on the mound is outstanding.”

Smith also is an asset at the plate as he hit .329 with 16 RBI last year.

Following Smith on the pitching staff is Alex De La Cruz, who went 3-1 with a 2.04 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 34 innings last season.

But after those two, the L’s will looking to see who develops on the mound. A lack of team speed and offensive power also will be hurdles for Fort Lauderdale to overcome this year. To clear the hurdles, Portice said the team will work on small ball and will try to “do things to create offense.”

The team is replacing four of its top five hitters from last year. Kenny Miggins, who hit .309 last season, will lead off with Mike Gibson and Smith in the two and three holes, respectively.

Defense, however, will be a bright spot as the team is solid all-around, Portice said.

Portice said the season will be a success “if we keep our mental errors to a minimum and out-hustle the opposing team on every pitch.”

Hollywood Hills Spartans

2011 Record: 3-18
Head Coach: Charlie Cardinale
Key Returners: Tommy Grant, Francisco Pena, Danny Pena, Austin Hille, Joe D’Angeli, Frank Wells, Logan Pierce, Cory Hill, Chris Hernandez
Newcomers to Watch: Anthony Devlin, De’andre Diaz
Team Strengths: Defense
Team Weaknesses: Hitting

Something people not around your program need to know about your team?

“Good quality kids becoming students of the game.”

Pembroke Pines Charter Jaguars

2011 Record: 10-11
Head Coach: Carlos Iglesias
Key Returners: Kevin Daly, Nicholas Eyrich, Carlos Lopez, Jr., Connor Lowther, Jorge Marrero, Alejandro Kan
Newcomers to Watch: Eduardo Espinosa, Jake Jacobs, Hector Rivero, Kevin Ellenbogen
Team Strengths: Hitting and defense
Team Weaknesses: Three new outfielders
Our season will be a success if….

“Our pitchers pitch to contact and let the defense make plays.”

Pembroke Pines Charter came out of the gates last season looking like a team that could make a deep run into the playoffs. The Jaguars began 5-1 and was in the top five in the BHSB Power Rankings at the time. What happened next, no team could prepare for. The Jags were hit with the injury bug, losing several top pitchers for the season while dealing with injuries at other positions as well.

This season, Pines Charter is hoping to avoid the same fate as it looks to rebound from a disappointing finish last year. The goal for this team will be to work hard and hopefully play well enough to contend for a playoff spot come seasons end.

The plan for head coach Carlos Iglesias is simple: stick with the basics. With several key offensive players having graduated, the Jaguars will look to produce enough runs to win the tight games.

“We are going to play hard until the last out,” Iglesias said.

Offensively, Pines Charter returns All-County second-team infielder Kevin Daly. The senior shortstop is expected to be one of the leaders on a team that may feel it has some unfinished business from last season.

Stranahan Mighty Dragons

2011 Record: 2-15
Head Coach: John Drouet
Key Returners: Gaston Sanchez, Chris Ford, Colin Hamilton, Sam Montaulk
Newcomers to Watch: Chris Nelsy, Logan Casteland, Jon Johnson
Team Strengths: Two returning pitchers and a foundation of freshman and sophomores to build on
Team Weaknesses: Young team that will gain experience by playing

Something people not around your program need to know about your
team?

“We are trying to rebuild the Stranahan baseball program. I was an assistant coach here in the 80s when we were a dominant team and am bringing these values back.”

Stranahan coach John Drouet decided to hold a five-and-a-half-hour practice this past Saturday.

The main reason being that the Dragons’ typical practices last only a hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes during the week.

Drouet said he has at least six players who are enrolled in the magnet program, and the school’s activities program only has buses available until 5 p.m.

Past that time, players are left to fend for themselves to get a ride home.

“I’m not complaining,” Drouet said. “And it’s not something that is an unique situation. I’m sure it happens at other schools, too. This is the card that we’ve been dealt. It’s too far to walk. We have kids from all over.”

So Drouet decided the best way to get some learning in would be to hold extra-long practices on Saturdays.

Drouet began at Stranahan as an assistant coach during the 1980s and helped produced players that went on to play in the majors in John Hope, Andre King and Javier Pages.

Now, he’s doing what he can to help restore the pride of the Dragons.

“I repainted the dugouts, so now it looks a lot nicer,” he said. “I’ve tried to do even the little things like getting help to buy a new gas grill so we can sell hamburgers and hot dogs. I’ll bring out an extra table to use for the field. A lot of things have changed, and I think more people will want to play here now.”

Part of that excitement comes with a big freshmen class coming in.

“We’re a solid three years away,” Drouet admitted. “We expect to be much more competitive this season. We are blessed with one thing, and that’s that we have some athletes here. I venture to say that I’ve got some kids who could run a 4.4 40 [yard dash].”

Right-handed pitcher Gaston Sanchez is a a four-year player and is expected to be the team’s number one pitcher. He’ll be looked upon to provide senior leadership. He throws a fastball, curve ball and change-up.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Chris Ford is another player who stepped up last season. Described as a good location pitcher, he also throws a fastball, curve ball and change-up.

Junior catcher Sam Montauk is among the most improved players with better arm strength, and he learned how to keep runners honest on the basepaths.

Another improved player is senior right fielder Colin Hamilton, who has “a lot of heart” and has showed good team leadership and attitude.

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