FL Preseason Previews: Teams on the Bubble

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. Today, we will take a look at some of the teams on the bubble of the Top 25.

Team: The Bolles School

2019 Record: 25-3
FHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Mike Boswell
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Final
Returning Starters: 11

OUTLOOK

The Bulldogs return a big core of position players from last year's Regional Final team. Despite losing Florida signee Hunter Barco, Bolles is in a good position to succeed on the mound with junior Jackson Baumeister (Florida State) leading the way. The Bulldogs are looking to be well rounded with depth all over the field. Junior Jackson Mayo looks to be a spark in this team’s offense and lead the charge defensively in the outfield.

Team: East Lake
 

2019 Record: 24-4
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Zack Roper
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Semifinals
Returning Starters: 13

OUTLOOK

East Lake looks at their 2020 season with much anticipation. With their largest senior class they have had in the past five years, the Eagles are led by a strong and battle tested pitching staff and athletic and versatile position players such as RHP/SS Ryan Slater (Florida) and SS/RHP Lucas Ismaili (Pittsburgh) . The senior class has won 68 games over the past three years and looks to continue its winning tradition on the field while replicating the academic state championship they won in 2019. 

Team: Treasure Coast

2019 Record: 16-9
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: David Morales
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Championship
Returning Starters: 17

OUTLOOK

Treasure Coast Titans have seven returning seniors with an excellent group of talented juniors and sophomores to round out the overall great chemistry of the team. The Titans are looking to rely on great leadership from all their seniors . Plus, the mound presence of Bryce McBride, Blaze McBride, and the rest of the pitching staff as Austin Johnson will provide that safety net from behind the plate. The defense is set to improve with the leadership of Ronnie Walker, Diego Clariot, and TJ Curd. The offense will have balance throughout the lineup with the potent bats of Florida commit TJ Curd and Ronnie Walker. The Treasure Coast Titans are going to continue their winning ways and improve from last year's expectations. 

Team: George Jenkins

2019 Record: 21-7
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Alex Angulo
Playoff Run: State Final Four
Returning Starters: 5

OUTLOOK

George Jenkins is coming off back to back State Final Four appearances. However, they took a huge hit from graduation, losing Jake Herbert (Boston Red Sox), Taylor Buffington, and Daniel Batcher (West Virginia). They will look to rebound with a talented group of sophomores. Sophomores Matt Donley, Chandler Dorsey, Cadmiel Pompa (Bethune Cookman commit), Chase Buffington, and Corban Little should all play huge roles for the Eagles this year. The pitching will be headlined by Samford signee Michael Ross. Senior Brenden Vern, juniors Ryan Franklin & Xavian Gilmore and sophomores Dorsey & Little could see significant innings on the hill. The offense will be bolstered by seniors Vern (FIU signee) & Jared Murphy, as well as junior Perry Cook and sophomores Donley, Pompa and Buffington. Despite their youth, the Eagles should field a very competitive squad.

Team: Hagerty

2019 Record: 23-5
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Mike Sindone
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Semifinals
Returning Starters: 9

OUTLOOK

It will be very hard for Hagerty to reload after losing the best HS bat in the draft in Riley Greene (Rd 1, Pk 5, Tigers) and Vaughn Grissom (Rd 11, Pk 337, Braves). They are young but extremely coachable and athletic. Hagerty hopes to use that athleticism to their advantage on offense and defense. Their pitchers are strike throwers with solid secondary stuff. Coach Sindone sese them as a dark horse in their very competitive district and conference. The Huskies will definitely play spoiler for a year or two as they work hard to rebuild the roster with the young sophomore talent from their JV program and potential incoming freshmen over the next couple of years. Hagerty baseball players are known for their work ethic. As Coach Sindone begins his first year as head coach of this program, he is impressed every day by how hard they work. 

Team: Coral Reef

2019 Record: 19-11
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Christopher Leon
Playoff Run: 9A State Runner-Up
Returning Starters: 11

OUTLOOK

Coral Reef has a resilient group who love to play the game and who play it hard. Lot's of individual talent up and down the roster. They will pitch well starting with Pat Roth, Shawn Perez (FIU), and Sammy Cheng. They will play great defense starting with catcher Sebastian Jimenez (Florida State) and the Ogden brothers in the infield as well as their outfield with Ryan Scarry and Dylan Boyd. The bats will be led by Sebastian Jimenez and a crew named Shawn Perez, Michael Ogden, Ryan Scarry with plenty of other juniors that can fill the stat sheet. This team is deeper than last year and plays the game until the end. A team that knows what is expected and one who is ready for the moment.

Team: Melbourne Central Catholic

2019 Record: 25-5
FHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Tom Dooley
Playoff Run: 5A State Champion
Returning Starters: 6

OUTLOOK

The Hustler graduated an incredible senior class that each day demonstrated top level leadership and accountability. This will be vital for this year's group of seniors to follow that lead. Cantres, Maruzzella, Lierman, and Beolet are very experienced players and will be counted on to supply the leadership. There are many question marks as to what players will step in at quite a few positions. Developing pitching and a few more hitters will be an area of focus.

Team: North Florida Christian

2019 Record: 22-7
FHSAA Class: 2A
Head Coach: Mike Posey
Playoff Run: 3A Final Four
Returning Starters: 4

OUTLOOK

The 2020 NFC baseball team will be young but talented. Returning players include senior Cameron Neal (CF), junior Blake Dincman (C/DH), junior Trevor Hanselman (RHP/INF) and junior Caleb Granger (RHP/INF). Both Granger and Hanselman contributed in 2019 on the mound. Hanselman recently committed to East Tenn. State. Younger players expected to step in this season and contribute include juniors Dallas Tease (RHP/INF), James Chorey (1B) and Landon Shackleford (OF). Sophomores Chris Stanfield (OF) and Ethan Miller (INF/OF) along with freshman Brady Neal (C/INF) should also contribute. Stanfield recently committed to Auburn and Neal committed in the fall to LSU. NFC will need to stay healthy and pitch well. They will need to gain experience as the season progresses. 

Team: Olympia

2019 Record: 22-6
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Chuck Schall
Playoff Run: Lost in District Final
Returning Starters: 7

OUTLOOK

Olympia is looking to be competitive this season with six position players returning including senior OF Alex Britton, senior OF Richie Lakes (USF), and sophomore SS Titan Kamaka (Florida State). The success of this team will hinge on the development of their young pitching staff as they return only one pitcher with varsity experience. This is a strong defensive team that should be able to help their pitching out by making the necessary plays behind them. The offense will carry this team as far as they will go.

Team: Trinity Christian Academy (Lake Worth)

2019 Record: 15-9
FHSAA Class: 2A
Head Coach: MIguel Cuello
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Finals
Returning Starters: 9

OUTLOOK

Trinity Christian is in a rebuilding mode after losing a handful of starters from last year’s team. They have a few good senior players that will give them the experience to compete. The Warriors will be very strong up the middle with transfer senior catcher Tanner Martinez from Somerset Academy. They have Immanuel Regales, who is one of the best defensive outfielders in the county and a very talented freshman SS in Ariel Antigua, who is committed to the University of South Carolina.

Team: Alonso

2019 Record: 15-11
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Landy Faedo
Playoff Run: Regional Quarterfinals
Returning Starters: 12

OUTLOOK

Team: Strawberry Crest

2019 Record: 19-11
FHSAA Class: 8A
Head Coach: Eric Beattie
Playoff Run: State Runner-Up
Returning Starters: 7

OUTLOOK

While the Chargers lose five of their top hitters from their 2019 state runner-up finish, they do have a pair of talented juniors to lean on. Alex Mussenden and Colby Fanning look to lead the way offensively as they will look to a young core to produce on the mound.

Team: Dunedin

2019 Record: 23-9
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Ron Sexton
Playoff Run: State Runner-Up
Returning Starters: 4

OUTLOOK

The Falcons fell to Jesuit in the state championship game in 2019 and do lose a large number of seniors. They will look to Adam Wonch on the mound who returns with a 2-2 record and 45 strikeouts in 33.1 innings in 2019. Offensively, they will rely on senior Tristan Morton who batted .344 with 15 RBIs in 2019.

Team: Mosley

2019 Record: 25-4
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Jon Hodson
Playoff Run: State FInal Four
Returning Starters: 6

OUTLOOK

The Dolphins fell in the final four of the 2019 State Baseball Championships and lost seven of their top hitter from 2019. They will look to senior Christian Lasecki and junior Coleman Rowan to lead the way offensively in 2020. On the mound they will look to replace Ryan Pettys who is currently at Florida State. They will look to Tyler Peterson and Jaden Rudd to take the  lead on the mound as the two combined for six wins in 2019. 

Team: Canterbury

2019 Record: 26-6
FHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Frank Turco
Playoff Run: State Runner-Up
Returning Starters: 7

OUTLOOK

The Cougars lose eight of their top hitters from the state runner-up finish in 2019. They will look to junior Jake Gibson, who hit .333 in 2019, to lead the way offensively in 2020. On the mound they will look to replace 14 wins from Bryce Epstein (Lipscomb) and William Shea. Leading the way to fill that void will be junior Florida recruit Anthony Ursitti, who was 5-0 with 50 strikeouts in 35.1 innings in 2019.