Summit Christian’s State Title Defense Begins In District 13-3A

American Heritage coach Carm Mazza watches a team scrimmage with several of his players during Wednesday’s practice.

Summit Christian coach John Drouin cannot forget what an incredible experience it was to win the state championship last season. He remembers the atmosphere at the Class 1A finals, how well organized and exciting it was. Now he just wants the team to do its best to get back there.

“It’s very difficult to repeat at anything,” Drouin said. “Luck is involved, especially in single elimination.”

The Saints certainly know a thing or two about luck, but also how to win in pressure situations. Their opponent in the finals was five-time state champion Miami Brito, which was playing in its 19th straight state tournament. In the bottom of the sixth, Summit was trailing 3-2, but the team worked a strong, meticulous effort to push across three runs. Anthony Delaney worked a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts, and just like that, the Saints had their second state title, having also won in 2004.

This is the story every team wants to be able to feel, wants to be able to tell. This is what every team works so hard and practices so much to be able to experience.

For Summit Christian, it starts in District 13-3A with American Heritage and Pope John Paul II.

The Stallions won 23 games last season before falling in the Class 2A regional semifinals to The King’s Academy. The team is loaded with talent, most notably in the bullpen, and is poised to go toe-to-toe with the Saints for the district title.

“It’s always been a good rivalry, good competition,” Drouin said. “They have a good team and every year gets tougher.”

Heritage has more than enough weapons on its roster to make their own postseason dreams come true.

It is almost too easy to simply discount Pope John Paul II against these two excellent teams. Even the Eagles understand that these are two of the state’s best teams in their district while they are still rebuilding the program. But that does not mean that they are going to simply lie down for them, or anyone else. They realize that it is an advantage to play such good teams twice each season and learn by playing against the best.

“It will be a challenge for us,” Pope coach Peter Graffeo admitted. “But our schedule is also a bit tougher this year, so we can get that experience. Maybe we’ll even surprise a few people. We want to compete with the big boys, but we’ve got to work for it.”

The Stallions’ Trevor Maloney

American Heritage
Coach: Carm Mazza
2011 record: 25-4
Returners: Trevor Maloney (RHP); Dylan Silva (LHP); Dylan Arnold (RHP); Jon Spada (IF); Josh Glick (P/OF); Michael Shepard (2B/IF)
Newcomers: Alec Feigenbaum (RHP); Peter Castillo (RHP); Jonathan India (SS); Chris Canavan (C); Colin Smith (UT); Todd Isaacs (OF)
Strengths: Pitching and defense

“This is not an easy district; we know we’ve got to come with our best and we’re up for it.” American Heritage coach Carm Mazza said.

The Stallions return a talented team that has a nice influx of new players who compliment the team in the right places. This is a team with all the right tools to be successful.

Heritage returns the majority of the team from last year’s Class 2A regional semifinals who are hungry for another postseason run.

“This is not an easy district. Summit Christian is a very solid team, and Pope is young but talented,” American Heritage coach Carm Mazza said. “We know we’ve got to come with our best and we’re up for it.”

Heading the Stallions’ charge will be its trio of strong-armed pitchers, right-handers Dylan Arnold and Trevor Maloney and lefty Dylan Silva. Silva has signed with Florida State University and Maloney has signed with Florida Atlantic University.

“We feel like we have three of the best pitchers in the county,” Mazza said. “They all want to be the number-one guy, and I like that drive.”

The Stallions’ bullpen is also very deep and capable. Side-arm pitcher Josh Glick is poised to assume the closer duties, while righty Peter Castillo and junior Alec Feigenbaum will also see plenty of action.

“We’re excited about our pitching,” Mazza said. “We have a veteran team with a nice splash of young players. They are athletic and play solid defense.”

The Stallions’ number three hitter is third baseman Jon Spada, who is among the county’s best hitters, and adding more pop to the lineup will be Maloney, Glick and second baseman Michael Shepard, who is headed to Palm Beach State.

The team has also seen some solid younger players competing for playing time, including sophomore Todd Isaacs and freshmen Jonathan India and Chris Canavan.

Outside of an already challenging district, Heritage will play its usual tough schedule that includes local powers Park Vista and Palm Beach Central.

“We like to schedule these games with the big guys,” Mazza admitted. “We feel good about our chances, but we’ve got to come out and play then.”

Pope John Paul II
Coach: Peter Graffeo
2011 record: 11-13
Returners: Alex Sadusky (CF); Anthony Pianta (P); Michael Luzzi (1B); Robert Gerdung (2B); Connor Norton (P/SS); Nick Epae (IF); Conner Jackson (OF)
Newcomers: Zander Retamar (C); Blake Elordi (RF)
Strengths: Speed, situational hitting and work ethic

“We need to take every advantage that we can. We need to be mentally prepared and in great physical condition, and the rest is on the field,” Pope John Paul II coach Peter Graffeo said.

It is year two for Pope John Paul II coach Peter Graffeo. The team has a different mindset now after its 11-13 season was a major improvement compared to the past few seasons.

“No more ugly baseball,” Graffeo said. “I’m a baseball coach, and I’m not just here for a few years and then get out. We are literally building this team from the ground up.”

Graffeo is referring to the team’s new on-campus baseball stadium, which should be ready for its first home game in 31 years by early March.

“It’s a whole different attitude, so much more positive now that the players are training on campus,” Graffeo said. “Guys are staying after practice if they want to, and it is a different atmosphere. The money for the field was all raised through fund-raisers and charities, so it’s really big for the entire school.”

The Eagles return five seniors this year, four of whom were starters last year. The seniors are expected to set an example and make an impact.

Second baseman Robert Gerdung batted .440 last year and will anchor the lineup, while first baseman Michael Luzzi and centerfielder Alex Sadusky lead the offense and middle defense. Connor Norton will be the team’s number one pitcher, relying on his fastball and curveball and his good command. Anthony Pianta follows as the number two, and the duo will lead an otherwise young pitching staff.

The Eagles struggled behind the plate last year, but this year junior Zander Retamar will handle those duties after transferring from North Broward Prep. Another transfer is right fielder Blake Elordi, who moved in from Boston.

“Players have opened up and changed that thought process, and when they step on the field they know they can compete,” Graffeo said. “We need to take every advantage that we can. We need to be mentally prepared and in great physical condition, and the rest is on the field.”

Summit Christian’s John Silviano hits during the state championship.

Summit Christian
Coach: John Drouin
2011 record: 27-5
Returners: John Silviano (C/3B); Efren Sanchez (C); Anthony Delaney (C); Franklin Diaz (IF); Sam Murphy (P/CF); Tyler Dupont (CF/P); Chris Carney (2B/3B)
Strengths: Defending state champions return nearly the entire team

“We could score 25 runs, but it won’t matter if we give up 27 runs,” Summit Christian coach John Drouin said.

Summit Christian returns all but two players from last year’s Class 1A state champion team. Returning this much talent and experience does not happen very often, and it till doesn’t make it that much easier to win it all.

“We’ve got to focus on our pitching and defense,” Saints coach John Drouin said. “We could score 25 runs but it won’t matter if we give up 27 runs.”

Summit returns three outstanding catchers, starting with senior John Silviano, who has signed with North Florida University. Also sharing time behind the plate will be juniors Anthony Delaney and Efren Sanchez.

The Saints lineup all batted over .300 last year, including Franklin Diaz, Sam Murphy, Tyler Dupont and Chris Carney. With no position battles, the team is loose and confident, and players are comfortable with their roles and responsibilities.

“It’s a good feeling since we have such a small student body here,” Drouin said. “We don’t have a lot of depth because there aren’t a lot of kids.”

This is one of the primary reasons why the Saints practice with the junior varsity players everyday, to teach them the same discipline and keep them hungry to play. The jv players know their chances to play are right there, if they can earn it.

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