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Baseball preview

By FRANK PASTOR
Published February 19, 2006

BISHOP McLAUGHLIN

COACH: Nick Rodriguez (first season).

LAST SEASON: Played an abbreviated junior varsity schedule.

TOP PLAYERS: Rob Gallagher, Jr., C; Chris Redfield, Jr., CF/P; James McCarragher, So., SS/P; T.J. Hamlon, Fr., P.

OUTLOOK: Rodriguez, Tampa Prep's junior varsity coach the past five seasons, leads Bishop McLaughlin into its first varsity season with a roster of 13 players, primarily freshmen and sophomores. Reinforcements are on the way as the school's enrollment should increase significantly next year. Until then, Rodriguez wants to see his team give itself a chance to win by playing strong defense, making routine plays and putting the ball in play. He scheduled a full 21-game slate, keeping games to two per week to decrease wear and tear on his pitchers. With five teams in their district, the Hurricanes' goal is to become the first team in school history to make the playoffs.

GULF

COACH: Shaun Wiemer (42-89, sixth season).

LAST SEASON: 14-13.

KEY LOSSES: Norberto Navarro, C; Kevin Fagan, P; Blaise Simon, 1B; Willie Rogers, SS; Tony Gironda, DH.

TOP RETURNEES: Brandon Decker, Sr., 3B/P; Steve Mattia, Sr., OF/P; Kyle Trouton, Jr., P/OF/1B.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Nito Navarro, Jr., SS; Weston Revak, Jr., P; Jesse Kaselitz, Jr., C; Chris Kaeler, So., P/IF; Richard Ardizzone, Jr., 1B/P; Mario Suarez, Sr., 2B.

OUTLOOK: Gulf lost five of the top players from a squad that became the first in at least a decade with a winning record. The Bucs hit .323 and had three players hit over .400 and six over .300. Though many of its top bats were lost to graduation, Gulf returns a strong core of pitchers comprised of five righties and three lefties. Trouton, the ace, joins Revak and Decker in the top three. Kaeler, Mattia, Ardizzone and Nick Pasvantis make up the supporting cast. The Bucs showed glimpses of their potential during a 1-1 start, beating Central and losing to Springstead, but need to become more consistent, Wiemer said.

HUDSON

COACH: Vince Ferlita (11-12, second season).

LAST SEASON: 11-12.

KEY LOSSES: Tommy Snow, SS/P; Billy Dickert, P/C/IF; Brandon Armstrong, P/3B.

TOP RETURNEES: Vince Ferlita, Sr., P/SS; James Hickey, Sr., P/CF; Sam Donataccio, Jr., 1B/P; Danny Russo, Sr., 3B/P; Bobby Rondos, Sr., OF/P; Chris Connell, Sr., 2B/P; Josh Russell, Jr., C.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Hunter Newton, Fr., SS/C; Alan Gladdieaux, So., OF; Kyle Roth, Sr., OF/C; Travis Burgan, Jr., 2B.

OUTLOOK: Having lost eight starters, including its top three pitchers, to graduation, Hudson could be hard-pressed to duplicate last season's success. But the Cobras work hard and play as a team, Ferlita said. Though they lost 13-3 to Pasco, they never stopped battling, accumulating 10 hits and making three errors, a significant improvement over their performance in the City Classic. Eleven walks exposed their biggest weakness: a lack of proven pitchers. Ferlita's son will miss the early part of the season after jamming a finger during the region wrestling tournament. Russell returns after missing all of last season with an elbow injury.

LAND O'LAKES

COACH: Calvin Baisley (307-267, 22nd season).

LAST SEASON: 16-11.

KEY LOSSES: Wes Fuglesang, P; Ryan Rigau, 2B.

TOP RETURNEES: Jonathan Cornelius, Sr., P; Jeff Bloomer, Sr., P; Matt Smith, Jr., P; Caz Piurowski, Sr., 1B/P; Danny Sutton, Sr., SS; Ricky Howroyd, Sr., C; Anthony Santa, Jr., 3B; Danny Poletti, Sr, OF.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Cameron Harris, Jr., CF.

OUTLOOK: Land O'Lakes appears poised for another successful season after returning three experienced starting pitchers from last season's region quarterfinal squad. Baisley would like to see the Gators claim their first conference championship since 2001 and first district title since '03. Left-handers Bloomer, who returns to Land O'Lakes after a year at Wharton, and Cornelius join the right-handed Smith. Piurowski, who recently completed basketball, will resume his closer role as soon as he gets back into baseball shape. Cornelius and Bloomer combined on a no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Tampa Catholic in the First Pitch Classic at Jesuit.

MITCHELL

COACH: Scott Williams (first season).

LAST SEASON: 11-13.

KEY LOSSES: Derek Shaw, P/1B; Louis Oliveri, OF; Theo Papapanos, SS; C.J. Hanson, 2B.

TOP RETURNEES: Cody Bracy, Sr., C; Zack Weber, Sr., OF; Ryan Garton, So., P/SS; Neele Neelon, Sr., P/1B.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Spencer Williams, Jr., 2B/SS; Patrick Shuster, Fr., P; Anthony Ritz, Fr., OF.

OUTLOOK: Williams, a former Seton Hall infielder, replaces Phil Bell, whom he assisted at Gulf and Mitchell. Bell resigned after five seasons with the Mustangs to pursue administrative opportunities. Mitchell has six seniors but lacks experience at key positions, particularly up the middle. Unlike last season, when the Mustangs looked to Shaw and Oliveri (both have moved on to Pasco-Hernando Community College), the Mustangs will have to pull together as a team to be competitive in their first season in Class 6A. Closer to home, Williams would like to see the Mustangs finish in the top half of the conference.

PASCO

COACH: Ricky Giles (222-113, 13th season).

LAST SEASON: 22-6.

KEY LOSSES: Dominic Brown, P; Casey Karppe, C; Kyle Hobbs, OF.

TOP RETURNEES: Robbie Shields, Sr., SS/P; Stephen Roe, Sr., P; Kenneth Statham, Sr., P/1B; Jamie Cruz, Sr., 2B/SS; Julian Juarez, Sr., CF; Andrew Frimmel, Sr., 2B; Justin Williams, Sr., LF; Zach Maggert, Jr., C; Michael Onyskin, Sr., 3B.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Chad Whittington, Sr., P; Aaron Brandt, So., P/1B; Dustin Brown, So., P/OF; Ray Perez, So., backup C/DH/1B.

OUTLOOK: The hardest-working team Giles has had in recent years is hungry for a state title after a grand slam last season ended its hopes of advancing to the region final for the first time since 1997. Stocked with live arms, Pasco will pitch by committee rather than rely on a few players as it did last season. The Pirates will miss Karppe's bat (.419, nine homers, 41 RBIs), but the strong-armed Maggert has been solid behind the plate. Shields signed with Florida Southern. Cruz and Onyskin have received interest from Ranger (Texas). Brown, the Times 2005 pitcher of the year, transferred to Stone Mountain (Ga.) Redan.

RIDGEWOOD

COACH: Larry Beets (391-259, 23rd season).

LAST SEASON: 16-12.

KEY LOSSES: Shannon Eva, P/OF; Bryan Hesse, P; Jon Koenigsfeld, P/OF.

TOP RETURNEES: Mike Lemming, Sr., P/1B; James Noto, Sr., C; Matt Beck, Sr., 1B; Eric Slotter, Sr., CF; Ben Koenigsfeld, Jr., 3B/P; Jeff Roxby, Sr., SS/P; Josh Poole, Jr., 2B; Justin Balk, Jr., OF; J.J. Ward, Jr., OF; Bryan Sharpe, So., P/1B; Charlie Mohr, Jr., 3B.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Jay Mattos, Fr., SS; Doug Burlett, Fr., C; Matt Sharpe, Fr., P; Cory Paterson, Jr., OF; John Collins, So., OF.

OUTLOOK: Despite losing its top three pitchers to college programs, Ridgewood returns plenty of experience from last season's region semifinal squad, starting with its five seniors. As always, the Rams will emphasize pitching, defense, baserunning and bunting. Lemming is back after tearing the labrum in a shoulder over the summer. Mattos and Matt Sharpe add pitching depth behind Lemming, Roxby and Bryan Sharpe. Second baseman/pinch-hitter/designated hitter Anthony Pesce was lost for the season when he tore a hamstring in the City Classic. The swift Paterson transferred from Gulf.

RIVER RIDGE

COACH: Jack Homko (144-216, 15th season).

LAST SEASON: 3-21.

KEY LOSSES: Tony Penna, P; Bruce Hall, C.

TOP PLAYERS: Curtis Reeves, Sr., P/IF; Robert Brady, Jr., CF; Terry Newton, Jr., RF; Steven Sundquist, Jr., SS/P; Keith Maynard, So., C.

OUTLOOK: After taking its lumps as a sophomore-dominated squad last season, Homko expects River Ridge to surprise some people, though he's "not predicting huge wins." The Royal Knights played Ridgewood (in the City Classic) and Hernando (in the Tom Varn Invitational) tough before losing late. Reeves, River Ridge's top pitcher and No.3 hitter, showed promise as a sophomore but sat out last season because of team issues, Homko said. Sundquist is the No.2 starter. The fleet Brady, a returning all-conference player, is healthy after missing the second half of last season following eye surgery. Newton, the No.4 hitter, has some pop in his bat. Maynard moves from middle infield to catcher.

WESLEY CHAPEL

COACH: Erik Shafer (9-16, second season).

LAST SEASON: 9-16.

KEY LOSSES: Anthony Rawson, CF; Jimmy Hancock, P.

TOP RETURNEES: Kris Quinones, Sr., SS; Justin Johnson, Jr., C; Kyle Wahl, Jr. P; Jason Smith, Jr., 2B; Josh Lentz, Sr., P.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Jeremy Johnson, So., CF; Chad Hatfield, Sr., LF; Evan Chiovitti, Jr., 1B; Matt Wells, Sr., 1B.

OUTLOOK: If Wesley Chapel clicks as well on the field as off, where it does most things together, it should have a successful season. The Wildcats hit the ball well and play solid defense but lost many of their top arms to graduation. They hope to finish above .500 for the first time. Quinones, a fourth-year starter who has been offered a scholarship to Division II Newberry (S.C.), batted .397 last season. Johnson was invited to a Maryland camp and got looks by Washington Nationals scouts. Lentz, who batted .445 during the district tournament, is expected to be the designated hitter and No.2 pitcher despite ACL surgery in the offseason.

ZEPHYRHILLS

COACH: Bruce Cimorelli (127-127, 10th season).

LAST SEASON: 12-13.

KEY LOSSES: Ryan Bahr, 2B; Drew Jeffries, P/C/OF.

TOP RETURNEES: Brett Ross, Sr., C/P; Mike Davis, Jr., 3B; Trey Anderton, Sr., P/1B; T.J. Jeffries, Jr., 1B/P; Spencer Bahr, Sr., IF/OF; Jamie Gamlin, Sr., 3B/SS/2B; Cody Schaefer, Sr., utility, P; Phillip Robichaud, Jr., OF.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Josh Jackson, Fr., OF; Jeff Parker Jr., P/3B/1B.

OUTLOOK: Zephyrhills returns plenty of pitching from last season's squad, which was playing as well as any in the county late in the season. The Bulldogs lack power throwers, so they'll have to locate the ball. The hitting might be the best since Zephyrhills made the state semifinals in 2000, Cimorelli said. Much of the Bulldogs' fate will depend on Parker, who returns after missing last season with an elbow injury. He recently homered and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in a 13-4 win over South Sumter.

[Last modified February 19, 2006, 01:09:21]