District 6A-15 Preview: Archbishop Eyes Fourth State Title

The Archbishop McCarthy Mavericks achieved a rare feat last year, winning their third consecutive state title.

The Mavericks, the kings of District 6A-15, are looking to make it four in a row and possess the necessary pieces to help make that a reality.

Here is a preview of what to expect from the district competitors this season.

ARCHBISHOP MCCARTHY MAVERICKS
2012 Record: 27-4-1
Head Coach: Rich Bielski
Key Returners: Mike Hernandez (Sr. C), Brian Gonzalez (1B/P), Jose Quintana (Jr. RF/UTL), Eddie Silva (Jr. IF), Ryan Sinzenich (Jr. OF)
Newcomers to Watch: Brandon Vicens (Jr. OF), Aaron Soto (P)
Team Strengths: Experience, pitching, hitting

Archbishop McCarthy accomplished something last year that only one program in the history of high school baseball in Florida had ever achieved: winning three straight state titles. The Mavericks have become the model of consistency in Broward County, and fans of the team, here is a little secret: The Mavericks have the talent to win it all again this year.

Each season, Archbishop graduates some of the top players not only in the county, but in the nation, and last year was no different. The Mavericks lost their co-aces, Andre Martinez and Nick Travieso, both drafted last June. The team also lost starting third baseman Brandon Roberts, shortstop Nick Basto, second baseman Jason Morozowski, pitchers Ryan Castellanos and David Thompson, along with several other role players. Not many teams can overcome that type of loss and come back ready to defend their title.

The Mavericks, however, are not an ordinary team. They have established themselves as elite, and it is that mentality that has players believing every year should be a championship season.

“I’ve been on varsity since my freshman year,” said returning catcher Mike Hernandez, one of the players who Archbishop will turn to this season for veteran leadership. “Each year, we have had a new set of leaders that have grown into the role by watching the players that came before them. It’s a standard of excellence that we all expect year after year, and this year is no different. It’s our turn now to lead, but the expectation of a championship does not change.”

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FORT LAUDERDALE FLYING L’S
2012 Record: 11-10
Head Coach: Terry Portice
Key Returners: Brad Smith, Kenny Miggins, Alec Bryant, Matt Gibson, Hunter Kay, Brandon Rodriguez, Alex Honner
Newcomers to Watch: Ricky Rodriguez, Tyler Jones, Lucas Berken, Chase Navarro, Matt Freeman
Team Strengths: Experience, outfield defense, catching
Team Weaknesses: Pitching depth, unsettled up the middle, offensive power
Something people not around your program need to know about your team….

“Twelve of our 17 players have GPAs over 4.0.”

Ask veteran Fort Lauderdale manager Terry Portice about his team this year, and you’ll find he’s pretty excited about it.

Through a combination of word of mouth and possibly the economy, baseball is thriving at Fort Lauderdale, leaving Portice with some decisions to make on who his starters are going to be at some positions.

“This is the first year in a while we actually have some competition for some spots,” he said. “Most years, I have 12 or 13 guys. It was pretty clear-cut unless somebody was late to practice or late to a game, they’re going to start. So I think we’re going to be better specifically for the competition for positions. I think that’s what makes the Flanagans and the St. Thomases. They always have competition for positions. And this year, we have some of that, so it’s really going to help us.”

The Flying L’s, who lost just two seniors to graduation, will be looking to improve upon their 11-10 record last year with five returning starters. First baseman Alec Bryant “became a real defensive guy” last year, Portice said. Matt Gibson at second base is an “outstanding young man who does a great job,” and Portice said he’s “looking for big things” from center fielder Brandon Rodriguez. Short stop Hunter Kay probably will move over to third base, Portice said. Left fielder Alex Honner had maybe one error last year, he said.

“We’ve got some experienced kids who shouldn’t panic in any situation,” Portice said. “I’m looking for a pretty decent year from them.”

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HOLLYWOOD HILLS SPARTANS
2012 Record: 7-12
Head Coach: Charlie Cardinale
Key Returners: Austin Hille (Sr. 2B), D’Andre Diaz (Jr. UTL), Frankie Wells (Sr. 3B), Tommy Grant (Sr. SS), Chris Hernandez (Sr. LF), Wilbert Penai (Sr. OF), Anthony Devlin (Sr. RF), Jordan Hill (Jr. P)
Team Strengths: Team chemistry, senior leadership

Experience is something that could always make a difference to how well a team does.

At Hollywood Hills this year, that’s the best thing going as the Spartans return 10 seniors.

Veteran manager Charlie Cardinale and his staff have developed those players over the past couple of years and he’s optimistic about the season ahead with all of that experience returning but acknowledges it’s a “work in progress.”

“We’ve got a bunch of kids back, kids that we’ve had since they were freshman and sophomores and we’ve seen them progress and seen them get better. We’re hoping for some good things. We’re hoping the kids can hang tough with teams they had trouble with last year. Our goal is to get a couple of these guys to play college ball.”

Second baseman Austin Hille, who is going into his third year on the varsity team, said the year ahead is promising.

“I see us as a senior top-heavy team,” he said. “I see us going very far this season. We’ve been playing together for a long time, a lot of the seniors, and I think this year’s our year.”

To improve on last year’s 7-12 record, the Spartans, who also have a strong group of incoming freshman, are focusing on executing and eliminating the things that have held them back.

“To be competitive, we have to cut down on mistakes, mental and physical,” Cardinale said.

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PEMBROKE PINES CHARTER JAGUARS
2012 Record: 14-8
Head Coach: Carlos Iglesias
Key Returners: Jake Jacobs, Eduardo Espinosa, Alejandro Kan, Danny Melgarejo, Jesse Gonzalez, Patrick Mitchell, Cody Fuchs, Kevin Ellenbogen
Newcomers to Watch: Micah Baxter-Miller, Anthony Gomes, Derick Garcia, Alex Monge-Rodriguez
Team Strengths: Pitching and hitting
Our season will be a success if….

“…our defense and pitching plays up to their potential.”

Pembroke Pines Charter had a bunch of leaders last year when it advanced out of District 6A-15 and returned to the regional playoffs. Unfortunately, the Jaguars’ season ended with a loss to Belen Jesuit in the regional quarterfinals, and now the team must face life without some of its mainstays over the past few seasons.

Gone are the likes of Kevin Daly, the Broward batting champion from a year ago, Carlos Lopez Jr., Jorge Marrero, David Monge-Rodriguez and Nick Eyrich. The loss of so many key players will leave Pines Charter with a new look in 2013.

“It’s not going to be easy replacing all of those guys,” said manager Carlos Iglesias. “Those were strong leaders. We are in the process of finding players that can fill those leadership roles, but that takes time. Hopefully somebody will emerge from that standpoint.”

One player who has taken the role this fall is catcher Eduardo Espinosa. The senior has learned from those who came before him, and he also plays the one position most responsible for dictating the flow of a game.

“We lost a lot of seniors,” said Espinosa. “It’s all new to us. With the seniors gone, I’m going to make it a point to be a leader. I need to be an extension of the coaches. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve been a catcher my whole life, so I’ve always been in a position to lead. Now, I just have to do it at this level.”

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STRANAHAN MIGHTY DRAGONS
2012 Record: 4-15
Head Coach: John Druet
Key Returners: Chris Ford (P, UTL), Wildred Santiago (OF), Joe Schopp (OF/2B), John Johnson (OF/C/P), Logan Castellon (C/P), Steven Castellon (OF/1B)
Newcomers to Watch: Ariel Vargas (SS/P), Austin Ford (2B/OF), Tim Hilton (P/IF), Imer Diaz (1B, 3B, P)
Team Strengths: Depth, pitching, defense
Team Weaknesses: Lack of experience, youth, hitting
Something people not around your program need to know about your team….

“We are rebuilding the program and play a lot of young players.”

Stranahan manager John Drouet remembers a time about 25 years ago when large crowds gathered to watch high school baseball at the school.

Those days, future Major League Baseball stars such as John Hope, Javier Pages and Andre King were honing their skills on the diamond at Stranahan. The program is a long ways off from those glory days, but Drouet, who had the pleasure of coaching those high school stars, is trying to bring back some of that luster.

Drouet, who was an assistant coach at the school from 1983 to 1989 under Greg Grimmett, returned to the Dragons last year in that same role. When manager Clayton Decker stepped down from coaching, Drouet stepped in. Jason Taddanio, who played for Cooper City, and Marc Iannatto, a former star at South Plantation, became Drouet’s assistants.

Drouet recalled how he got back into coaching at Stranahan.

“I was sitting in the stands with coach Mike Morrill of Cardinal Gibbons and we were watching Cardinal Gibbons play Stranahan, and he said these aren’t the same Stranahan teams you used to bring over here. I said, ‘No, it’s kind of sad.’ He said, ‘Well, go back over there and offer your help and see if you can pick the program back up. It would be a perfect job for you and you have the patience to do it.’ “

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