Mater Academy Thinking Repeat In 2015

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Mater Academy appreciates that last season’s success as the Class 6A state champions has led to them being in a role as one of the hunted ones. But it is a role that Manager Mike DiRosa is trying not to let his guys get into. DiRosa wants them to continuously be hungry and continue to fight and continuously think that they are the underdog.

“The hardest part is getting the kids refocused and getting them hungry all over again, not letting them be complacent that we won one time and think when we show up on the field everybody is going to lay down for us,” DiRosa said. “It’s about keeping them focused, keeping them hungry, keeping them wanting to work towards another state championship and keeping them believing in each other. Everything they do affects every other person on the field and not just themselves. They affect the team as a whole.”

The Lions enjoyed a pinnacle moment in both program and county history last season. By winning the 6A title Mater earned the first state championship in program history. In the process the team also completed an incredible feat of being the fourth school from Miami-Dade County to win a championship in 2014. It was a magical playoff run for baseball in Miami, and the Lions relished every second of it.

“It was pretty cool to be one of the teams that helped bring that for Miami-Dade County,” DiRosa said. “Dade County had never had four state championships before in baseball at the same time. It was pretty cool to be at the tail end of it. People keep saying that the county’s baseball has gone down from year’s past, but four of the eight classifications came home to Dade County. That’s pretty cool.”

Coach DiRosa admits it will be impossible to top what happened last year. His team rallied together to overcome a season of distractions to put it all together. DiRosa was not even hired until just a few days before the start of the season, admitting he was thrown into the fire and that his team figured it out for him. He appreciates that they played hard, that they played as a team and that they were able to will themselves to each victory along the way. Now the key is to harness the perfect balance of confidence and humility to keep guys in line for another go at it.

“Once you have accomplished something big you always have that chip on your shoulder, but at the same time you know you’ve got to work hard to be able to accomplish and do those things,” senior Danny Reyes said. “But definitely you play with a chip on your shoulder and know you are a little more advanced than other guys on the field.”

The Lions return the bulk of the team from a year ago, with nearly the entire infield and outfield defense still intact. Even with the loss of an ace on the mound and another solid veteran in right field, the team understands that most of the same components from that championship squad are back this season. Everyone is working to keep the mindset of wanting to work together and play for each other, and keeping one another hungry for more success.

It is a mature group that fills the Mater roster. There was a point last season where the veterans had a team meeting and the guys actually said for themselves that it was time to work together for the good of the team. The leaders stood up and challenged everyone to come together and try to make a run, or else play like individuals who make excuses and lose in the first game of the district playoffs.

“What we did really was a tribute to the team coming together and them deciding amongst themselves that they were going to do this,” DiRosa said. “They were going to be unselfish and they were going to sacrifice for the better good of the team so that the team can win. I spoke about it a lot last year, the way we treat ourselves and the way the guys treat each other is like a big family. Everybody depends on everybody else. It doesn’t matter when the game is going on whether you are playing or sitting the bench; you have got to be pulling for that next guy.”

For the Lions, that next guy is somebody with just as much talent as anyone else on the squad. It is a deep roster full of gritty, experienced players who have proven themselves in big games. Even with the loss of seven seniors to graduation the club still returns 12 seniors and a large majority of the pieces that combined for the state title. As a group they are experienced, accountable and aware of what it takes to get the job done. It is a team that does not need to lean solely on one or two guys to set the tone; so many of the guys lead the way in one form or another.

“You just have to lead by example; work hard and guys will follow,” Reyes said. “Work hard in everything you do day in and day out and all these guys follow. We are leaders on this team. Even though I lead by example, one day it might be Kevin Fuentes or Mike Escarra another day. We are a big group of leaders, and that is important. Half of us have been playing together since we were twelve, so it carries on. We’re out there and we’re pulling for each other no matter what happens. It’s a big group of guys, we’re a team and we’re friends and we’re a family.”

Each unit is loaded with guys that have earned their spots and proven their worth. The outfield consists of Reyes, Escarra and Raul Frias, while the infield is held down by Lazaro Rodriguez, Alex Rodriguez, Deyvid Silva, Chris Cabrera and Joey Jimenez. Fuentes steps into the role as the ace of a pitching staff that also features veterans Esteban Chirinos, Tyler Perez, Eduardo Palmar and Luis Labarta.

Being a leader is about more than just production on the diamond. It comes in how one carries themselves, how they work and how they influence their teammates around them. Over the past few seasons that role had been widely recognized as belonging to departed ace Mike Mediavilla, a hulking left-hander who embodied the leader role both in stature and in the way he carried himself. When Mediavilla pitched, the team believed no one could beat them. Now that role will be filled by Fuentes, who earned the distinction by capping last season with his complete-game shutout in the 6A title game.

“I think Michael went through it the year before,” Fuentes said. “There were other pitchers here and you have to own up to the spot. When the opportunity comes you play for your team. I love being that guy that everyone knows to pitch in the big games. It just feels good to be that guy. We have the same team, except for Michael and Angel Ortiz, so we should be good to do it again.”

The Lions will not shy away from any tough competition again this year, as the team has put together a brutal schedule. Besides playing in a large, tough district that includes Belen Jesuit, TERRA Institute and Doral Academy, the Lions will also face Columbus, SLAM, Ferguson, Coral Park, Mater Lakes Academy, Haines City, Westminster Christian, Gulliver Prep and defending 2A state champion Miami Brito. On top of that the team will play in the Coral Gables preseason tournament, start the season in the Killian Tournament and also play in the HSBN March Madness Tournament.

“I told our guys I’m putting together a tough schedule and we can possibly lose quite a few games with how good those teams are,” DiRosa admitted. “But I’ll take it if we are playing good competition and we’re playing well. It’s going to help us in districts and stuff. We’re playing in the HSBN March Madness Tournament and you look at those teams and there is nowhere to save pitching and there are no slouches in there. You could go in there and go 0-4, it all depends.”

The Lions have typically excelled at playing in tough road venues, and they are counting on that to continue in order for them to be successful. The team went 11-2 on the road last season, as well as proving up to the challenge of handling the distraction of playing on the grand stage of the state finals at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers. Road stadiums quickly become comfortable to them.

“We love playing at home in front of our home fans, but at the same time we like going on the road,” DiRosa explained. “They like playing at other team’s parks and seeing the different dimensions and being around the fans in hostile environments. One of the best places to play is Belen. The fans are right on top of you and they are into the game. Every team should feed off of that. Columbus is another great place like that. They have great fans and a great following in their student body.”

Like so many other challenges along the way, Mater has proven it can handle itself despite all odds. There is no greater confidence-builder than knowing you have been there before and succeeded before. The players have not forgotten last year’s magic, and admit the desire to taste the sweet nectar of that success again has everyone motivated to make another go at it.

“Me and Joey are always watching the video of the last pitch,” Fuentes said. “When I see him running out to me I still get goose bumps. It is awesome and just a crazy feeling.”

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