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Diary of a Senior Season

B bigjd39100+ posts
As is customary, I keep a diary of the highschool baseball season from the first preseason game until the last out. Sophomore year read like a fairy tale as John Jr. won a spot in the starting lineup and the team rolled to a state championship. Junior year had it's drama also, until a loss against Nova in the regional final kept St. Thomas from another trip to Tampa. This year I will share my diary with Highschool Baseball Web.
It didn't seem like a pre-season game. Piper and St. Thomas wouldn't draw much of a crowd on a Thursday night during the season. But the bleachers behind the plate were packed and the rest of the crowd scattered down the left field line. Piper had a respectable season last year and a number of starters were returning. But what caught everyone by surprise was the number of MLB scouts at the game. I counted 27.
John Jr. met Dennis Raben on the first day of school. The pair hit it off, became good friends, and started talking about what it would be like hitting 3 and 4 in the St. Thomas lineup. They would get a preview during an abbreviated fall season. It was scary.
I knew Dennis signed a letter of intent with UM so I was cautious when he said he pitched. There was no way I was going to throw him more than a couple of innings in a fall season game. After just a couple of innings I thought, "That's our big game guy".
Dennis hadn't made much of a splash in Broward. The 2004 season was packed with as much talent as the county had seen in years. A few junior players were flying under the radar. Raben was one of them.
Being at St. Thomas would make Dennis a better player. The strict discipline, intensive conditioning, and the championship enviroment were a perfect fit for a kid we all began to realize was not only a great player, but a fine young man.
Coach Lawson doesn't like the fuss. It causes distractions. He's intensely focused on getting to the finals. He did what he has done the past two pre-seasons; took a look at five different pitchers, and played the bulk of his 30 man roster. Piper played like it was the state final, leaving their starters in the entire game. We lost 3-2.
John looked great behind the plate, throwing out Jason Tenyck, one of the county's premier basestealers. No one else ran after that. He went 0 for 2 at the plate before being removed.
The boys were dissappointed. Piper was a win if the starters play the entire game. They like to puff out their chests and let everyone know who's better. Coach Lawson prefers a more humbling approach.
The Douglas game Saturday morning was no different. To the dismay of the MLB scouts who watched him hit BP at St. Thomas and then traveled to the other end of the county to see him play, Dennis Raben wasn't in the starting lineup. In fact, it was a total bust. David DiNatale was nursing an injury and did'nt play for Douglas.
The highly touted Douglas team, with their ace on the mound, came back from a 3-0 deficit only after St. Thomas put their reserves in.
John went 1 for 3 in the DH role, collecting a double in the middle of St. Thomas' 3 run rally.
The scouts, who were literally in line to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Raben, were somewhat satisfied when Raben entered the game at first base in the forth inning.
The conclusion after two pre-season games. This is the best St. Thomas team since I've been at the school. Raben will equal Sean Gallagher on the mound. He throws 89-90 from the left side and is very efficient. The rest of the pitching is good enough to get us to the promised land. Junior Ryan Ditthart is the real deal. He hits everything hard. He collected 4 hits in the two games. The middle of the order is loaded with Raben, Daly, Ditthart and Cardullo. It looks like it's going to be a fun season.
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B bigjd39100+ posts
Game day at St. Thomas. Tues, Feb. 22. John gets out of bed a little earlier on game day. He's methodical in how he prepares his equipment and other belongings. It'd be nice if it was like this with everything. Today everything counts--the season opener against Austin Jacobs and Taravella. There's a hearty breakfast, a trip to the chapel for a prayer, team dinner at 2 pm. Light practice at home, bus trip. Game time 7 pm. Everything like clockwork.
It's an 11-3 win for St. Thomas. Raben looked good in his first start at STA. 3 for 3 and a win on the mound. John is off to a good start, 2 for 3, with a double, 2 RBI. Next, the vaunted Douglas team, Thursday night.
B bigjd39100+ posts
David DiNatale looked every bit the All American when he crushed a 400 ft HR that hit the scoreboard beyond the leftfield fence with a loud thump that ehcoed through the park. He was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI in Douglas' 7-4 win over St. Thomas.
St. Thomas pitchers looked rough, hitting 5 batters and walking another half-dozen. If not for a couple of stellar defensive plays, the score would have been a lot worse.
Today was the day 150 lb. senior STA shortstop Mike Marseco was officially discovered with the Red Sox being the first to introduce themselves to the Marseco family.
John had another solid performance, lining a double into the left-center gap in the first to drive in STA's first run. Defensively he through out a basestealer, was in the middle of a 5-2-3 double play, and saved a run with a great block and tag at home.
B bigjd39100+ posts
You know what, you're probably right. Nobody wants to read this #@%*. And besides, it's becoming a little bit burdensome to write these posts. For the record, I only meant "equal Sean Gallagher" in the sense that he's our ace who will pitch our big games. I meant no disrespect to the 2003 team when I said "this is the best St. Thomas team since I've been at the school." It's probably a little early to make that kind of a statement. My bad. So this is it--I'm done. Here's the last post on this site...

Junior Corey Weech pitched a 2-0 shutout against Cooper City today. John knocked in both runs. Have a nice season everyone. JD signing off.
F fabeets10+ posts
So, are you going to let one naysayer knock you off stride? One of the best things about the internet is that it provides a forum for such things as a Dad's senior year diary of his son's baseball career. You are (hopefully) going to write it anyway; why not share it? If other people don't want to read it that is their prerogative.

After watching today's STA-CCHS game I have to agree with you; this St. Thomas team (and I have been watching them for about 8 years) is superior, especially in the field, to the 4A state championship team. I mean absolutely no disrespect to any of the kids on that 4A team. I know many of them, and rooted for them, (as I did their predecessors and do their successors). In my opinion, having an opinion about the relative merits of different teams from different times is one of the things that makes being a baseball fan so enjoyable. I have no interest, (nor, I suspect, do most of the rest of us) in any internecine squabbles involving St. Thomas, its coaches, and so on. What does interest me is the confidence and epsrit de corps that St. Thomas always has. However this is achieved, it should be respected, so I will continue to read your posts if you choose to make them.

As for today's game... I have watched about 14 games so far this year involving many different Broward/Dade County teams. This was the first "game" I have seen. It was the third game in 5 days for both teams; neither had their big guns on the mound; the weather was bad; and, under threatening skies, a blustering wind blew variably in, out, and across the field. As an unexpected, afternoon, tournament game, there may have been more scouts in attendance than parents.

I sat for the entire game with a coach from the Northeast. As he watched, each team had 5 hits and 1 error. Each team seemed to get the leadoff hitter on almost every inning before the defense came into play. St. Thomas had at least 3 and possibly 4 DP's, (I lost count) while Cooper had at least 2. Mike Marseco, the St. Thomas SS, was not only involved in all the DP's, he made some spectacular plays to keep runners off base. St. Thomas scored its runs on a misplayed bunt and a misplayed base hit to center. (The line drive was by Mr. Daly Jr., I believe, and would have scored 1 run regardless of the misplay). Dennis Raben was next up after the line drive and hit a towering drive to the right field wall about 370 from home plate. The Cooper city outfielder caught the ball against the fence and threw it, in the air, to third base to catch the runner tagging up from second, for the 3d out. And so it went. One great play after the next. At games end my friend left shaking his head, saying that there was no way his kids could do what the boys on the field did today. Offense is one thing, but defense...

There is a saying the kids use, "it's all good." Writing about your feelings, and your son's travails as you go through the process is all good. For those who have no interest in the "senior digest" so be it. But, if you post it, they (and I) will read. Good luck, whatever you decide!!
B bigjd39100+ posts
Your support inspires me. I can't thank you enough. The purpose of the diary was not only to follow the travails of the STA team as it moves through the 2005 team but to possibly gain exposure for highschool players at STA and the teams they play. Fabeets, you have done more in a single post than I could have accomplished the entire season. Thank you. I did not have the opportunity to see the Cooper City game as I was working, trying to scrape up next month's tuition payment for the 2 kids I have at STA. I did get cell updates. As I write this post this morning I have one thing to add: After complaining about the Sun-Sentinel's high-school baseball coverage last year to a writer there, my son's name does not appear in the box scores. Just a coincidence? I subcribed to the Miami Herald for the baseball season this year and his name has been printed under key performers in two of the 3 games this year. There are gatekeepers all around us whose motives I can't comprehend. The internet is just one way of skirting them. Coaches read these pages, and as I have found, there are many people on this site willing to help young players. In fact, I'm astounded at the number of people who have stepped to the forefront in helping me. Especially Coach Pincus. You'll hear from me again, I promise. JD
B bigjd39100+ posts
When he swings and misses you see the bat speed. Some say he overswings. The radar gun read 89 when he drove a rising line drive past the centerfielder. The ball touched down and one-hopped against the fence at the 380 sign. John eased into second with a standup double.
The scout put down his gun, picked up his notebook and wrote, "John Daly # 10."
It's nothing new to see scouts around STA. The school has had it's share of notable draft picks. Chad Mattolla was the highest Broward pick ever, a first rounder out of college. Troy Cameron became the first Broward player to be selected in round one out of highschool. Tyler Greene, Sean Gallagher, and Chris Niesel would follow. There were numerous others, some who are still playing professionally at different levels. This year's gem is Dennis Raben.
They were all there watching Sean Gallagher pitch last year. But it's different when your watching a pitcher. You get the radar gun out and you chart the pitches. You look for command, presence, stamina, demeanor and all the other intagibles that go along with the live fastball and the sharp breaking pitch. When he leaves the mound you take a break, BS with the other guys, and wait for your boy to come back out. The best scouts sit alone, talk to no one, and watch everyone. Their field of vision doesn't blur below six feet and they find guys that others miss. You've heard the story: "I went to look at this guy and I found this other guy."
No one would have written John's name down last year. He was a slow footed outfielder who DH'd half the time. But now he's a lefthanded hitting catcher with quick feet, a good arm, and a fast bat. He's 5'8" with thick muscle around the haunches. When he stands in line during the national anthem you notice the width of his upper body compared to his peers. He's 18 years old and 185 pounds. If you have vision you think 10 to 12 lbs more muscle and take it from there.
Good people have told me that with John's swing, he can hit anybody. They are consumate professionals who have made baseball their life. They have pitched him to some of the top programs in the country, staking their reputation on my son's ability to hit a baseball. They don't patronize; there's too much at stake. They've seen him play and they've made the calls. But nobody ever comes to see him play in a game that means something. They simply don't have the resources. So you have to go to them. You go, you pay money. They see a kid who's 5'8", runs a slow 60, nice grades, swings a good bat pretty good. End of story. No phone calls, no interest. Thank you, have a nice day.
So when the scout wrote John's name down, a door may have opened just a crack. It could slam shut just as quick. We waited for the July 1 calls that never came. It hardens you; puts a chip on your shoulder. Maybe it's better that way. Strong wind make strong tree.
B bigjd39100+ posts
At 5:21 am my alarm clock sounds. John is already out the door. 6:00 am bp and some running. With the 15 minute rule, you have to be there by 5:45. The schedule is rigorous. He won't be home until 7 pm. Take a shower, eat, do some homework, go to bed. It's a light week at STA. Plenty of time to sharpen the saw. No games until Thurs.
B bigjd39100+ posts
It was one of those games you don't forget. When things happen that stick in your mind. Everyone knows who Robby Conver is; he's played all over the place and with just about everyone in the county. He was always the smallest kid on the team, but he was always on the team because he was, to put it simply, a good baseball player. He could make a play and get a hit. Or, as a good friend often says to me: "he can hit, he can throw, and he can catch."
It's not unusual to find yourself routing for a kid on the other team. You get to know kids through the years, you get to like them, and you always wish them the best. So when Robby came out throwing all kinds of stuff from the left side, I was kind of enjoying it. Mid 80's fastball that was jumping all over the place, a curve that broke a good foot and half, and a floating change.
STA picked up 9 hits along the way but Robby hung in there until the 7th and kept his team in the game. When he walked off the mound with one out in the 7th, the score was 3-1 St. Thomas. I couldn't help but applaud. Way to go Robby.
Robby's not so small anymore. Probably 5-9 now. And he is his team's leader. They'll beat some teams this year because Robby is there. They could've beat St. Thomas tonight if not for a couple of those moments that stick in your head.
DJ Polistina made a spectacular diving catch deep in the left-center gap with two outs and the tying and go ahead run in scoring position.
In their final at bat, Northeast put the tying runs on first and second with no outs. With Dennis Raben still on the mound, the batter attempted a sac bunt and missed. John Daly fired to second and picked the runner off for the first out. The batter struck out for the second out. On the first pitch to the next batter, Raben's curve bounced in the dirt. Daly blocked it, and seeing the runner take an extra step towards second, he fired to first picking him off also. Game Over.
B bigjd39100+ posts
Friday night under the lights at STA. First home game of the season. Perfect weather. What a difference a day makes as far as the weather is concerned. There was a nice crowd on hand to watch the Raiders take an 8-2 lead over a young American Heritage squad and then barely hold on, winning 8-7. Steve Cardullo continues to bang the baseball, hitting a towering homerun past the portables beyond the left-field fence. Coach Lawson continued tinkering with the lineup, giving players an opportunity to show their stuff. If you've watched Lawson the last couple of years you know that's how it goes. As a parent it's difficult. Your kid is in there and you think he did a great job and then next game he's on the bench. You wonder what he did wrong and you wonder if he'll ever play again. It's nerve racking. John's in the lineup every game, even when he's not catching, he's the DH. But the younger kids who are competing for spots are getting bounced in and out. I watched one parent who brought a grandparent to the game, probably with the expectation that her son would be in the lineup, since he had performed well in previous games. I couldn't help but feel for her when her son did not appear in the game. Sometimes highschool baseball just isn't fun. But I believe in what Coach Lawson does. It's not my style, but then again I've never won anything. He'll take a game to the brink of defeat, surely knowing that he could make a change to stop the bleeding and shut the door. But he doesn't do it. He'll give a kid the opportunity to get it done. If he fails, he fails. If he succeeds, the player gets a little better. If you want to win that bad this early, you might miss something that will help you later. Or you might tax a player early, leaving him with nothing in the tank later. He keeps everyone on edge, and when you operate on the edge, you find the players that can handle the heat. Those are the players that take you all the way. Of course, I'm only speculating on his motives. I could be completely wrong. All I know is he gets you to the edge of the season. When a lot of teams are done, STA is still playing. I get the feeling when crunch time comes the Raiders will answer the call.
B bigjd39100+ posts
Last night's 10-0 win over Cooper City says more about the level of competition in Broward than anything else. It is becoming clear that there are only 4, maybe 5 top caliber teams and a lot of sub-par pitching. Senior Anthony Cruz pitched well in completing the shutout. STA is now 5 and 1. As usual, the schedule will give a better indication of just how good STA is. With games against, Cypress Bay, Nova, Cardinal Gibbons (2 games), Port St. Lucie, Pace, Arch Bishop McCarthy, Barron Collier, Miami Columbus, and Douglas, the team will get it's chance to shine. The A-game has yet to be played. The A game is defined as our best pitcher against another top quality team's best pitcher. If you can win in that situation you are a legitimate contender for a state championship. It's a late season thing. You want that to click in the final 8 to 10 games. Our last 4 games of the season are Nova, Miami Columbus, Cardinal Gibbons, and Douglas. John was officially 0 for 1 with an RBI on a sac fly and a base on balls. He nailed his fourth consecutive base stealer and has now played all six games without an error or passed ball. Meanwhile the questions continue: "So, what's John's plans? Where's he gonna play ball?" I hear it a minimum of 5 times a night at every game. The answer is always the same. "Right now it doesn't look like he's going to be playing anywhere. Nobody's interested." To those who know John and have watched him play over the years, the reaction is always the same. Disbelief. Personally, I'm beginning to accept the idea that this could be his final season so I'm actually beginning to enjoy it. There is still hope that something dramatic could happen, but hope, as nice as it is, has to be tempered to avoid dissappointment. A friend recently said to me: "Good things happen to good people." I keep playing that line over and over in my head. I believe it with every bit of my heart. But now may not be the time, but the time will come, and frankly, baseball might not have anything to do with it.
B bigjd39100+ posts
A Tale of Two Catchers. It was the summer of 1997 and the place was an old stadium called Floyd Hull in Fort Lauderdale. The event was the Big League World Series, which attracted some of the best teams from around the country. I had watched this young man through his senior season and was convinced he was a major league prospect. At 5'11" and 210 lbs. he was thick as a brick, strong as an ox, and tough as nails. Through 10 games I had not recorded a game pop time over 2, and had not seen a single defensive mistake. Late in games he would shed the gear and close for his team, lighting up the gun at 90+. His home to first speed was 4.2, well above average for a catcher. He rarely struck out, hit the ball long, and had a nose for RBI's. And so this would be his chance to shine in front of college recruiters and MLB scouts. I took my place among about 15 MLB scouts who sat in a cage above one of the dugouts. My guy was listed in the program as a catcher. He was in the starting lineup in rightfield. The kid who was catching was a good player who I had seen frequently while scouting two pitchers from his school. He was good, but he wasn't close to my guy. There was a light, misty rain falling not hard enough to stop the game. With a runner on third and less than two outs, the batter lifted a medium depth pop fly to my guy in right. This would be his time to shine. He would fire a shot from his cannon arm and nail the runner for an inning ending double play. The eyes of the scouts would light up and some of them would scribble his name in their books. I knew it and my guy knew it. My heart was pounding waiting for the ball to drop in his glove. He set up nicely under the ball, gloved it, crow-hopped, and unleashed his throw. The throw sailed high into the air and flew over the stadium wall behind third base. Not into the crowd, but out of the stadium. The large crowd erupted in what sounded like laughter and some of the scouts beside me chuckled. My guy walked back to somebody else's position with his back to the crowd and his head down. I had never felt the pain of another person more deeply than I felt his pain at that moment. The ball was wet, it could have happened to anyone, but it happened to him--at the wrong time. I turned to the other scouts and said, "he's not an outfielder, he's a catcher." One of the scouts answered, "Why isn't he catching?" I said, "Ask the coach."
The player later went on to play briefly at a community college where the coach, upon seeing his cannon arm, decided he was a pitcher. But he wasn't a very effective pitcher because his 90+ fastball was flat and hittable. His mechanics produced what was essentially a great throw for a catcher, but not so great for a pitcher. The other catcher who started in front of him is still playing baseball in a minor league organization. So to all those who may wonder what my motivations are, I say this: I love my son deeply, but I'm honest about his talent, and confident in my ability to judge it.
B bigjd39100+ posts
Port St. Lucie moved to 8-0 with a 4-2 win of STA yesterday. Port St. Lucie pitcher, Phil Rorabaugh was the hardest throwing pitcher we have faced all year, lighting up the gun at 90 through 7 innings. Although we outhit St. Lucie 5-3, a three run homer in the first did us in. Dennis Raben showed everyone why MLB scouts are at every game by crushing a ball that traveled about 450 feet (yes, that was 450)for his first homerun of the season. Junior Corey Weech pitched well giving up only 3 hits. He was relieved by junior Alex Benson who pitched lights out. John Daly was 1 for 3. We face another 5A contender, Barron Collier tonight.
B bigjd39100+ posts
The Barron Colleir game was rained out, but was rescheduled for later in the season. Like St. Lucie, they're a top 5A contender that will test our metal. So it was Cardinal Gibbons at their place on Saturday morning. I'll be honest; if it wasn't for the money, I wouldn't go to work. It's tough getting cell updates from my wife. Here's how the updates went:

We're losing 3-1 and John was hit by a pitch.
John was hit by a pitch, again.
John grounded out to second.
John was hit by a pitch again. Can you believe it.
We're winning 9-5.
John struck out.
Game over, we won 12-5.

From my perspective in the cab of my truck, that's how it went. My wife's next call came about an hour later. She asked, "How long before you get home? John said he's going to shave his head." When I arrived home, John had shaved his hair up both sides of his head, leaving just a thick crop on top. I asked, "Is everything OK?"
"Not really" he answered. "I need you to finish this." I said, "I think you need a professional."
We had a long talk before he finally decided to go to the barber. Here was my message to him. "No matter how hard you work, or how much blood and sweat you put into something, don't ever expect a single ounce of appreciation or respect from anyone except the people who truly and honestly love you. You do what you do for your own self-respect and sometimes that's a very lonely place. I've worked over 70 hours a week for the last 20 years building a business that's made some people a lot of money and have never heard so much as a thank you. I got over that about 10 years ago when I realized that earning the love and respect of your family is all that really matters. That fulfils me and in time it will fulfil you."
I won't elaborate on why he was feeling as bad as he was, because as I told him, no one really cares about how he feels. Anyway, he went to the barber and came back looking like he's heading off to war. Maybe he is.
B bigjd39100+ posts
Behind the numbers. Some of you have asked privately for John's numbers. So here they are: 32 plate appearances, officially 7 for 20, .350, with 2 doubles, 5 singles, 6 RBI. He has struck out 4 times, hit into 1 double play, has 4 base on balls, was hit by pitch 5 times. He has 2 sac flys, and his on base average is .500 on 16 for 32.
Florida Baseball GuyFlorida Baseball Guy500+ posts
I consider myself to be a professional writer. (I'm not sure what my readers thought over the years, but that would be another topic. LOL)

I have really enjoyed John's senior diary. I think the writing has been good and interesting. I have thought some of the passages were actually too short and I was hoping he would expand on them. This diary is a nice touch for this site.

I hope John continues them throughout the season.

IMHO
B bigjd39100+ posts
I first saw this kid at a batting cage in Margate. He was easy 6'5" and about 230. Nothing but lean muscle. I couldn't believe my eyes. Pure, unadulterated power. No steroids, just great genes. I asked him where he played. He was going into his junior year at Coconut Creek High. He had just turned 16. He said he was playing for a local Connie Mack team that was being coached by a guy I knew from the local Khoury League. I called the guy and got him to fax me a schedule. I went out to a couple of games. That's all it took. He hit a couple of balls well over 400 feet and ran the bases like a deer. The following season I watched his highschool games. Again, after a few games it was obvious to even the casual observer that this guy had prime time power. He was as I say, "a no-brainer." He played the outfield where he didn't look to comfortable, but he closed games for his team with a 90 plus fastball. No question about his power, no question about his arm strength, no question about his speed. The Internet wasn't as prevalent back then so the only real list was Baseball America. He was nowhere to be found. He put up big numbers his senior year and earned 6A all-state honors. But pro scouts weren't interested. I was. I had submitted a report during his junior season and had dropped the name on other more experienced scouts to guage if there was any interest. There was none. Frankly, I was wondering what I wasn't seeing. Before the draft his senior year, I interviewed Brad Eldred. He was not only a likable young man, he wanted to play baseball more than anything else. He loved the game. He said he had been to a couple of pro workouts but no one showed interest. Again, I was at a befuddled. What was I missing? By now he was over 245 and still growing. He said he didn't turn 18 until July. I was completely honest with him. I was the low guy on the totem pole and there was a good chance that nothing would come of our meeting. He told me that FIU had some interest and that he might be going down there to play. He went undrafted in June. At FIU he did big things, setting the FIU career home run record. After his senior year he was drafted in the 6th round by the Pirates. He is now on the 40 man protected roster. A couple of years later the big talk was Neil Jenkins from Dwyer High in Palm Beach Gardens. I went to watch him play with the image of Brad Eldred still etched in my mind. Jenkins went with the 17th pick in the first round. He's a great player, but no better than Eldred. So what's the point? If you can miss Eldred, you can miss anyone. This passage was for the guy who told me to keep it short. And to bighit, if you see Brad in Bradenton, give him my best.
B bigjd39100+ posts
The boys played no games this past week. The Catholic Schools take Easter break next week. STA travels to Orlando to compete in the Catholic Schools Challenge at Bishop Moore High. Their first opponent will be Pace on Tuesday night. They are ranked # 1 in 3A, and could be the best team in the state. There is rumor that we will face their best pitcher who throws in the mid 90's, and is possibly a first round pick. I won't be there. Have to work. It was a nice week. Early Morning workouts and a couple of intrasquad games that pit the A-team against the B-team (always highly competitive). After practice the boys will head down to the beach for some fun. John hasn't been going out much. It seems he's taking the time to spend some time at home and recharge.
B bigjd39100+ posts
The week ended with host Nova High defeating a solid Piper High team 4-1 to win the Titan Spring Classic. John and his teamates went down to the championship game to get a good look at Nova who is ranked # 2 in the Miami Herald 5A poll, and rightfully so. Billy Block, who the dairy farmers will be visiting at the end of the year, was relatively quiet after hitting 4 HR's and knocking in 10, during the tourney. He's hitting over .600 and is on pace to eclipse Warren McFadden's numbers from last year. The kid is a baseball animal who will be wildly successful at FAU.
Nova is a team we may have to beat to get to the state tourney (they beat us 7-4 last year in the regional championship game). The likely scenario is Nova playing Barron Collier before we see them. We will play both teams during the regular season. Unlike last year, I don't see us throwing our ace against them during the regular season. Sean Gallagher pitched a gem in defeating Anthony Swarzak and Nova 2-1 during the regular season last year, but the game may have given Nova hitters a good enough look to help them in the regional game. We beat Barron Collier at their place last year 3-2, to reach the regional final against Nova. It may seem premature to talk about such things, but if you're a Raider you think championship all year long, no matter what sport; even water polo. It is part of the STA culture. Everything you do is done to win it all; to get the ring. It's intoxicating for the dedicated athlete. I remember when we first went to orientation and saw the all the championship banners hanging from the gym rafters and an oversized trophy case jammed packed with awards. I thought, this is where we want to be. In an editorial to the Sun-Sentinel rebutting a writer who accused STA of recruiting I wrote "the STA tuition payment goes out before the mortgage" because I'd rather live in a trailer and drive a geo then send my kids to any other school. Athletes go to STA because they are athletes, not because somebody is giving them something for nothing.
Anyway, act 2 starts this week in Orlando. I have a feeling we are going to do well up there. Just a feeling.
B bigjd39100+ posts
Things are getting interesting. Baseball America has ranked Pace # 1 nationally. Tuesday's matchup of two UM signees, Tommy Mendoza and Dennis Raben, is A game at it's best. Mendoza throws 93-95. Raben could possibly be UM's starting first baseman as early as next season. The lefty throwing Raben has been hitting 89-90 on the gun. Both are projected to go in rounds 1-3 of the MLB draft.
The player to watch Tuesday is junior STA thirdbaseman Steven Cardullo. If your a college coach or MLB scout don't go to the concession stand when he comes to bat.
B bigjd39100+ posts
I drove down to STA with John early this morning, dropping him off at 7:30 AM for an early morning practice before the trip to Orlando. John calls road trips "business trips." It's a frame of mind that eliminates the distractions of being on the road and keeps the focus on the mission. He's always played well the further he is from home. The trip's focus is squarely on Pace. The A game will be played for the first time this season. It will tell us where we are as a team, and where we need to go. The game is scheduled for 1 PM Tuesday. Unfortunately, I won't be there. Have to work. But I'm sure the local papers will give extra coverage to the game and of course I'll get cell updates. The boys haven't said much about the rest of the tourney. In fact, all they've talked about is Pace. Right now, what happens on Tuesday is all that matters. John said, "So I guess if we beat Pace we're the best team in the country, Right?" I laughed. He wasn't serious either. It's an inside-the-loop-attitude that takes a jab at pollsters. Pace is a great team. They have 9 (that's right--9) players already committed to top college programs around the state and country. Pretty good when there are only 8 non-pitching positions. But there is only one championship to be won-a state championship. And having been there I can say this: You have to be really good, you have to be a little lucky, and you can't make a single mistake. That's how it happens. It's really difficult to steam roll to a baseball championship no matter how good you are. More often then not, the games are decided by less than 2 runs. When you get down to the last few teams, anyone can win. And that's where you want to be come May, the last few teams. Many people say that if it didn't rain we wouldn't have beat Fernandina Beach in 2003 for the state title. But guess what? It did rain and we won. And we won because they couldn't hit our best pitcher. And we won because we scored 4 runs and they scored 3. And we won because James McOwen runs a sub 7 60. And we won because they're centerfielder misplayed a line drive single by John Jr. who hit line drive singles all year. And we won because of smart baserunning late in the game. That's how you win, and that's why we won and no one can ever take that ring away. In 83 years of state tourney play, only 8 teams from Broward have won a state title in baseball. STA has won 2 of those. Pollsters can do all the polling they want, but down on the field none of it matters.
B bigjd39100+ posts
St. Thomas' Dennis Raben won the Home Run Derby on the opening of the Catholic Schools Challenge at Arch Bishop Moore High in Orlando. Raben needed just one dinger in the final round to upstage Kevin Martin of Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale. Each hitter gets 5 outs in the final round. Fatigue was obvious after both players had lit it up in the qualifying round. Raben hit 9 homers and Martin 6 in the qualifying round that affords each hitter 10 outs. The two big left-handed hitting firstbaseman put on quite a show to kick off the tourney. Way to go guys! Bracket play starts today.
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There was no let down after knocking off Pace. STA beat Miami LaSalle 10-0 in 6 innings as junior Corey Weech picked up his 3rd win of the season. After Pace dropped it's second game to Tampa Jesuit it's starting to look a lot like STA and Jesuit in the final on Friday. Of course we'll have to get past a fine Bishop Moore today. What's helping us is our pitching depth. We have 4 quality starters that can go seven. Senior Anthony Cruz will pitch today and Junior Alex Benson will pitch the final--if we get there. In another developement down here in Broward, American Heritage dropped Miami Brito (ranked # 1 in 1A) with a 2-1 win in Plantation. Brito was previously undefeated. After John's game winning RBI against Pace, his cell phone hasn't stopped ringing. He evened recieved a congratulatory call from athletic director George Smith. As usual, the Miami Herald gave us the big bold type--the Sun Sentinel gave us a paragraph. John is starting to come out of a mini funk, hitting the ball hard twice yesterday, picking up a long double and an RBI yesterday.
C canes10+ posts
Bigjd39
I am a local high school baseball coach in Pembroke Pines. I have been reading your entries and have noticed that John needs a place to play next year. We run workouts on some Sundays throughout the season for some small colleges. If you are interested send me an e-mail: hstein10@hotmail.com

Great job beating Pace
B bigjd39100+ posts
While we didn't bring back a trophy, the trip to Orlando was a success. We went 3-1 and beat # 1 ranked Pace to start the tourney. We come back confident that our A game can beat anybody. Our record stands at 10-3. We have played only 1 team with a losing record. Our losses were Douglas, Bishop Moore, and Port St. Lucie who have a combined 38 wins so far this season. Bishop Moore, whose record is 13-2 beat us 6-0 to deny us a shot at the Tournament Championship. It was a twi-light zone night where nothing went right. It happens. The schedule does not back off in the second half. Come playoff time, we will have played most of the top ranked teams in the state. Nova, Cypress Bay, Miami Columbus...ect. I will go so far as to say that this IS the toughest schedule STA has seen in my time at the school. Our toughest district competitor, Northeast, continues to win on the left arm of Robbie Conver. They are now 8-5, having beat a couple of quality teams. In a way, we're glad they're playing well; it doesn't allow us to let our guard down. That's how you get knocked out; when you don't see it coming.
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Best Moment of the Tourney -- Aside from the big win over Pace, the best moment of the tourney was when Embassy Suites management informed Coach Lawson that he must report to the front desk and settle up a bill for damage to several rooms his players were in. He was told if he didn't settle the bill, the players would be arrested because they were all over 18 years of age. Coach Lawson entered the lobby like a bull, stunned to see most of his starters standing at the front desk. April fools Coach Lawson.
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It is through the game of baseball that we are priveliged to meet many fine people. The Freeman's are one such baseball family. Just about 10 years ago the Freemans moved from San Diego and took up residence in Parkland Florida. Lynn enrolled her daughter Alex at St. Andrew Catholic School in Coral Springs where my two oldest children John and Angela went to school. My wife Marie volunteered as a New Parent Mom. Her role was to help new arrivals understand school procedures and parent responsibilities. Lynn was grateful for my wife's help and asked THE question: "Do you guys like baseball?"
It turned out that her husband was Orrin Freeman, who at that time, was the scouting director for the Florida Marlins. As a gesture of gratitude, she offered us tickets to a Marlins game.
We have been friends with the Freeman family ever since. Orrin remains an MLB scout for the Marlins in charge of evaluating major leaguers for possible trades. He was instrumental in building two World Championship teams, presiding over one of the best farm systems in the majors, and is one of the only execs to survive 3 different owners. Come October there is a good chance Orrin could have his 3rd World Series ring.
You would think that a man like Orrin would be pretentious, stand offish. He's not. He's a kind and wonderful man who has enriched our lives through his generosity, more than willing to give to others what the game of baseball has given to him.
Orrin, Lynn and Alex moved back to San Diego a couple of years back but they were back in town this week; and it was great to see them again, to go to a ballgame, and to just hang around and talk baseball. Orrin treats John Jr. like his own son. He has taken him in the clubhouse, introduced to managers, ballplayers, GM's, and scouts. He has taken him to work out with players and has to come to watch him play every chance he gets. I want to take this opportunity to thank him publicly for all the help, encouragement, and knowlege he has given John Jr. and for that matter, myself. He is one of the finest gentleman I have ever met.
B bigjd39100+ posts
I want to feel good about the win at Cypress Bay. It's a team thing. You can't be selfish. But when your kid has gone 1 for his last 15 and then K's with bases loaded and two outs you start to feel it. It isn't like he's seeing anything new; this is his third year in the middle of the lineup. He's never been this bad this long and at times he looks just plain ugly. He starting to become a glaring hole in the 3 spot. Sure, he's hit into some hard luck, but he's also missing hittable pitches. It's not like him. He won't see any time against Stranahan on Thursday, and I don't know what the plans are for Friday against a tough opponent, Arch Bishop McCarthy. He hasn't been getting a lot of time behind the plate, being put in the DH spot, a position he has never been comfortable with. But you can't make excuses, you just gotta keep going out there and hacking until they take the bat out of your hands. Anyway, with that off my chest, it was a great sight to see senior Matt Milner hit a towering drive over the right center fence for his first homerun at STA. The senior first baseman was inadvertently cut from the team as a junior but, at urging of teamates, he was subsequently invited back. He now starts at first when Dennis Raben pitches. Raben's back-to-back wins against Pace and Cypress Bay speak for themselves. Both squads are loaded with talented players and Raben made it look easy in shutting them down. Cypress Bay didn't come out fighting after a big district loss to Flanagan last night and one wonders if The Lightning has lost a bit of its charge. But I wouldn't count them out. The team is too good top to bottom. It could be just a mid season swoon. We should get the BIG BOLD TYPE tomorrow morning, and rightfully so. But don't look for anyone around the state to start giving us our due, which is a good thing; it's always better to fly under the radar.
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After struggling for the better part of 2 weeks, John went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI against Stranahan. When you're going bad, you don't care who you get the hits against; you just take whatever you can get. I didn't get to see the game but John's beaming smile when he walked in the house was enough for me. We beat Stranahan 15-4 at their place. Stranahan, a district foe, is a one of a number of schools in the eastern half of Broward whose baseball programs have fallen on hard times. It's a matter of demographics. Young families live in the western suburbs of Coral Springs, Plantation, Parkland, Weston, and Pembroke Pines. Branch Rickey theorized that you find "quality in quantity" and that is certainly the case with highschool baseball in Broward. The top public school baseball programs are all in the western part of Broward. I choose my words carefully, using the word "baseball" as an adjective, because many eastern Broward schools systematically crush the basketball (both girls and boys) and football teams in western Broward. It begs the question: Why won't these extraordinary athletes from the other side of the tracks pick up a baseball bat? A whole other subject for sure. (If you feel the need to respond to this subject, please start a new post) On another note: John has decided not to play summer baseball with the Florida Pokers. There are other obligations and commitment that won't allow him to fully dedicate his summer to the Pokers. Coach Larry Collins was sympathetic and wished us the best. He handled the situation professionally and has gained my respect and admiration. Tomorrow we play Arch Bishop McCarthy who are coming off a tough defeat at the hands of district rival Pace. It's Friday Night Lights at St. Thomas. The team is playing well, getting noticed, and feeling confident. The Arch Bishop game will put us at the top of the sports page on Saturday morning. Will we be emboldened, or will we be humbled? Either way, it's a good thing.
B bigjd39100+ posts
Something special happened last night at St. Thomas. You could feel it in the air after Arch Bishop’s Steve Fenton flied out to center to end the game with two runners on base. After Weech had just completed the gutsiest performance of the season he was embraced in front of the mound by senior catcher John Daly and then was mobbed by his teamates. Weech, who had undergone Tommy John surgery after his freshman year, had made it all the way back. This was more than just a mid-season win; it was that moment when it all comes together, when electricity runs through the team and resonates through the park.
Arch Bishop came out of the gate like a rodeo bull, scoring 4 runs on seven hits with a couple of dingers in just 3 innings. 4-1 Arch Bishop, STA’s only run coming on another monstrous blast off the bat of Dennis Raben. It could have been worse if Arch Bishop hadn’t run themselves out of a big rally--and if Michael Marseco wasn’t born with shortstop genes. Marseco turned an ordinary outfield relay throw into a spectacular play. On a play that your average shortstop would have wheeled and fired home, Marseco, in short right-center, wheeled a quarter turn and fired a strike to third, nailing the runner off the bag, and dropping the collective jaws below every set of eyes who saw him do it. He would later key a 4 run, go-ahead rally with an RBI single, and field flawlessly at least 4 sharply hit balls that had Arch Bishop hitters shaking their heads. At some point the rest of the baseball world is going to realize that this kid is something special.
But perhaps the most heartwarming moment of the game occurred in the bottom of the third with two outs and Dennis Raben standing on second representing the go ahead run. Facing Arch Bishop ace Danny Farqhar, Kevin Jones, the seldom used catcher whose highschool career has been plagued by injury, slapped a line drive single over second to knock in the eventual winning run. I was literally choked up. If anyone deserved a moment like that, it’s Kevin Jones.
Meanwhile, Weech had settled down, giving up just one hit over the final 4 innings to nail down the win.
So where do we go from here? There are still some dragons left to slay–Nova, Miami Columbus, Douglas, and Robbie Conver. Ultimately, the season will rest squarely on the shoulders of Coach Lawson. He has been blessed with a talented team of fine, hardworking young men and an emerging chemistry that was clearly on display last night. He has been there before and he knows what it takes.
Once again, the Sun-Sentinel was at the wrong field last night. For some unknown reason, they like to follow Westminster. Have fun guys. The Miami Herald was at the right field, and with a photographer.
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