Stockton, Summey Set To Lead Wellington

Anthony Maniotis works out at third base during a recent practice.

Wellington manager Scott Riddle is looking for one of his pitchers to step up this season.

Senior right-hander Spencer Stockton may be the answer for the Wolverines manager.

“I definitely want the ball in the big games,” said Stockton, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder. “That’s how I’ve always wanted it. When the big district game comes, I want it. I want it every game.”

Stockton doesn’t consider himself a power pitcher, although his fastball registers in the mid-80s. He has already committed to play college at Jacksonville University.

“My change-up is my best pitch,” said Stockton, who has been on varsity since transferring to Wellington from Cardinal Newman before his sophomore season. “I was told develop all your off-speed pitches (first) and your fastball will come. When my fastball does come, it’s just going to make me that much better. I don’t have to rely on just the fastball. I can still use every other pitch in my arsenal.”

Senior outfielder Jake Summey, one of the Wolverines’ top returning hitters, has been impressed with Stockton.

“He’s got some nasty stuff,” said Summey, who will move to centerfield from left and probably bat either first or second. “He’s a real good pitcher.”

The Wolverines are going to need breakout seasons from Stockton and Summey, among others, if they want to improve upon last season’s 14-12 record.

“I’ve got five outfielders I trust, five infielders who are very talented high school players, three catchers who I’d start tomorrow and be comfortable with and not enough innings for the pitching I have,” Riddle said. “Complacency shouldn’t be an issue.”

Senior left-hander Austin Spitz and junior right-hander Phil Sieli are expected to join Stockton as starters. Infielders Matt Morales, Tyler Dillian and Anthony Maniotis are all expected to contribute, along with outfielder Mitch Goldhaber and catcher John Torchetti.

But it’s Wellington’s district record that has Summey and others frustrated, going 1-7 last year against tough opponents, including crosstown rival Palm Beach Central and Jupiter.

“We’ve had good teams all along, but in this district it’s been like we’re the girl who finishes 13th in the Hawaiian Tropic calendar search; still a pretty good overall package, nothing to be ashamed of, just not where we want to be,” Riddle said. “We can’t make excuses and say losing to Jupiter, (Palm Beach) Gardens and Central is OK. The talent gap between the schools in this district is not that great, but we’ve been playing like it is. That’s on the coaches. We have to do a better job of not only physically preparing them, but getting them in the mental place where these district games are just another day at the park. Maybe a couple big wins and they’ll start believing that we’re that team to beat. The kids are physically ready to take the next step.”

Spencer Stockton is expected to be Wellington’s top pitcher in 2014.

The competitive Stockton believes that the Wolverines depth and experience might be the key to turning it around.

“The thing that’s frustrating is that we have the talent,” said Stockton, who is working hard to keep his emotions on a more even keel while on the mound this season. “You look at the lineup card and say how do we have that record with these guys? When we knew we had to win a game, we’d play a good couple of innings and then we see it start to slip away from us, we’d just let it go and we lost that intensity. This year, we have five or six star guys to pick up each other. That’s going to help us turn it around.”

Summey’s individual goals include stealing at least 20 bases and for the team to win, including more district games.

“Every year we work hard, the results should be there,” said the 5-foot-8, 150-pound Summey, in his second year on varsity. “Everything’s there to turn it around. Last year, we had a whole bunch of sophomores who are now juniors. It’s looking a lot better than last year. We’re going to work hard.”

Riddle knows the pitching will be the key to the Wolverines going deep into the playoffs.

“If we are going to be that team that makes a run into late May we’re going to need a couple of our starting pitchers to take a big step up,” said Riddle. “We need to find one or two who can keep us in games the nights we can’t hit, get a bunt down or catch a ground ball.”

That’s Stockton’s cue.

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