Tough Competition Expected For District 10-8A Title

District 10-8A is a part of the newest and largest classification in the Florida High School Athletic Association. It brings together five very talented and capable baseball teams competing in a lion’s den of worthy opponents.

Perhaps General George S. Patton said it best when he said: “May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won’t.”

This district features Boca Raton, John I. Leonard, Park Vista, Seminole Ridge and Spanish River. Together these teams combined to go 84-54 last season.

“We know where we’re at, and we know we have to beat four other teams instead of seven other teams now,” John I. Leonard coach Roger Vasquez said.

Less teams than the previous large districts does have its advantages, but in 10-8A, each district contest will be crucial. Each team in this district has proven it is capable of deep postseason runs.

“We’ve been fortunate with success,” said Park Vista coach Larry Greenstein, whose Cobras saw their season end in the state semifinals last year. “But it’s like walking around with a bull’s eye.”

The Cobras deservedly may be the team to beat in the district based on the program’s success, but in this district, nothing will be a given.

“We used to like being the underdog,” Greenstein said. “Now people are coming to beat us, and yeah, there is pressure, but we have lots of experience and the guys have been there before.”

Experience may be the difference-maker in this tough district, and each team returns many players capable of providing the necessary leadership.

“Confidence is key,” Spanish River coach Bill Harvey said. “Teams find leaders who drag up the passion, and they settle in and work hard. But guys have got to show that they want to show up and play baseball.”

Boca Raton
Coach: Jeff Rosa
2011 record: 16-10
Returners: Jake Spooner (3B/OF); Sean Gallagher (P/1B); Chris Sheehan (P); Peter Rantz (P/OF); Schaefer Shepard (P/IF); Ryan Kasameyer (C)
Newcomers: Michael Smicklas (P/OF)
Strengths: Experience, Pitching & Defense

“This team is capable of winning,” Bobcats coach Jeff Rosa said. “They have the work ethic and the experience will help out there.”

Boca Raton first-year coach Jeff Rosa is no stranger to success, having run a dominant dynasty program on the state’s west coast at Gulf Coast High. But when this opportunity opened up to him, he could not turn it down.

As he sees it, there is just too much talent to ignore in this team.

“This team is capable of winning,” Bobcats coach Jeff Rosa said. “They have the work ethic and the experience will help out there.”

Heading the group is the team’s starting pitchers, righty Jake Spooner, who signed with Lehigh University, and Sean Gallagher, who is committed to Navy. Other strong arms are represented in Peter Rantz, who is committed to Wesleyan, Schaefer Shepard and Chris Sheehan. Another promising young arm has emerged in sophomore Mike Smicklas.

Behind the plate, the Bobcats have big shoes to fill, and this year, they will be filled by Brian Kasameyer.

“Our pitching as a whole is tough, and the defense looks sharp behind it,” Rosa said. “We’re still finding where players fit position-wise. With the new bats, there are not going to be as many longballs, so they have to concentrate and keep it out of the air.”

Rosa has put together a nice staff to assist him this season, including assistant’s David Burns and Dean Florio, who previously coached at Broward County perennial power Douglas for more than a decade. Players have been receptive and excited to receive the coaching.

“They have the work ethic, and they have their listening ears on,” Rosa said. “With a new coach, there are new plays, new coverages, and they have been open-minded with it.”

John I. Leonard
Coach: Roger Vasquez
2011 record: 13-13
Returners: Eddy Moral; Austin Hernandez; Alberto Hernandez; Noel Canete
Newcomers: Petru Delagraza
Strengths: Strong overall pitching staff

“We know where we’re at, and we know we have to beat four other teams instead of seven other teams now,” John I. Leonard coach Roger Vasquez said.

John I. Leonard is mostly full of juniors this year, with only three seniors on the team, but these players are tight. They know each other well, and they play better baseball together because of this. The Lancer return 13 players this season.

Coach Roger Vasquez is confident in the team’s pitching staff, including the middle relievers and closers. His pitchers are throwing in the mid-80s, and the defense is playing well behind it.

It is the offense that Vasquez is concerned most with.

“We gotta get the sticks to compete,” Vasquez said. “They’re still learning with these BBCOR bats and finding out that if they let go, it travels a lot more.”

The Lancers return plenty of experienced players, starting with leadoff hitter Eddy Moral, who batted .365 last season.

But the strength of the team is surely its pitching staff, starting with big-game pitcher Noel Canete, who features a tough fastball and change-up. The team also will rely heavily on twins Austin and Alberto Hernandez. Left-handed sophomore Petru Delagraza also has been impressive this spring.

“These are good character kids, too,” Vasquez said. “It’s always ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir.’ They work hard and apply themselves. It is these intangibles that will carry us this year.”

Park Vista
Coach: Larry Greenstein
2011 record: 23-8
Returners: Robbie Coleman (P); Brandon Rhodes (P); Brett Lashley (2B)
Newcomers: Shane Bussey (P/IF)
Strengths: Veteran leadership and pitching

“We’ve been fortunate with success,” Park Vista coach Larry Greenstein said. “But it’s like walking around with a bull’s eye… but we have lots of experience and the guys have been there before.”

In eight years as a high school as well as a baseball program, Park Vista has worked and fought to earn the right to be recognized as one of South Florida’s elite. After multiple trips to the state tournament in recent seasons, the Cobras understand that their days of flying under radar have passed. They have arrived, and now they must face the challenges that come with that rite of passage.

“We’re fortunate that we have a lot of returning players,” Cobras coach Larry Greenstein said. “Anything short of perfect is not good enough to these guys.”

A part of being perfect is to take care of the little things, and the Cobras have been excellent at that. The philosophy of playing solid defense behind their experienced pitching should carry them well, helping Park Vista avoid any big innings while putting forth the same solid pitching that they have come to expect.

Leading this arsenal of arms is Virginia signee Robbie Coleman, a four-year starter who evolved into the Cobras go-to guy in pressure situations after he recorded 31 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched last season.

Park Vista also features Brandon Rhodes, who signed with Florida Atlantic University, and Maine signee Shane Bussey on its pitching staff.

“The philosophy is to get ahead in the count, let the defense play, make them hit your pitch and no free passes,” Greenstein said. “The best pitch in baseball is strike one.”

Senior Brett Lashley, who signed with Stetson, will lead the Cobras’ bats. A spark-plug on the offense, he has proven that when he hits, the team gets excited and hits behind him.

Even with the switch to the BBCOR bats, the Cobras are poised to prove that they are the team to beat in this tough district for a reason.

“Good hitting is still in the approach, how one hits with two strikes, how to put the ball into play and move runners,” Greenstein said. “With these new bats, it will be an adjustment, and those big innings will go to two- to three-run innings as opposed to five- to six-run innings.”

Seminole Ridge
Coach: Trent Pendergast
2011 record: 16-9
Returners: Courtney King (P/CF); Tyler Glover (C/P); Tyler Farjad (1B); Marcus Mooney (SS)
Newcomers: Jason Moore (C); Jacob Rhemer (OF); Tyler Beck (UT)
Strengths: Speed on the basepaths and hitting for power

“We’re kind of the new guy to the district, and I like the challenge in it. It’s a good situation for us,” Seminole Ridge coach Trent Pendergast said.

The Seminole Ridge Hawks are a loose and lively bunch, a tight team with very capable hitting. They return nine players from last year’s team, and they look to build off that success to take them even farther this season.

But what the team has in hitting it still has not proven in its pitching. The team’s top pitcher, Courtney King, is also the starting center fielder, and the second ace is also the team’s starting catcher in Tyler Glover.

“We’ve gotten creative with position players,” Hawks coach Trent Pendergast said. “We’re creating new arms because we did not return much pitching. We may piece it together more, give guys less innings and play to each situation.”

With Jason Moore coming in as the new catcher, it adds a larger challenge for the pitching staff.

“It could be beautiful or it could be a disaster,” Pendergast joked.

Leading the offense is shortstop Marcus Mooney, who is headed to Palm Beach State, and King, who batted over .400 last year. First baseman Tyler Farjad anchors the lineup while joining a young and raw infield.

“We’re kind of the new guy to the district, and I like the challenge in it. It’s a good situation for us,” Pendergast said. “We’ll give it our due diligence and see what we can do against them.”

Spanish River
Coach: William Harvey
2011 record: 16-14
Returners: Mike Chambers (P); Cody Meyer (C/P); Luca Rispoli (3B/P); Blake Baren (LHP); Jesse Weinberger (SS)
Newcomers: Josh Bloom (3B/OF)
Strengths: Versatility in lineup and defense

“Our catcher is also our number three pitcher, so I’m not sure how he’ll pitch and catch, but we’ll see what happens,” Spanish River coach Bill Harvey said.

Spanish River coach Bill Harvey is not sure how the team will respond this season. His players are so shuffled out of position to fill team needs that his three-year starting shortstop is now playing catcher, and the team’s second baseman is now at shortstop. All across the team, guys have been shuffled around to fill holes as needed.

“Our catcher is also our number three pitcher, so I’m not sure how he’ll pitch and catch, but we’ll see what happens,” Harvey joked.

Leading the way for the Sharks’ returning players is a trio of starting pitchers in senior Mike Chambers, the team leader in wins and strikeouts last year; Luca Rispoli, who also plays the tough position at third base; and Cody Meyer, who is also the team’s starting catcher and leadoff hitter.

Behind this strong rotation is senior left-hander Blake Baren. Baren will fill the closer role this year, providing strong movement and the ability to consistently record 1-2-3 innings.

Another key returner is senior shortstop Jesse Weinberger, whose big moment last season was a home run that led the Sharks past John I. Leonard.

After playing a backup role last year, senior Josh Bloom has proven that this year is his time. He will play either third base or the outfield.

“Whenever he’s on the field, we’re better. Wherever he is, it doesn’t matter,” Harvey said.

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