No Free Rides To A District Title In 8A-15

There is one thing that every team in this revamped district can all agree on, and that is that this is a tough group of teams to have to beat for a district title.

Columbus is a regular powerhouse, and the club returns seven seniors to the starting lineup. The Explorers are coming off a season in which they suffered a tough loss in the district semifinals to Southwest that has left them more motivated than ever. Southwest remains a part of the district group, but after coming off two straight regional appearances and a GMAC championship the Eagles will be rebuilding this season while returning just one starter to the club.

Coral Gables is one club that can call themselves a contender, and they are confident that they can contend with any team they take the field against.

“We moved to a much stronger district, so we know we’re definitely in for a challenge,” said Cavaliers Manager Phil Wisser. “But it’s a challenge that we are ready for and excited to take on.”

Much like Coral Gables, Ferguson is another club that has proven it can compete with the heavyweights in their district. The Falcons are coming off a 15-win season and return a lineup full of experienced and dangerous players.

Experience also is a blessing for the Braddock Bulldogs, who have 18 players on their squad who already have varsity experience. Braddock is solid at all nine positions and they are focused on playing to their potential.

Both South Miami and Coral Park are coming off seasons in which they finished with a record below .500, but in both cases the programs are much stronger heading into this season. The next step in their evolution will be to improve their results when they play the teams in their district.

“This district is never easy. When I was a player it was the same district with Coral Gables, Braddock, Columbus and Southwest,” said new Coral Park Manager Juan Carnicero. “It’s a war everyday and there are no pushovers or easy games. I always say it’s the toughest district in Florida.”

Braddock

2013 Record: 9-14
Manager: Vic Montalvo
Key Returners: Anthony Alvarez, JJ Marcos, Willie Padron, Ivan Nunez, Albert Rafael
Newcomers to watch: Orlando Ribalta, Nelson Alvarez, Tyler Sola
Team strengths: Offensive Power, Pitching Depth & Experience

Manager Victor Montalvo and the G. Holmes Braddock Bulldogs have returned bigger and better than ever.

While many high school teams will try to play “small ball” in 2014, the Bulldogs expect to play big and swing for the fences as they compete for a district title in 8A-15.

“Our expectations are always to compete for a district championship,” Montalvo said…[Read More]

Columbus

2013 Record: 19-6
Manager: Joe Weber
Coaching Staff: Rolando Hernandez, Roger Bowman, Alex Garabedian, Jose Mendoza
Key Returners: Nelson Mompierre, Christian Garabedian, Pablo Dearmas, Danny Diaz, Ryan Alvarez, Gil Torres, Anthony Matinez, Chino Gonzalez, Christian Coipel, Matt Marini, Ramon Quintero
Newcomers to watch: Danny Casals, Chris Vinson
Team strengths: Hitting & Senior Experience

As the face of one of the most successful baseball programs in South Florida, manager Joe Weber knows what it takes to build a winner on the diamond. The Explorers are one of the winningest programs in Miami-Dade County over the last five seasons with a 110-38-1 record during that span. Since Weber took over in 1997 Columbus has sent dozens of its players off to play Division I baseball at schools across the country.

Despite the success of the program over the years, the Explorers haven’t captured that elusive state title since 2003, a fact Weber is well aware of…[Read More]

Coral Gables

2013 Record: 14-12
Manager: Phil Wisser
Coaching Staff: Danny Alonso, Dave Bisceglia, Robert Martin, Dion Robison
Key Returners: Coco Montes, Jose Padron, Elih Marrero, JeanCarlo Rodriguez, German Reyes, Tyler Santana, JC Rodriguez
Promising newcomers: Andrew Cabezas, Raymond Gonzalez, Franky Montesino
Team strengths: Offense & Defense

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…[Read More]

Ferguson

2013 Record: 15-9
Manager: Jose Novas
Coaching Staff: Howard Cuervo, Daniel Barnard, Tyler Pineda, JC Hernandez
Key Returners: Kevin Torres, Javier Valdes, Alan Saumell, Joseph Campo, Sergio Ramos
Newcomers to watch: Brian Perez, Alvaro Rojas, Ricardo Duran
Team strengths: Defense & Team Speed

Entering its 11th year of existence Ferguson High has earned a reputation as one of the top programs in Miami-Dade County. Well regarded Falcons Manager Jose Novas has played a vital role in the team’s growth, guiding the program to two district titles in the past four years.

Ferguson has played exceptional baseball under Novas, with a combination of talent and experience throughout the roster each season. As the Falcons begin play in 2014 the talent pool is deep once again, but playing experience is lacking after the team graduated a large senior class…[Read More]

Coral Park

2013 Record: 7-13
Manager: Juan Carniciero
Coaching Staff: Eduardo Diaz, Raul Esperon, Robert Esperon
Key Returners: Matthew Perez, Danny Lopez, Jossuan Gonzalez
Newcomers to watch: Andre Ruche, Ramon Ferreiro
Team strengths: Speed

Coral Park Manager Juan “Butch” Carnicero will begin his first season in charge of the baseball team, but he is anything but a new face around campus. He graduated from Coral Park in 1999 and served as an assistant coach on the Rams staff as recently as 2007.

After playing on the team during the late 90s as they captured multiple district titles and competed for state championships, he knows the Rams have the potential to be great despite the recent struggles over the years.

Carnicero will try to bring stability to Coral Park…[Read More]

South Miami

2013 Record: 9-14
Manager: Dennis Pujals
Coaching Staff: Angel Posada, Raph Tejeda
Outlook: The Cobras begin their second season under the guidance of Manager Dennis Pujals. The team has always played their district tough, and it is a program that can never be counted out. Although the team was just 4-8 in district play a season ago, the majority of those losses were by two runs or less.

Southwest Miami

2013 Record: 14-11
Manager: Josy Torres
Key Returners: Rey Pastrana, Bryan Carreras, Jorge Ramirez, Tony Gomez, Israel Luis
Newcomers to watch: Alfredo Morejon, Jason Grana, Jesse Duran, Andres Fletes, Willy Hernandez, Alec Delgado
Team strengths: Defense, Character & Work Ethic
Outlook: The Eagles graduated all but one starter from last season’s regional qualifying squad. The team faces an uphill battle to replicate the same success as in 2013, but it is a well-coached and dedicated group that is eager to continue the level of success they established last season.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!