District 8A-16 Preview: Quick On The Draw

Experience is strength of most of the teams in this district, as is team speed. So these players know what to expect and how fast they need to do it.

Here is a preview of what to expect from the District8A-16 teams this season.

CORAL REEF BARRACUDAS
2012 Record: 11-11
Head Coach: Dave Bisceglia
Key Returners: TJ Gordon (Sr. CF), Carlos Serio (Sr. P), Jose Grullon (Jr. LHP), Danny Pino (Sr. LHP), Patxi Arnaiz (Sr. SS), Fabio Biondolillo (Sr. 3B)
Newcomers to Watch: Miguel Mora (Fr. RHP), Nate Rosa (Fr. C), Benito Varela (So. C).
Team Strengths: Aggressive baserunners and solid bunting game. Pitching staff solid.
Team Weaknesses: Lack of veteran varsity experience. Lack of power hitters. Young catchers with a sophomore and freshman.
Something people not around your program need to know about your team….

“Coral Reef High is a magnet school. We can only get players who have applied and were selected for acceptance through the lottery system. No transfers to our school. Work diligently each year to develop our freshmen class in order to build a competitive varsity program every year.”

That diligent work Manager Dave Bisceglia and his staff have done to play the hand their dealth has made them a competitive force in the challenging District 8A-16.

The program started in 1999 and Bisceglia came in as an assistant coach for one year until he was promoted to head coach. Since then, Coach Biz (his preferred nickname) has helped build the school’s athletic program and put Coral Reef’s baseball on the map.

This year’s team will have a positive turnabout as there were a few injuries and mismatches that have improved. Center fielder TJ Gordon still has a brace around his wrist for support, but only as a precautionary measure. Although he is still doing some therapy, he is expected to be fully recovered by midseason and will be a major benefactor for the Barracuda’s lineup because of his speed and ability to make contact with the ball.

“It’s going to be a tough year, but we’re going to pull some unexpected wins because you don’t know what to expect from us yet,” Gordon said.

There are six returning seniors that will be starting for Reef, some playing new positions to fill in where there are gaps. Patxi Arnaiz, who will be playing shortstop, is among those six. Arnaiz feels confident about the team’s fielding and believes it will be its strength this year.

Bisceglia agrees that the team’s fielding is one of its virtues and thinks that the best approach to take with his team is playing small ball.

“We try to focus on all the facets of the game that doesn’t require necessarily the most athletic skill,” Bisceglia said. “In other words, be a good base runner. You don’t need to be a great baseball player if you’re a smart guy, you know how to take leads and you know how to read the pitcher. Be a good a bunter. You don’t have to be a great athlete to create a little bit of opportunity. Just be intelligent and play the game defensively and soundly. So what we’re trying to do is shorten up the areas where it is more of an intelligent commitment.”

FELIX VARELA VIPERS
2012 Record: 7-13
Head Coach: John Barbato
Key Returners: Juan Pimentel, Francisco Rodriguez
Team Strengths: Defense
Team Weaknesses: Offense

The Vipers will have most of their field covered by their seniors and relatively young pitching staff. Despite veterans all around, manager John Barbato puts most of his pressure on the pitchers, whom he believes will be leading this team to victory.

The pitching staff will be young and it will take some time during the season to weave out who will be the next big three to pitch for the Vipers. But Verela is not uninitiated for the spring 2013 season. Their ace, senior Juan Pimentel, had the 28^th lowest ERA in the county at 1.31. He’s helped them in tight spots and is consistent with strikes, which will make him worthy foe for anyone stepping up to the plate.

“We don’t have a lot of expectations or pressure, but this year we’re hosting districts, and I’m not staying out of it,” Pimentel said.

As Pimentel carries the load on the hill, this will give a chance for any freshmen or sophomores to step up and progress their skill set for later in the season, making Varela an enigmatic team that can surprise anyone.

But even as the pitching pans out, there will still be one position that will be up for grabs, second base. This would probably be good for Varela because it is starting eight seniors, a class that will leave a lot of shoes to fill for next year. Right now there isn’t anyone standing out, but after the first preseason games, Barbato said he will have expected someone to have stepped up.

“I try to hold them responsible for their own actions,” Barbato said about his team’s progress. “Tomorrow you either get better or worse, so always work to get better.”

KILLIAN COUGARS
2012 Record: 20-9
Head Coach: Angel Herrera
Key Returners: Nick Mira, Mike Perez, Erik Molina, Spencer Levine, Gil Polanco
Newcomers to Watch: Eddy Demurias, Danny Cumba, Mikhail Cunill, Frank Follaco, Vladimir Nunez, Keith Stevens, Ryan Granda
Team Strengths: Speed, hitting
Team Weaknesses: Young, talented pitching staff that’s unproven
Something people not around your program need to know about your team…

“We have a group of 5 sophmore pitchers that are potential Division I arms. We call them the Fab 5.”

Killian has demonstrated over the years that it is a force to be reckoned with. After winning the GMAC title last season, they spurred out with a 12-game winning streak that pushed them through district and state semifinals. This year, the Cougars seem like they will stay true to their reputation as they come back as district champions with a mix of experienced fielding and young pitching.

“Our pitching is the x factor,” Manager Angel Herrera said. “We have a ton of talented arms who were very successful at the JV level, but they’re young.”

Although the pitching will be a little wet behind the ears, the bats will be what make the Cougars a threat this season. Players like Spencer Levine, a 6-foot-2, 190 pound junior who smashed a home run during a team scrimmage, and third baseman Erick Molina will be disconcerting pitchers as they step up to the plate.

Good fielding will also be carrying this team, and the fact that there will be no uncertainty with who is starting for what position.

“We have a lot of guys returning, guys that were there to witness all the stuff [from last year], and now we’re just trying to preach to keep it up,” said Mike Perez, a shortstop and right-handed pitcher who was third in the county in saves last year.

Perez will not be alone when preaching to the underclassmen. The infield is completely stocked with veteran players, who only had a piece of the pie last year when they lost in the state semifinals against Columbus. The loss crushed their winning streak, but not their spirits. The team is still filled with determination to beat Columbus and anyone else that impedes its shot at state.

PALMETTO PANTHERS
2012 Record: 12-9
Head Coach: Danny Smith
Key Returners: Riley Delgado, Nick Gruener, Mike Wall, Matt Majewski
Newcomers to Watch: Ian Exposito, Josh Cohen
Team Strengths: Defense up the middle, great speed in the outfield
Team Weaknesses: Lacking experienced hitters, will need underclassmen to perform at high level
Our season will be a success if….

“We can get the clutch hit with runners on base.”

South Dade Buccaneers
2012 Record: 15-7
Head Coach: John Burnside
Key Returners: Adam Roush (LHP), Ricky Garcia (IF), Shane Castro (C), Jadan Garcia (OF), Ruben Vega (RHP)
Newcomers to Watch: Erik Manoah (RHP), Eric Enriquez (IF), Sergio Lopez (OF).
Team Strengths: Should be sound defensively and solid pitching wise.
Team Weaknesses: Inexperience, lost seven starters from last year’s 16-7 team
Something people not around your program need to know about your team…

“Young, enthusiastic, hard-working group that should contend for our district championship.”

South Dade’s powerhouse team may have been dissembled from last year, but its hunger to win has only been fueled as it enters the season with some key returning players and young talent.
“I feel like we’re going to step it up, because there are a lot of kids that want it this year.” Shane Castro said.

The senior catcher will be ordering his troops in battle as he sits behind the plate and field coaches the underclassmen that will be looking for that leadership.

The mound will have most of the experience as they return with a vengeance with a predominant pitching staff that will have depth and versatility. The key to South Dade this year will be how their pitchers develop, but there will be no shortcomings with players like Adam Roush, who is expected to come out strong this year.

“Roush is one of those lefty control guy. [He] keeps you through the game and throws a lot of strikes,” Manager John Burnside said about Roush’s consistency on the mound.

Erik Manoah and Rubenier Rodriguez also have live arms and will be contributing to most of the pitching this season. It will be a good contradistinction to have in South Dade’s arsenal as Manoah can finish games off strong with his power pitching and Rodriguez has good movement on the ball to throw off any weary batters.

The youth of this team is not to be over looked either as there will be sophomores vying for starting jobs and a chance to be the next big filler for the fall season. The tenacity that South Dade will bring, alongside Burnside’s experience in coaching, will make this a cumbersome opponent for any team in the county.

SOUTHRIDGE SPARTANS
2012 Record: 12-12
Head Coach: Ed Doskow
Key Players: Christian Khawam (Sr. OF), D’andre Amion (LF), Arlain Seslin (RF), Josten Heron (So. UTL), Jerrick Campbell (Jr. 3B), J.P. Castaneda (Jr. SS), Alex Aguila (Sr. 2B), Brandon Garcia (Sr. 3B), Octavio Mirabal (Jr. 1B), Gonzo Del Rosario (Sr. C), Brandon Garcia (Sr. C), Austin Peterson (So. C).
Team Strengths: Experience

The Spartans are coming back as strong as ever and hoping to take the district title after losing it to Killian last year.

The clubhouse is loaded with serious hitters and tantamount pitching. Coming back from last year the vaunted Christian Khawam, who had a .441 batting average, will be starting in outfield again. The senior is a calamity for pitchers when he is on the plate. Ranking 15^th for overall stats in the county, Khawam will bring that extra oomph to the Spartan lineup and a strong arm to their outfield.

“He’s got to be one of the top players in the county,” Manager Ed Doskow said about the power hitter. “He’s been a starter since freshman year and a team leader. Hopefully, we’ll make it to districts this year and with Christian we have a good shot.”

Southridge has definitely garnered some worries from other teams over the years because of their stout lineup and sublime pitching, but Doskow was worried that about their fielding.

“Last season we were making way too many errors,” Doskow said while standing on the field during pickoff drills. “We were giving up five, six outs an inning, and you know, in baseball you can’t win if you’re giving five, six outs an inning. So we’re definitely working on that this year.”

All positions will be played by returning players, except for third base, which will be tentatively taken by Jerrick Campbell. But Campbell will have to stay consistent in order to keep his position. Southridge’s depth allows for someone to be able to take third base or step up to any unfortunate turnouts, but the team is still too green outside of their starters and will probably play some backups to prove their worth.

Albeit, Southridge’s team is a tough veteran team. With pitchers like Osvaldo Garcia, who should be a top round pick, and a three and four to anchor their lineup, the Spartans will not be quitting on nobody this year.

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