Lake Worth Working Hard To Make Big Strides

Widgy Adea (left) watches Tim Rivera take swings in the batting cages during a recent practice.

Lake Worth pride.

That’s what second-year manager Bobby Gilbert Jr. is all about.

Gilbert Jr. graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1999 and wants to return the Trojans’ program to prominence.

“Last year we struggled to even put together a (varsity) baseball team,” said Gilbert Jr., whose squad went 3-22. “This year, we have a varsity and a JV team. That just shows you the direction of the program.”

The 32-year-old Gilbert Jr. says that people are starting to hear about the baseball program and know who the coaches are. More players showed up for tryouts and there is a lot of talent coming in the next year or so, according to Gilbert Jr.

“We came in thinking (that) we get a crop of freshmen, which we did last year, and they played varsity, that toward the end of their junior year and the year after that, we’ll be very competitive,” Gilbert Jr. said. “It’s more like a three-year or four-year plan. We’re going to take our bumps and bruises, and we did, and we will again this year. Because this is a rebuilding program, but it’s not going to be the same as last year. We’re going to get better every year, every year, so people better watch out.”

While Gilbert Jr. is thinking long-term, he knows the Trojans have to continue their momentum of virtually re-starting the program. He is excited about the upcoming season.

“A lot of people are going to be surprised by us this year,” Gilbert Jr. said. “Hopefully we can just maintain playing our game and we’ll be fine.”

Gilbert Jr., whose favorite player growing up was Torii Hunter, knows his team lacks power so they have to be extremely active and use their speed as a weapon.

“Our game, our style is very, very, very, very fast,” said Gilbert Jr., who emulated Darryl Strawberry’s batting style. “We’re going to move, we’re not going to stay still. If you throw us out, kudos to you. But you’ve got to throw us out three times and you better do it. If not, we’re going to score. That’s the mentality I had when I played here and I’m giving that same mentality to my kids.”

Players are buying into the system and worked hard over the summer to prepare for the upcoming season.

“We’ve absolutely improved from last year,” Gilbert Jr. said. “I told the kids it’s time to start taking ownership and leadership of your own personal lives. ‘You’ve got to out there and go get it. You have to run in the morning, work out, things like that.’ “

The message was received.

“Those core kids that were here last year, those freshman and sophomores, they came back ready and eager to get back on the field,” Gilbert Jr. said.

Sophomore Johnathan Rodriguez is expected to be the Trojans top pitcher.

Gilbert Jr. is counting on sophomore right-hander Johnathan Rodriguez as his No. 1 starter.

“He’s a poised pitcher,” Gilbert Jr. said. “He doesn’t get rattled easily. He’s able to focus on the mound.”

Gilbert Jr. is also counting on Rocky Victorio for pitching depth and at first base.

Kevin Hankla and Chase Forrest, both juniors, are expected to fill multiple roles on the team along with sophomore Tyler Vander Slade. Tim Rivera, a freshman, and sophomore Widgy Adea, are expected to provide power in the lineup.

“We have a great mixture of kids,” Gilbert Jr. said. We have to play together, (even though) everybody has a different way of doing things. We talk about this being a family. We pride ourselves on being a family. We take care of us, we can take care of anything.”

Although it’s 15 years since he graduated and things have changed, some things have stayed the same.

“The players are different, the school is different, the administrative staff is different,” Gilbert Jr. said. “For the most part, this is a blue-collar area. These people work hard, that’s the same. They are going to go get it, no matter what.”

Players might be different in style and numbers, but the one thing they still have is heart.

“You can have talent all you want, but you can’t teach heart,” Gilbert Jr. said. “Coming back, it was for a reason. God put me here for a reason, to come back to my old high school where it all started from. So that’s like a new beginning to me. I get to start fresh. I can paint this picture the way I want to paint it. I’m ready to go.”

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