Who Will Survive The Gauntlet Of District 9-8A?

The teams that make up the new District 9-8A are no strangers to one another. This group has long competed and forged rivalries among each other over the years, and now those rivalries will be even bigger.

Dwyer, Jupiter, Palm Beach Central, Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington all are talented enough to compete for a state title, let alone a district crown.

Whoever emerges victorious from this group will have survived a gauntlet, and the rest of Class 8A had better pay attention.

“There are no slouches in this district,” Palm Beach Gardens coach Joe Russo said. “It’s really anybody’s district. Somebody will be a five seed, but it will not feel good playing them either.”

The general consensus seems to be that Dwyer is the team to beat, as the Panthers sport a very deep team full of college and pro prospects. Yet every team can make the same claim, and the Panthers themselves know that while it is an honor to be given such credit, ability alone does not win games.

“Anybody can win this district. The reality is we’re not a good team until we prove it,” Dwyer coach Frank Torre said. “We have got to prove we can beat Jupiter first, because they’ve always had our number. At least now we get a few cracks at them.”

The fact is that Jupiter did make it to the Class 6A regional semifinals before falling to Park Vista.

“The kids are hungry, and they don’t want to go through that again,” Jupiter coach Andy Mook said.

Wellington also made it that far in the Class 5A regional semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion West Boca.

“We’ve been with the big boys and we’ve done well,” Wellington coach Scott Riddle said. “With these teams, anybody can beat anybody else.”

Palm Beach Central coach Scott Benedict agrees that teams have got to bring their A games for this district, and that they can’t give any cheap ones away.

“That second district game is nice because you get a better look at them and get an idea what you’re up against,” Benedict said. “We get a lot of the best team in the area, twice.”

As Russo puts it, the team that survives to regional play will be battle-tested.

“Playing that level of baseball all season shows up huge in regionals,” Russo said.

Dwyer
Coach: Frank Torre
2011 record: 19-8
Returners: Bradley Emery (LHP); Tim Lynch (IF); Cheyne Bickel (RHP); Patrick Pinak (IF/OF)
Newcomers: Hunter Hope (SS); Jamal Martin (IF)
Strengths: Hitting, pitching

“The emphasis will be on our pitching working ahead and throwing strikes, because the new bats are going to affect everyone,” Dwyer coach Frank Torre said.

The Dwyer Panthers know that they have a lot of talent where it matters most. They can pitch and they can hit.

But now competing in a new district full of very capable and worthy opponents, the Panthers will have to execute flawlessly in all aspects of the game to emerge as the district champions.

“We lost our whole middle infield this year, so it is huge that they make plays for us,” Dwyer coach Frank Torre said. “We’re deep through the lineup, and we can score some runs. The emphasis will be on our pitching working ahead and throwing strikes, because the new bats are going to affect everyone.”

Leading the Panthers strong arms are senior lefty Bradley Emery, who has committed to Daytona State after a 6-0 record last year, and junior Cheyne Bickel, who was 5-1 last season.

Tim Lynch, who has committed to Southern Mississippi, returns to lead Dwyer’s big bats. Other key contributors to the Panthers’ offense are Patrick Pinak, who hit .377 last year, and Jamal Martin, who is committed to Florida State and who hit .413 last year.

Jupiter transfer Hunter Hope fills an important position at shortstop while adding another good hitter. Hope was one of seven finalists in the High School Baseball Network/Perfect Recruits 2011 Home Run Derby, which was held last November.

Torre says the emphasis will be on how to win those close games, how to bunt and move runners, and how pitchers work at holding runners on base. With every district game so competitive, it will be these little things that make the biggest difference.

“We have got to keep improving as the year goes on and not worry about the rest of it,” Torre said.

Jupiter
Coach: Andy Mook
2011 record: 24-6
Returners: Ronnie Healy (C); David Tavilla (1B/P); Pat Walther (OF); Scott Danek (CF/LHP); Kyle Keatts (P/SS); Cole Johnson (2B); Callahan Brown (P); Victor Gonzalez (P)
Newcomers: Lance Fry (P/3B); Logan Heiser (C); John McCarthy (1B)
Strengths: Pitching and Defense

“They run through the wall and then get up to go again,” Jupiter coach Andy Mook said.

Jupiter’s Andy Mook couldn’t be happier with the effort his team has shown him so far in his first year as the Warriors head coach.

The players have proven to be hard-nosed and gritty, and they work hard in practice.

“They run through the wall and then get up to go again,” Mook said. “They are full of heart, hustle and grit.”

The Warriors are hungry for another deep postseason run, and they have plenty of returning talent to take them there. Leading a deep bullpen is Callahan Brown, who has committed to Mississippi State, and Victor Gonzalez, who committed to Florida International University. Other strong arms include David Tavilla, Kyle Keatts and Scott Danek. Promising newcomer Lance Fry adds yet another strong arm.

Behind the plate calling the pitches for this glut of talent will be junior Ronnie Healy. Other key contributors to the offense are second baseman Cole Johnson and outfielder Pat Walther.

“This team plays well as a unit, and the kids are not settling with talent and are working hard everyday,” Mook said. “We need to enhance our hitting and really fine-tune our base-running. But we have all the tools, we’re a talented team and we will come around.”

Palm Beach Central
Coach: Scott Benedict
2011 record: 18-8
Returners: Brady Roberson (1B/C/P); Ian Hagenmiller (3B/P); Hunter Morey (C/IF); Kevin Aubrey (2B); Danny Hernandez (SS); Shawn Murray (P); John Padich (LHP); Gabe Martinez (OF); Lance Stiles (LHP)
Newcomers: Shane Sawczak (LHP)
Strengths: Hitting and veteran experience

“We’ve played the A-Rods, the Hosmers and the Ankiels,” Broncos coach Scott Benedict said.

For the first time in his nine years at the helm of Palm Beach Central, Scott Benedict’s team won less than 20 games last season. This is something the coach has not easily forgotten. Not that it has stopped the team from scheduling the toughest competition thy can find.

“We’ve played the A-Rods, the Hosmers and the Ankiels,” Benedict said. “We play the best schedule possible.”

Traditionally the Broncos take a spring break trip to California for one of the top-rated tournaments in the nation. This year, the team will instead compete closer to home, participating in the Florida Collegiate Tournament at Sanford Memorial Park near Orlando.

Palm Beach Central return seven starters this season, and the strength of the team is in their hitting and their depth at catcher. The team has a bevy of left-handed pitchers, but they are all unproven and lack experience.

“They need to be brought along and developed,” Broncos coach Scott Benedict said. “We’ll score runs, and the defense should be solid. But it all will revolve around our pitching and how well we develop our pitching staff.”

Benedict has a career coaching record of 490 wins and 156 losses, meaning he has a very good chance of eclipsing his 500th coaching victory this year.
Last season the Broncos had a team batting average of .353, and this year they will return several key contributors to that success. Leading the way is senior Brady Roberson, who batted .373 last year, and junior Ian Hagenmiller, who hit .370 last season. Catcher Hunter Morey has committed to Air Force, while his brother, junior Gage Morey, has committed to Florida Gulf Coast. Other returning veterans include second baseman Kevin Aubry, outfielder Gabe Martinez and sophomore shortstop Kevin Hernandez, who led the team with a .377 batting average as a freshman.

Right-hander Shawn Murray will lead the team’s bullpen, which will primarily be chosen by committee. Senior Lance Stiles, junior John Padich and sophomore Shane Sawczak represent some of the team’s most promising left-handed pitching.

“One difference this year is the top team in the district gets a bye, so the regular season is really worth it,” Benedict said.

Palm Beach Gardens
Coach: Joe Russo
2011 record: 17-10
Returners: James Jean (C); Nick Oberg (SS); Jean Cancio (2B/3B); Darren Hansen (C/1B/OF); Broosk DeMontluzin (LHP)
Newcomers: Zion Bell (CF/LF); Pavin Smith (1B/LHP)
Strengths: Offense and infield defense

“BBCOR bats are a game-changer. There won’t be any power guys with these bats,” Palm Beach Gardens coach Joe Russo said.

Palm Beach Gardens coach Joe Russo does not see any weaknesses in his lineup. From leadoff down to the number nine hitter, he feels they are solid and that the team will never just be pushing to get back to the top of the lineup.

“BBCOR bats are a game-changer. There won’t be any power guys with these bats,” Russo joked. “It will take a few weeks for players to get acclimated to them.”

The Gators are led by good seniors who have been around the block and who know what to do, Russo said. This group includes catcher James Jean, shortstop Nick Oberg, second baseman Jean Cancio and Darren Hansen, who will see time at catcher, first base and the outfield.

Hansen will supply the strongest bat in the lineup, but sophomore Pavin Smith has always swung really well this spring and will bat in the coveted third spot in the order. Outfielder Zion Bell is the son of Florida Marlins hitting instructor Bobby Bell, and he transferred to the school from Indiana this year.

Senior left-hander Brooks DeMontluzin will lead a deep but young pitching staff, which will be the key to the team’s success this year.

Wellington
Coach: Scott Riddle
2011 record: 22-8
Returners: Peter Rivera (3B); Jared Tosner (SS); David Koos (P/CF)
Strengths: Work ethic and veteran leadership

“We focus on the fundamentals and getting better at the little things. The experience will develop them into complete players, and that will let them grow into a team,” Wellington coach Scott Riddle.

Wellington coach Scott Riddle has never spent so much time focused on defense. After the Wolverines lost eight starters to graduation this past year and also after the state switched to the new BBCOR baseball bats, it as changed their approach this year. The philosophy will be on keeping in games by emphasizing throwing strikes and holding runners on. Players will employ a more tempered approach at the plate, and more rewards will be given for getting runners over and having productive at-bats.

“Drill, drill, drill,” coach Riddle said. “We focus on the fundamentals and getting better at the little things. The experience will develop them into complete players, and that will let them grow into a team.”

The Wolverines are plugging more holes in the lineup than in years past, and Riddle admits to feeling more unprepared this season. But he is excited about his young team, and he appreciates their tenacious work ethic.

“If we’re not going to be good, then we are going to be young,” Riddle said. “The guys we have are talented, but they just lack experience. I have confidence in these guys, but they have to be ready because we don’t have the luxury of riding a lot of seniors.”

In fact, Wellington returns only three seniors this year, third baseman and Miami signee Peter Rivera, shortstop Jared Tosner and pitcher and center fielder David Koos.

Through the spring so far, the most interesting position battle has been at catcher, where three players are competing for the starting job. Riddle says the one who does the best job hitting and who can also call a game will win the spot.

“I want to see what guys will do,” Riddle said. “I want to see if they have an answer why they do things or not.”

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