Coral Gables Looks To Win It All in 2014

A year ago, Coral Gables Manager Phil Wisser had the challenge of coaching a roster littered with young, but talented underclassman trying to find their footing at the varsity level.

This season, with many of those same players returning, Wisser now has the luxury of a lineup filled with experienced veterans as the Cavaliers enter 2014 hungry and confident to make a deep playoff run.

“Overall it is a junior heavy team and we definitely have high expectations,” said Wisser, the 2013 HSBN District 8A-14 Manager of the Year. “Last year was good, but it wasn’t great. We want to get over that hump and continue into regionals, and hopefully make a further advancement than in the past.”

Gables finished 14-12 with a 9-2 record in District 8A-13, with the only two losses coming at the hands of district champion Goleman High. The Cavaliers eventually lost to American in the regional semifinals to end their 2013 campaign.

This season, the Cavs will certainly have their hands full after moving up to District 8A-15. Due to district realignment, Gables joins Columbus, Braddock, Ferguson, Coral Park, South Miami, and Southwest in what promises to be one of the more competitve districts in Miami-Dade County. Regardless of the competition, Gables is confident that they can contend with any team they step on the field against.

“We moved to a much stronger district, so we know we’re definitely in for a challenge, but its a challenge that we are ready for and excited to take on,” Wisser said.

Leading the way for Gables will be junior infielder Robert “Coco” Montes who hit around .391 with 17 runs and 12 RBI, junior outfielder Franky Montesino (.346 B.A., 14 RBI, 12 runs), junior catcher Elih Marrero (.307 B.A., 17 RBI, 20 runs), senior pitcher JeanCarlo Rodriguez (3-2, 1.60 ERA, 25 K), and junior Jose Padron (1.99 ERA, 18 K).

With so many grizzled vets back for another year, Wisser feels the family atmosphere among the players is what really makes this group special.

“The best part about this group is that they’re a team. I’ve had a lot of teams in the past that have been great ability wise and have been close, but nothing like this group. They’ve got a lot of experience playing together and it really is a family. They make coaching easy,” Wisser said.

Playing together and trusting each other will be important for a Cavaliers team that has struggled with making key errors late in big games. Gables has upped the intensity in practice and participated in a number of fall camps to better prepare the team for those critical late game situations.

“In the past we’ve been hurt by making mistakes late in games and its cost us in big games,” Wisser admitted. “We’ve tried to put pressure on ourselves in the fall so when that time comes around, we’ll be ready.”

Even with the core of the team returning, Gables is expecting a few players to emerge that flew under the radar last season. Senior outfielder German Reyes and sophomore pitcher Tyler Santana look to have breakout seasons for the Cavaliers.

“Maturity was the difference between last year and this one,” Reyes said. “Now we’re hungry. Last year didn’t end too well and we want to change that.”

Santana pitched well in some big games as a freshman, and he looks to carry that momentum over to this season. The soft-spoken sophomore has improved his velocity and command on the mound.

“Last year I was throwing 78, now I’m throwing around 84-85,” Santana said. “I’ve also worked on my changeup a lot and its deceptive.”

Behind the plate catching Santana, Marrero looks to have a breakout season as well. His father Eli, is the manager of the Cincinnati Reds rookie-level affiliate and Elih spent the summer in Arizona training with the team.

“It helped me a lot,” Elih said. “You learn from older guys and you see what they do, compared to high school kids that kind of goof around, where up there it’s their job so its a lot more serious.”

With all the hard work Gables has put in in the offseason, the players have let it be known they want to be the last team standing.

“If we don’t go to states this year its a waste of a year,” said Montes.

Wisser wasn’t as direct with his wording but the goal is still the same.

“Without a doubt, we look at ourselves as a team that could be there at the end, as long as we do the little things right and execute,” he said.

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