Flanagan Looking To Stay On Top In 2013

Before the 2012 season began, there were whispers around Broward County as to how the Flanagan baseball program was no longer dominant, and that the program had slipped from the ranks of the elite. Those whispers grew louder last fall after the Falcons were bounced in the first round of the BHSB Fall Classic tournament.

So how did the team respond to the doubts from the outside? The same way Flanagan has responded to all doubters since manager Ray Evans took over the program, by turning it on the spring, going 18-5 (10-0 in district play) and winning the District 8A-12 championship.

That team was led by seniors Jose Mesa Jr., Rick Sanchez and Andres Sanchez. All three players have moved on, leaving the doubters again to begin the whispers this fall.

“We know people think we’re down because of the way our season ended last year,” said senior captain Andres Visbal. “But losing one game at the end did not define us. We’re still the team to beat, and until someone takes the district title from us, we’re going to continue playing with the confidence that we’re the best.”

That one game at the end was the regional semifinal against district rival West Broward. It was a loss that none of the returning players will soon forget, and it has set the stage for yet another season of potentially legendary match-ups between two of Broward’s best.

“We have had the upper hand in the rivalry for a while now, but things have started to even out,” Evans said. “Sergio (Ambros) has done a great job taking over that program and has them going in the right direction to reach the ultimate goal. Last year, we were able to beat them three out of four, but it wasn’t enough since they were the ones that moved on in the playoffs.”

In order to exact revenge on West Broward, Flanagan will have to get big seasons from some of their returning players. Visbal will be one of those players, anchoring the middle of the infield while trying to improve on his .393 batting average from a season ago. Visbal knows the team has lost some top players, but he believes the Falcons still are strong enough to contend for a state title, and he also understands his role as a team leader.

“I just want to follow in the footsteps of last year’s leaders. Andres Sanchez, Jose Mesa, Rick Sanchez, those guys were great leader. They led by example, and this year I’m trying to do the same. The pressure isn’t just on me though. It’s on everybody’s shoulders. We all have a job to do. We have to perform and live up to the expectations that previous Falcons teams have set.”

Visbal will be joined in the 2013 lineup by several others returning starters. Daniel Oliveri is expected to play a big role offensively, according to Evans, and Ryan Dodge will be counted on to replace Sanchez in the middle of the lineup. Last season as a sophomore, Dodge had 13 RBIs while mostly hitting out of the seven spot in the lineup.

The offense hit .318 as a whole last year, and is not only losing average but power as well. The Sanchezes alone hit 27 extra base hits and drove in 47 runs. That type of production is not easy to replace at the high school level.

“We’re going to be more of a speed and defense team this season,” said Falcons assistant coach Pete Greenwood. “Do I think we can score runs? Yes, but were going to do it a little differently than we have in the past.”

Although Flanagan loses plenty of offense, it is on the mound where the biggest losses will be felt. Last year, the Falcons had Jose Mesa Jr. to run out there for all of their big games, and Mesa Jr. did not disappoint, having one of the best seasons in the county. His 134 strikeouts will be hard to duplicate from the entire staff, never mind just one pitcher.

The pitcher that will be relied on to fill Mesa’s big shoes will be Gentry Fortuno. The sophomore threw 43.1 innings in his freshman campaign and had a 0.65 ERA. Fortuno also struck out more than a batter an inning and is the early favorite to be the Falcons’ ace in 2013.

Joining Fortuno on the mound will be Kharlin Suez, a transfer from Piper, and junior Alex Sarmiento, who sat out all of last year with an injury. Although Sarmiento missed last season, he is not short on confidence heading into the new year.

“It’s impossible to fill the shoes of Mesa,” said Sarmiento. “But I’m going to do my best to try. It was tough sitting out last year watching others play the game I love. This year, I’m going to make up for it. I’m just so proud to be back on the field. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

Sarmiento is one of many players around the county who has missed time the past couple of seasons after hurting his arm during the summer travel circuit, and Evans has grown weary of these type injuries. That is why he structures his fall season a bit differently than some other programs. For Evans, the fall is all about teaching fundamentals and getting players to buy into the team concept.

“We like to condition and practice more than anything else in the fall,” said Evans. “We just played our first game yesterday (Tuesday). We are constantly trying to teach players the things we feel they really haven’t learned from playing 40-plus games in the summer with travel ball. The team concept is very important when it comes to winning championships. I think that gets lost in the summer when they (players) are trying to get exposure for themselves.”

With the addition of Suez on the mound, the Falcons feel confident in their chances of winning District 8A-12 again. The team did lose one player, Benito Santiago, who transferred to Coral Springs Christian this year.

Other players who will be counted on in 2013 include Brandon Melendez, whose older brother Mike was a star for the Falcons two seasons ago. Melendez transferred back from Somerset, where he played as a sophomore last year. AJ Munoz will return and see action at third base, while Oscar Rodriguez and David Sarmiento compete for outfield spots.

The catching situation became a little clearer when Chris Rodriguez transferred in from Piper this Spring. Rodriguez is also expected to compete for the Falcons on the mound and in the outfield.

Overall, the Falcons will be looking to continue their domination of the district they have owned since Evans took over, and Dodge sees no reason why that shouldn’t be the case again.

“We just have to do all the little things right,” said Dodge, when asked what the Falcons need to do to get back to the state final four. “We have to bunt the ball, hit behind runners, steal bases, hit-and-run, play good defense. Those are all things we are capable of, and I think as long as we do those things, we’ll be in contention again this season.”

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