Heritage, McCarthy Seem Primed For Showdown In 5A-16
Garrett Hiott and his Pompano teammates will look to make noise in a very challenging district.
This district seems poised for a showdown between the two front-runners. With the realignment shifting things to bring four-time defending state champion Archbishop McCarthy into this new district with perennial power American Heritage, it would be an insult not to acknowledge the likelihood of their eventual meeting in the district championship.
As two of Broward County’s most accomplished programs, the teams have earned this recognition. With seven state titles between them over the last decade, it is a special opportunity to see the two clubs battle it out for the right to return to the state tournament for another title.
“Only two teams can make it, so you’re going to have some really good teams who are going home in the end,” said American Heritage Manager Bruce Aven. “You don’t have that in most districts, but that is why we want to play them. You want to go out and execute and do all the little things to help you win. That just brings excitement into the district.”
This district will be dictated by these two worthy adversaries, and it is something that the other district teams of Cardinal Gibbons, Coconut Creek, Dillard and Pompano Beach all welcome. Nothing is automatic, and these teams understand the great opportunity it is to play such talented teams at least twice a year.
“I can’t wait to get on the field with them, just to see their warmups and how they conduct themselves through stretches,” said Coconut Creek junior Marcus Johnson. “It is going to be a beautiful thing and it’s going to be a lot of good baseball. I just can’t wait to get at them.”
American Heritage
2013 Record: 24-3
Manager: Bruce Aven
Coaching Staff: Evan Thomas, Will Block, Mike Macey,
Key Returners: Dallas Perez, Louis Beck, Magglio Ordonez, Andrew English, David Villar, Chase Reyes, Jonathan Felice, Kyle Perez
Newcomers to watch: Milton Perez, Brandon Vicens, Richie Cruz, Donovan Futrell, Patrick Mitchell, Joseph Perez, Alec Acosta, Justin Lamazares
Team strengths: Hitting & Speed
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…[Read More]
Archbishop McCarthy
2013 Record: 26-5
Manager: Rich Bielski
Coaching Staff: Ric Buntner, Alex Fernandez
Key Returners: Brian Gonzalez, Michael Gigliotta, Blade Bielski, Ryan Sinzenich, Aaron Soto, Eddie Silva
Team strengths: Pitching, Hitting & Defense
It’s no mystery what the goal is for the Archbishop McCarthy baseball team.
Coming off the most successful season in the history of any Florida ball club, the majority of the players who helped win a record fourth-consecutive state title return in 2014 with their sights set on extending their own legacy. With the glut of talent, heart and motivation there is no reason to doubt their chances of making a run at number five…[Read More]
Cardinal Gibbons
2013 Record: 9-12
Manager: Jason Hamilton
Coaching Staff: Dave Montiel, Tyler Martin
Key Returners: Justin Lara, Nate Powelczyk, Townsend Crittenberger, Drew Hanke, Mark Newatnik, Nick Ferngren, Chris Williams, Dalton Jugovic
Newcomers to watch: Joe Posey
Team strengths: Pitching
Cardinal Gibbons has a proud history of athletic success over the years. Beyond just winning titles in most every sport at the school, what has always been so special about the Chiefs’ athletics is the family environment that it has always promoted. Coaches live and die with their Chiefs teams, and it is a loyalty and commitment that us unmatched…[Read More]
Coconut Creek
2013 Record: 4-17
Manager: Pete Perez
Coaching Staff: Carl McKinney, Shawn Pennabaker
Key Returners: Jose Baez, Dalton Kazmarik, Winston Nunez, Jared Miller
Newcomers to watch: Marcus Johnson, Juan Fermaint, Jean Dennie, Emmanuel Green, Andre Martinez, Adrian Williams
Team strengths: Chemistry
It is a new era for the Coconut Creek baseball team.
Following a change in managers, the returning players made the decision to recruit some new blood to help bring the club along. After longtime manager Roger Davidson was not retained following the Cougars’ 4-17 campaign in 2013, the school recently hired Pete Perez to man the position. Perez has burst onto the scene to find an eager and athletic group of unlikely friends who have all joined the team hungry to work and turn the program back around…[Read More]
Dillard
2013 Record: 7-8
Manager: Daniel Lozinski
Mascot: Panthers
Outlook: The Panthers have hovered around .500 for each of the past two seasons. However, adding two state contenders to the mix does not bode well for this club.
Pompano Beach
2013 Record: 10-13
Manager: Ryan Combs
Coaching Staff: Shane Walker, Nate Goldstein, Kenny Harrell
Key Returners: AJ Marcantonio, Christian Perez, Andrew Perez, Vinny Costello, Thomas Fengler
Newcomers to watch: Frank Moschette
Team strengths: Pitching & Defense
Pompano Beach Manager Ryan Combs is trying to hold back his excitement for the upcoming season knowing what his team is capable over these next few years. The Golden Tornadoes are going to be a young team in 2014, and they are hoping their opponents will make the mistake of overlooking them due to this fact.
This is a squad that has always had a dangerous reputation, so there is little chance that anyone will take that bait…[Read More]
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