Experience Abounds in Three-Team 4A District 14

The Monsignor Pace Spartans move from 3A District 15 to join the Miami Jackson Generals (4A District 13) and Archbishop Carroll (3A District 16) in the newly formed 4A District 14. The Spartans are coming off a first-place finish in a tough six-team division. Though the Generals have not enjoyed as much recent success, their baseball program has graduated six major-leaguers, including Rafael Palmeiro. The Archbishop Carroll Bulldogs hovered around .500 last season but return a number of key players with plenty of experience under their belt.

Monsignor Pace Spartans
Head Coach: Tom Duffin
2011 Record: 20-8
Key Returning Players: Tony Davala, Brian Bermudez, Manuel Pazo, Aaron Soto, Anthony De La Cruz, Brandon Gomez
Team Strengths: Young but experienced

The Monsignor Pace Spartans may be young, but with most of their starters from last year returning, they are far from short on experience.

“I graduated a number of seniors, but the bulk of the team are either sophomore or juniors,” head coach Tom Duffin said. “We have just one projected senior starter. The biggest benefit we have is that most of the kids have been starting since sophomores.”

Sophomore, likely number one starter Aaron Soto will lead the team on the mound coming off a 9-0 campaign as a freshman. Third baseman Tony Davala, shortstop Brian Bermudez and second baseman Manuel Pazo lead a group of talented hitters at the plate.

“This is a great bunch of kids,” Duffin said. “Every year is a new year, and I’m looking for exciting things. I know they’re hungry coming off a disappointing loss to Gulliver last year. We jumped out early on them, but they fought back.”

The Spartans start their regular season with 10 straight games at home, starting with Feb. 21 when they host Archbishop Carroll and culminating with a March 20 game against American.

Miami Jackson Generals
Head Coach: Dennis Pujals
2011 Record: n/a
Key Returning Players: Johnny Rodriguez, Diyan Paterson, Freddy Rijo-Russell, Gabriel Gonzalez
Team Strengths: Baserunning

Miami Jackson head coach Dennis Pujals believes this season, his second with the program, might be the Generals’ most important ever.

“We got bigger, faster and stronger,” Pujals said. “This will be an important year for us to cement our place in the district and the state.”

The Generals are excited to have back 6-foot-6, 230-pound starting pitcher Diyan Paterson, who is at 100 percent after recovering from getting hit in the face with a ball. Paterson was batting .500 and leading the district in RBI and home runs when a ball broke two bones in his face last season.

“If (Paterson) pitches to his potential and we play off our strengths, we will be tough to beat,” Pujals said.

The Generals’ biggest strength has to be their baserunning, which was among the best in the state last season. Freddy Rijo-Russell leads a speedy bunch at shortstop, flanked by catcher Johnny Rodriguez and outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez in the batting order.

Miami Jackson starts its season at Booker T. Washington before heading to Carol City Feb. 21 then opening up at home against Miami Brito Feb. 24.

Archbishop Carroll Bulldogs
Head Coach: Omar Falcon
2011 Record: 8-10

The Bulldogs could not be reached for comment. They bring head coach Omar Falcon for his first season with the program. Falcon is well known in the summer leagues as a talented and dedicated coach who can bring out the best in his players.

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