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Boys baseball at a glance

By FRANK PASTOR
Published February 27, 2005

GULF

COACH: Shaun Wiemer (28-76, fifth season)

LAST SEASON: 5-17

KEY LOSSES: Corey Albrecht, OF/P; Ryan Linville, 2B/P.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Norberto Navarro, Sr., C/P; Willie Rogers, Sr., SS; Blaise Simon, Sr., 1B/P/OF; Kevin Fagan, Sr., P/1B; Tony Gironda, Sr., DH; Brandon Decker, Jr., 3B; Kyle Trouton, So., P; Cory Paterson, So., CF; Steve Mattia, Jr., 2B/P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Steve Krajnk, Jr., OF/P; Bobby Brunda, Jr., OF.

OUTLOOK: If inexperience was a factor in nearly a dozen close losses last season, the Bucs should be much-improved with eight players, including seven starters, back. Five seniors who took their lumps as freshmen and sophomores lead the way. Fagan, who pitched a no-hitter against Zephyrhills as a sophomore, is back at full strength after missing two months last season with a shoulder injury. Navarro should do some spot starting and close games behind Fagan and Trouton.

HUDSON

COACH: Vince Ferlita (first season)

LAST SEASON: 8-16

KEY LOSSES: Eric Bergan, P/C.

TOP PLAYERS: Tommy Snow, Sr., SS/P; Andrew Collins, Sr., OF/P; Billy Dickert, Sr., P/C/IF; Sam Donataccio, So., 1B/DH; Wayne Piermatteo, Jr., 3B/DH/P; Brandon Armstrong, Sr., P/3B; Matt Rasiniewski, Sr., C; Bobby Rondos, Jr., LF/P; Brandan Nourse, Sr., CF/P; Vince Ferlita, Jr., IF/P; Chris Connell, Jr., IF/P; James Hickey, Jr., OF/P; Matt Muran, Jr., OF; Josh Russell, So., C; Dan Russo, Jr., IF/DH; Drew Matlock, Sr., IF/OF/P.

OUTLOOK: In his first season in place of Jack Ledbetter, Ferlita had a squad stocked with nine solid hitters, most with home run power, and good team speed, led by Snow and Ferlita's son. The Cobras have plenty of arms but, so far, few pitchers. Most important, Hudson appears to have shed the attitudes and behavioral problems that prevented previous teams from realizing their potential.

LAND O'LAKES

COACH: Calvin Baisley (291-256, 21st season)

LAST SEASON: 16-9

KEY LOSSES: Jonathan Zunz, P/3B; David Veale, OF; Jeff Bloomer, P.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Caz Piurowski, Jr., 1B/P; Ricky Howroyd, Jr., C; Wes Fuglesang, Sr., P/OF; Danny Sutton, Jr., SS; Ryan Rigau, Sr. 2B; Jonathon Cornelius, Jr., P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Anthony Santa, So., DH/3B; Brad Patton, So., C.

OUTLOOK: The Gators have experience and hitting ability, but pitching is a concern as several returnees step into new roles. Cornelius will face tougher opposition after Bloomer, the staff ace, transferred to Wharton. Fuglesang, who threw periodically, will become the No.2 starter. Sophomore Matt Smith inherits the No.3 spot, Piurowski the closer role. Offensively, Sutton and Rigau will have to get on base in front of middle-of-the-lineup hitters Piurowski, Howroyd and Fuglesang.

MITCHELL

COACH: Phil Bell (43-68, fifth season)

LAST SEASON: 13-13

KEY LOSSES: Josh Le'Roy, C/OF; Mike Reid, P/DH; Eric Gustin, 1B/3B; Jake Knight, P.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Derek Shaw, Sr., P; Theo Papapanos, Sr., SS/P; C.J. Hanson, Sr., 2B/P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Neele Neelen, Jr., P/1B; Cody Bracy, Jr., C.

OUTLOOK: After losing their career leaders in games (Gustin), RBIs (Reid) and wins (Knight) from a squad that won eight of its final 11 games, the Mustangs hope to repeat as district champions with a 14-player roster that includes nine pitchers. What Mitchell lacks in marquee names it hopes to make up for with depth, cohesiveness and versatility. Hanson provides sure-handed defense behind Shaw, who is 1-0 and has three home runs in five games this season.

PASCO

COACH: Ricky Giles (200-107, 12th season)

LAST SEASON: 22-8.

KEY LOSSES: Sonny Glover, 2B.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Casey Karppe, Sr., C; Mike Onyskin, Jr., OF/3B; Dominic Brown, Jr., OF/P; Robbie Shields, Jr., SS; Kyle Hobbs, Sr., OF; Andrew Frimmel, Jr., 2B; Jacob Wieland, Sr., 2B; Cody Lewis, Sr., 1B.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Stephen Roe, Jr., P/3B; Kenneth Statham, Jr., P/1B; Zack Maggard, So., C.

OUTLOOK: Giles compares his team's strength and speed to the '97 squad that lost to Jesuit in the state final. These Pirates are similarly battle-tested as six played on the Dade City team that reached the senior World Series. Hobbs, a fleet-footed centerfielder, committed to Saint Leo. Giles plans to use nine pitchers, including Brown, who upset then-unbeaten Dunnellon in last season's playoffs, and Statham, who transferred from Wesley Chapel.

RIDGEWOOD

COACH: Larry Beets (375-247, 22nd season)

LAST SEASON: 23-6

KEY LOSSES: Aaron McLamar, 3B; John Servidio, RF; Eric Bua, P; Jeremy Coolidge, C; Joe Moll, 2B; Jesse Guthrie, P; Colter Revak, OF; Kevin Johnson, 1B.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Jon Koenigsfeld, Sr., P/2B; Jeff Roxby, Jr., SS; Shannon Eva, Sr., P/OF; Bryan Hesse, Sr., P; James Noto, Jr., C; Matt Beck, Jr., IF; Ben Koenigsfeld, So., 3B/SS/P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Brian Sharpe, Fr., 1B/LHP; Mike Lemming, Jr., 1B.

OUTLOOK: The Rams return only three seniors from their region semifinal squad after losing 17 the past two seasons, including Bua, who went 11-0 with two no-hitters and 12 home runs last year. Without a proven power hitter, Ridgewood will rely on pitching and defense. All-conference players Hesse and Roxby will lead the way along with Koenigsfeld, a four-year starter who pitched in the district final last season.

RIVER RIDGE

COACH: Jack Homko (141-195, 14th season)

LAST SEASON: 11-12

KEY LOSSES: Brian McKonly, C; Mike Gassparino, P/3B; Kevin Kuryliw, 1B; Steve Bamber, SS/P.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Tim Davis, Sr., 3B/P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Tony Penna, Sr., P/1B; Bruce Hall, Sr., C; Robert Turnbull, Sr., CF; Keith Maynard, Fr., SS; Seth Lyons, Fr., P; Robert Brady, So., C/OF; Eddie Donohue, So., 2B/3B; Terry Newton, So., LF.

OUTLOOK: After losing eight starters from a squad that went 4-0 in district play before losing in the final, the Royal Knights field a lineup with two freshmen and three sophomores. With wins harder to come by, Homko is looking for competitiveness and improvement. Eight or nine players can pitch, but none have starting experience. So Homko expects to use as many as four in a game and play small ball on offense.

WESLEY CHAPEL

COACH: Erik Shafer (first season)

LAST SEASON: 9-16

KEY LOSSES: Ken Statham, P; Patrick Cushman, IF/P; Kevin Holmes, P.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Anthony Rawson, Sr., CF; Jimmy Hancock, Sr., P/1B; Danny Ciaccio, Sr., C; Kris Quinones, Jr., SS; Shane Stone, So., 3B/IF; Barry Geiger, Sr., 1B; Mark Fabiani, Sr., OF/P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Jason Smith, So., 2B; Kyle Wahl, So., P; Justin Johnson, So., C.

OUTLOOK: Armed with a good mix of veterans (nine seniors) and youth (four juniors, five sophomores), Shafer hopes to instill a winning attitude in his first season in place of Steve Mumaw, whose teams averaged six wins in five seasons. Of the Wildcats' 19 players, 10 can pitch. Rawson, who set a school record with 16 stolen bases last season, is receiving interest from Florida State, Florida and USF. Hancock moves from closer to No.1 starter.

ZEPHYRHILLS

COACH: Bruce Cimorelli (115-114, ninth season)

LAST SEASON: 13-13

KEY LOSSES: Joey Duffau, P; Kyle Belez, 1B.

TOP PLAYERS: Ryan Bahr, Sr., 2B; Drew Jeffries, Sr., P/C/OF; Lee Maggard, Sr., OF; Matt Hayes, Sr., 1B/OF; Cody Schaefer, Jr., SS/P/1B; Brett Ross, Jr., C/P; Spencer Bahr, Jr., OF; Jamie Gamlin, Jr., 3B/2B; D.J. Hough, Jr., OF/P; Trey Anderton, Jr., P/1B; William Miller, Jr., P/OF; Michael Selbert, Jr., OF/P; Mike Davis, So., SS/P; Jeff Parker, So., P/3B; Phillip Roubischoud, So., 2B/OF; T.J. Jeffries, So., 1B/P.

OUTLOOK: Pitching is the biggest question mark for the Bulldogs, who hope to make the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They will be without Duffau, whose eight wins last season included Zephyrhills' first over Pasco, Land O'Lakes and Ridgewood since 2000. With Parker out three weeks with an elbow injury, Anderton is the most experienced pitcher. Schaefer, a move-in from Virginia, brings versatility.

[Last modified February 27, 2005, 00:13:19]