2024 Season Preview: Blake, Carrollwood Day, Foundation Christian, Leto, Middleton

With preseason games going on this week, we thought we would preview our Hillsborough County squads leading into the 2024 regular season. We’ll release previews on five teams a day leading up to our BIG 813Preps Top 15 Preseason Rankings on Sunday.

[Teams were selected in order of coaches’ response to our survey; then listed in alphabetic order]

Blake

Coach: Herbert Ayers (Sixth season)
Last Year’s Record: N/A
Outlook: The Yellow Jackets return to the pack this season after not fielding a team in 2023. Despite missing out last year, Coach Herbert Ayers has a group of focused players – including a group of four who practiced together all last spring. Ayers points to the determination of those players – Ze’Kori Newton, Justin Jackson, Eliot Butts, and Zechariah Ayers – as being the key factor for the relaunching of the program. Most of Blake’s 2024 roster have worked together through a summer travel ball program as well.

Players to Watch: Anthony Matthews, P/RF (projected No. 1 starter); Ze’Kori Newton, Sr, P/3B (projected No. 2 pitcher).

Our Take: We are thrilled to have Blake back in the mix this season, and excited about the commitment from the Yellow Jackets players that pushed along the team getting back on the field this spring. Drive and determination to make your own goals come to life is what sports are all about. We’ll forgo a prediction for this season, but can’t wait to see Blake back out there.

Carrollwood Day

Coach: Tony Brewington (Third season)
Last Year’s Record: 14-13 (Region quarterfinalist)
Outlook: Carrollwood Day returns an experienced group from last season’s district runner-up finish and region appearance, and is aiming for a district title this season. Senior Nick Bonollo, a Limestone University signee, had 20 hits, scored 20 runs and drove in 21 last season, while FSU committed junior Christian Clark is in his third year after posting back-to-back .300+ average seasons.

Players to Watch: Christian Clarke, Jr, CF/SS (.333, 16 RBI, 13 stolen bases); Nick Riedel, Jr, RHP (4-2, 1.36 ERA, 41 K’s); Evan Mazur, Jr, LHP (33K’s in 25ip)

Our Take: The chase for the 2A-10 crown is going to be a battle among the top half of the district, and we like the looks of the Patriots regular season schedule as prep for that tournament. We don’t know if the win-loss record will be pretty, as CDS has some big tests ahead. BUT they’ve got a solid group of experienced returners on the mound and in the lineup, and a good showing in the Saladino Bronze tourney, and sneaking by a few of the upper classification teams on the schedule could bode well for the Patriots come postseason selection time. Regular Season Prediction: 15-10

Foundation Christian

Coach: David McNeely (Eighth season)
Last Year’s Record: 11-9
Outlook: FCA recorded 15-win seasons in 2021 & 2022, before a slightly more modest 11-9 showing last season. The Panthers had a number of eighth graders see chunks of playing time last year, and the experience – even in the underclass – should serve Foundation Christian well this year and in the future. Sophomore Peyton Coakley put up a 30-RBI season for the Panthers a season ago and will be counted on to provide a lot of offense for the Panthers this spring.

Players to Watch: Peyton Coakley, Soph, 1B (.500, 30 RBI, 25 runs); Henry Salter, Fr, RHP/3B (.393, 37 runs, six doubles; 29 K’s in 22ip).

Our Take: Foundation Christian should handle the regular season pretty well, with most of its opponents being fellow 2A schools or independent from the FHSAA. This is a good thing for a young team, but business will decidedly pick up come district tournament time. Regular Season Prediction: 14-6

Leto

Coach: John Pizzio (18th season)
Last Year’s Record: 9-13
Outlook: The Falcons have a pretty solid senior class that has been together for a long time, and Leto looks to have a rebound from last season – after posting six-straight winning years. Fundamental baseball mixed with Pizzio’s creative vision always makes the Falcons a team to worry about on the schedule. Denzel Martinez and Gerard Ortega are four-year varsity players with more than 50 games apiece at the high school level. Martinez is the field leader at shortstop, while both he and Ortega could factor in on the mound late in games.

Players to Watch: Denzel Martinez, Sr, SS (.339, six doubles, 20 RBI; Thomas College signee); Gerard Ortega, Sr, C/OF/P (.360, 12 RBI, 10 stolen bases); Demetri Passalaris, Sr, RHP (projected No. 1 starter).

Our Take: We can’t think of attending a Leto in our time with 813Preps, and not enjoying what we saw on the field. The Falcons are a get-on-get-over-get-in kind of offense, something that for generations in the game, produces success. Last year the Falcons started off in a hole with a five-game skid, and couldn’t quite dig their way out. We fully expect this Leto team to be in the hunt for a district title in a fun Class 6A-District 9. Regular Season Prediction: 13-10

Middleton

Coach: Ozzie Galvan (First season)
Last Year’s Record: 1-22
Outlook: The Tigers have a new head coach as Ozzie Galvan replaces Mark Whitten, after five seasons. Middleton won just one game last season and Galvan has a challenge ahead, but does have a junior-heavy roster. Galvan said the early focus is on establishing a “team” mentality first, while focusing on individual improvement as they go along.

Players to Watch: Tate Hancock, Jr, SS (.250, five RBI; three-year starter); Ezekiel Fieger, Sr, C (three doubles).

Our Take: It takes time for a new coach to get things going in the right direction, but with a more mature upperclassmen-heavy group, hopefully the Tigers make big gains fast. Coming away with a few wins in a favorable start to schedule could spark a quick turnaround for a team that posted seven wins in two-straight seasons just a few years ago. Regular Season Prediction: 4-15