Can an entire county undergo a youth movement? Apparently so, considering the players set to take the baseball field for the five local programs as the season gets underway this week.
At Central, Hernando, Nature Coast and Springstead High, multiple sophomores and juniors are expected to play key roles this year and figure to help carry their respective programs over the next 2-3 seasons.
"It's going to depend on how the sophomores and juniors adopt to the pressure of the game," Central Head Coach Mike Ellison said. "They've done very well. They're young, but they're quality ballplayers."
"This is the youngest group in 14 years of coaching that I've put on the field," Hernando Head Coach Tim Sims said. "They'll probably show a little bit of that early on but they'll get through it."
"We've got a lot of guys playing their first year of varsity," Springstead Head Coach Frank Vitale said. "But they know how to play the game."
Even at Hernando Christian Academy, where the Lions will look to defend the Class 1A, District 6 crown, the youthful theme has carried over.
"I think we can be as good as we were last year," HCA Head Coach Scott Boer said. "I feel we'll be stronger than last year at the end of the season. Right now we're real young. When this team starts working together we're pretty good for our district."
Coaching changes
Only two of the five teams have a different head coach from 2008. That includes Hernando, where Sims has returned to the post he held for 13 seasons.
Time conflicts with his job at Sims Furniture forced Sims to step down in 2006, opening the door for longtime assistant Donnie Whitehead.
When Whitehead opted for a college gig over the summer, Sims took back the reigns. He takes over a Leopard club that went 13-13 last year but had upset victories over Class 4A, District 8 champion Pasco and runner-up Nature Coast.
"I've had to re-learn what the strengths and weaknesses are," Sims said. "It is a change. I have different requirements than Donnie off the field and vise versa. It's an adjustment period. Now is it a shorter time period? Yes, because there's some familiarity. But it is a change."
Hernando returns just two full-time starters from a year ago, catcher Ryan Brady and shortstop Josh Harvey, both seniors.
The Leopards have two sophomores who are in the mix for infield starting spots, Tyler Bammert at third base and Austin McNeal at first.
They also have two juniors (Justin Gates, Austin Rollins) and a freshman (Matthew Brady) battling for playing time. Junior Kall Daniel, who earned a handful of starts as a JV call-up in 2008, will start in right field.
The other new headman in town is at Nature Coast, where former Major League pitcher John Frascatore will try to lead the Sharks back to the state playoffs for a third straight year.
Nature Coast graduated five All-County selections including All-State representatives Travis Murray (the county's two-time Player of the Year) and Brandon DeRespiris.
Chris Jones, Joe Silvestri and Kenny Treverton are the other departed stars. The Sharks went 21-7 in 2008 and notched their first regional playoff win over Harmony.
Junior Jack Diven ranks as the team's top returning player, having hit .394 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in over 27 games as a sophomore.
Senior Mike Adams and junior Eric Adams (no relation) made impacts last year, as well. Mike Adams hit .326 with 22 RBI and also emerged as a quality left-handed pitcher.
Eric Adams led the team with five home runs, and another junior, Danny Colon, hit .324 in 21 games as a sophomore. Plus senior Jon Russell saw significant playing in the outfield.
The Sharks sport three sophomores (Josh Brigido, Colton Collins and Greg Rittenberry) and five other juniors (Matt Adams, Justin Beetz, Eddie Castro, Justin Tewey and Taylor Washam) and obviously must find some capable replacements for their previous standouts.
Both Hernando and Nature Coast are part of Class 4A, District 8, where defending champ Pasco remains the power, though top pitcher Henry Johnson may miss the season after severely injuring his neck.
The coaches also tabbed Zephyrhills as a team that will contend for the district title, and second-year Sunlake could be a dark horse.
Maggard out
Springstead hoped to be in the 4A-8 mix as well, but are minus sophomore pitcher Brett Maggard thanks to ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, better known as Tommy John surgery.
Even as a freshman last season, the lefty emerged as an ace for the 16-11 Eagles, going 3-3 with 2.74 ERA in 10 starts, most of them against top opponents.
He also hit .323 with three home runs and 17 RBI, and the team hopes he can at least return as a hitter sometime in March.
With Maggard out of the pitching rotation, Springstead will lean on senior Tyler Schoonover, a transfer from Central, plus sophomore Bobby Pasarela and junior Patrick Dwyer, who missed last season with a broken wrist.
Vitale also believes his team can win behind a steady defense, though the Eagles must replace All-State shortstop Tom Dwyer and All-County performers Bryan Nicolini and Mitchell Jacobs.
Along with Pasarela, sophomores Julian Perez and J.R. Wright should play key roles this season.
"If somebody put a gun to my head and said how many games are you going to win, I don't know," said Vitale, starting his sixth season. "...We're hoping to build on our 16-win season last year. I think we can, but things have to go our way."
Slew of sophomores
Perhaps no county team will depend more on the strength of its sophomores than Central, following last season's 7-16 campaign.
In their second year under Mike Ellison, the Bears sport four 10th-graders expected to fill major voids: outfielder Ryan Beaton, center fielder Louis Colaiacomo, catcher Vince Owens and pitcher/infielder J.T. Simpson.
"It's going to depend on how the sophomores and juniors adopt to the pressure of the game," Ellison said. "They've done very well. They're young, but they're quality ballplayers."
Still, Central will ask two key seniors, pitcher/first baseman Ryan Garrity and pitcher/shortstop Mike Ogren, to lead this young club.
In Class 5A, District 7, Ellison sees Wesley Chapel and Land O' Lakes as the teams to beat.
"I think like all other high schools in the county, this sophomore class is a heck of a good class and there'll be some great baseball played when that sophomore class gets to be juniors and seniors," Ellison said.
"All I want is to compete, but I've got to be realistic about things. I want to win as much as we can, but I'm looking to the future still."
Lions look to repeat
No county program has achieved more success over the past five years than HCA. The Lions went 15-11 in 2008, claiming their second district championship, four regional berth and second regional victory.
Third-year Head Coach Scott Boer returns both his All-County players, third baseman Ian Townsend, a sophomore, and senior pitcher/center fielder David Rotteveel.
Also back in the fold is first baseman Josh Romeo, who hit .507 with three homers and 22 RBI to lead the team in all three categories.
However, Townsend must recover from an ankle injury suffered during basketball and Romeo a shoulder ailment endured at the district tournament for soccer.
"We're young, but we're excited to play," Boer said. "We do have more pitchers than we're used to. We have a few injuries we're working on. Hopefully we'll be healthy within a couple of weeks."
Boer feels his team, with a year's more experience, can play with greater consistency. Seniors Tyler Bosworth and Daniel Keyes are expected to step up, and the Lions have two eighth-graders, Brandon Brosher and Garrett Treverton, who could help the cause.
"We hope to win the district tournament again," Boer said. "We'd like to win more games outside of our district. Maybe get past the second round of regionals. We'd like to get a step further."
CENTRAL BEARS
HEAD COACH: MIKE ELLISON (2ND YEAR)
RECORD: 0-0 OVERALL, 0-0 5A-7
Date Opponent Site Time/Result
02-16 Citrus Home 6:30 p.m.
02-17 Mitchell Away 7 p.m.
02-19 Hernando Home 6:30 p.m.
02-24 Land O' Lakes# Home 6:30 p.m.
02-26 Springstead Away 7 p.m.
02-27 Ridgewood# Away 7 p.m.
03-03 Nature Coast Home 6:30 p.m.
03-04 The Villages Away 6:30 p.m.
03-06 River Ridge# Home 6:30 p.m.
03-10 Wesley Chapel# Away 7 p.m.
03-12 Hernando Away 7 p.m.
03-13 Land O' Lakes# Away 7 p.m.
03-17 Ridgewood# Home 6:30 p.m.
03-23 Nature Coast Away 7 p.m.
03-24 River Ridge# Away 7 p.m.
03-27 Wesley Chapel# Home 6:30 p.m.
03-30 Springstead Home 6:30 p.m.
04-06 Mitchell Home 1 p.m.
04-09 Gulf Home 1 p.m.
04-14 Dunnellon Home 6:30 p.m.
04-20 Dunnellon Away 7 p.m.
04-22 Citrus Away 6:30 p.m.
04-27-30 5A-7 Tournamentˆ Away TBA
# Denotes 5A-7 game
ˆ Denotes 5A-7 Tournament game at Ridgewood High
HERNANDO LEOPARDS
HEAD COACH: TIM SIMS (1ST YEAR, 14TH OVERALL)
RECORD: 0-0 OVERALL, 0-0 4A-8
Date Opponent Site Time/Result
02-17 Nature Coast# Away 7 p.m.
02-19 Central Away 6:30 p.m.
02-20 Sunlake# Home 7 p.m.
02-24 Zephyrhills# Away 7 p.m.
02-26 The Villages Home 7 p.m.
02-27 Pasco# Away 7 p.m.
03-03 Wiregrass Ranch# Home 7 p.m.
03-05 Hudson# Away 7 p.m.
03-06 Gulf# Home 7 p.m.
03-12 Central Home 7 p.m.
03-13 Springstead# Away 7 p.m.
03-17 Nature Coast# Home 7 p.m.
03-19 Sunlake# Away 7 p.m.
03-20 Zephyrhills# Home 7 p.m.
03-24 Pasco# Home 7 p.m.
03-25 The Villages Away 6 p.m.
03-27 Wiregrass Ranch# Away 7 p.m.
03-31 Hudson# Home 7 p.m.
04-01 Ridgewood Away 7 p.m.
04-03 Gulf# Away 7 p.m.
04-14 Citrus Home 7 p.m.
04-17 Springstead# Home 7 p.m.
04-21 Land O' Lakes Home 7 p.m.
04-22 Ridgewood Home 7 p.m.
04-23 Citrus Away 6:30 p.m.
04-27-05-02 4A-8 Tournamentˆ Away TBA
# Denotes 4A-8 game
ˆ Denotes 4A-8 Tournament game at Zephyrhills High
HERNANDO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LIONS
HEAD COACH: SCOTT BOER (3RD YEAR)
RECORD: 0-0 OVERALL, 0-0 1A-6
Date Opponent Site Time/Result
02-19 Citrus Park Away 4 p.m.
02-24 Cedar Key# Away 5 p.m.
02-27 Central Florida Christian Home 4 p.m.
02-28 Clearwater-Calvary Christian Home 3 p.m.
03-03 Cedar Key# Home 4 p.m.
03-05 First Academy-Leesburg# Away 4 p.m.
03-06 Shores Christian# Home 4 p.m.
03-10 Meadowbrook# Away 4 p.m.
03-12 Manatee HEAT Home 4:30 p.m.
03-13 Manatee HEAT Home 4:30 p.m.
03-16 Central (JV) Away 6:30 p.m.
03-17 Seven Rivers# Home 4:30 p.m.
03-20 St. John# Away 6 p.m.
03-26 Meadowbrook# Home 4:30 p.m.
03-27 Seven Rivers# Away 6 p.m.
03-30 Bishop McLaughlin Away 5 p.m.
03-31 First Academy-Leesburg# Home 4:30 p.m.
04-02 St. John# Home 4:30 p.m.
04-06 Central Florida Christian Away 4 p.m.
04-07 Manatee HEAT Away 6 p.m.
04-09 Shores Christian# Away 6 p.m.
04-16 Seffner Christian Away 4:30 p.m.
04-21 Clearwater-Calvary Christian Away 4 p.m.
04-23 Canterbury Away 5 p.m.
04-24 Citrus Park Home 5 p.m.
04-27-30 1A-6 Tournamentˆ Away TBA
# Denotes 1A-6 game
ˆ Denotes 1A-6 Tournament game at Meadowbrook Academy
NATURE COAST SHARKS
HEAD COACH: JOHN FRASCATORE (1ST YEAR)
RECORD: 0-0 OVERALL, 0-0 4A-8
Date Opponent Site Time/Result
02-17 Hernando# Home 7 p.m.
02-20 Springstead# Away 7 p.m.
02-24 Gulf# Home 7 p.m.
02-27 Zephyrhills# Home 7 p.m.
03-03 Central Away 6:30 p.m.
03-05 Pasco# Away 7 p.m.
03-06 Sunlake# Away 7 p.m.
03-10 Hudson# Away 7 p.m.
03-13 Wiregrass Ranch# Home 7 p.m.
03-17 Hernando# Away 7 p.m.
03-19 Springstead# Home 7 p.m.
03-20 Gulf# Away 7 p.m.
03-23 Central Home 7 p.m.
03-26 Zephyrhills# Away 7 p.m.
03-31 Pasco# Home 7 p.m.
04-03 Sunlake# Home 7 p.m.
04-14 Hudson# Home 7 p.m.
04-17 Wiregrass Ranch# Away 7 p.m.
04-27-05-02 4A-8 Tournamentˆ Away TBA
# Denotes 4A-8 game
ˆ Denotes 4A-8 Tournament game at Zephyrhills High
SPRINGSTEAD EAGLES
HEAD COACH: FRANK VITALE (6TH YEAR)
RECORD: 0-0 OVERALL, 0-0 4A-8
Date Opponent Site Time/Result
02-17 Gulf# Away 7 p.m.
02-20 Nature Coast# Home 7 p.m.
02-24 Sunlake# Away 7 p.m.
02-26 Central Home 7 p.m.
02-27 River Ridge Home 7 p.m.
03-03 Pasco# Away 7 p.m.
03-05 Zephyrhills# Home 7 p.m.
03-06 Hudson# Home 7 p.m.
03-09 Ridgewood Away 7 p.m.
03-10 Wiregrass Ranch# Away 7 p.m.
03-13 Hernando# Home 7 p.m.
03-17 Gulf# Home 7 p.m.
03-19 Nature Coast# Away 7 p.m.
03-20 Sunlake# Home 7 p.m.
03-25 Wesley Chapel Away 7 p.m.
03-26 Pasco# Home 7 p.m.
03-30 Central Away 7 p.m.
03-31 Zephyrhills# Away 7 p.m.
04-03 Hudson# Away 7 p.m.
04-06 South Sumter Away 7 p.m.
04-14 Wiregrass Ranch# Home 7 p.m.
04-17 Hernando# Away 7 p.m.
04-21 Mitchell Away 7 p.m.
04-23 River Ridge Away 7 p.m.
04-27-05-02 4A-8 Tournamentˆ Home TBA
# Denotes 4A-8 game
ˆ Denotes 4A-8 Tournament game at Zephyrhills High
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