7A Road To The Final Four: Experience Throughout
Experience is invaluable in any endeavor, not the least of which in trying to win a high school baseball state title. Class 7A features several perennial powerhouses across the state. From teams such as Melbourne and Deltona in the north, to Winter Haven and Gaither in the Tampa area, to Venice in Southwest Florida, to Dwyer, West Boca, Pembroke Pines Charter and Belen Jesuit in Southeast Florida, you have a wealth of talent and a long track record of getting it done in the playoffs. What a wide ride it’s going to be over the next month. Stay tuned, sports fans!
Region Two
District Five
Deltona is at the top of this district after compiling a 13-1 mark. The Wolves are 21-8 overall and are a favorite to win this district. Deltona has had a few close games, including a 6-5 win over district foe Seabreeze.
Number two New Smryna Beach is just under .500 at 12-13 but it has been successful in the district at 10-4. A 12-12 Edgewater team also has done well in the district at 8-4.
Look for some good competition in this tournament come next week.
District Six
This district is primarily a three-team race between number one Melbourne (19-8, 8-1), number two Viera (20-3, 6-2) and number three Heritage (15-8, 5-3).
Though they’ve handily beaten many teams this season, the Bulldogs are inconsistent going into the playoffs, as they’re 2-3 in their past five games coming off a six-game winning streak. Veteran manager Pete Donovan should have the team ready to go though come the district tournament, just as he’s done since he took over in 2005, guiding the team to the regionals each year except 2008.
This is another district that should see some spirited competition when things get underway Monday at Harmony.
District Seven
This district is fairly clean-cut as Winter Haven has won twice each against number two Lake Region, which is 2-2, and number three Lake Gibson, at 0-4.
Winter Haven has been a perennial powerhouse in the state playoffs over the past 20 years. In 2014, it lost 1-0 in the state final to Mater Academy. This year’s Blue Devils are 13-9 and will be trying just as hard as those other teams over the past two decades to win a state title. But the Blue Devils need to find the consistency that’s eluded them this season, especially in the second half of the season where the team hasn’t had any winning streaks like it had in the beginning of the year.
Damon Irvis leads at the plate, hitting .462. Dustin Baber is next at .426, and Rouglas Odor is hitting .400 and leads in runs and RBIs. Tobias Myers leads the staff with 48 strikeouts and a 1.24 ERA in 39.2 innings. Baber (4-2) has struck out 25 in 35.1 innings.
District Eight
Gaither earned the top seed in a competitive chase, and the Cowboys will be relying on its top three hitters in Jose Cadenas (.444, 16 runs), Kenny Rodriguez (.415, 15 runs, nine RBIs) and Danny Gutcher (.400, nine RBIs). Gavin Gillespie (5-2, 38 strikeouts, 1.09 ERA, 38.1 innings) guides the pitchers.
Number two Hillsborough has lost just once in its past seven games and is on a two-game winning streak, so momentum is on it’s side. The Terriers also have heavy-hitter Tim Elko, who is hitting .537 with 17 runs and 18 RBIs. Nick Romano (.410, 16 runs, 11 RBIs), Rodnie Bernard (20 runs, nine RBIs) and Ryan Romano (.408, 17 runs, 10 RBIs) also carry some big bats.
The King Lions, winners of four of their past five also are on a two-game streak thanks in part to Kobe Barnum and his .391 batting average with 13 runs and a team-leading 17 RBIs. SeyJuan Lawrence is tops in runs at 18.
Region Three
District Nine
Barring an upset, it should be Brandon (16-5) and Braden River (17-7) battling it out for the district title. Each has lost just one district game to the other. Brandon won the first meeting 2-0 on February 26th and then dropped the second 2-1 on April 1st. Brandon has won four of its past five overall and is on a two-game winning streak. Braden River is 5-2 in its past seven games.
Jerry Biller leads the Eagles, hitting .367 with 13 RBIs. Antonio Velez is batting .323, and he’s also the team’s ace at 6-0 with 86 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA in 48 innings. Tyrek Ball and Luis Casanas have scored 15 runs each.
John Bean is batting .375 to lead the Pirates at the plate. Tyler Dyson leads in RBIs at 12, and Cole Pencosky has scored 15. Dyson is 4-0 with 37 strikeouts and a sparkling 0.00 ERA in 34.0 innings. Eric Kimsey is 3-0 with 30 strikeouts and a 1.63 ERA in 38.2 innings.
District Ten
District 10 is pretty much up for grabs with Osceola (16-6) just barely at the top at 4-1, while three teams have 3-2 marks: Northeast (18-5), Sunlake (11-6) and Mitchell (13-5). Osceola and Sunlake have a bye to start the tournament and don’t play until Wednesday. Expect a district tournament to mirror the season: A bunch of good teams beating up on each other. Whomever gets out of this one with the title certainly will have earned it.
Chase Achuff of Osceola is the top batter in the district at .429. Corey Ireson is 4-1 with 44 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA for the Warriors. Clayton Slater is tough on the mound for Clearwater at 5-2 with 42 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA in 43.1 innings.
District Eleven
Defending 6A state champion Venice (19-5) is the clear favorite in this district, which it swept at 6-0. North Port, Charlotte and Fort Myers will have a supreme challenge to get a district title going against the Indians, a playoff powerhouse year in and year out. The Indians will be looking to regain the momentum of a six-game winning streak that was snapped by Sarasota in a 13-4 loss Tuesday. Expect Venice to shake that off and be on its game come the district tournament next week.
Venice has played a schedule as tough as any, facing top teams across the state as well as some of the best that neighboring Alabama has to offer. This type of playing experience has paid dividends in year’s past, as the Indians’ batters have faced great pitching all season long and, in turn, the hurlers have thrown against tough lineups.
District Twelve
Gulf Coast has managed a 7-0 district mark in this large division, but the Sharks have immense competition from Naples (5-2), Estero (5-2), Riverdale (4-3) and Palmetto Ridge (4-3). The parity is strong with this district, so expect what has been seen all season: good competition, lively baseball, and determined and hungry teams.
Andrew Pugliello from Gulf Coast is the top batter in the district at .500 with 13 runs and 11 RBIs. Palmetto Ridge’s Kenny Geiger and Naples’ Cory Berning follow at .468 each. Jaret LaCagnina is tough to beat on the mound with his 8-0 record, 43 strikeouts and 1.56 ERA in 58.1 innings.
Region 4
District Thirteen
Okeechobee and Jensen Beach are a lot alike. They don’t have a lot of superstars, but they have each found their way to a 5-1 mark in the district.
Wade Walton heads the Falcons, hitting .357 with 17 runs and 11 RBIs. Reagan Hearn is close behind at .333, 13 runs and seven RBIs. The Falcons also feature arguably one of the best pitchers in the district in Braeden Ogle, who is 5-0 with 49 strikeouts and a 0.53 ERA in 26.1 innings.
Over at Okeechobee, Elijiah Finney (6-1, 39 strikeouts, 0.79 ERA, 35.1 innings) and Baron Stuart (3-2, 40 strikeouts, 32.1 innings) lead from the mound to complement the hitting of Jarred Morgan, who’s hitting .338 with 12 runs.
South Fork and Martin County can’t be counted out, as they’ve played some competitive games with their other district foes despite each winning only one district game. Both teams are tested from tough competition all season.
District Fourteen
It’s no surprise who the top teams are in this district. Dwyer and West Boca consistently field some of the most competitive teams in Palm Beach County and are perennial playoff teams. This year is no exception. Dwyer cruised through its slate at 6-0, and West Boca’s only losses were to the Panthers.
Dwyer just bounced back from two losses in a row to improve to 16-7. The Panthers are proud to say they beat Broward County powerhouse Flanagan, an accomplishment that is rare, as the Falcons typically have only a handful of losses each season and are a perennial force in the state playoffs. Colton Rendon (.404 BA, 19 RBIs), Alex Morales (.391 BA), Danny Lynch (.371, 18 runs, 13 RBIs) and Kyle Khachadourian (.362 BA, 15 runs, 19 RBIs) power the offense. Shane Roberts (3-2) has struck out 59 and has a 1.55 ERA in 40.1 innings, and Rendon (5-2) has fanned 54 with a 1.51 ERA in 37.0 innings. Another key arm is Tyler Ahearn (4-1), who has collected 37 strikeouts in 28.0 innings.
Dominic Iagrossi is hitting .362 with 12 runs and 21 RBIs to pace the Bulls. Jordan Keller leads in runs at 23. Alex Cordero can swing it, as he has driven in 15 and smacked five home runs.
District Fifteen
Pembroke Pines Charter swept through the district this year at 9-0 and is the favorite to come out as the district champion. But don’t count out a tenacious South Broward squad guided by veteran manager Charlie Cardinale, who just earned his 400th career victory. Cardinale knows a thing or two about leading teams to success and will have the Bulldogs ready for a dogfight with Pines Charter for the title. The fact that the Jaguars beat the Bulldogs by a combined score of 11-0 this season is notwithstanding.
The Jaguars are led by three batters hitting .400 or better — Daniel Rivero (.469, 11 RBIs, eight runs), Mason Feldman (.406, 11 runs, eight RBIs) and Lenford Powell (.400, 13 RBIs, 11 runs). Rivero also is the main pitcher at 4-3 with 68 strikeouts and a 2.71 ERA in 31.0 innings. Mason Feldman is 4-1 with 26 strikeouts and a 1.44 ERA in 24.1 innings.
Stephen Richards is hitting .483 with 14 runs and 12 RBIs for the Bulldogs. Yjordan Maldonado is batting .327 with nine runs and 12 RBIs, and Antonio Schembari is hitting .326 with 15 runs. Maldonado (4-2, 52 strikeouts, 1.02 ERA, 41 innings), Richards (2-5, 45 strikeouts, 2.58 ERA, 38 innings), Miguel Gonzalez (4-2, 44 strikeouts, 22 innings) and Chris Opitz (3-0, 36 strikeouts, 0.84, 25 innings) guide the pitchers.
District Sixteen
Belen Jesuit leads the district with a 5-1 mark. On paper, it may seem as if the Wolverines are a favorite to win their first district title since 2012. In reality, this district is wide open for the taking as any of these teams, all of whom are battle-tested in Miami-Dade baseball, are capable of beating Belen considering how competitive the games have been this season. Doral Academy, Miami Sunset and TERRA are 2, 3 and 4 in the district, respectively, but throw the records out when any of these teams tangle.
Christian del Castillo (.451 BA, 18 RBIs, 18 runs, 12 doubles) and CJ Vazquez (.424 BA, 24 runs, 18 RBIs, 10 doubles) are a big reason Belen leads the district. Brian Perez leads over at Doral, hitting .373 with 18 runs and 21 RBIs. Erick Orbeta is hitting .357 for Sunset, and Alex Garcia is batting .447 for TERRA.
***Editor’s Note: All stats used in this article were from the time of publication. They may have changed slightly since then.
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