University School Aims To End 23-Year Playoff Drought
Dan Rovetto takes over as the Suns third manager in as many years, and the team loves what he brings to the program.
No one on the current roster was born the last time the Suns made the state playoffs.
This fact is something that new manager Dan Rovetto is using as a motivational tool for his new players. University School last qualified for the playoffs in 1991, which is the same number Rovetto has stamped on the shirts each player wears every Monday. He knows Mondays can be the hardest day of the week, and he wants that reminder to be in their heads even on Sunday nights as they pack their bag for the week ahead.
Rovetto wants players showing up to the field on Mondays seeing what they are looking at. The team has earned a reputation as a dominant program, but it is something that Rovetto feels does not put things in their fair perspective. The team has competed and been dominant, but at the same time they have not gotten over the hump and made it into the playoffs.
“That is our goal,” Rovetto said. “A state title is a dream, but our goal is to play in a regional baseball game. None of them have ever done that. I want them to experience it, and that’s an attainable goal for us, if we play our cards right.”
This constant reminder is having the right affect on the players. They appreciate the honesty and the motivation, and they are eager to accept this challenge.
“This fuels our fire,” said senior Freddie Sultan. “It makes us want to get that district championship even more. Everyday we come with that number 1991 on our backs to focus us, and we want to be like they were that year.”
Part of getting over that hump means the team must advance from one of the toughest districts in the state. Following realignment, District 14-4A is a group almost entirely intact from a year ago. The Suns have gone in as the top seed in each of the past two seasons, and this year the competition includes Calvary Christian, Chaminade-Madonna, Coral Springs Charter, North Broward Prep, Pine Crest and Somerset Academy. To achieve their goal they must survive a gauntlet of very worthy competitors.
The Suns have long been known for their pitching, and this year’s starters are eager to step up and join that lineage.
Rovetto likes to remind his players that last year’s six-seed from this group was Somerset, a Panthers team that upset Archbishop McCarthy on their Senior Night to be the last club to beat the Mavericks before they went on their state-record championship run. Rovetto reminds his guys that there are not many districts with a six-seed quite that dangerous. There is parody from top to bottom in their district, as anybody is capable of beating anyone on any given night.
Even with this parody, the Suns have managed to maintain a nice home-field advantage in recent years. Over the past three seasons the team has gone 31-9 at home, playing their home games at Nova Southeastern University.
“It’s a beautiful ballpark, and we have the advantage to play on one of the better college fields in the state of Florida,” said Rovetto. “They just redid the infield too. We also have the advantage to play in a bigger ballpark, whereas some of the other teams in our district play in smaller parks.”
While in recent history the Suns have been known for their pitching dominance, the team admits they do not have that same depth this year. They are still working to build their identity on the mound. After graduating the majority of the guys from last season, it is a challenge to now groom along some new hurlers in their place. There are capable guys, but as of yet they are also unproven.
The team plans to throw some guys to the fire and let them learn the tough way. Sophomore Evan McKendry is one such guy that the team has confidence in. Newcomer Matt Johnson is another guy showing promise on the hill, and shortstop Adam Sinkoe has even shown potential to fill the closer’s role for the club. Another newcomer that is figuring into the mix is Piper transfer Jesse Crosno.
University does have the benefit of knowing who their big-game pitcher will be, as Freddie Sultan returns ready to assume that crucial role. The senior was 2-1 with 30 strikeouts in 27 innings last year, posting a 3.54 ERA and also recording a pair of saves in nine appearances. The left-hander has worked hard in the offseason and he is ready to toe the rubber for the team’s most crucial match ups.
“I’m excited to take over, and I feel like I’m ready,” Sultan said. “I’ve been waiting and training with the great pitchers who have come through here and I hope to do just as good as they did. You’ve got to go out there everyday and look like you’ve got your best stuff even if you don’t. You have to have the mentality that you’re going to get them all out, and have that confidence so the team can play behind you. You’ve got to show you’re ready to go and they’ll be ready to play for you.”
The Suns have lots of faith in their defense, particularly up the middle with Sinkoe anchoring the infield defense at shortstop and senior Daniel Epstein locking down the outfield unit from centerfield. Epstein notes that as a group the defense knows how to lock in and focus once they take the field. Part of this intensity comes from the aggressive approach they bring to practice everyday.
Rovetto is known as an up-tempo coach, and his practices operate like a college program. Schedules are posted each morning so that guys can be focused and thinking about the things they will be working on as they go about their day in advance of it. The group talks about being self-aware and knowing what they are good at, while striving to recognize their weaknesses so that they can improve on them. Rovetto wants guys showing up excited everyday, and to match his energy to feed off of one another. So far it has been working.
“He carries the practices and gives us momentum,” said Daniel Epstein, who admits it has been a unique experience for him to have three different coaches each of the past three seasons. “You learn something new from each coach. You just take that and use it in everything you do. I’ve really appreciated having three different coaches and three different styles of play and three different styles of learning. I’m just looking to lead the team and do anything to keep us prepared and focused so that we never lose sight of what we’re trying to do here.”
The Suns have worked on their hitting this offseason, and the results are showing up on the field now.
It is a roster that only goes 13 players deep. This has guys excited when they come to the field everyday, since they know they are going to get chances to contribute somewhere on the field. A big part of the focus is simply on keeping players healthy all season long. They went through a lot of conditioning to help avoid injuries, as well as to prepare the guys for the weeks when they play three games in one week.
Rovetto knows with such a small group they are going to have to grind it out. He knows the team has talent, and he is simply working to figure out what the missing ingredient is to get them over the hump and into the playoffs.
“They’re excited for their opportunity. It’s a fresh start for them and for me as well,” Rovetto said. “They’re buying into the system and it’s a system that I believe in. I want them to enjoy coming out here. If you are going to commit this much time to something, you better love it.”
Part of Rovetto’s system is a specific approach at the plate, a concept that is starting to come together for this group. Players are buying into the process of what their offensive approach is going to be.
The Suns return two dangerous bats in Evan Klugerman and Brendan McKendry to fill the middle of the lineup. Klugerman hit .383 with 14 RBIs and an impressive .457 on-base percentage, while Brendan McKendry batted .360 with four doubles, 12 runs and eight RBIs.
“We’ve got a bunch of lefties in the lineup, and then some nice righties to balance it out,” Brendan McKendry said. “We have power and speed all over, so we’ll be all right. Every team in our district has good pitching and hitting, and the games are always dogfights. Every game comes down to the last inning and the last out.”
When that last out of that last inning of the district tournament is played, Brendan hopes his team will be the ones to hoist the district trophy. Everyone knows how long it has been since that last happened at their school, and this is their mission.
“We see the banners hanging in the gym for district championships in basketball and football, but there hasn’t been one for baseball in a long time,” Brendan said. “It’s been 23 years since we won a district title, and none of us were alive then. We’ve had good teams but just haven’t gotten it done in the district playoffs. We’re trying to change that this year.”
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