Small School Miami Brito Has Big Goals For 2014

When it comes to success on the baseball diamond, the Miami Brito Panthers are proof that size doesn’t matter.

As a private school in Class 2A with around 350 students enrolled, the Panthers are among the winningest programs in Miami-Dade County history, appearing in 10 state finals and winning five state titles.

Brito finished with a 20-5 record and captured the District 2A-15 championship last season under manager Laz Fundora, but their run was cut short in the hands of district rival and eventual 2A state champion Westwood Christian in the regional semifinals.

“It’s upsetting when we don’t make it to the state final four, especially with it being a goal every year,” assistant coach David Fanshawe said. “Hopefully this year we can make it back with all the good pieces we have.”

The Panthers graduated a staggering 11 seniors. However, they’ve returned some key players that plan to carry on the program’s winning tradition. Look for players such as seniors Savian Fernandez, Broward College commit Juan Carlos Millian, Julio Gonzalez, and junior Marco Bolano to play key roles for the Panthers this season.

“Obviously losing all those seniors means we have a lot of ground to cover up,” Fernandez said. “My goal is to bring in more RBI this season to give my team a chance to win.”

Fernandez, a HSBN Miami-Dade All-County First team selection at second base, led Brito with a .493 batting average and 27 RBI as a junior.

The coaches do not shy away from reminding the players who they are replacing, using the great example those players set as a way to keep the expectations where they belong. The players have seen what hard work and determination leads to, and they must now set the same example that was set for them.

“We lost a couple good players, especially Richie Sotolongo and Angel Cortes since they carried our pitching staff the whole year,” Fanshawe says. “Also Henry Blanco in left field was a good hitter for us in the bottom of the lineup.”

At the plate, Brito hit around .372 as a team and averaged six runs per game last season. The club has the chance to be even stronger now, after the way the returners have improved. With Fernandez batting alongside Millian (.451, 18 RBI last season) and Bolano (.371, 17 RBI), it gives the Panthers some legitimate sluggers in the lineup.

Brito also expects big things from senior and Miami-Dade College commit Mauricio Amaral. The six foot four inch, 220 pound transfer from Elev8 Sports Institute in Delray Beach dropped 25 pounds from his frame and will pitch and play right field for the Panthers. Since the institute did not compete against high school competition, Amaral is eager to help his team win and eager to now go after the common goal.

“I came down to Brito to get the chance to win a state championship,” Amaral said.

On the mound Brito has some holes to fill if they want to run the table. They lost three seniors from a pitching staff that had a team ERA around 2.87 in 2013.

“Great pitching, we need that,” said Bolano, who will also look to log some time on the hill. “Last season we had good hitting, but we didn’t have that much pitching, so we kind of struggled with that.”

The Panthers road to the state finals will miss a familiar foe this season. Due to the FHSAA district realignment, defending state champion Westwood Christian was bumped up to Class 3A.  District 2A-15 now includes the Miami Christian Victors and the Hialeah Champagnat Lions, a team that finished 3-14-1 last season. Coming off a strong season and returning such a glut of talent, Brito knows they will be the hands-on favorites in their new district.

“I’d never say it gets easier because baseball can go either way,” Millian said. “You just have to go out and play whoever you have to play.”

With only four district games on the schedule, Brito has not shied away from big time competition. According to Fanshawe, the Panthers will play teams like Miami Springs, American Heritage and Coral Glades in Broward County. The team is also slated to play in the Hofball Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, featuring some of the better teams in South Florida.

If the Panthers can find some answers on the mound they expect to be in the hunt for a sixth state championship.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!