Prep Baseball Report

FL Preseason Previews: Lake Brantley, Forest, West Boca, Ida Baker


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: Lake Brantley
 

2019 Record: 22-7
FHSAA Class:
9A
Head Coach:
Eric Entrekin
Playoff Run:
Lost in Regional Semifinals
Returning Starters:
8

OUTLOOK

Lake Brantley is coming off a strong 2019 season, but this year they only bring back a few starters from the 2019 team. They have many young players from JV that lack the Varsity experience. While they may be a very young team, the youth comes with a lot of talent. Lake Brantley has a strong sophomore class that includes two Florida commits, C Luke Heyman and 1B Landon Moran.


Team: Forest

2019 Record: 7-18
FHSAA Class:
6A
Head Coach:
Jed Yancey
Playoff Run:
None
Returning Starters:
14

OUTLOOK

The 2020 Forest Baseball team will be Sophomore heavy with a few key Seniors in areas of need in CF and behind the plate at C. Tyler Fletcher and Vincent Ragosta both step into their 3rd year of Varsity baseball as Seniors and Harrison Pesola (OF/RHP) does the same as a Jr. Contributions from key sophomores both on the mound and at the plate will determine the Wildcats’ 2020 success. 


Team: West Boca
 

2019 Record: 20-7
FHSAA Class:
6A
Head Coach:
Mark McCoy
Playoff Run:
Regional Finals
Returning Starters:
3

OUTLOOK

In 2019, West Boca made its deepest playoff run in the past 8 years winning their district and making it to the regional finals. They return two top of the order bats in Nick Rubino and Josh Richards, but lose all but 5 innings on the mound. They graduated 11 seniors last year, but the junior class is hungry and has taken a big step forward this summer and fall. The rotation figures to be all two-way players with Sebastian Beimal, Adam Goldman, and Carson Collins leading the way. The middle infield had two transfers in Oxswen Cotto from Puerto Rico and Jack Doble from Douglas which will provide about average defense for years to come. West Boca also benefited from the largest freshman class in the past four years with a few (Pier Figuero, Corey Kling, and Chris Owens) who have a chance to make an immediate impact on varsity. This will be a young and talented team that has worked harder and longer over the fall.. They will be underdogs in most of their games, but will surprise a lot of teams.  


Team: Ida Baker
 

2019 Record: 18-8
FHSAA Class:
5A
Head Coach:
Robert Lawrence
Playoff Run:
Lost in District Semifinals
Returning Starters:
16

OUTLOOK

Anchored up the middle with Catcher Mac Moise- FGCU, Uncommitted 3 year starter Nick Richir at SS, 3 year Starter AJ Marinello in CF, and a deep pitching staff with everyone in the mid 80s with secondary pitches. The pitching staff goes 10-12 deep with little drop off and complimentary pieces like Carson McNeely, Jarred Pinto, Mason Dugas, and Derek Ortiz. Also throw in some young break out players like Logan Smith, Walker Holmes, Logan Wilsker, Kevin Prado and the team has the most depth in their area. They like to run the bases, finishing last year with 111 and hoping to get over 175 this year with some better health. Austin Crothers looks to bounce back to his sophomore form with less injury issues and AJ Marinello as well hopes to emerge as the D1 bat has displayed this offseason on the showcase circuit. This team has the talent to make a deep run and hopefully finish the season at Hammond Stadium.


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