Kings Looks To Make Another Deep Playoff Run in 2014

Coach Magaw has been using the Fall season to prepare his team for 2014

Things won’t be the same for the Lions in 2014.

Kings Academy and Benjamin have had a longstanding history of intense and meaningful games. Benjamin got the better of Kings Academy during the regular season, sweeping the season series and winning each game by four runs. For the fourth year in a row though, the Lions got revenge when it mattered most, winning at Benjamin to claim the district title in a 1-0 pitchers duel.

Less than two weeks later, Kings Academy did it again, knocking the Bucs out in the regional semifinals. While the Lions were eliminated in the regional finals, it was a successful season for head coach Doug Magaw and his program.

“Our goal was to get to the regional championship game again and we did,” Magaw said. “Unfortunately that game didn’t go the way we planned. But I have no complaints. To say that we have been able to get to the elite eight for four straight years is quite an accomplishment.”

Despite the intensity of the rivalry, both programs have a great deal of respect for one another. At the same time though, being able to beat them to advance throughout the postseason made it a little more special.

“We always know it is going to be a dogfight when we get together with Benjamin,” Magaw said. “I have all the respect in the world for what they do over there and we always know it is going to be a good game. It was very exciting because we knew that they were a fantastic ball club.”

That rivalry with Benjamin will lose some of its luster starting this upcoming season. As a result of the district shuffling that took place, Benjamin and Kings will no longer be competing in the same district. The Lions will move from 3A-12 to 4A-13. As a result, Benjamin and Jupiter Christian will be replaced by American Heritage-Delray, Cardinal Newman, Pope John Paul II, and St. Andrew’s.

“This could be one of the toughest small school districts in the state,” Magaw said. “You have us, Newman, Pope John Paul, American Heritage, and St. Andrews. All those programs are top notch and we know that we are in for a dog fight.”

In addition to the new district and schedule, Kings Academy will have a slightly different look on the field. They lose six seniors off of last year’s team, including John Carpenter, who had played a role with the team for the past six years. As a result, Magaw has used this time to bring up a lot of younger guys.

“I try to bring a lot of young guys up and get them ready for the next level,” Magaw said. “That’s a large part of our fall ball, bring guys up and get them mixed in and get as many reps in for both young and returning guys.”

Magaw will turn to his veteran players to step up and help bring some of the younger players along, leaning on guys such as Ryan Johnson and Dominic Mercurio. Johnson is a senior captain on the team and led the area in doubles last year, in addition to being an all-area selection. Mercurio was also an all-area selection last year and will be the team’s three-hole hitter once again this year.

Dominic Mercurio will be looked upon to be a senior leader in 2014

“These kids are going to be face of the program in the upcoming years,” Mercurio said. “We want to Kings to have a successful baseball team for years to come.”

In addition to those two, Magaw will need several players who are either younger or didn’t play large rolls to step up this year.

“Our second baseman Nick Bates will be a key instrumental player in what we need to accomplish,” said Magaw. “James Vaughn was an all area selection as just a freshman last year. He’s a sophomore now and we expect big things out of him. He was doing it last year and we will expect nothing less than that from him this year.”

This new look Lions team will be tested early and often. In addition to the challenging district campaign, the out of district schedule for Kings Academy is difficult as well. As a result, Magaw feels that the schedule will help his team get adequately prepared to make a run at a fifth consecutive elite eight appearance.

“When we aren’t playing our tough district games I schedule us tough out of district games as well,” Magaw said. “I know a lot of the area coaches and thank goodness they are willing to play us. We don’t play a cake schedule in or out of district and we certainly know the value of playing tough teams. Our players, parents, and administration expects that we are going to play a tough schedule which helps prepare us for the end of the season run.”

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