State Finals To Remain At jetBlue Park Through 2018

For the past three baseball seasons, every team in Florida has worked and dreamed of making it to jetBlue Park in Fort Myers to play in the state championship tournament. Thanks to a recent new agreement between the Florida High School Athletic Association and Lee County, for the next three years jetBlue Park will continue to host the FHSAA Baseball State Championships and continue to serve as the promised land for so many high school baseball dreamers.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the representatives of Lee County Sports Development and Lee County Sports and Recreation during the past three years, and we look forward to continuing the relationship,” said FHSAA Executive Director Dr. Roger Dearing, following the announcement. “Some of the premier high school baseball players, coaches and teams in the nation are on display during the FHSAA Baseball State Championships, and partnering with Lee County guarantees us an elite facility for this event.”

The venue is the Spring Training Home of the Boston Red Sox, and it has been affectionately nicknamed “Fenway South” due primarily to the fact that jetBlue is designed as an exact replica of the fabled Boston ball park. The cavernous centerfield, unique angles and iconic ‘Green Monster’ left-field wall create an immediate impression on all who take the field.

“It’s special walking on that grass and going out to that bullpen,” said former Archbishop McCarthy and current Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Gonzalez, back in 2013 while the Mavericks were competing for their record fourth-straight state title. “Just looking at the Green Monster and soaking it all in; it’s really something to cherish.”

The reality is that teams are going to be excited no matter where the state championship is held. While that will always be the case, over the past three years jetBlue Park has provided an excellent environment that has helped fuel teams playing in the biggest games of their lives.

“The feeling is awesome and the playing surface is immaculate,” recalled Park Vista Manager Larry Greenstein, who has led the Cobras to the state tournament each of the past two seasons. “The people they have to work it and the overall hospitality is great. They handle everything and are very professional about it. They get a lot of volunteers who are local baseball coaches, so they know what teams go through.”

Having won two state championships on that field, including last year’s Class 5A state crown, the Archbishop McCarthy program has been one of those clubs that has enjoyed the magic that seems to pulsate throughout the park. Mavericks Manager Rich Bielski has always made sure that his guys remember to take a moment to breathe it all in and appreciate what a special place they have had the privilege to play at.

“It’s just like playing at Fenway,” Bielski said in 2013. “The scoreboard came from Fenway Park itself and they flew it down. It’s beautiful and we’re very blessed.”

Miami Brito is the only other South Florida club to win two state titles at jetBlue Park. Head Assistant Coach Dave Fanshawe admits that the club is excited that they will have the chance to add more memories to a place that has become special to the program.

“jetBlue does a great job in hosting the event,” said Fanshawe. “I’m glad the FHSAA worked out a deal to continue playing the state finals in Fort Myers. As I’m sure others have as well, our program has made some great memories in that stadium and we hope to continue to do so in the years to come.”

Of all the characteristics that make the stadium so special, the Green Monster is unquestionably the one that draws the most interest from hitters. Over the last three seasons that the state finals have been played at jetBlue only a handful of guys have managed to accomplish the feat of hitting a home run over the Monster. Each of those homers continues to be remembered and talked about amongst those who witnessed them. This includes the memories of a trio of South Florida players who are among that select group in former Monsignor Pace slugger Brandon Gomez, former North Broward Prep slugger Edward Bodaraco and former Miami Brito slugger Mauricio Amaral.

“That was the best moment of my life right there,” admitted Gomez, after belting a towering three-run blast that tied the 2013 Class 4A state finals in the bottom of the fifth inning. “I was trying to get a hit at that moment right there, and he gave me a pitch to hit and I just put a good swing on it.”

Although the Spartans eventually lost in extra innings to undefeated Pensacola Catholic in that game, the memory of Gomez’s big moment continues to provide a bright reminder of what a great game was played on that night. For Bodaraco, his dinger also came in a enormous moment, connecting for a tying home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh of a game that was also lost in extra innings. Amaral’s blast came in his final high school plate appearance.

Claiming the championship is the greatest possible icing on the cake for any team that makes it to the state tournament, but is not the sole measuring stick to create those lasting moments. Perhaps the greatest example of how much it means to kids just to get a chance to play on the field in the game came from former American Manager Ricky Gutierrez, also during the 2013 state tournament.

With his team trailing 4-0 against a dominant future MLB draft pick in Durant ace Tyler Standish, the Patriots skipper pulled his ace to go to his bullpen and give each of his senior pitchers a chance to throw on the jetBlue mound. In the top of the seventh inning seniors William Penelas, Samuel Cananoza and Andy Gonzalez each came in for a turn in recording an out apiece in the frame. Coach Gutierrez was pleased to know that they were given a chance to play in the biggest game of their high school careers on an MLB field they had worked so hard to help the team reach.

“I felt it was a good time to show my respect for some of the seniors on my club in that last inning,” Gutierrez said after the game. “That was why I kept bringing them in. They earned it; they helped get us here and I wanted them to experience that.”

At least for the next three years every baseball player in Florida will continue to have that same chance to chase that same goal. The 2016 High School Baseball State Championship tournament begins on May 11th and runs through May 21st, featuring four-team, single-elimination contests in nine classifications. This season will mark the first year under the latest state realignment that expanded to a ninth classification, setting the stage for four more teams to make their dreams come true.

In the three years at this venue there have been little to no complaints, and there has been a lot of quality baseball played there during that stretch. Once the gets kid there they are all so excited, and coaches admit that everything has been done right to help add to that magical experience. For South Florida teams, it is also a short distance away, which makes travel plans easier and also allows for many more fans to be able to make the trip to support their team.

“The only thing I would like to have happen if we ever make it back there is I would like a calibration check on their lightning meter,” joked Greenstein, referring to the three-hour delay under clear skies that his squad endured during last year’s 8A semifinal.

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