PASCO COUNTY PREP BASEBALL TEAM CAPSULES
The Tampa Tribune
Published: February 15, 2008
Bishop McLaughlin
COACH: Nick Rodriguez (Third season) DISTRICT: 2A-9 KEY LOSSES: None PLAYERS TO WATCH: Marcel Duarte CF, Sr.; Chris Overbeck P, Sr.; Mike Gonzalez SS, Jr.; T.J. Wharton 3B/C Fr. OUTLOOK: The Hurricanes had a strong season last year with their first senior class, but much of their talent is back this year, so they are looking for another successful campaign. Overbeck and Gonzalez were second-team all-state selections, and Duarte led the team in HRs and RBIs. The only drawback is that Bishop McLaughlin was bumped up a class and is in a tougher district with Calvary Christian, Indian Rocks Christian and Tampa Prep. The Hurricanes are fast, solid on defense and are looking to improve their consistency on offense.
Gulf
COACH: Shaun Weimer (Eighth season) DISTRICT: 4A-8 KEY LOSSES: Kyle Trouton, Richey Ardizzone PLAYERS TO WATCH: Chris Kaeler P/SS, Sr.; Matt Phillips 1B, Sr.; Tommy Pospisil SS, Sr.; Matt Falzarano OF, Sr.; Anthony Koutsonikas C/P, Sr.; Andrew Brouillard 1/3B, Jr.; Sean MacLean P/C, So. OUTLOOK: Gulf has a strong nucleus of seven seniors that played in the shadow of the Buccaneers' senior class last season. Weimer said he was disappointed in last year's 9-16 finish and hopes this year's seniors can get the job done. Team chemistry wasn't always there, so the Bucs are looking to improve that. They have some good arms, but Weimer said it is too early to tell how good they will be until they see how well they can hit.
Hudson
COACH: Vincent Ferlita (Fourth season) DISTRICT: 4A-8 KEY LOSSES: Sam Donataccio, Josh Russell PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jeff Cartegena SS, Sr.; Anthony Siciliano P/C, Jr.; Hunter Newton P/C/IF, Sr.; Brian Damm 3B, Sr.; Alan Gladieux CF, Sr. OUTLOOK: Ferlita says the Cobras are somewhere between young and experienced, but he does see them developing hunger. Hudson won only two games last season, but nearly 10 of its losses came after the Cobras had the lead late in the game. Hudson is looking to turn those games in its favor after a year's time and to gain some experience for next season, when the team will return about 70 percent of its players.
Land O' Lakes
COACH: Calvin Baisley (24th season) DISTRICT: 5A-7 KEY LOSSES: Matt Smith, Anthony Santos, Cameron Harris, Brad Patton PLAYERS TO WATCH: Trey Dahl P, Sr.; Matt Fuglefang P, Sr.; J.J. Downum OF, Jr.; J.D. Cook IF, Sr. OUTLOOK: The Gators are usually loaded, and this year their strength is on the mound. Dahl verbally committed to the University of South Florida during the holidays. Land O' Lakes is lacking consistency at the plate, however, and Baisley hopes the Gators can find a way to "scrap together four or five runs" to help support the pitching.
Mitchell
COACH: Scot Wilcox (First season) DISTRICT: 6A-7 KEY LOSSES: Spencer Williams PLAYERS TO WATCH: Patrick Schuster P, Jr.; Ryan Garten P, Sr.; Doug Burlett C/1B, Jr.; Zack Newman C, Sr.; Matt Hewitt P, Jr. OUTLOOK: Wilcox was the Mustangs' junior varsity coach before getting the varsity job this season, so there won't really be a period of adjustment for Mitchell with the new coach. The Mustangs are 18 deep, but they are in a tough district with Pinellas and Hillsborough teams. They plan to be competitive with those teams, and they hope to be one of the better teams in the county because of their strong pitching. Wilcox said the Mustangs struggled with hitting last year, but he expects them to improve on that and score more runs.
Pasco
COACH: Ricky Giles (15th season) DISTRICT: 4A-8 KEY LOSSES: Zach Maggard, Josh Schofield PLAYERS TO WATCH: Dustin Brown P/OF, Sr.; Aaron Brandt, P/1B, Sr.; Jacob Schrader SS, Jr.; Dylan Giella IF/P, Sr.; Henry Johnson IF/P, Jr.; Josh Johnson P/OF, Jr. OUTLOOK: Pasco lost a lot of leadership and talent when Maggard graduated, but as always, the Pirates have plenty of talent in the pipeline and should be a county power like they always are.
Ridgewood
COACH: Larry Beets (25th season) DISTRICT: 5A-7 KEY LOSSES: Ben Koenigsfeld, Justin Balk, Charlie Moore, Corey Patterson, Anthony Peche, J.J. Ward PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jay Mattos SS/P, Jr.; Mike Bavasis C, Jr.; John Collins RF, Sr.; Justin Chittum CF, Sr. OUTLOOK: The Rams are fairly young this season and took a big hit in losing last year's leading hitter and pitcher Koenigsfeld, who is playing baseball at West Point. Beets anticipates a season of his players learning the situational part of baseball and learning how to practice and work hard. Ridgewood has made the postseason seven years in a row.
River Ridge
COACH: Jack Homko (17th season) DISTRICT: 5A-7 KEY LOSSES: Robert Brady, Terry Newton, Steve Sonquist PLAYERS TO WATCH: Keith Maynard C/P, Sr.; Seth Lyons P/OF, Sr.; Tommy Rutledge P/1B, Jr. OUTLOOK: Homko says the Royal Knights have solid pitching that he believes will keep them in most of their games. They don't have a lot of power at the plate, but they are strong on defense and have one of the area's hardest throwers in Lyons.
Sunlake
COACH: Billy Garcia (First season) DISTRICT: 4A-8 KEY LOSSES: First year PLAYERS TO WATCH: N/A OUTLOOK: Most of Sunlake's teams have had a similar fate up to this point, struggling in their first seasons. The baseball team, like all the others, will be building for the future, though the Seahawks did get a big 11-1 win against Wiregrass Ranch in a preseason game.
Wesley Chapel
COACH: Chuck Yingling (First season) DISTRICT: 5A-7 KEY LOSSES: None PLAYERS TO WATCH: Brett Lee P/OF, Sr.; Jeremy Johnson CF, Sr.; Ed Boyle C, Sr.; George Clark 3B, Sr. OUTLOOK: The Wildcats return two of their best players in Lee, also the team's leader, and Johnson. Yingling sees a lot of the players have a lot to learn, so he expects Wesley Chapel to start slowly and be able to challenge by the end of the season.
Wiregrass Ranch
COACH: Kristopher Parrish (Second season) DISTRICT: 4A-8 KEY LOSSES: None PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mike Hamilton IF, Jr., Tyler Grimes OF/P, Jr.; Abel Cubero P, Jr. OUTLOOK: Wiregrass is a young team that gained a lot of experience last season. That should pay off this season as the Bulls continue to build their program.
Zephyrhills
COACH: Bruce Cimorelli (24th season) DISTRICT: 4A-8 KEY LOSSES: Geoff Parker, Dylan Giella PLAYERS TO WATCH: Austin Adams P, Jr. OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs' strength can be pitching, Cimorelli said, if the team's rotation develops this season. Zephyrhills is also hoping for big things from its bats.
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