District Title Up For Grabs In 8A-14

Only one of the five teams in this group posted a winning record last year, and even Hialeah did not win their district in 2013. With no defending champion in this group, it means each of them will be equally hungry for a chance to hoist the district trophy at season’s end.

Hialeah deserves to be the recognized favorite, and although the players were hopeful for another chance to battle with the team that beat them in the district championship in American, that will not be an option now that the Patriots are in Class 7A.

“I was looking forward to pitching against American, of course, since they sent us home last year,” said Thoroughbreds senior Damian Sanises. “But right now I’m focused on our district. Teams like Hialeah Gardens are going to be tough.”

The Gladiators have shown signs of making a big improvement on their 2013 campaign, and they are already rivals against the favored Hialeah team they will likely chase for the title.

Miami High and Miami Beach have also made big strides this offseason, and they are poised for a chance to show the other teams in their district that they can be a force to be reckoned with too.

“Right now our simple goal is just to get into the playoffs,” said second-year Hi-Tides Manager Willy Baez. “I’m not preaching states yet, not preaching regionals yet; we’re just focused on reaching districts right now and taking baby steps right there.”

Dr. Krop

2013 Record: 9-12
Manager: Joe Milbury
Outlook: The Lightning begin a new era under new Manager Joe Milbury, who was hired late in the fall. The club is looking to build off the confidence they got in playing a tough contest in the 2013 district semifinals to state-qualifier American, which has now moved down to Class 7A this year.

Hialeah

2013 Record: 19-8
Manager: Jonathan Hernandez
Key Returners: Alexis Herrera, Damian Sanises, Christian Cardenas, Alex Miret, Carlos Reyes, Arnaldo Brito
Newcomers to watch: Robert De La Vega, Roly Gonzalez, Brandon Perdomo
Team strengths: Pitching

With four state championships and a rich history of players that have gone on to play college and professional baseball, the steady mantra at Hialeah High is “we don’t rebuild, we reload.”

Even after graduating nine seniors from last year’s regional semifinal team, the expectations for Hialeah baseball haven’t wavered. The goal is always to win another state championship.

The Thoroughbreds second-year manager, Jonathan Hernandez, knows a thing or two about winning it all…[Read More]

Hialeah Gardens

2013 Record: 8-15
Manager: Tino Burgos
Key Returners: Gary Garcia, Chris Suarez, Alejandro Piedra, Pedro Ravelo, Ricky Jimenez, Jeremi Garcia, Alejandro Vasquez, Damien Escandell, Eddy Nodarse, Max Joseph
Newcomers to watch: Edlider Tomayo
Team strengths: Hitting

Hialeah Gardens Manager Tino Burgos has started a youth movement for his Gladiators squad.

After struggling through the growing pains of being a hunted team, the Gladiators are eager to bounce back from a humbling 2013 campaign. Burgos returns a team full of underclassmen ready to make a name for themselves at the varsity level…[Read More]

Miami Senior

2013 Record: 2-20
Manager: Frank Suarez
Coaching Staff: David Rivera
Key Returners: Evan Delgado, Jose Veras, Abraham Rivas, Christian Hernandez, Dayron Mallea, Christian Torres
Newcomers to watch: Victor Herrera, Gustavo Miranda, Enrique Rivero, Argenis Hernandez, Luis Diaz, Jon Venegas, Andy Escono, Ray Blanco, Edgar Aparacio, Paul Gomez
Team strengths: Pitching & Defense

It’s a new season and an entirely new era at Miami Senior High.

The Stingarees are coming off a tough 2013 campaign, a season to forget in which they finished 2-20 and missed the district playoffs. A year later the team is ready to move on and do exactly that, wiping the slate clean and welcoming a new group of players who are eager and hungry to contend again.

It’s a whole new group this year, a bunch that knows the past is well behind them now…[Read More]

Miami Beach

2013 Record: 3-15
Manager: Willy Baez
Coaching Staff: Anthony Cutino
Key Returners: Leoni Lammana, Jonathan Gonzalez, Blake Brattain, Jonathan Varela, Themi Pineda, Jonah Demer
Newcomers to watch: Trent Bryan
Team strengths: Pitching & Experience

As the Miami Beach Hi-Tides try to build their program back to respectability, they aren’t taking any steps for granted, especially practice. Even the unpredictable weather conditions couldn’t stop Manager Willie Baez and his team from maximizing an opportunity to get better.

On a chilly January afternoon as steady rain poured over the field at Flamingo Park, when most teams would have packed it in, the Hi-Tides held steady, carrying on with practice as if there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Baez and Miami Beach are on a mission to reach the playoffs and they aren’t letting obstacles like mother nature stop them from getting there…[Read More]

Leave a comment using your facebook account!