2A Road To The Final Four: Many Familiar Faces

With one less round of the regional playoffs the road to the state Final Four is shorter in Class 2A, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it gets any easier. Several traditional powerhouses return to the fray this year, including two Trinity Christian Academy teams that have faced off in previous state finals. Also in the mix and deserving of attention are teams such as Central Florida Christian, St. John Lutheran, Orlando Christian Prep, Westwood Christian and Seacrest Country Day. To prepare for the playoffs these contenders all played up against some tough schools from the largest classifications. This approach has paid huge dividends in years past, as evidenced by two-time defending state champion Miami Brito. Those that used that experience to improve for the playoff push are likely to be the ones taking the road to its final destination.

Region Two

District Three

Trinity Christian Deltona manager Bryan Maples consistently produces contenders year after year, and this season is no different. The Eagles earned the top seed in the district tournament by virtue of a tie-breaker with St. John Lutheran, and Trinity Christian awaits the winner between Warner Christian and Peniel Baptist in the district semifinal. Meanwhile, the Saints are not to be overlooked after a strong season and a 7-1 district record. St. John Lutheran is the only team in 2A-3 to defeat Trinity Christian, and should it get past the winner of First Academy and Mt. Dora Christian in the semifinal it should get a chance at a rubber match for the district crown.

District Four

A pair of heavy-hitters lead this bunch, as both Orlando Christian Prep and Central Florida Christian are more than able to win big games and make a deep playoff run this year. The Warriors earned the top seed in the district and a favorable first-round home game against eighth-seeded Covenant Christian, while the Eagles will host Geneva in their quarterfinal contest.

Although the Knights have been hot of late, the club has struggled in district play and was beaten by a combined score of 26-2 in two games against Central Florida Christian this year. The Eagles also have home field advantage in their favor as the district hosts, and are the only team to put a loss on Orlando Christian Prep this season. A rematch for the district championship could be in the making, with the rubber-match showdown being as important as any game they have played so far.

Region Three

District Five

Pitching is always crucial during the playoffs, and Keswick Christian has the quality arms that helped to place them at the top of this group. The Crusaders started the season 12-0 and have posted five shutout wins this year, thanks largely to starters Josh Guerin and Nick Boesch. Tanner Suarez heads the relief corps, while Josh Paulton sets the table for power hitters like Will Killpatrick and Quinton Pertkiewicz on offense. Keswick can rely on that depth to carry it through three rounds of district playoff action, starting with eighth-seeded Lakeside Christian.

Bayshore Christian secured the second seed by beating Seven Rivers Christian in head-to-head action during the season. The Faith Warriors made it to the state championship game last year, and five of the leaders from that group returned to carry the squad again this year. Manager Corey Thomas does a great job of bringing out the best in his guys, and the team is capable of another run this time around. Vincent Van de L’Isle and David Santiago lead a potent offense that hit over .300 for the season. Bayshore Christian opens the district tournament against Victory Christian.

Seven Rivers Christian has had a strong 2016 campaign, and has been equally tough both at home and on the road. The Warriors have won seven of their last nine games and come into the district quarterfinal meeting against Hernando Christian as hot as any team in 2A-4. Offense has been the driving force, led by Parker Pillsbury, Tristan Valerio and Coy Phillips.

Canterbury draws a tough pairing in the middle of the pack, facing an unpredictable Academy at the Lakes squad. The Crusaders will have home field advantage in their favor as the district hosts, but they also have a 4-7 home mark this year. What should give them more confidence is the fact that they beat the Wildcats by a combined score of 36-4 in two meetings during the season. The club is more than capable of swinging its way through the district bracket, with juniors Bobby Ballew, Brendon Smith and Daniel Redmond leading the way.

District Six

Don’t let the overall record fool anyone, Seacrest Country Day is every bit capable of making another run to the state Final Four. Although just five players remain from the team that advanced to the state finals in 2014, Matt DiNorcia, Tyler Lopes, Josue Rivera, Erick Chavez and Harry Solomon are experienced leaders that know what it takes to win in the playoffs. The Stingrays played a tough non-district schedule that included 12 road games, where they went 7-4-1 away from their home turf. Seacrest Country Day opens the district tournament against a winless Everglades City squad.

Sarasota Christian serves as the home team against the Gulff Coast HEAT in an intriguing match up in the other district semifinal. The Blazers won just four games this year, but three of those victories came in the district to earn them the second seed. The HEAT have a young squad that has rounded into form throughout the year. Now is the time for them to turn the corner if they want to keep the season alive. Adam Masarik and Caleb Poll lead the offense, while Matt DiLorenzo anchors the pitching staff.

Region Four

District Seven

Make no mistake about it, this district is Trinity Christian Lake Worth’s to lose. The Warriors held court all season against the rest of the field by sweeping every game without allowing any runs and outscoring the opposition 114-0. That is a disparity that speaks volumes and the Warriors are clearly the favorites heading into a district tournament that they also enjoy the distinction of serving as the hosts for. Aldrich de Jongh leads the pitching staff with an incredible 0.20 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 35 innings, while Edmond Americaan leads a vaunted offense that hit over .350 for the year.

Lake Worth Christian earned the second seed in the district and has also been a tough opponent all year long with a 14-8 record overall and an 8-1 district mark. The Defenders won the district tournament just a few seasons ago with far less to boast about, and they always seem to play their best baseball at season’s end when it matters the most. They are unafraid of challenges and represent the most likely team to advance through the bracket and chase after the rival Warriors for the district title. Offense has also been the key, where Rovinel Mathilda, Yazer Braafhart and Jossel Sylvanie lead a deep batting order.

Boca Christian represents the most potent sleeper in the pack. The Blazers have lots of playoff experience over the last few seasons and have played a notch above the teams that trail them in the district standings. Glades Day has been a thorn in their side in recent years, but a win in that quarterfinal meeting could give Boca Christian just enough momentum to take on the mighty Warriors in the semifinals. Logan Rataiczak has led the club on both sides of the field, while Zach Hofmann and Austin Smith are also key cogs in the offensive machinery.

District Eight

The past three state champions have come out of this district, and certainly that trend could continue again this season. Westwood Christian last advanced into the regional playoffs in 2013, when it won it all. The Warriors have evolved a young group that supplanted those state champions over the past few seasons, and now could be their time to shine. Westwood Christian blazed through the district to earn the top seed and an opening-round meeting with Champagnat. However, the Lions pulled off an upset-victory during the regular season and will be looking to repeat that feat in the district tournament. Depth has been a big strength of Westwood Christian’s, with five reliable starters on the pitching staff and Mathew Mejias and Steven Jimenez leading a batting order that is more than nine deep and hit over .375 for the year.

It seems that every year Miami Christian and Miami Brito meet up in the playoffs, and most often it happens during the district championship and then again in the regional semifinals. This year it comes in the district semifinals, which means the winner will advance and the other side will see its season come to an end. The Victors have been a streaky team this year, with two separate winning streaks early on before suffering a seven-game losing streak down the stretch.

The Panthers are chasing history in their bid to earn a three-peat state championship, which has only been done two other times in state history. Brito finds itself in a tougher position than in the past few seasons, coming in as an underdog against a tough rival in the district semifinal. Seemingly every season the elimination-game against Miami Christian catapults the club the rest of the way, and the Panthers will be hoping that trend remains the same.

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