American Heritage United In Drive For State Tournament
Bruce Aven begins his third year as manager, and the focus remains on bringing home another state title.
The Patriots are not going to sneak up on anybody.
With all a long history of success, not just in baseball but in all sports at the school, American Heritage is a name that resonates with accomplishment. It is a matter of pride and tradition to maintain such high standards year in and year out. But the team would have it no other way.
“It’s not just baseball; every sport at this school expects to win championships,” said senior Louis Beck. “If we don’t win it’s considered a failure. Once we get into the playoffs, its win or go home and we don’t want to ever go home.”
Heritage last won a state title in 2012, the third state championship in school history. With such accomplishment also comes recognition, and there is no program that is going to take the field against them that isn’t expecting the biggest challenge they could face.
“When you come to play us, bring your best guys to play us,” said Patriots Manager Bruce Aven. “We are going to bring our game, and if we want to be one of the better teams then we have to know everybody is going to come after us. We’re out there ready to get it done and we’re excited.”
Even with all their ability, the team has learned the tough lessons just the same as anyone else. Despite a number one national ranking last year, the team lost in the regional playoffs to a much younger and less experienced club in Edgewater. It is something they refuse to allow themselves to forget. It is a lesson that they took to heart.
“I tell my guys all the time that there are two people who play this game: those who are humble and those who get humbled,” Aven said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, you can go home just like that. That game should have been a mismatch for us. One team executed and one team didn’t. You have to learn to put all the other stuff aside and concentrate to play baseball. It’s not always the best team who wins, but who plays the best.”
The loss still haunts the players, and it is a painful memory that they use to share with the younger guys to help make them understand how important it is to never let that happen to them again. Seniors such as Dallas Perez do their best to give full effort everyday in practice so that the other guys see that example and understand what it takes to win.
“If we lose then they are going to party on our field,” stated senior Dallas Perez. “So you have to come out everyday to work and every game give 100%, because everybody is coming out with their best to try and beat us because of what we’ve built here. So there is no let up.”
The Patriots certainly bring a squad to the diamond this year that is capable of beating the best of the best. It is a group with a lot of experience, with a lot of guys who have played a lot of baseball.
Milton Ramos joins the team and provides a boost to the Patriots’ infield defense.
Heritage was an offensive monster in 2013, batting .365 as a team while featuring a frontline of hitters that were among the best in the area. Although this season’s roster may not have the same sort of individual dominance, overall it is a lineup that can beat you from one to nine.
Even though many of those big hitters are gone, there is plenty of firepower remaining to do damage. Senior infielder David Villar leads the returning group, coming off a season in which he hit .340 with two home runs, 17 RBIs and 16 runs. Also supplanting the middle of the order is senior Magglio Ordonez, who batted .299 with 19 runs and 15 RBIs last season.
It is an offense that has a tendency to put up big innings and putting a comfortable lead on the board for their pitchers.
“It’s a lot of fun scoring a lot of runs in an inning,” said Ordonez. “I like hitting with this group of guys who can run. It’s fun to get on base and keep it going for the bottom half of the order.”
Aven admits that the added speed the team has developed in their lineup has given them a whole new dimension this season. The team has added several world-class sprinters on board now, guys like Milton Ramos and Brandon Vicens, to go along with established speedsters such as Dallas Perez. Dallas hit .315 last year and he scored 19 runs, thanks in part to his 10 stolen bases.
Versatility is a major aspect that makes the Patriots roster so dangerous. Depth is in their favor, and they do not overlook the fact that veteran guys such as Jonathan Felice and Chase Reyes are the ones who give them a greater chance of success. Up and down the roster are guys ready, willing and able to play their roles. Together the sum of the parts builds a monster that is tough to stop.
Heritage has always been known for the great pitchers who have taken the mound for the program. Even despite graduating some key guys, the team returns this season with a talented and deep pitching staff. Kyle Perez and Andrew English have developed into larger roles, and newcomers such as Patrick Mitchell and Donovan Futrell bring poise and experience.
At the front of the rotation is the key to the staff, and that is their ace, Louis Beck. The senior right-hander was 4-1 with 42 strikeouts in 41 innings a year ago, posting a 1.88 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 15 appearances.
“Seeing the guys who have come through here, and seeing what they do working really hard year in and year out, I am excited to be that next guy,” Beck said. “I got to see them working from the beginning of the year to the end how they never got tired because they worked so hard. That’s the sort of example I want to be.”
Even though the team is focused and determined on one singular goal of winning another state championship, they are fortunate to have players amongst the group who remember to enjoy themselves as they go. This unique mix of drive and enjoyment rubs off well on everyone to blend together for the perfect mix of chemistry on the club.
“We have people who mess around a bit, and then those who work too hard,” said Beck. “The people who mess around a lot loosen up the guys who work too hard, and those guys get them working harder. We have a happy medium.”
Reminders of the large success enjoyed by the sports program are proudly displayed around the school’s athletic facilities.
With things so close to the starting point, Aven and his club cannot help but chomp at the bit to get going. They wish the season would start already, and yet at the same time they are grateful for the time they still have to practice and fine tune their skills. They know they have to always be at their best, because that is exactly what they expect from every opponent that they face.
“We face every team’s ace, and they always put their best lineup on the field against us,” said Ordonez. “It’s good for competition. They train us for the playoffs and for states, where everybody has an ace.”
The new district alignment has positioned the Patriots into a district with four-time defending state champions Archbishop McCarthy. For two clubs with realistic aspirations of bringing home more state accolades, it is the best litmus test any club could receive. Yet at the same time, Heritage does not even know when that game even comes in the season. They are not looking ahead that far, and plan to take every opponent just as serious.
Heritage just wants to be fundamentally sound, and let the results build off of that. Thy prefer to keep things simple and just play the game right.
“We’re not looking for heroes who pat themselves on the back,” Aven said. “Do your job, whatever that is, whatever you have to do. Keep it simple. It’s about executing in this game. If our kids come out and execute like they are supposed to, I think we’ll have a successful season.”
Contact - About - Advertising - Disclaimer - Copyright © 2018 HSBN Broward - All Rights Reserved
