The wait is over and the 2018 season is finally upon us!!
My buddy Jarrett Guthrie over at www.813preps.com has already done a preview piece for each one of the districts, so for a more in-depth look at the upcoming season, go check out his page.
For my preview, I selected to highlight a dozen teams in the Hillsborough County area that I'll be keeping a special eye on this season.
This is not a rankings piece, just another way to get the word out about some of the fine young ballplayers in the Bay Area. Our 620WDAE High School Scoreboard will still have the final scores every night and I am going to try and make it to as many games as possible this season.
To help make the Scoreboard great, please let your coaches and/or parents to e-mail me game scores and breakdowns after every game at HitTheCut@yahoo.com so we can spread the word about this great game of baseball.
Thank you and have a great season!
My Teams To Watch :
SICKLES
A lot of young talent at Sickles. I'm excited to see what Coach Eric Luksis and the boys can do this season. Danny Bernstein can flat out mash and I can't wait to see what Trey Bacon can do after a standout freshman campaign.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : SP Cole Cooper, OF Zach Diaz
Key Players Returning : P/IF Dylan Eskew, C Danny Bernstein, IF/P Trey Bacon, P Chase Centala, OF/IF Zane Tarrance, P Jordan Montes
Fresh Faces : IF Leandro Alverez, OF/P Tyler Green
TAMPA CATHOLIC
It's a new day at Tampa Catholic as the next generation of Crusaders are ready to take over. Coach Ty Griffin faces a tall task in replacing guys like Conor Grady and Mitch Carter, but RJ Del Rio and Johnny Rodrigues should be a part of the crew to ease the transition.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : P Conor Grady, 1B Calvin Rucker, SS Mitch Carter, 2B Cristian Docobo, OF Tanner Alvarado
Key Players Returning : Johnny Rodriguez, Sebastian Figga, Julian Pichardo, Ahmad Everett, RJ Del Rio
Fresh Faces : Ty Garcia, Tony Watson
BERKELEY PREP
It was a little bit of an up-and-down year last year for Berkeley, but I expect a big bounce back this season. There aren't many coaches around better than Head Coach Richie Warren and Julian Bosnic gives them a chance every time he steps on the field.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : Spencer Myers, Gordon Stetson, Michael Hill, Marcus Ayers
Key Players Returning : Julian Bosnic, Carson Weekley, Khalib Bayona, Sam Bennett, Jakob Hines
Fresh Face : Jac Caglione
GAITHER
Words can't describe the atmosphere at Frank Permuy Park when it's baseball season. A true home-field advantage that is in store for some great action this season. Coach Nelson North will rely heavy on his stud catcher Danny Gutcher to hit and control the pitching staff, but the guy to really keep an eye on is freshman Austin Grause. His poise on the mound is something you just can not teach and he may even help in the field as well.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : LF AJ Drisdom, CF Jose Cadenas, RF Kenny Rodriguez, 3B Chipper Holland
Key Players Returning : C Danny Gutcher, SS Orlando Arevalo, LF Derek Crum, P Anthony Alvarez, P Tyler Tipton
Fresh Faces : CF Jordan Williams, P Austin Grause, P Justin Childs
ALONSO
If you want to see a team that's ready to play as soon as they step on to the field, go watch Alonso play. Coach Landy Faedo runs a tight ship and his teams are always so impressive with their preparation and work ethic. Two words : Franco Aleman. Go watch him pitch..... thank me later.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : 1B Jordan Butler, IF Jared DeSantolo, SS Jose Ciccarello
Key Players Returning : Franco Aleman, Nick Gonzalez, Ryan Drumheller, Jorge Oleaga, Scott Meitzler, Andrew Lara, Sam Drumheller
Fresh Face : Renzo Gonzalez
PLANT CITY
A ton of young talent in Plant City as Coach Mike Fryrear returns 14 key players in 2018. Losing an impact player like Dalton Wingo is tough (you're welcome UCF), but with guys like Parker Messick, TJ Gayner Dylan Robinson and Austin Eldridge coming back, this team has a chance to be very exciting.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : CF Dalton Wingo, SS JJ Gonzalez
Key Players Returning : OF/P TJ Gayner, OF/P Dylan Robinson, OF/P Austin Eldridge, P Jonathan Simpson, P/1B Parker Messick, SS/P Cade Shissler
Fresh Face : Demario Williams
ROBINSON
It's never easier to lose your leadoff hitter. It's even harder when it's your own son. That's the task Coach Kevin McCray has to figure out as he leads this Robinson team into the 2018 season. The Knights bring back their top hitter in Austin Glasgow and a couple of solid pitchers in Jake Granese and Koby Fogg.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : P Pete Feinman, C Zack Moseley, SS Killian McCray
Key Players Returning : 1B/OF Austin Glasgow, P Jake Granese, P Koby Fogg, IF Andrew McMillan, Carter Fair
Fresh Faces : OF Chase Volpi, C Evan Watts, IF/P Isaiah Tosao, IF/P Mike Swanson, 1B Ben Maskin, 3B Adam Haidermota, UT Paul Jennewein
CAMBRIDGE CHRISTIAN
One of the best kept secrets in the Bay Area is the team over at Cambridge Christian. Coach Stephen Piercefield has a hard-working bunch that really plays well together. Michael McCarty is a crafty southpaw that can really keep hitters off-balance and Austin Carter is a jack-of-all-trades that can win you games with his bat, glove or arm.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : P Alex Smith, P/OF Zack Stein, UT Ryan Murphy, IF Caleb Faris
Key Players Returning : P Michael McCarty, SS Sevas Cardona, 2B Austin Hessinger, IF/P Austin Carter, P/UT Jacob Krueger, C Tilden Agee
CHAMBERLAIN
It's more than just what happens between the lines. Coach Jason Smith is doing such a great job of raising young men, that any success on the baseball field is a bonus. The Chiefs spent much of the offseason renovating their field and raising money for victims of Hurricane Irma. Can't wait to see them play, but even more importantly, thank them for making this world a better place.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : UT Darryl Mitchell, SS Marquis Philon, OF/P Mo Hanley
Key Players Returning : C Greg Santana, 1B/P Sherwin Johnson, 2B Brennan Hyde, SS/P Juan Jamie-Nunez, 3B/P David Cornelio
Fresh Faces : OF/P Dontavious Johnson, P/UT Brayden Moyer
LETO
Other teams may get more publicity, but Coach Pizzio's Leto Falcons are a team that always seems to be there at the end of the season. Fernando Muniz is easily a top player in Tampa and Johnny Diaz could prove to be one of the most important transfers of the season.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : Andreas Morales, Felix Rosario
Key Players Returning : Fernando Muniz, Jakob Ryley, Jorge Carrero, Josh Cruz, Tomas Lozano, Christian Suarez, Javy Hernandez
Fresh Faces : Abel Diaz, Johnny Diaz, Jackson Alvord, Jon Santos, RJ Gutierrez
I know there are a lot of good rivalries here in Hillsborough County, but this one is growing and getting bigger and better every year. You could cut the tension with a knife in all three games last year and I'm counting down the days until they step onto the field together again.
Jesuit visits Jefferson on March 27th in the first of a likely three-game matchup this season. I suggest you clear your schedule.
JESUIT
Another year and another promising season ahead for Coach Miguel Menendez and Jesuit. The Tigers came so close to the State title last year, and you better believe that ace pitcher Jack Anderson wants another crack at it before heading off to Florida State. McGuire Weaver and Joel Brewer form arguably the best 1-2 punch in the Bay Area.
Key Players Lost From Last Year : C Garrett Sheppard, RF Duncan Hunter, P Jeff Hakanson, P Price Sartor, P Drew Martin, 3B Thomas Bencivenga, 1B Jake Jones, 2B Alex Mocny
Key Players Returning : P Jack Anderson, SS McGuire Weaver, CF Joel Brewer, P Everett Lee, IF Robert Hales, OF Charles Clark, C Carter Andersen, IF Reid Clark, C Bennett Lee
JEFFERSON
Any team with Robby Martin on it will be a contender, but add southpaw Marc DeGusipe and catcher Charlie Welch and you're talking about a team in Jefferson that can really turn some heads. If Coach Juan Fontela can balance lofty expectations and keep this potential powerhouse locked in, watch out!
Key Players Returning : CF AJ Mathis, RF/P Robby Martin, P/1B Jack Rodriguez, IF Ty Evans, SS Isaiah Gonzalez, P Mike Dominguez
Fresh Faces : P Marc DeGusipe, C Charlie Welch
OK, one more team.... the team I used to coach many years ago, the Freedom Patriots!
FREEDOM
Key Players Lost From Last Year : P Khalil Al'Mutasim, OF David Trujeque, Samio Uze
Key Players Returning : P Mitchell Leroy, C Hunter Kniskern, DH Andrew Wise, 1B Brendan Abel
Fresh Face : P Matt Gaffney
FINAL THOUGHTS : Can't wait to see my man Jesse Hunter on the mound for Bloomingdale, same thing goes for BJ Carter at Brandon. I'm expecting a big year from Justice Thompson at King, and from Yazael Nunez at Lennard as well. We know Connor Scott and Brock Fagler will do damage at Plant, but my guy to watch is transfer JD Urso, who has more intangibles than any player I've ever seen. Urso's former teammate at Tampa Prep, Charlie Vari, is in line for a big year behind the plate. Derek Barone and Tanner Kelley bookend a great starter in Damien Torres at Strawberry Crest.. A big shoutout to two of my former players holding it down up north at Bishop McLoughlin, Cam Diaz and Hunter Green. And last but not least, the player who I think will have the highest batting average at the end of the year is Jordan Lala from Steinbrenner.
Again, I couldn't get all of the schools in here and I do apologize, but for a more in-depth look at the season ahead, make sure you go to www.813preps.com
Good luck to everyone this season and PLAY BALL!