By Jarrett Guthrie
Editor
We start off our preseason rankings with five teams who landed just outside our Top 10. This was a tough list to put together this year with a number of very good teams not cracking our list. The good news is, you get to prove us wrong (or right) on the field.
Our Bubble 5 list kicks off, now …
11. Berkeley Prep
Senior Wyatt Ewanowski hit .273 in 2022 with 20 runs scored and 18 RBI and will have add some key experience to the Buccaneers offense this spring.
2022 Finish: 28-4, Class 3A State Runner-Up
Head Coach: Richie Warren, 17th season (8th at Berkeley Prep)
Outlook: The Buccaneers dominated last season behind a deep senior class, but a three-run sixth inning allowed to North Broward Prep in the championship game proved too much to overcome as Berkeley fell just short of a state title in a 5-3 loss. The Bucs saw five All-813Preps first team selections (including our Class 2A-5A Player of the Year Cade Kurland) head off to college, but return monster slugger James Hankerson (Florida State), who was our Hitter of the Year as a junior. Hankerson hit .381, with seven homers and 39 RBI last season and will be the centerpiece of the Bucs offense. Additionally, fellow seniors Wyatt Ewanowski (.273, 20 runs, 18RBI) and Troy Reader (.258, 21 RBI, 18 runs) provide leadership and experience. Coach Richie Warren said the team will also rely heavily on junior Julius Pfau and sophomore Joseph Troupe to build on significant playing time from last year. Sophomore Rivers Kurland (FSU commit) had an incredible debut season last year, making 20 appearances on the mound, posting a 1.79 ERA, a 4-1 record and six saves, earning the starting nod in the state final game. Warren said Kurland has captured the spot at the top of the rotation, but has also taken over a significant team leadership role. The Buccaneers come in just outside the Preseason Top 10 after losing so many seniors from last year. But it is a team that has averaged 20 wins a season in the last four years, a span which includes playing just 11 games in 2020, so even with those departures Berkeley Prep has big expectations in 2023.
12. Newsome
Senior Evan Dempsey (Florida Gulf Coast signee) will be a big factor in the Wolves success this year, both on the mound and in the heart of the lineup.
2022 Finish: 17-7, District Runner-Up, Region Quarterfinalist
Head Coach: Dick Rohrberg, 28th season (9th at Newsome)
Outlook: Senior Evan Dempsey leads a Newsome team into the 2023 season in a district battle that includes recent region playoff tested Durant and Strawberry Crest squads, as well as three East-Polk County teams in Davenport Ridge Community, Haines City and Winter Haven factoring in. Facing six of our Top 15 teams in its first 10 games will provide an early test for the Wolves this year. Dempsey’s 29 hits (.341 avg), 24 runs and 12 stolen bases led the team last year, as did his 11 appearances on the mound, 6-3 record and 57 strikeouts. The Wolves have some solid depth on the mound with junior Ryan Spitzer (2-0, 1.94 ERA in 10 appearances), seniors Brady Carroll and Matthew Pitre, as well as junior Wade Walton all returning with double-digit innings from last season. Sophomore shortstop Anthony DeVito looks to build on his .351 average season last year and will need to provide a spark at the top of the lineup for the Wolves. The Wolves very easily could have slotted higher on our rankings, but we feel like the team already has some dark-horse vibes stacked up against the Cougars and Chargers in-district, so maybe this’ll give them some cork board material to show us we underestimated them?
13. Bloomingdale
Senior righty Trey Wilson moves from a late-inning role last season, to the top of the Bulls rotation after making a dozen appearances in 2022 with a 2.14 ERA.
2022 Finish: 17-10
Head Coach: Kris Wilken, 15th season
Outlook: Bloomingdale was our top preseason team last year, but after losing 10 games the Bulls failed to qualify for the region tournament in the first season the FHSAA’s rankings deciding at-large bids. Our hope is this has the current players looking to avenge that snub last season. Leading that effort offensively will be senior slugger and High Point signee Dawson Harman (.343, four homers, 23 RBI), while the Bulls have a bit of a rebuild on the mound after graduating the top five innings-eaters from 2022. Senior Trey Wilson split time as setup man and closer last season with 24 strikeouts in just 16 innings, and now moves to a role as a starter. Fellow senior Jake Magadan and junior Eli Davidson have the early edge to assume those starting roles behind Wilson. Co-captain Alex Vazquez (.345, 15 RBI) and Bobby Rossi (.352, 10 runs, nine RBI) are two other hitters Wilken said will need to drive in runs for success this season. Two seasons removed from the program’s first State Title, Bloomingdale has a favorable early schedule to get some of those “who will step up” questions answered.
14. Steinbrenner
Junior Cayden Hessemyer will need to again be the fire-starter for the Warriors offense this season, building on a 29-hit, 16 RBI season in 2022.
2022 Finish: 10-17
Head Coach: John Crumbley, 39th season (14th at Steinbrenner)
Outlook: This is a young team, and perhaps that is the best thing after back-to-back losing seasons – the only two in the entirety of Hillsborough County’s winningest baseball coach John Crumbley’s career. But the veteran skipper has some high hopes for his team this season, and for good reason, we are equally excited to see what the Warriors bring. Junior Cayden Hessemyer had a breakout year in 2022, posting a .341 average while scoring 10 times, stealing 11 bases and driving in 16. Sophomore righty Austin Liss (FSU commit) will need to have a big impact on the mound for the Warriors, while junior lefty Carter Stern looks like the No. 2 option for Steinbrenner. Crumbley said pairing with Hessemyer in the middle infield and at the top of the lineup is junior Jorge Romero, while returners JW Stephens and Bryce Andrews will provide key leadership for the team. As the Warriors legendary coach knocks on the door of career win No. 800, we have high hopes for the future for Steinbrenner, this season and next.
15. Tampa Catholic
Tampa Catholic senior Danny Lazaro has locked up the No. 1 starter role after making nine mound appearances last year. As a junior, Lazaro also hit .270, scoring 15 times and driving in 10.
2022 Finish: 12-15
Head Coach: Paul Russo Jr., 2nd season
Outlook: Another team we think could have a big 2023 season, Tampa Catholic is looking for its first winning season since 2015 and have depth on the mound to get it done. Crusaders second-year head coach Paul Russo Jr. said the focus will be on scratching out runs with small ball and aggression on the bases, and letting a pitching staff led by senior lefty Danny Lazaro (2-2, with 25 strikeouts in as many innings in 2022) carry the weight. Junior righty Alex Sotiropoulos and senior righty Bransen Angel return with key innings on the mound a season ago, with sophomore Lucas Cinnante set to provide late-inning pitching. Junior Ethan Frame will again be behind the plate to manage the staff, as well as building off an 11-RBI season last year. Senior centerfielder Maddox King hit .306 last year, scoring 16 runs, and will be the spark at the top of the Crusaders lineup, while junior Hershey Sanchez (.322, 11 RBI), and seniors Brian Canasi and Rolando Jimenez (19 runs) are locked in at the top of the TC offense. Winning a district featuring Berkeley Prep, Tampa Prep, Bell Creek and Brooks DeBartolo will be a tough task, but hopes are high for the Crusaders.
