High School Baseball Network March Madness Silver Bracket

The HSBN March Madness Shootout Silver Bracket welcomes a group of teams hungry to build some momentum for the stretch run of the season. The four straight victories it will take to become the bracket champion could provide the perfect fuel to propel that club through the district playoffs. Last season SLAM Academy earned the crown and went on to win its first district title in program history. With two district rivals locked in as the top two seeds in #1 Cypress Bay and #2 Western, that could be the difference. Should both avoid being upset along the way, it could create the rare chance for teams to face on another five times in one season, with two regular-season meetings and the possibility of meeting again in both the district playoffs and regional playoffs…

Daily Schedule

1. Cypress Bay (8-5) – A four-game win streak helped propel the Lightning into the top spot of the bracket. Cypress Bay has the pitching to carry it through, led by starters Devin Ramirez and Greyson Fletcher, who have combined for 48 strikeouts in just under 40 combined innings. The Lightning pulled off an opening-round upset over TERRA in last year’s shootout opener, and as the highest seed they now have to avoid suffering the same fate themselves against Mourning.

2. Western (6-4) – The Wildcats have their deepest roster in years this season and that depth could pay major dividends during the shootout. The club has a strong four-man pitching rotation that should be well-rested heading into action, led by senior right-hander Richard Medina and his team-leading 1.94 ERA. With an offense hitting .326, Western has a strong balance that makes them a legitimate threat. The lineup has a great mix of speed and power, with Zachary Urso leading the club with seven of its 18 stolen bases and Ryan Smith providing much of the power to lead in nearly every hitting category.

3. Palm Beach Central (5-6-1) – Spring Break is typically where Scott Benedicts Broncos turn the corner and start playing their best baseball. Palm Beach Central has gone 11-4 over the past four seasons playing in Spring Break tournaments, and the Broncos have proven they can beat the best of the best through many of those victories. Pitching depth gives the Broncos plenty of options, as junior Cameron Lauer leads a five-man rotation on a staff that is ten men deep. If the offense can find some holes to put runners on for their two power hitters in brothers Brendan and Connor Power it could make all the difference.

4. Coral Springs (6-4) – Pitching has been the major difference for the Colts this season, which has included posting shutouts in half of their victories so far this year. Junior Max Lazar has led the way, posting an incredible 0.88 ERA and a team-best 36 strikeouts in 24 innings. Senior Phil Quinn provides a strong number two, and reliever Matt LeConte has yet to allow an earned run in 12 innings of work. The Colts have not hit for a ton of power but are still managing to average 4.5 runs per game, with senior Tyler Hall and junior Sean Baran tied for the team-lead with eight runs each.

5. Coral Park (7-4) – The Rams have performed well against a tough slate of teams over the first half of the year. The club is hitting for tons of power, with 25 extra-base hits and a .430 slugging percentage. Junior shortstop Erwing Hernandez leads the way with a club-high 15 hits and a .500 batting average. Meanwhile the pitching staff has a trio of dangerous hurlers in ace Edislandy Agusti, senior veteran Anthony Vazquez and junior Michael Ordonez. This depth on the mound could help propel the Rams through a corner of the bracket that could be largely dictated by its pitching.

6. Westminster Academy (7-5) – A young Lions club has rounded together well in winning six of its last eight contests. Westminster had a strong showing in the 2015 March Madness Shootout and has shown it can compete well against tough competition. The Lions are a fiery bunch that play with passion and a big bat. They are led on offense by sophomore Cory Acton, who has a team-best 12 RBIs and is tied with fellow sophomore Christian Sosa for the team-lead in hits with 13 each.

7. The Master’s Academy (8-5) – The Eagles got off to a strong start in winning their first five games, including the Eagle Invitational championship. That tournament experience could be valuable. Manager Matt Cleveland has always gotten the most out of his guys, and that trend is best exemplified by a deep pitching staff that has seen nine hurlers combine for a 2.04 team ERA. Junior Andrew Kaminsky and freshman Ben Chestnutt provide a solid one-two punch to the starting rotation, while Kaminsky and senior catcher Cole Iturrioz are powering the offense to lead in every offensive category.

8. Charlotte Christian (4-3) – The Knights bring a championship pedigree and a nice history in previous trips for Spring Break tournaments in South Florida, having won the Hall of Fame Classic in 2014 and also going 2-1 in the same tournament a season ago. The Knights have won three in a row and will look to make it a five-game winning streak to carry onto the plane with them, with two game slated this week.

9. Georgetown Prep (0-2) – The Little Hoyas have only just begun their 2016 season in their hometown of North Bethesda, Maryland. After dropping a doubleheader with Archbishop Spaulding the start the season, Georgetown Prep will have two more chances to pick up its first win of the season with a pair of game this week before traveling down to South Florida for the March Madness Shootout.

10. Pompano Beach (6-5) – Tornadoes manager Joe Giummule excels at moving his pieces around like on a chess board and Pompano Beach does not rely on any one player and is truly the sum of its parts. Eight different pitchers have toed the rubber this season, and they a proven closer in sophomore Trevor Kniskern, who boasts an 0.58 ERA, two saves and a team-best 19 strikeouts over 12 innings and five appearances. Kniskern and senior Nick Marcantonio are tied for the team lead in hits, with Marcantonio supplying much of the power with an .808 slugging percentage.

11. Braddock (6-5) – The Bulldogs have alternated wins and losses over much of the season and will be looking to use the tournament to build some consistency for the stretch run. Long known for its offensive prowess, Braddock is getting great pitching to lead the way this year. Senior Nelson Alvarez has 35 strikeouts in 21 innings and a 1.64 ERA to lead the way, while senior Osvaldo Fernandez is 2-0 with a 1.87 ERA. The offense continues to thrive with power, connecting for 18 extra-base hits.

12. Pine Crest (5-5) – After a 3-0 start the Panthers have struggled of late and could use a nice boost from a strong spring showing. Senior ace Garret Rukes‘s recent return to action has added more fuel to a pitching staff that boasts a collective 1.94 ERA. Junior Jordan Schulefand and senior veteran Sam Wurth help provide the club with the type of depth that could lead to a deep run in the bracket.

13. Suncoast (5-4) – The Chargers are putting things together at just the right time under first-year manager Louie Siciliano, having won four of their last five contests. Having already wrapped up its district play to earn the second seed in 6A-14, Suncoast will look to keep the fire burning by putting in a strong run in the bracket. The club has a solid pitching rotation that is led by Tyler Lavery‘s team-low 1.18 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. The offense seems to operate best going station to station, with senior Alec Guerricabeitia and sophomore Jack Virden tied for the team lead with 14 hits each.

14. Hialeah (6-4) – The Thoroughbreds hitters are getting on base with a .420 on base percentage and nine different runners have combined for 16 total steals to put runners into scoring position. Senior Adrian Negrin has been the most productive at driving guys in, leading Hialeah with 13 RBIs. They will be looking to score an upset over a manager that knows their squad well, as Palm Beach Central manager Scott Benedict has history with the program that dates back to when his Wellington team lost against the Thoroughbreds in the 2001 state championship.

15. Miami Brito (6-4) – The Panthers have won the Class 2A state title each of the past two seasons and have proven they have what it takes to make a run when it counts the most. Brito has struggled of late in dropping its last two contests in key district losses to Westwood Christian and Miami Christian, and a strong tournament run could be just what the doctor ordered. The Panthers play three games this week heading into the shootout, which could either help them come in on a groove and clicking but could also challenge their endurance for a four-game stretch over the six days of the tournament.

16. Alonzo Mourning (5-6) – The Sharks have won their past three, including a big 1-0 shutout over Southridge in last week’s Miami-Dade Game of the Week. Senior Marcel Guardarrama tossed a complete-game shutout in Friday’s big win while increasing his team-leading strikeout total to 37. A small-ball approach is helping the club average over five runs a game despite a low slugging percentage, as it has swiped 19 bases in 22 attempts to make the most of its scoring chances. Nearly every member of the club has gotten in on the action on the bases, with junior Max Liff leading the way with four steals.

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