Flanagan Aims To Clear The Final Hurdle

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The Flanagan Falcons are not misleading themselves about the biggest hurdle in their way. For the past three seasons the program has fallen in the regional championship, and the past two years the squad that defeated them went on to win the state championship that the Falcons had worked so hard to claim. While Flanagan knows their are other jumps that must be made along the track, the team has its sights set on making it back to the regional championship and finally putting the ghosts to rest.

“We want to get by that game that we haven’t been able to get by for the last three years, and with this group it could be a very interesting year,” Falcons Manager Ray Evans said. “Two years in a row the team that beat us went on to win the title, so having that and knowing that, while improving our team, they know where we should be this year. Anything other than getting where we know we should be is going to be disappointing. We are expecting to get in that game again and we are expecting to win and move on to the state semifinal. But a lot of things can happen along the way; you can have injuries or guys not playing up to their ability.”

Since the program graduated just a few seniors, the majority of the guys from last year are back. Since most of them were younger players making the jump to varsity baseball for the first time, the club now boasts a lot of good young players with lots of experience together. There is more depth overall and key positions on the mound and behind the plate are well-replaced.

Be that what it may, the team’s largest change this season comes in the emergence of new leaders to replace former stalwarts Miguel Presno and Gentry Fortuno. Fortuno was a four-year ace starter for the program who anchored the pitching staff during his illustrious career, and was widely recognized as the face of the team.

“We are seeing who will step forward and lead them to what they need to do now,” Evans said. “We are definitely talented, but we are still replacing a guy like Gentry. We have eight quality arms and a much deeper staff now, so it doesn’t have to be a one-man show. They’re working hard and practice as much as they can, and it is about their commitment and getting unified. Now lots of other guys are getting their chances, like Jeremy Cook, Nick Davila, Justin Ricard and Nick Pagano. They are all just buying in and their thought process is being all in all the time, which is going to help us down the line.”

Emerging at the front of the pack is senior left-hander Dylan O’Connell, who is a three-year varsity starter in his second season at Flanagan. O’Connell had a perfect 5-0 record last season as the southpaw in the rotation, and he learned a lot watching and working with Fortuno. Over the summer O’Connell continued to improve and earn his own identity, and Coach Evans believes this has helped him a lot to feel comfortable that this is his time.

“I know what I have to bring to the table just from watching Gentry Fortuno last year and having conversations with him about the mental game you have to have,” O’Connell said. “It’s not easy and your team is going to have to have your back, but you have to keep them in there too. You have to keep them in the game. We have one of the toughest schedules out there so we just have to keep focused and I am going to try for my team. I just want to compete for my team and get our team into the next round.”

The pitching depth gives the team a lot of confidence, and helps take some pressure off an offense that continues to evolve and find an identity. Also adding to the mix are returners Arrison Perez and Eric Morera, as well as senior transfer Nick McDonald. In one year a young group has grown to now include seven juniors and eight seniors.

“All the juniors from last year are really stepping up with their leadership, and all the new guys are familiar with our system,” said O’Connell. “The new transfers are great and everyone has been working hard. We are just getting it ready for the spring.”

The top of the batting order remains primarily intact, with guys like Ricky Presno and Eric Rivera setting the table for Mark Vientos and Peter Moforis. The lineup has also been boosted by newcomers Justin Connell, Ralph Morla, Ihosvany Castenadas and Cheyn Bartles, as well as the continued growth of returners such as Andy Epstein, Edward Schissler, Jorge Gonzalez and Alex Hernanadez. Younger guys like Tyler Evans and Roberto Pena are expected to earn larger roles as well.

Success is something that this program has enjoyed its fair share of, with three state titles and a National Championship won during Evans’ 12-year tenure. But as the current players look around the team’s impressive home facility, they realize that none of their names are listed anywhere. They hope in the months ahead that their path will take them directly into their own chapter of program lore.

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