District 8A-10 Preview: Ready For A Pitched Battle

Almost all of the teams in District 8A-10 are armed and ready for some likely pitchers’ duels.

Here is a preview of what to expect from the district competitors this season.

BOCA RATON BOBCATS
2012 Record: 10-17
Head Coach: Rick Clagett
Key Returners: Chris Sheehan (Sr. RHP), Andrew Sperling (Sr. 1B/DH), Marley Kimelman (Sr. IF), Michael Smiciklas (Sr. OF/RHP), Dakotah Radobaugh (Sr. OF)
Newcomer to Watch: Michael Amditis
Team Strengths: Pitching, defense

The 2013 baseball season brings a new coach and a new field for the Boca Raton Bobcats.

Whether a new upward trend in this program’s success will join that list is yet to be determined, but Manager Rick Clagett feels his squad has what it takes to improve on last year’s 10-17 record and first-round postseason defeat.

“I feel our pitching and defense are our strengths, and with eight seniors returning – three or four who have played at this level before – that’s a bonus,” said Clagett, who moved over from an assistant position at North Broward Prep in June.

“The staff I’ve put together is great, and we’re trying to bring a new culture here. I’m not going to dwell on what’s happened in the past.”

What has happened in the past is a program that has only one playoff win since 2005 and hasn’t been to the state finals since 1966. Meanwhile, other sports at Boca High have thrived in recent years.

“We’re trying to bring the program to an elite level, just like volleyball and soccer at this school,” said Clagett. “I’m hoping with the senior leadership this year, we’re moving in the right direction.”

Anchoring the Bobcats rotation will be 6-foot, 200-pound senior right-hander Chris Sheehan, who threw five scoreless innings in last year’s 1-0 regional quarterfinal loss to Dwyer and was 4-4 with a 1.28 ERA overall. Also competing for starting spots will be seniors Matt Alen and Evan Lahr, along with junior Alex Katz.

On the offensive side of things, senior 1B/DH Andrew Sperling will be looked on to drive in runs consistently, and he will be joined in the lineup by key returning seniors IF Marley Kimelman and OF Dakotah Radobaugh, and junior OF/RHP Michael Smiciklas.

And this season, all these players will finally be stepping foot on their own field, as the Bobcats will call a new facility at Boca Raton Middle School their own, after traveling around the south end of the county in previous years.

“Having our own field is definitely a positive,” said Clagett. “Last season we had to play a home game at Spanish River, so we’re away from that now. At the end of the day, it’s a tremendous bonus.”

JOHN I. LEONARD LANCERS
2012 Record: 5-22
Head Coach: Roger Vazquez
Key Returners: Noel Canete (Sr. RHP), Chris Perez (Jr. 3B), Austin Hernandez (Sr. CF/P), Alberto Hernandez (Sr. OF
Newcomers to Watch: Jared Johnson (Sr. LHP), Dylan Santalo (Fr. SS)
Team Strengths: Pitching

The Lancers are looking for a big turnaround, realizing that 10 of their 22 defeats last year were by two runs or less, including a 5-4 season-ending loss to Seminole Ridge in the district quarterfinals. They haven’t won a district title since 2006.

The turnaround will start on the mound, according to manager Roger Vasquez.

The Lancers will depend on a strong top-of-the-rotation duo of seniors Noel Canete, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-hander, and Jared Johnson, a 6-3 1/2, 160-pound lefty.

Canete and Johnson signed letters of intent to attend Palm Beach State College before practice Jan. 22.

“Without a doubt, Noel and Jared are going to be our cornerstones,” said Vasquez. “They are dominant pitchers, as far as velocity goes, and if they get their off-speed pitches (working), they’re going to be unhittable.”

Johnson and Canete are both competitive and want to finish what they start.

“My best pitch is my change-up,” said Johnson, who sat out last season with tendonitis in his pitching elbow while attending Palm Beach Central.

Canete says his best pitch is his fastball, which is in the mid- to upper 80s, and a splitter is his best off-speed pitch.

The Lancers have other pieces to complement Canete and Johnson, including freshman shortstop Dylan Santalo, junior third baseman Chris Perez and senior twins Austin and Alberto Hernandez in the outfield.

Austin Hernandez, who is the starting center fielder, doubles as the team’s closer.

“He’s a quick-to-the-plate type guy, and he’s a strikeout guy, which is what we need,” said Vasquez.

Canete and Johnson agree with Vasquez that pitching is the team’s strength. But to compete for the district title, the other pieces have to fall into place, according to their manager.

“If the hitters step up, get the timely hits, the clutch hits, lay down the bunts when they need to…we’re going to be fine,” said Vasquez.

Vasquez has been coaching baseball at John I. Leonard since 1999 and this is his third season as the varsity coach. He is counting on the senior-laden team to make a run this year.

“In ninth grade I told them, ‘If you guys stay together, keep your grades up, you guys are going to be dominant and strong in your senior year.’ And here we are.”

PARK VISTA COBRAS
2012 Record: 22-5
Head Coach: Larry Greenstein
Key Returners: Trey Amburgey (Sr. OF), Matthew Paciello (Sr. OF/P), Gabriel Santana (Sr. IF), Matthew Mika, Bruce Bechtel, Trevor Adams (Sr. P), Branden Cook (Jr. IF), Landon Myers (Sr. IF), Eric Adelman
Newcomers to Watch: Tyler Barre, Nyle Newland, Austin Smith, Richard Lipinski, Joey Calamita, Alex Levy, Joey Iannacone
Tim Saunders, Tyler Yurick
Team Strengths: Solid defense
Team Weaknesses: Youth
Our season will be a success if…

“we can score some runs.”

Park Vista is entering the 2013 with a new look on the field as the whole infield has graduated and is pursuing college careers.

“This year there are a lot of spots that are up for grabs,” Park Vista coach Larry Greenstein said. “A lot of young players with talent have an opportunity to make a name for themselves.”

Though the team is young and relying heavily on the leadership of starting outfielders Trey Amburgey and Matthew Paciello, it shows great poise, size and determination. Amburgey and Paciello are the only starters returning and will have a great role in leading this team down the road to success.

“We just need to make sure we stay up every game,” Amburgey said. “We had a great season last year, though we fell short, we are ready to get back to work and follow up with a great season this year.”

One of the key focuses this year for the Cobras is their defense. Defense will be key to their success. Along with having a new infield, the pitching staff will be made up of young talent this year since losing starters Brandon Rhodes and Chris Wurster. Making plays behind the pitchers will help the young pitching staff get the respect and confidence they need. Defense has always been a priority. They have a lot of speed and will be focusing on the fundamentals of the game: Get him on, get him over, get him in.

SEMINOLE RIDGE HAWKS
2012 Record: 11-15
Head Coach: Trent Pendergrast
Key Returners: Alex Aristy (Jr. CF/RHP), Anthony Boccanfuso (Sr. IF/CF), Zack Berry (Sr. IF/P/3B), Jason Moore (Sr. C, IF)
Newcomers to Watch: Carmine Ciofolletti, Nick Martinez
Team Strengths: Pitching
Team Weaknesses: Offense

Something people not around your program need to know about your team…

“We do a character education program that really helps the kids.
The future looks brighter for the Hawks, although we enter this season with a very young and unproven team.”

Manager Trent Pendergast is counting on two freshmen and three sophomores to play significant roles on a junior-heavy team with only four seniors.

“We haven’t dumbed down our goal at all,”” said Pendergast. “We still would like to make it into the regionals and of course win the district. And you have to have some breaks to do that, overcome some adversity.”

One key to improving will be junior Alex Aristy, their best hitter and second-best pitcher, according to Pendergast.

“Alex is probably our best all-around player,” said Pendergast. “He’s streaky. He’s going to dictate what our offense does. He can go 19-for-19, but he can also go 0-for-19, too. He’s been on fire in practice. He looks amazing. Hopefully, he can take that into the season.”

Aristy (6 feet, 180 lbs.) will play center field, where his speed is his biggest asset. He also expects to take on more of a leadership role this season.

“I’m a bigger part of the team now,” said Aristy, who is expected to anchor the middle of the lineup. “I’ve got the junior status now,” he added, laughing.

Pendergast realizes the offense needs to depend on more than Aristy.

“Offensively, it’s going to be hit or miss,” said Pendergast. “Some days are going to be good, other days we might get one hit.”

Pendergast is also depending on freshmen Kyle Farjad, a left-handed pitcher, and Brooks Aristy, Alex’s younger brother, who will split time between the outfield and catcher.

“If they’re not starting every day, they’re certainly going to play at least half the time,” said Pendergast, of his freshmen.

The Hawks don’t have a number one pitcher, so they will be pitching by committee.

“We’ve got a lot of strike-throwers, which is great,” said Pendergast. “I don’t think we’ll have too many games where our guy goes five or six innings. Pretty much everybody is going to go two innings and we’re going to piece every game together.”

Last year Seminole Ridge won six in a row before dropping a season-ending 3-0 decision to Park Vista in the district semifinal, the team’s third loss to the Cobras in 2012.

“It’s going to be a learning curve at the beginning of the season,” said Pendergast. “The biggest thing is getting hot at the end of the year.”

SPANISH RIVER SHARKS
2012 Record: 13-11
Head Coach: William Harvey
Key Returners: Boomer Saraga (Sr. SS), Ryan Berger (Jr. RF/LHP), Cameron Mathis (Sr. 1B), Alex Demchak (Sr. LHP)
Newcomers to Watch: Billy Marion (LHP), John O’ Connor (CF/LHP)
Team Strengths: Pitching depth

The Spanish River Sharks were the number two seed in the District 8A-10 tournament last season. After a season-ending loss to the Boca Raton Bobcats, the Sharks are looking to improve their performance in the upcoming season.

The Sharks faced a few injuries, as well as having to fill voids at the shortstop and catcher positions. Of paramount importance for this young team was filling the hole in those positions.

“Finding a shortstop was our number one priority,” said Sharks Manager William Harvey. “Boomer Saraga has done a real nice job for us at that position.”

Another key spot to fill was the catcher’s position.

“We’ve got a couple of catchers this year who are going to fill a void for us,” Harvey said.

Coming in to replace last year’s number one pitcher and outgoing senior Mike Chambers will be left-handed pitcher Alex Demchak, a senior who is committed to St. Petersburg Community College. Demchak will pitch at the number one spot. Harvey describes him as a “big left-handed kid who throws the ball really well. We’re looking for Alex to do a nice job on the mound for us.”

The Sharks’ strength is in their pitching depth, with the team having nine pitchers and a good number of those being lefties.

One of the challenges is that the team is young, a large number of them being freshmen and sophomores. This could be a hurdle for the coaching staff to develop their talent quickly, effectively and cohesively, particularly on the defensive end. On the other hand, a young team can mean a squad that is resilient, quick to learn and adapt to a new and unfamiliar style of play.

“These guys understand what’s ahead, and they really want it this year,” Harvey said. “We’re going to have to get really good, really fast.”

Some of the other key up-and-coming players are Ryan Berger, a left-handed pitcher and right fielder who led the Sharks in hitting last season. Berger will pitch in the number two spot. Another player to watch will be Boomer Saraga at shortstop, who hit over .300 as a freshman last season. Cameron Matis is a talented defensive player who will be covering first base. John O’Connor is another lefty pitcher who will be showing his defensive ability in center field as well. Another left-handed pitcher for the Sharks is Billy Marion, who shows a lot of promise, according to Harvey. Both Marion and O’Connor are newcomers to the varsity team.

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