FL Preseason Previews: Fleming Island, Olympic Heights, Ponte Vedra, University Orange City

January 16, 2020
Doug Freeman/Rocco Iervasi
Florida Executive Director/ Director of Operations

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage. Prior to that, we will break down some other teams across the state and what to watch for.

Team: Fleming Island

2019 Record: 19-8
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Grant Bigilin
Playoff Run: Lost in First Round
Returning Starters: 9

OUTLOOK

Fleming Island has seniors so they are an overall young team and need more experience. Defensively and on the mound, Fleming Island should compete all around. They have five guys that can run it up to 85. Aiden Mastantuno, Cody Carwile, Dylan Dudones, Divine Valle, and Isaac Williams will get the majority of the innings, with Connor Smith also in the mix out of the pen. Sammy Kondroik, Drew Homitz, Marcus Murray, Justin Lebesch, and Jacob Barnard are expected to help these guys out offensively and if they do so, Fleming Island should be able to make a run.

Team: Olympic Heights

2019 Record: 13-10
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Casey Beck
Playoff Run: Lost in Districts
Returning Starters: 9

OUTLOOK

Olympic Heights is coming off their best season in the past 22 years. They led all of Palm Beach County in stolen bases in 2019, a first in school history and finished in top 5 in all team offensive and defensive stats county wide. They lost their top returning pitcher to Palm Beach Gardens this fall, but Coach Beck has been super impressed with how the staff has come together and picked up the slack. They are a scrappy, blue collar team that will go out and beat you if you take them lightly. Olympic Heights plays hard, and plays the right way. Coach Beck believes they are a team that you should look out for and will compete until the last out.

Team: Ponte Vedra

2019 Record: 17-11
FHSAA Class: 5A
Head Coach: Tom Stanton
Playoff Run: Quarterfinals
Returning Starters: 9

OUTLOOK

The Sharks have a great mix of youth and experience. The team will likely have a strong offensive nucleus that will know how to score runs. They run the bases well (returning 50+ SBs) and have arms that will allow them to stay in many close games. The depth is youthful and if the youth develops ahead of schedule, the Sharks can be very solid.

Team: University Orange City

2019 Record: 12-14
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Jake Norman
Playoff Run: Lost in Quarterfinals
Returning Starters: 8

OUTLOOK

University returns several veteran bats to the lineup including senior William Quinones (Florida Tech), as well as senior Austin Amaral (Stetson) on the mound. Titans will return several seniors as well as a lot of upcoming Sophomores this season. Sophomores Evan Koehler, Kitwana McTyer, and Nolan Thompson all will return and lead a very talented 2022 class.