Kurland, Owens, Pizzio lead ’22 FACA honorees

By Jarrett Guthrie
Editor

The Florida Athletic Coaches Association has announced its State Baseball All-Star team, and its 2020 player and coaches of the year for each classification, with Berkeley Prep’s Cade Kurland (MVP), Jack Owens, and Coltin Pizzio earning automatic invites to the annual baseball All-Star Classic, once again being held at Tigertown in Lakeland, June 6-7, 2022.

Owens, a Stetson signee, is having a great year both at the plate and on the mound for Bloomingdale, posting a .395 average, with 10 doubles and 17 RBI; while he is 6-1 on the mound with a 1.76 ERA, and 57 strikeouts.

Pizzio is a four-year varsity starter for the Falcons, and is hitting .423, with 19 runs scored, 17 RBI, and 12 stolen bases on the year. Headed to St. Petersburg College next year, the shortstop’s career numbers are impressive – hitting .358, scoring 74 times, driving in 44, and stealing 59 bases in 84 high school games.

FACA District 15 Player of the Year (by classification)

Each year area FACA coaches in each district select a player and coach from each FHSAA classification. Hillsborough County represents District 15 in the west region and has named the following players and coaches this year’s selections.

Class 7A – Conley Strayer, Plant • Sr. • OF

Plant senior outfielder Conley Strayer is the District 15 – Class 7A Player of the Year. Strayer is currently hitting .412 for the Panthers with 16 RBI, 23 runs scored, five doubles and two homers.

Class 6A – Caden McDonald, Sickles • Jr. • RHP/1B

Sickles junior Caden McDonald has led the Gryphons to a 19-win regular season, hitting a county-leading (third in the state) .652, 41 RBI and eight home runs, while posting a 6-2 record on the mound, with a 2.05 ERA and 61 strikeouts.

Class 5A – Wes Mendes, Jesuit • Jr. • RHP/OF

Wes Mendes has had a big junior year for Jesuit, playing a huge role in the outfield, at the plate and on the mound. The Vanderbilt committed Mendes is hitting .432, with 17 runs scored, 14 RBI, and four home runs, while posting a 7-1 record on the mound, with a 1.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.

Class 4A – Joe Whitaker, Robinson • Sr. • 3B

The Robinson senior is hitting .500 on the season with 18 RBI and 22 runs scored, claiming the Class 4A – District 15 Player of the Year honor for the second-straight season. Whitaker is committed  to Belmont Abbey.

Class 3A – Cade Kurland, Berkeley Prep • Jr. • SS

Berkeley Prep’s Cade Kurland was also named the District 15 Class 3A Player of the Year, while currently hitting .486, with 10 home runs, and 37 runs scored. Though just a junior, Kurland is graduating early and headed to the University of Florida.

Class 2A – CJ Koenck, Seffner Christian • Jr. • OF

Seffner Christian junior CJ Koenck has taken off in his second varsity season, hitting .476 right now for the Crusaders, while driving in 16 runs, scoring 21 times, with 12 stolen bases.

FACA District 15 Coach of the Year (by classification)

Class 7A – Dennis Braun, Plant
Class 6A – Eric Luksis, Sickles
Class 5A – Tripp Merrell, Freedom
Class 4A – Alex Barron, Robinson
Class 3A – Richie Warren, Berkeley Prep (All-Star coach nominee)
Class 2A – Sal Giardina, Seffner Christian

Alternate Nominations to the FACA All-Star Classic

P – JT Quinn, Berkeley Prep
P – Jamie Arnold, Jesuit
P – Evan Chrest, Wharton
C – Colin Shultz, Plant City
C – Alejandro Montada, Jefferson
IF – Lucas Phelps, Newsome
IF – Colby Shelton, Bloomingdale
OF – Ethan Pues, Strawberry Crest
OF – Conley Strayer, Plant