North Suncoast: Baseball season preview

By John C. Cotey, High Schools Columnist
Published February 11, 2008

DADE CITY

Pasco baseball coach Ricky Giles is sitting on a hot metal bleacher as his Pirates rake the field and take delicate care of the pitcher's mound, and with a straight face, he breaks down the 2008 baseball season on the North Suncoast.

"Well, you gotta look at Land O'Lakes, they have lots of pitching. Mitchell gonna be strong, who's that lefty they got over there? We couldn't hit him. And Larry Beets, you know he's always gonna get them boys to play over at Ridgewood. That old Beets, always got something up his sleeve. And don't forget Zephyrhills now. I was talking to Bruce (Cimorelli) the other day, and he's some pitchers over there.

"I guess I'd put us fourth or fifth then."

When it is suggested that Giles might be the most prolific sandbagger in a county full of them, he finally cracks and lets out a laugh.

"What?"

Here's what - the Pirates are once again atop the heap of the North Suncoast baseball pile.

A year after going 26-4, Giles is hoping for a rematch with Orlando Bishop Moore, the team that ended their season with a 16-1 win in the region championship last year.

He returns enough firepower to get there. Aaron Brandt heads up a rotation that includes Dustin Brown, is his injured right arm can share the load.

If not, there are plenty of other arms, and lots of bats, to go with them.

Junior shortstop Jake Schrader returns after a .495 season, and he'll bat clean-up in the middle of a lineup that may be better than last year's.

"That'll be the question, how we hit," Giles said. "I think we got some good kids in there that can do the job."

Strange but true

1. Sunlake will win more games than at least five other teams on the North Suncoast. Coach Billy Garcia has a sleeper with pitchers like Connor Copeland and Charlie Fisher.

2. Ridgewood's six-year streak of playoff appearances will end. Probably.

3. Hudson will quadruple last year's win total of two, easy.

4. Pitching overall was good last year. It'll be better this year.

5. The player of the year will not come from Pasco, Land O'Lakes, Mitchell or Nature Coast.

Top arms

1. Patrick Schuster, LHP, Mitchell

2. Trey Dahl, LHP, Land O'Lakes

3. Aaron Brandt, RHP, Pasco

4. Austin Adams, RHP, Zephyrhills

5. Travis Murray, right, RHP, Nature Coast.

Break-out players

1. Josh Johnson, RHP, Pasco

Sources say he could end up as the Pirates ace/centerfielder.

2. Dahl

Yeah, we know ... but we're all in after watching him in the preseason.

3. Ryan Garton, RHP, Mitchell

Arm is healed, monster season in store?

4. Joe Silvestri, P, Nature Coast

Injury slowed him last year, but he looks good on the hoops court.

5. Seth Lyons, LHP, River Ridge

Awesome strikeout rate, lackluster location.

Best new additions

1. Doug Burlett, C, Mitchell

He was supposed to be Ridgewood's top returning hitter this year (.432 BA, 3 HR, 25 RBI), but is now Mitchell's best hitter and in charge of one of the county's best pitching staffs.

2. Dylan Giella, 1B/3B, Pasco

Out for a month with mono, but the Zephyrhills transplant batted .372 last year with six doubles, and his versatility is a boost to the Pirates.

3. Ed Boyle, C, Wesley Chapel

New coach Chuck Yingling loves his arm, and he should be a stabilizing force at needed position for Wildcats.

4. Yingling

Won two state titles at Tampa Catholic and was pitching coach at Jesuit. Can you say winner?

5. Thomas Harris, Pasco

Second baseman missed last year after Tommy John surgery, but slick fielding and ability to put ball on bat nice add for Pirates.

MVP watch

1. Dahl

2. Jake Schrader, SS, Pasco

3. Travis Murray, P/C, Nature Coast

4. Doug Burlett, C, Mitchell

5. Tyler Guy, right , P, Zephyrhills

Super Seven

1. Pasco (26-4)

Lineup may be better than last year, with promising Josh Johnson leading off and Jake Schrader (.495) batting cleanup, and pitching depth led by starter Aaron Brandt (9-1) is as good as anyone's.

2. Land O'Lakes (19-8)

Calvin Baisley says he has more arms than innings. "We'll live and die by our pitching." With guys like Trey Dahl (batted near .500) and Matt Fuglesang, that's probably a good idea as the Gators have to replace a whole lot of offense.

3. Mitchell (9-16)

First-year coach Scott Wilcox inherited a team ripe for success, and players like Patrick Schuster (4-6, 1.51 ERA, 76 Ks in 60 IP) and Ryan Garton (nine doubles, 13 RBI) could lead to the Mustangs' second playoff appearance ever.

4. Nature Coast (20-7)

Joe Silvestri (3-0, 0.82), Brandon Derespiris (.345, team-high 20 RBI) and Travis Murray (7-1, 1.24) are back for the district runnersup, and new coach Bob Shepard hopes to keep a good thing going in Brooksville.

5. Zephyrhills (16-11)

When he's on, USF commitment Austin Adams (3-4, 2.84 ERA, 45 Ks) is one of the best pitchers in town, and a strong group of youngsters (Kenten Monbarren, Tyler Guy, Josh Jackson) should have the Bulldogs in playoff contention.

6. River Ridge (12-12)

It's unsure if the Royal Knights have the offensive firepower to slip into that runnerup spot behind Land O'Lakes in 5A-7, but they have the pitching in Keith Maynard (3-4. 2.76 and also batted .377) and Seth Lyons (5-5, 66 Ks in 35.2 IP).

7. Bishop McLaughlin (18-7)

The Hurricanes slide up to Class 2A this season, but they stand a good chance to advance out of their four-team district thanks to all-state returnees Chris Overbeck (10-2, 2.33 ERA), Marcel Duarte (.373, 25 runs, 29 RBI) and Michael Gonzalez (.459, 28 runs, 23 RBI).

FAST FACTS

District lineup

Class 6A, District 7: Alonso, Countryside, Gaither, Mitchell, St. Petersburg, Sickles.

Class 5A, District 7: Central, Land O'Lakes, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Wesley Chapel.

Class 4A, District 8: Gulf, Hernando, Hudson, Nature Coast, Pasco, Springstead, Sunlake, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills.

Class 2A, District 9: Bishop McLaughlin, Calvary Christian, Indian Rocks Christian, Tampa Prep.

Class A, District 6: Cedar Key, Leesburg First Academy, Hernando Chr., Ocala Meadowbrook, Ocala St. John Lutheran, Seven Rivers Chr., Ocala Shores Chr.

Class A, District 11: Academy at the Lakes, Canterbury, Citrus Park Christian, Oldsmar Christian

[Last modified February 10, 2008, 19:49:05]