New Look Vikings Aim For The Playoffs in 2014

The Norland Vikings brought in some new faces that will change the look of their team in 2014. For a team that’s looking for its first winning season since 2008, that change is welcome to a program that has dealt with its share of adversity.

Manager Dave Dresner enters his second year at Norland after finishing 7-15 last season, which was up from the club’s 2-12 record in 2012.

“The baseball intelligence and the talent we have this year is something we haven’t seen since 2008,” Dresner said.

The Vikings have brought in a host of transfers that will give the team a solid chance to make the playoffs in the realigned District 6A-15 with the likes of Goleman, Miami Springs, Carol City, and Mourning.

Look for transfers such as pitcher Cleveland Westbrook (Fort Lauderdale Dillard), infielder Darius Pryce-Lewis (Goleman), catcher Dillon Belle (St. Thomas Aquinas), and pitcher Max Gordon (American) to play key roles for a Norland team eager to establish itself as a respected baseball program.

“I know that we’ve got some tough teams in the district but I think we’ll be able to hold our own this year,” assistant coach Andre Payne said.

The aforementioned players coupled with the return of senior first baseman Felix De La Cruz give the Vikings a solid core to rally around this season.

“It’s nice to coach a lineup where you have players that have played the game for a while and your job is to fine tune their skills,” Dresner said.

Although Norland improved its record from the year before, the Vikings beat themselves by making a bunch of unforced errors. With better talent on the field, look for Norland to play more displined baseball in 2014.

“We’re still going to be very athletic,” Payne said. “But we’re going to focus more on defense, good pitching, and timely hitting as the formula to carry us to a better season.”

The addition of Westbrook who played under Payne and Norland assistant coaches Kelvin “Fat Cat” Harris and Michael Jordan in the Miami Marlins summer RBI league team, gives the Vikings a player who can swing the bat and reach in the mid 80s on the mound with his fastball.

“I think Westbrook has a chance to be special,” Payne said.

Even with the optimism around the team, the baseball program at Norland is considered an afterthought with the recent success of the football team and boys’ and girls’ basketball.

The city of Miami Gardens is remodeling the field where the team practices in favor of youth football. The team is forced to either hit in a converted indoor batting cage on campus or travel roughly two miles away to Scott Park in Miami Gardens where the team plays its home games on an all-clay infield.

“It’s rough even with Scott Park because it’s not a great field and trying to get people to work on it is tough,” Payne admitted.

The team lost five seniors to graduation including its best player last season, pitcher Sensi Jarvis. Also, promising outfielder Rashad Fenton transferred to neighborhood rival Carol City to play defensive back on the football team. These losses are lessened by the guys who have come in.

Despite the challenges thrown their way, the team has developed a chemistry that will help them go a long way during this upcoming baseball season and beyond.

“It just takes us working together,” Westbrook said. “We have the talent to win, the only thing for us is to be mentally and physically prepared.”

Norland looks to compete for a district playoff spot this season, if the transfers can provide the spark and help the team cut back on unforced errors. Since the new district includes less teams, the Vikings simply need to finish among the top four teams to make the postseason. Even with some tough matchups on the schedule, Dresner is certain his team is up for the challenge.

“I’m highly confident we’ll get a playoff spot.”

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