Royal Palm Beach Motivated By Loss

Head coach Bart Wible (right) talks with seniors Kyle Houck, Josh Derby, Shendell Winright, Brandon Houk, Jameel Edney and Kevin Cherestal.

The players don’t like to think about the last time Royal Palm Beach played a game. The Wildcats were held hitless in a rain-delayed 2-0 loss to Atlantic in the regional quarterfinals on their home field.

The loss still stings and provides motivation for the upcoming season, according to seniors Kyle Houck and Brandon Houk.

“We talked about it some, how frustrating it was,” said Houck, who played second base last season. “We’re definitely motivated by it.”

Houk, a senior right-hander, is expected to be one of the Wildcats top pitchers.

“It’s something we don’t look kindly on, something that we always remember,” Houk said. “We’re trying to build from where we left off last year. We’re trying to push it farther. We know we have talent here. Everybody may not see it, but we have it and we’re going to come out there fighting.”

The two-time defending district champions know they will have a tougher road to a three-peat.

District 7A-13 has increased from four to eight teams, with Dwyer, West Boca and Atlantic joining with Forest Hill, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Lakes and Olympic Heights. Only the top two advance from the district tournament.

Royal Palm Beach won the district last year with a 5-1 record and finished 15-14 overall. They were eliminated in the regional quarterfinals in each of the last two seasons — by Atlantic last season and West Boca in 2011.

“Our big concern is just to get out of the districts,” said Royal Palm Beach second-year manager Bart Wible. “We could honestly slot anywhere from second or third down to sixth. I would call it of the utmost importance to be one of the top two seeds going into the (district) tournament.”

Wible believes Dwyer, which dropped down from Class 8A, is the top team, with West Boca, Atlantic and the Wildcats right there. He also knows to not overlook any of the teams.

“Everybody covets that district championship and it’s really going to mean something this year,” Wible said. “Whoever wins the district championship definitely deserves some praise.”

For the Wildcats to win, they will have to perform up to their potential. According to Wible, that starts with pitching.

Houk knows he has to keep the ball low and work the edges to be successful.

“I’ve built up my velocity,” said Houk, who is hitting as high as 87 miles per hour. “And I’ve learned to develop my No. 2 and No. 3 pitches, a curve and split change.”

Joining Houk in the rotation will be Shendell Winright (2-2, 24 strikeouts in 28 innings with a 0.75 ERA) and junior Tristan McKenzie (3-3, 30 strikeouts in 45.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA). Brandon Hernandez, who started at shortstop last season as a sophomore, is also expected to see time on the mound.

Wible is also expecting juniors Nick Fernandez and Alex Rosa to be in the mix coming out of the bullpen.

“Brandon did well out of the bullpen,” Wible said. “Tristen, he’s going to carry a big load for us. Shendell came out of nowhere and did a great job. Losing (ace) Jordan (Lauginiger) is a big loss. But I think we have guys to replace him.”

Brandon Hernandez (left) and Kyle Houck work on their double play skills during a recent practice.

The strength of the team seems to be up the middle, with senior Jessie Stebbins returning at catcher and Houck and Hernandez at shortstop and second. The latter two, along with newcomer Jameel Edney, who transferred from Palm Beach Central, are battling for those positions. The odd man out will probably play third base, according to Wible.

“He’s been impressive so far,” Wible said, referring to Edney, a senior. “He’ll jump right into the front part or middle part of the lineup. He’s a nice piece to have, good skills, coming from a great program.”

Wible lost his entire starting outfield and said the coaches will be choosing between five or six players for the three spots.

One player who seemingly has a jump on the others is senior Kevin Cherestal, who joined the team late in the season from the junior varsity and made an outstanding defensive play in the regionals. He has bulked up and projects as the starting centerfielder.

“One thing a lot of people wouldn’t know about us is we have a lot of bats this year,” said Houck, who added 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason and says his throwing arm is completely healthy. “We have to keep working hard every day.”

The players and coaches are looking forward to the season and know they have to play well right from the beginning of the season because of the new district.

“I think we have the talent and the work ethic,” Wible said. “The season would go a number of different ways. If we can stay healthy and we can play up to our potential, I think we’re going to make a run. At least getting out of the district, if not winning this again.”

But Wible is also looking at the bigger picture.

“Who knows, we could be in this district for a while, it could be two years and done,” Wible said. “I think people look at Royal Palm below a Dwyer, a West Boca and an Atlantic. I would like them to talk about us with those programs. They are great programs with good coaches with a lot of success. We would like to be in that conversation, as one of the top teams.”

They certainly have the motivation to get there.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!