Eight Teams Combine For A Massive 7A-13 Gauntlet

Casey Furnas brings his big bat back for Olympic Heights.

Dwyer Manager admits he is somewhat sad to leave Class 8A and rivals like Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens. Despite the fact that they will no longer be in the same district, they will continue to play so that those tough games will help them prepare for their new district. The Tigers are hopeful for a deep postseason run, but the road ahead is just as tough of one.

“We have 14 district games this year,” Torre said. “So that did not leave a lot of room for many games to schedule to prepare ourselves for the playoffs. You can’t hide from challenges and be any good.”

West Boca is one club that will not be able to hide from the target on their backs as an early favorite. The Bulls have earned this distinction as the defending district champions, as well as or their 11-1 district record the past two seasons. One district rival that will be gunning for West Boca is Atlantic, a team that lost four times to the Bulls last year.

Palm Beach’s two 7A districts have now combined into one massive eight-team district. It is a group full of contenders, with Royal Palm Beach and Olympic Heights gaining steam as both enter their second season under their current manager.

Atlantic

2013 Record: 20-9
Manager: Steve Wilson
Key Returners: Jarren Pinkney, Joey Ohannasian, George Engroff, Duane Cyr, Alex Cordes
Team strengths: Offense

It’s something all teams have to go through from time to time, even the great ones that are so successful.

It’s the catch-22 of having great athletes: Eventually they’re going to graduate and move on.

Atlantic finds itself in that type of situation this year after saying goodbye to nine seniors, six of whom were starters. What remains, however, is a core group solid enough to keep hope alive for the Eagles…[Read More]

Dwyer

2013 Record: 12-13
Manager: Frank Torre
Coaching Staff: Kevin Prazenicka, Marty Gonzalez
Key Returners: Duke Stenkel, Shane Olive, Brian Brooker, Tom Szapucki
Team strengths: Conditioning & Pitching

In sports injuries are inevitable. Through the daily grind of practice, preparation, and the game itself players are going to get hurt. In some cases, an injury or injuries can end up completely changing a team’s season.

The 2013 Dwyer Panthers experienced that in full last year. A slew of injuries throughout the year hurt the team, keeping the storied program from repeating as district champions…[Read More]

Forest Hill

2013 Record: 11-15
Manager: Russ Milliken
Key Returners: Dustin Workman, Jesus Delgado, Corey Mahoney, Jorge Hernando, Hector Perdigon, Carlos Blass, Miguel Camilo, Juan Iglesias
Newcomers to watch: Raymond Sanchez, Marcos Martinez-Diaz,
Team strengths: Offense

It’s been over a decade since Forest Hill last advanced past the first round of the regional playoffs.

The Falcons understand that they have a lot of work ahead if they want to get close to that again. The program last accomplished a regional berth in 2002, and this year’s group features a young team that includes just one senior. ..[Read More]

Lake Worth

2013 Record: 3-22
Manager: BJ Gilbert
Key Returners: Chase Forest, John Rodriguez, Kevin Hankla
Newcomers to watch: Christian Baez, Sebastian Campos
Team strengths: Awareness

Lake Worth pride.

That’s what second-year manager Bobby Gilbert Jr. is all about.

Gilbert Jr. graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1999 and wants to return the Trojans’ program to prominence…[Read More]

Olympic Heights

2013 Record: 10-15
Manager: Sam Howell
Key Returners: Casey Furnas, Kenny Landis, Nick Stachnik, Vincent Scambone, Jared Spector
Newcomers to watch: Marcos Pinto, Miguel Fernandez, Gerry Meyer, Robert Black
Team strengths: Pitching and Offense

When Sam Howell returned to coaching baseball last year at Olympic Heights, he immediately noticed why the program was struggling as mightily as it was.

It was clear as day the reason the team had won just three games the previous season. It wasn’t just that the team was losing. It was how it was losing, the way the losses mounted. The players just simply didn’t know how to win, Howell said…[Read More]

Palm Beach Lakes

2013 Record: 8-18
Manager: Dorwin Lynch
Key Returners: Roberto Rodriguez
Outlook: The Rams graduated a core of seniors who had been the face of the program for the past few years. The team is coming off their best season in years, but now is left with the difficult task of replacing the majority of the guys who made that happen in 2013. With a large and competitive district and a young new group of players, Lakes will have a big challenge to stay afloat this season.

Royal Palm Beach

2013 Record: 15-14
Manager: Bart Wible
Coaching Staff: Rich Gomersall, Justin Hedges, Kason Gabbard, Joseph Sleek
Key Returners: Jesse Stebbins, Kyle Houck, Brandon Houck, Josh Derby, Shendell Winwright, Tristan McKenzie, Brandon Hernandez, Alex Rosa, Nick Fernandez, Kevin Cherestal
Newcomers to watch: Jameel Edney
Team strengths: Offense

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.”…[Read More]

West Boca

2013 Record: 20-7
Manager: Nick Siano
Key Returners: Joe White, Angelo Dovas, Dominic Iagrossi, Chris Busch, Sean Gabel, Kody Pepia, Gary Garcia
Newcomers to watch: Ricardo Gonzalez
Team strengths: Pitching & Defense

There’s something to be said for friends growing up playing baseball together. For a group of nine seniors on the West Boca Raton roster, two constants in their lives have been baseball and each other.

They experienced the ups and downs of learning the game in the recreation league, expanded their skills in the travel leagues and competed on the high school level together…[Read More]

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