Archbishop McCarthy Starting From The Bottom

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This is a year like no other for the Archbishop McCarthy baseball team. This national powerhouse typically reloads every season, but this is the closest the program has come to a rebuilding year for quite some time. The team graduated a large senior class that was so instrumental to setting the tone for what the program is all about, and it returns a group that is quite inexperienced by comparisons.

“Last year’s senior class will undoubtedly go down as one of the most legendary classes we’ve had, just because of all the success they enjoyed in their time here,” Mavericks Manager Rich Bielski said. “We do miss those guys. So our biggest challenge this year is having to replace such big shoes. That’s no easy task.”

Last year’s class was a group that won three state championships during their time together, while also putting the team as a national contender by helping to win a state record four straight state crowns. More than that, by the time they were all seniors the guys knew the routine in and out. They knew the team’s bunt plays, first-and-third plays, and they just had the entire offense down pact. Their final year they were practically coaching themselves because they had done it for so long.

Things are a bit different this season, with a lot of teaching being done during practices. It will be a year of very inexperienced players and it is the coaches’ job to get them ready and to be patient with them. The coaches fully expect that there will be mistakes made along the way, and they remind the guys that there are no state championships to be won in February, March and even April. But the team expects to win and be at the state tournament, and that is the high standard they keep.

“It’s a different year, but we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Bielski said. “It’s a very talented group and we have more sophomores on the roster than I have ever had in my twenty-year coaching career. It’s an extremely talented sophomore class we have. The competition for playing time is fierce because there are so many spots up for grabs. They are wide-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready to play. It’s yet to be seen who will be the guys.”

The squad has been working hard together since the fall, and the team had a successful fall season. They got a lot accomplished this fall, and the guys are not as in awe as they first were when they initially came up to varsity.

These guys are as hungry as ever. They are thrilled to be part of a program that has enjoyed so much success recently, but they have never been there themselves. Even the few veterans that are left on the roster were not starters when the team last went and won a state title. In years past the challenge had evolved into keep an accomplished team hungry, and now it is back to being the total opposite. The general atmosphere is that they are up for the challenge.

“I had to play on the freshmen team my first year here, so I learned a lot having to work to move up,” senior Dylan Bautista recalled. “I learned a lot from the guys who have graduated and also from all the coaches. I learned a lot more getting to start last year. We just work hard every day in practice, and we try to come out to the field every day that we can. We are trying to get a win everyday.”

Bautista is one of five returning seniors on the club, but he is the only one with any experience as a starter. He will lead the outfield corps.

Right-hander Brian Van Belle is the most experienced pitcher coming back, although he has had only modest time on the mound. Veteran sophomore Daniel Federman and senior Austin Haworth will also enjoy an increased workload this year, and the team can also rely on new senior righty Christian Demby. It still remains to be seen who among them will rise up to lead the way.

“They tell us to focus and throw strikes and good things will happen,” Van Belle said. “I enjoy pitching in big games like we have here. The atmosphere here is amazing and the adrenalin is great. We never think too much when we’re pitching. The defense wins games here and that is what we mostly work on. I just have to throw strikes.”

The Mavericks have prided themselves on defense, and that trend shouldn’t ever change. Senior catcher Jake Anchia, senior infielder Freddie Matos and impressive sophomore first baseman Alex Toral return to the solidify the infield, as well as the batting order. Speedy center fielder Alex Carballo moves up from the JV team, and shortstop Kobe Lopez comes to the team after moving to the area from Orlando. Everyone has embraced the defensive mantra, as well as the aggressive brand of baseball the program encourages.

“They teach us to play the game like it’s our last game,” Bautista explained. “We just go out there and play aggressive on every play. You never know if it’s your last game out there. It’s awesome to succeed that way.”

There is one guy who has played his last game here that Bielski can’t help but still miss. For the last few years the second base position had been held by his son, Blade, who was part of last season’s graduating class. This dynamic had helped to fuel the family atmosphere on the club.

“I miss seeing my son out here everyday; that was a treat for me,” Bielski admitted. “I was blessed to see him and get to see him running around enjoying the game with his buddies.”

That family line had been an aspect of the team for a while, in fact. Previously, Assistant Coach Alex Fernandez had his son Andre on the club, watching him excel to lead the program to the start of its state title runs. That tradition will continue along this year, as Fernandez’s younger son Andrew has made the jump from JV to move into the second base position. The sophomore will have the pleasure to maintain that family tie for another three more seasons.

Like everybody else, Fernandez has worked his way to where he now is. Nothing ever comes easy for McCarthy players, but they appreciate the lesson learned in earning what you get.

“When you come to McCarthy you have to start form the bottom and work your way up,” Van Belle said. “It feels great to keep grinding and we’ll see what happens this season.”

The Mavericks are just excited to get started now that the season is here. The players understand they have big shoes to fill, as everyone will come after them with their best. Bielski keeps telling them that if people are going to get them, this is the year to do it. They are starting from the ground up and as long as they continue to learn, progress and come closer as a team there is no reason they cannot make a run in the end. If the guys become students of the game they should be clicking on all cylinders in the end.

McCarthy is not looking at the end of the season to measure success. The coaches expect to see leaps and bounds in improvements every week. Right now they’re not a very good ball club as far as competing on a state or national level, but there is a lot of talent here. They just can’t let a day go by without learning something new and using that to improve.

“They all have to step up,” Bielski said. “There is no reason why we cannot have a successful season. The previous teams set the bar pretty high, but these guys want it too.”

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