Westminster Christian Looks To Circle The Wagon Again
The Warriors have many talented players ready to break onto the scene this season.
The Westminster Christian Warriors always say that if you think you are working hard, someone else is working harder. Heading into the season as the defending state champions of Class 3A, the team accepts and understands that their opposition will be gunning for them as hard as ever this season. The time for celebrations has passed and everything is back to business.
“We always go in knowing that every game we play we are going to give a dogfight to whoever we play,” Westminster Christian manager Emil Castellanos said. “Preparing is just another day in giving everything we have got and trying to be the best. We want to be at the top of the hill and you might push us, but we’ll push right back. We compete, we fight and we try to win. Our ultimate goal is to win that last game.”
When the Warriors accomplished that goal last season they not only claimed their eleventh state championship in program history, but they also moved into a tie with Key West for the most in the entire state. There could be no greater motivator for a title team, and every player on the roster is chomping at the bit to be a part of the group that makes that history comes true.
“That is something that we are definitely excited about is just to have the opportunity to try and get that twelfth state title and be the only program in the state of Florida that has it. That means everything,” Castellanos admitted. “Winning last year was amazing and phenomenal and it was a great run for us. We were excited to do it with the team and the leaders that we had. That is what you play the game for is to win a state title.”
Gone from last year’s dogpile are several guys who were key contributors to their success. Overall the squad will be much younger this season, with lots of guys getting their chance to make a name for themselves. The infield might be the most experienced unit, led by returning seniors Jakob Zarello, Mike Acosta, Michael Arencibia and Miguel Cardozo and sophomores Anthony Vilar and Alex Ruiz. Junior Tyler Paige is another experienced infielder who transferred to the school and whom adds even more depth to the group.
Senior Alvaro Valdez will anchor the outfield corps with juniors Clinton Gulley and Max Pinto. Valdez is also one of three seniors already committed to college, as he is headed to Hillsborough College. Jakob Zarello is going to the University of North Florida and junior Dylan Cloonan has already committed to play for the hometown Miami Hurricanes.
The 2015 state championship trophy, accompanied by the team’s magical mask.
The pitching staff does not boast a frontline ace like it had the past few years in left-handed 2015 graduate Ryan Terry. Closer Jagr Enriquez also graduated, and the guys have seen what a big role they can play out of that position too. Cloonan, fellow junior Nick Auerbacher and sophomore Danny Perez are all putting in the work to earn their chances and prove they can be just as dominant when given the opportunities.
“We lost our big two guys in Ryan Terry and Jagr Enriquez, but we have got Danny Perez, Nick Auerbacher and myself,” said Dylan Cloonan. “We’re young but we’ve still got what it takes. I was under Terry’s arm last year and I would just try to be in his footsteps. I have the opportunity to take it and I am trying.”
Castellanos knows his guys are only as good as their last practice. They strive to always improve in every practice every day, and the fall has been spent allowing lots of guys to compete and show their talents. A lot of the roles up for grabs will likely be decided based upon what the coaches see from the group in the fall.
As has always been the case with the program, age has little to do with who will earn playing time. The Warriors have always given opportunities to guys throughout the season, and even during a title chase last year many young players logged varsity innings and got a taste of it. Coaches are looking for guys willing to play at the highest level, and they will be considered the best players because of the chemistry and talent.
“Last year we won a state title and we only had two guys on the field who were seniors. We like giving young guys chances because they are hungry and out to prove something,” Castellanos said.
Castellanos believes you have to have a variety of different leaders around the field in order to be successful. Some guys are quiet leaders but on the field can be very loud. The most challenging part as a coach is trying to pinpoint the guys that he wants to step up and be the leaders of the team. Depending on how they lead the pack dictates how far they can go.
“We graduated great guys who were awesome and they left their footprints here for the guys to follow and for the guys to also make their own footprints,” Castellanos said. “Now it is time for them to take the bull by the horns and make a run. We have a lot of starters from last year who are still on the team, which is great that we didn’t graduate everybody. But now guys have to step up in big roles and there are spots to be filled. We are excited with this group and we have a lot to look forward.”
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