2013 Baseball Preview
Class 8A-7A
With the baseball regular season officially starting this week, we offer you a quick overview of all classifications and districts.
Now, I won't pretend to know baseball the way Larry Blustein knows football, but we do have a few local MLB scouts who live in the area. So, we solicited their opinion on the teams and programs in our backyard.
In order to allow them to speak openly, we have to keep their identity anonymous so as not to create a conflict of interest for their ball clubs.
CLASS 8A
Region 3/District 11
Coral Glades (Coral Springs)
Coral Springs - X
Deerfield Beach
Douglas (Parkland)
Piper (Sunrise)
South Plantation
Taravella (Coral Springs)
SCOUTS VIEW: The pick here is DOUGLAS, due to their experience and talent, led by catcher Derek Fritz (FSU) and CF Luis Silviero.
Coral Sprigs will finish second and be better than most people think, despite the loss of Lewis Brinson (Texas Rangers) and Alan Sharkey (Milwaukee Brewers) to graduation and the big leagues. The Colts still have enough to compete.
Region 3/District 12
Cypress Bay (Weston)
Everglades (Miramar)
Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) - X
Miramar
West Broward (Pembroke Pines)
Western (Davie)
SCOUTS VIEW: West Broward is a solid club all around with some D1 talent, like CF Danny Pardo (Campbell) and RHP Matt Hardy (Nova Southeastern).
And freshman Anthony Molina is a phenom, and could be the 1st overall pick in the MLB draft in 2016. He has already committed to Miami.
Flanagan should be next. They don’t rely on one specific player and are similar to West Broward but lacking a bit in experience.
Don’t count out Western either. They are talented, but young. SS Max Balter will play next year at UT-Martin.
Region 4/District 13
American (Hialeah)
Dr. Krop (Miami) - X
Hialeah
Hialeah Gardens
North Miami Beach
SCOUTS VIEW: I like Hialeah because they have one of the best pitching staffs in Miami-Dade County, anchored by FIU commit Nestor Cortes. SS Alain Silva is good enough, also a D1 prospect.
American and Hialeah Gardens should content for the 2nd spot, and I like American and ace Ronnie Williams, a 2014 high division one prospect. Former University of Miami football player Kevin Williams’ son plays for them. He is raw, but talented. The coach’s son, Kendrick Gutierrez, can hit.
Region 4/District 14
Coral Gables
Miami
Miami Beach
Miami Springs - X
Reagan (Doral)
Goleman (Miami)
SCOUTS VIEW: Coral Gables is my pick. They are young, but good, and have some as a whole, one of the best group of underclassmen in the County, led by 2015 catcher Eli Marrero, son of the Cardinals backstop.
The runner-up is harder to select, but I will go with Miami Springs. They are the most complete squad of all the remaining teams.
Region 4/District 15
Braddock (Miami) - X
Columbus (Miami)
Ferguson (Miami)
Miami Coral Park
Miami Sunset
South Miami
Southwest Miami
SCOUTS VIEW: Columbus has way too much talent, and is the best team in Dade County. RHP Brian Garcia is a top 5-10 player in Miami-Dade County and a UM commit. Cather Chris Perez is a Duke commit and 3B Laz Rivera is a UM commit.
My pick to finish in 2nd place is Southwest. I like their experience and pitching.
Region 4/District 16
Coral Reef (Miami) - X
Miami Palmetto
Miami Killian
Miami Southridge
South Dade (Homestead)
Varela (Miami)
SCOUTS VIEW: Killian is the team here, and the 2nd best team in Dade behind Columbus. They have talent and experience, with a lot of senior leadership. The Cougars have depth all over the place, led by SS Mike Perez, an FIU commit and C Nick Mira, son of former UM linebacker George Mira, Jr, an Elon commit.
Second place is a toss up between Southridge and South Dade, but I like the Spartans. They have one of the better hitters in Dade County in Christian Khawan. South Dade lost some players, but will still compete.
Class 7A
Region 4/District 15
Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes)
Coconut Creek
Monarch (Coconut Creek) - X
Northeast (Oakland Park)
SCOUTS VIEW: Monarch is the pick here. Traditionally, they are very competitive and should be again this year.
Region 4/District 16
Cooper City
McArthur (Hollywood)
Nova (Davie)
Plantation - X
South Broward (Hollywood)
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
SCOUTS VIEW: This was a tough one but I am going with St. Thomas Aquinas because they have a legit No. 1 in LHP Alec Byrd, a FSU commit. St. Thomas may not be the BEST team in Broward, but when you have an ace, and the competition does not, I give the nod to the Raiders.
Nova lost two players to American Heritage Plantation in CJ Chatham and Dean Pellman, but still have some young guys that can pitch.
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2013 Baseball Preview