2024 All-813Preps Baseball Class 6A-7A Team
Sponsored by Jaime’s Adult Day Centers
2024 Most Valuable Player (6A-7A)
Coupling a county-leading .494 batting average, with a 1.57 ERA and a 6-1 record on the mound, Durant senior Blaine Rowland helped Durant to a 21-5 record this season and earns MVP honors this year. A two-time All-813Preps First Team selection and a three-time Western Conference First Teamer, the University of Florida signee was a dominating two-way standout this year.
“Blaine is one of the most down to earth and genuine young men that you will ever meet,” Cougars head coach Butch Valdes said. “He has the biggest and most contagious smile that never ends. Most importantly, he’s the best teammate you could ever hope for because he always has your back. I was truly blessed to have as a Cougar.”
In Game 1 of the season, Rowland delivered a complete-game, three-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts – the first of five double-digit strikeout games he tossed this season.
Offensively, Rowland was equally impressive, collecting 13 multi-hit games, driving in 26 runs, scoring 20 times, with nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. His county-best 41 hits and his average both broke school records held by former Tampa Tribune Player of the Year Tyler Danish, a second-round MLB draft pick in 2013.
“There was no better person to break the batting average record held by Tyler Danish than Blaine Rowland,” Valdes said. “He became the heart of our lineup. His presence on the mound was equally as dominant. He commanded everything with absolute ice in his veins and the confidence bled through the team. Even as a coach you just had a sense of confidence that we were in control of the game with Blaine on the mound and in the lineup.”
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2024 Hitter of the Year (6A-7A)
Posting his second-straight 39-hit season, Bloomingdale senior outfielder Cooper Hinson earns Hitter of the Year honors, batting .448 with 34 runs scored and 19 RBI. After an All-813Preps First Team season as a junior, the Marshall-signed Hinson had nine doubles and two home runs while putting up 12 multi-hit games with 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in 87 at-bats. Hinson hit .464 over his 56 varsity games, while also providing solid defense for the Bulls in right field. He was a two-time All-Western Conference First Teamer and was named the 2024 Wade Boggs Award winner.
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2024 Pitcher of the Year (6A-7A)
Making 12 appearances on the mound this season, Newsome senior righty Wade Walton posted a 10-1 record, a 0.67 ERA and 116 strikeouts to earn Pitcher of the Year honors. The High Point signee had six double-digit strikeout games, never allowed more than one earned run in any start this year, and held opponents to a .149 batting average. In his two postseason starts (wins against Winter Haven and Plant), Walton pitched 13 combined innings, allowing one run and struck out 20. Walton was a Western Conference First Team selection and was the Florida Athletic Coaches Association District 15 Player of the Year for Class 7A.
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2024 Coach of the Year (6A-7A)
For the second time in four seasons, Bloomingdale’s Kris Wilken is our All-813Preps Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls to a region title and a state final four appearance. The Bulls went 19-11 this season and dropped a 4-2 decision to Palmetto in the district final, before being challenged by Wilken that if Bloomingdale made the region playoffs, to “delay the funeral.” The Bulls players took their coach’s challenge and mercy-ruled Palmetto in a rematch five days later, before picking up region wins over East Lake and Sickles. Wilken, in his 17th season at Bloomingdale, previously won this award and the Class 6A state title in 2021.
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The 2024 All-813Preps Team has been sponsored by:
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All-813Preps First Team Class 6A-7A
A four-year varsity player, Durant senior Nick April-Gath capped his high school career batting .371, and scoring 32 times (tied for third-most in the county) helping the Cougars to a 21-5 season. The Virginia Commonwealth signee hit six doubles and stole 16 bases as the leadoff man for Durant. The Cougars shortstop had a .986 fielding percentage and was a part of five double-plays.
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A two-way standout this year, Plant senior Rocco DeMarinis had a .304 average with 17 RBI, four doubles and six home runs for the district champion Panthers. On the mound, the High Point signee went 4-4, with a 2.92 ERA and 37 strikeouts. DeMarinis was named to the Hillsborough-Pinellas All-Star team and was a second team All-813Preps selection last year.
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All-813Preps Defensive Player of the Year: Bloomingdale junior Vincent Dinzeo was second in the county with 31 RBI, hitting .291 with five doubles and four home runs for the Class 6A state semifinalist Bulls. A rock behind the dish, Dinzeo had a .992 fielding percentage earning him our Defensive Player of the Year honors for Class 6A-7A. The junior’s 23 walks were also good for second-best in Hillsborough County.
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One of Hillsborough County’s most dominating strikeout pitchers over the last two seasons, Gaither senior Michael Fernandez earns his second-straight All-813Preps First Team selection after going 8-1 for the district champion Cowboys. He had a 1.36 ERA this year, with 98 strikeouts, and the University of Miami signee finishes his high school career 22-4 with 269 punchouts. He was a two-time All-Western Conference First Teamer and was named the FACA District 15 Class 6A Player of the Year.
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The Gryphons two-way leader, Sickles senior Cameron Guise hit .338 with 25 RBI and 23 runs scored this season, while also going 5-2, with a 1.14 ERA and 63 strikeouts. The Lipscomb signee had a two-homer, eight-RBI game against Gaither during the Saladino Tournament. He was a Western Conference First Team selection.
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Plant senior righty Garrett Hill was 7-2 in his 11 appearances on the mound this season, with a 1.16 ERA and 54 strikeouts. The University of Tampa commit tossed four complete games, had four shutouts and pitched a five-inning no-hitter against Robinson. He was an All-Western Conference First Team selection for the district champion Panthers.
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Firing up the Cowboys offense from the leadoff spot, Gaither junior Jackson Mirza paced his team with a .438 average and scored 30 times. Mirza hit eight doubles and three homers – two of which were in the Cowboys first at-bat of games – and he added 13 RBI and 15 stolen bases. A Western Conference First Team selection, Mirza helped the Cowboys claim a district title and reach the region semis.
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With a mid-90s fastball, Durant senior Chase Mobley made a huge impact in his senior season striking out 104 and going 5-1 on the mound with a 1.30 ERA. A MLB draft prospect (currently ranked No. 79 on MLB.com), the 6-foot-6, FSU signee posted six double-digit strikeout performances in 11 outings – including three 14-K games. Mobley was also a threat at the plate, batting .329 with 21 RBI and four home runs.
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Finishing just two hits shy of the county lead as well as the second-most home runs, Newsome senior Braden Moon earns First Team honors. The Florida Tech signee batted .452 with 18 RBI, 15 runs scored and three doubles, helping the Wolves win a district title and reach the region semifinals. Moon ended the season with hits in 11 of his final 12 games.
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Durant senior Noah Morales, also a four-year varsity starter hit .435 this year with 23 RBI, 15 runs and five home runs in 21 games. Playing catcher and second base in his career, the High Point signee had a .321 average over his four years with 73 RBI and 12 homers. Morales was a two-time All-Western Conference First Team selection and was a second team All-813Preps selection last year.
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With 13 multi-hit games this season, Sickles junior Jaden Nazar proved to be one of the county’s best hitters, posting a .394 average with 27 RBI and scoring 20 runs. Nazar had nine doubles and one home run, while helping the district champion and region finalist Gryphons reach the 20-win mark for the third-straight season. He was a Western Conference First Team selection.
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Starting off his senior season with a two-run walk-off double in the season opener, Strawberry Crest senior Akhil Nimmala hit .308 this year with 24 RBI, 18 runs scored and five home runs for the Chargers. The University of Central Florida signee was named a two-time Western Conference First Team honoree.
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Bloomingdale junior Hayden Porter took the ball in nearly all of the Bulls biggest games, posting a 6-4 record with a 1.55 ERA and 66 strikeouts. In his last four appearances on the mound, the righty was 3-0 with a save, pitching 18 scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out 20. Opposing hitters hit just .181 against Porter this season.
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The engine that drove the Gryphons offense, Sickles junior Jordan Yost batted .412 this year, walking 17 times and striking out a county-low two times. Yost scored 32 runs for the 22-8 district champion and region finalist Gryphons, while hitting five doubles and three triples. He was a Western Conference First Team pick, while also playing solid defense moving to shortstop this season.
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All-813Preps Second Team (2A-5A)
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All-813Preps Honorable Mention (2A-5A)
Alonso: Vincent Antuna, Daniel Despaine, Samuel Fernandez, Raymond Llanes; Armwood: Tyler Corns, Theodric Hicks, Owen Leever; Bloomingdale: Matthew Cleveland, Johnny De La Rosa, Peyton Collins, Dawson Rankin; Durant: Brantley Hayward, Devin Suero; East Bay: Rory Beauford Jr., Marlon Garcia, Andrew Gingrich, Michael Mowel; Gaither: SJ Branham, Josh Choe, David Pina; Hillsborough: Kyler Martin, Adriano Parral, Daniel Pena; Lennard: Zack Bird, Pablo Garcia, Kevin Hunter, RJ Torres; Leto: Arley Duran, Demetrios Passalaris, Isaiah Quinonez; Newsome: Anthony DeVito, JP Glassford, Cash Peterson; Plant: James Leach, Cash Strayer, Tanner Swank; Plant City: Aiden Bean, Jake Carbaugh, Colin Pellicer; Riverview: Ryan Butner; Sickles: Brandon Gonzales, Carter LeBlanc; Steinbrenner: Cayden Hessemyer, Jorge Romero; Strawberry Crest: Chase Conti, Brayden DiCerb, Reuben Vasquez, Landon Wood; Sumner: Zach Hutchinson, Luke Parson, Winston Pennant, Sebastian Peralta; Tampa Bay Tech: Javion McKay, Mathew Rojas; Wharton: Chase Anello, Drew Cobb, Danny Munoz, Jake Turer.
– All-813Preps team selected by Jarrett Guthrie, Editor
