LIONS ROAR TO FIRST EVER REGIONAL APPERENCE

St. Andrews Senior Center Fielder Courtney Brooks has a whopping .471 batting average, has crossed the plate 43 times, connected 32 times, belted two home runs and knocked in 34 RBI’s, all while striking out only six times helping the Lions win the school's first-ever District Title in any sport.

May 5, 2017 – Fort Pierce, FL - When Andy Wells took over the St. Andrews Baseball program this year as head coach he didn’t know what to expect. This would be the small private school’s first year of eligibility for Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) district play. He was stepping in for not only the school’s Athletic Director but a long-time friend and college teammate at IRSC, Jason Fletcher.

“We just wanted to be competitive and maybe win a few games here and there” recalls Wells.

Wells appointed Fletcher as the team's pitching coach and win a few games these Lions did – to say the least!

The 2-A team started the season with nine straight wins before finally dropping a game to powerhouse 8A school Fort Pierce Central. And for the rest of the spring, they only dropped two more games, one to another powerhouse school (Lincoln Park Academy) and just a single district loss.

The Lions team made school history by winning not just the schools very first District Playoff Game, but the school’s first ever District Championship and they will now host the school’s first-ever FHSAA Regional Playoff Game later this week.

So just how did this team come together and take over Treasure Coast Baseball?

It all starts with the fundamentals, hitting, baserunning, fielding, and pitching – something that Wells and his staff preach at every practice, before every game, during each game and after each game.

At the plate, the Lions have been nothing less than amazing. The team batting average of .337 is 26^th best in all of Florida, 7^th best in Class 2A and number one on the Treasure Coast.

Senior Center Fielder Courtney Brooks leads the way with a whopping .471 batting average, has crossed the plate 43 times, connected 32 times, belted two home runs and knocked in 34 RBI’s, all while striking out only six times.

Senior flame thrower and shortstop Lee Kubitscheck has a .398 batting average this spring with 46 runs, 35 hits and 26 RBI’s and has struck out only six times this spring.

Underclassman Steven Stagg leads the team with 37 RBI’s and is batting .391 with 27 hits, while Matt Gustin has scored 38 runs accounted for 21 RBI’s and has a .355 batting average.

Enter in Brandon O’Shea and Nick Hardman who are batting over .300 with a combined 50 runs scored and a combined 35 RBI’s and it’s easy to see why this team is ranked so high in Class 2A.

St. Andrews pitcher Lee Kubitscheck has had an all star year helping the Lions to the number one ranking in all of Class 2A for the lowest Earned Run Average.

But on the mound, is where these Lions shine. And it’s no wonder as Pitching Coach Jason Fletcher, who still holds all-time records at IRSC for most wins in a season, most career wins and lowest ERA brings his teaching skills to his young players. Fletcher, who pitched in the 2004 College World Series for the University of South Carolina credits the team’s success to the team’s attitude of being a part of a family.

“We are a family and every member of this family had something to contribute this year”, Fletcher tells Treasure Coast Sports Journal.

St. Andrews is ranked number one in Florida Class 2A for the lowest ERA, 40^th statewide and second on the Treasure Coast by only nine-tenths of a percent to LPA. The team is tied for second statewide for no-hitters thrown this season and ranked seventh in Class 2A for strikeouts.

With the Lions only losing one pitcher next year they appear to be stacked and ready to roll with several experienced flame throwers.

Kubitscheck has been the anchor this year, as would be expected of any senior. He threw 55 of the teams 147 innings (37.8%), accounted for 44% of the team’s strikeouts (55 out of 125) and allowed only 14 walks (17.9% of the teams 78). Putting those numbers in perspective, opposing batters only walked 5.4% of the time they faced him, struck out 21.2% of the time and had a hit only 22.6% of their plate appearances.  

O’Shea, who tossed 39 innings has a stellar 1.44 ERA, leading all pitchers who have thrown 20 or more innings, allowing just 11 runs, fanning 51, walking 25 and giving up 15 hits.

Add to the mix the likes of Matthew Gustine (who saw limited time with a shoulder injury this season), Kyle Schammn, Nick Hardman (eighth grade) and Stephen Stagg who have a combined average ERA of 3.13, 14.8 strike outs, 9.5 walks and just 7.3 hits allowed and you can see why Fletcher smiles from ear to ear when talking about his future pitching staff.

For St. Andrews Coach Andy Wells this is his third straight trip to the Regionals. His impressive coaching style has brought him back to back District Title at two different Treasure Coast area High Schools.

Wells has a strong following of former players who have gone on to have much success both on the diamond and off. One example is last year’s Treasure Coast Sports Journal Student-Athlete of the Year Chase Solesky who is having an amazing year himself at Division One school Tulane University.

“Coach Well's success comes as no surprise. As a first-year head coach at St. Andrews he did a phenomenal job taking his group from the bottom to the top. He knows how to coach, which is a lot more than teaching someone how to catch, throw, and hit; he knows what it takes to earn the respect of his players. I’ve never played for a coach that I had more fun playing for or had more respect for. It's well known that if a player respects his coach, they will run through a brick wall for him. In my time playing for Coach Well's I would run through a brick wall any day that ends in Y for him. In this regard his success is easy to understand, nevertheless, It's amazing to see how far he and his team have come and are going”, said Solesky.

With all eyes on this week’s Regional quarterfinal, one has to wonder what is going through the mind of Wells, who coached John Carroll all the way to the State Final Four last year.

“The goal is always a State Championship, but really, we just want to be competitive, just want to have some fun playing the game we love. We could not be more proud of these kids no matter what happens from here on out. They have exceeded all our expectations”, said Wells.

ST. ANDREWS LIONS CONTINUE TO ROLL!

March 28, 2017 - Fort Pierce, FL - Stephen Stagg and Kyle Schammn combined for five strike-outs, while walking seven and allowing six runs to overcome Community Christian 11-6 at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex on Monday, March 27, 2017 in a non-district matchup. St. Andrews improved to 11-1, the best start in the three-year-old high school history. The small 2A school suffered its only loss this season to 9A powerhouse Fort Pierce Central.

The Lions are sitting in first place in Region 2A – District 4, with a one-game lead over City of Life Christian Academy who they have already beaten twice this season.

By the numbers and at the mid-way point of the season the Lions are overpowering their District opponents. District teams have scored a total of 546 runs this season with 100 of them – or 18% being scored by St. Andrews. Of the 544 runs allowed in District play thus far St. Andrews is responsible for only 14 of them, 100% less than their closest opponent and only 3% of the district as a whole.

St. Andrews hosts the 2A-4 District series this spring at Lawnwood Stadium that begins the first week of may.

RAMS O’BRIEN THROWS A GEM ON ST. PATRICKS DAY

John Carroll's Brandon O'Brien throws a
shutout in his first start for the Rams on Friday,
 March 17th at Lawnwood Stadium
 against Somerset Canyons Charter School

March 17, 2017 – Fort Pierce, FL – John Carroll’s Brandon O’Brien tossed a shutout against Somerset Canyons Charter School on Friday at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex. O’Brian, starting in his first varsity game of the season, allowed just three hits while walking none and striking out eight. He went six and two-thirds innings before Senior Joey LeClaire came in to record the last out of the game.

Ram batters Austin Nirenberg and Michael Pedersen each had RBI’s at the plate with Michael Pederson and VonDravious Sands crossing home for the Rams.

John Carroll managed six hits, all singles, including two by Pedersen who led the team going two for three. Nirenberg, LeClair, Sands and Catcher Sandro Bourque each had a base hit as well.

The Rams only struck out three and walked once.

John Carroll is on Spring Break next week but has two away games. They face Treasure Coast at 4P on Tuesday, followed by a 7P game against Jensen Beach on Friday evening. They return home to face Hickman, a school from MS on Monday, March 27 at 6PM under the lights at Lawnwood.

Over 400 photos from this game are available to view at www.TCSportsJournal.com

PRESUTTI SHOWS OFF POWER!

March 13, 2017 - Daytona Beach, FL - John Carroll High School Grad Mario Presutti is tearing it up at Daytona State College. The Mighty Mario has belted six home runs so far, this season including a walk-off against Ocala State College, a school that had promised to sign him and strung him along for six weeks before telling him thanks, but no thanks, and essentially leaving him hung out to dry last year.

The Freshman's six dingers not only lead his Falcons team but also account for almost 40% of the home runs hit by the team this season.

And if that were not enough, Super Mario is locked in a tie for third place for home runs in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Region 8 which includes 25 Schools throughout Florida. Putting that in perspective, each of the 25 teams in the NJCAA Region 8 has 24 roster student-athletes for a total of 600 student-athlete baseball players, meaning that Presutti's home run hitting this season is better than 99.5% of all rostered baseball players in the NJCAA Region 8. 

I'll bet you that Ocala Head Baseball Coach is kicking himself where the sun don't shine right about now.

Lesson learned - never count out a kid from Fort Pierce!

ST. ANDREWS IMPROVES TO 7-0

March 10, 2017 – Kissimmee, FL - St. Andrews took its powerful baseball team on the road for the first time this season and picked up right where they left off earlier in the week – with another W.

The Lions out hit and out pitched City Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee 9-2. Lions batters came to the plate 29 times and knocked out ten hits and seven RBI’s for the night while only striking out once. Lee Kubitschek, Matt Gustine, and Stephen Stagg each had two hits and one RBI. Courtney Brooks went 1-4 with two RBI’s.

Kubitschek threw 80 pitches over six innings allowing five hits and two runs, walking two and fanning six. Brendan O’Shea closed out the game allowing only one hit while striking out two.

St. Andrews plays next on Thursday, March 16 at St. Edwards in Vero Beach. They return to Fort Pierce to take on Brevard HEAT in a 6PM game at Lawnwood Baseball Complex on Tuesday, March 21 and play an in-school game at Ft. Pierce Central on Wednesday, March 22 at 12:45PM.

CENTENNIAL – JENSEN BEACH BATTLE 12 INNINGS OVER FOUR HOURS

March 1, 2017 – Jensen Beach, FL – The Jensen Beach Falcon Baseball team came out on top in a 12 inning four-hour marathon baseball game against St. Lucie West Centennial in Jensen Beach. Each team sent 37 batters to the plate as a total of 353 pitches by a combined ten pitchers were thrown by both teams.

Centennial's Austin Hiller threw four innings allowing one hit and one walk while fanning eight before being relieved for one out by Warren Lindsay. Nathan Hinckley tossed four perfect innings striking out nine Falcon batters, Jorge Gomez threw 2.1 innings allowing one hit and two walks and striking out one before Mike Camacho started the 12^th inning surrendering one hit, one walk and the game-winning run.

As for the Falcons Sonny Gowran, Dillion Moran, Billy George, Luke Thornberry, and Robert Piekarski combined for the shutout striking out 16 Eagle batters.

Centennial allowed just three hits while the Falcon pitchers allowed four. Ryan Rivera led both teams with two hits for Jensen Beach and Jacob Winger had one hit and scored the winning run in the bottom the 12^th inning.

The Eagles fall to 2-2 for the season and are home on Friday for a key District Game against FP Central at 3:30 in St. Lucie West and play at John Carroll on Tuesday, March 7 at 6PM and then have another District Game on Friday under the lights at Vero Beach. First pitch is 7PM.

Jensen Beach hosts Okeechobee on Friday at 7PM and is on the road at Port St. Lucie for a 1PM game on Saturday and a 6PM game at Dwyer on Tuesday, March 7^th.

ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL ACADEMY IMPROVES TO 3-0

Southpaw starter Matt Gustine threw
 four solid innings of one hit baseball allowing
 three runs while fanning eight batters.

February 28, 2017 – Fort Pierce, FL – The St. Andrews Episcopal Academy Lions defeated City Life Christian Academy 3-0, while showing off their pitching dominance. Southpaw starter Matt Gustine threw four solid innings of one hit baseball allowing three runs while fanning eight batters. Senior Lee Kubitschek pitched three innings in relief also giving up only one hit, allowing no runs, walking one and fanning four batters as the Wells, Fletcher, Bingo, etc. era of baseball starts to thrive in downtown Fort Pierce.

The Lions out slugged the Warriors 6-2 while striking out only three times.

Courtney Brooks went 2-3 at the plate, while Gustine knocked in two RBI’s. Kubitschek was 1-4 with a run scored. Kyle Schramm and Ryan Brown each connected at the plate for base hits.

St. Andrews continues it home stretch of games at the Lawnwood Baseball Complex on Thursday, hosting Merritt Island Christian at 6PM along with two additional 6PM games next week – Monday vs Community Christian and Tuesday vs Fort Pierce Westwood.

Photo gallery for this game includes 120+ photographs and can be viewed exclusively at www.TCSportsJournal.com.

© Copyright 2017 Ned Schuster / Treasure Coast Sports Journal. All Rights Reserved

GREYHOUNDS IMPROVE TO 3-1 WITH 15-9 VICTORY OVER JOHN CARROLL

Logan Peters threw
 69 pitches for LPA and
 went for 2.2 innings giving
 up three hits, four walks
 and four runs while
 striking out one.

February 28, 2017 – Fort Pierce, FL – Lincoln Park Academy’s bats were alive tonight as the Greyhounds clubbed 12 hits and scored 15 runs over cross-town rival John Carroll Catholic. LPA plated four runs in the fourth inning to fight back from a 3-0 Golden Ram advantage. They then scored three in the fourth, and four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Combined both teams had 18 hits for the night but also recorded 16 errors - six by LPA and 10 by John Carroll.

The Greyhounds were led at the plate by Joseph Aguilla, batting in the ninth slot but going 3-4 with four RBI’s and three runs. Cleanup hitter JD Stubbs went 3-5 while Branden Calise, in the number two slot, went 2-4 with three RBI’s and a run scored.

Golden Rams starting pitcher Michael
LaRocca threw for 2.1 innings
allowing two hits, four runs
and two walks while striking out
two Greyhound batters.

For the Rams, Center Fielder Justin O’Leary, went 2-3 with three RBI’s on the day, while starting pitcher Michael LaRocca, batting clean-up, went 1-1 with an RBI and three runs scored. Ram batters struck out just seven times as compared to nine times for the Greyhounds.

A total of seven combined pitchers were used by both teams with LaRocca going 2.1 innings, allowing two hits, four runs, and two walks while fanning two and taking the loss for John Carroll. Joey LeClare had three strikeouts for the Rams. Drew Hicks, Josh Manor and Brenden Leahy all pitched one inning for John Carroll.

Logan Peters threw 69 pitches for LPA and went for 2.2 innings giving up three hits, four walks and four runs while striking out one. Liam Felix picked up the win for the Greyhounds going 3.1 innings and allowing one hit, two runs, and three walks while striking out three Ram batters.

LPA is home on Friday at Lawnwoods Bud Gladwin Baseball Complex with a first pitch at 6:00PM against LaBelle. And the Greyhounds will host Treasure Coast High School next week on Tuesday March 7th at 5:30 before traveling to Clewiston for a 6PM contest in a district showdown on Thursday March 9th.  John Carroll travels south on Thursday to take on Coral Springs Christian with a 3:45PM start and returns to Fort Pierce for a 6:00PM Tuesday match-up against powerhouse St. Lucie West Centennial and a 7PM Friday game against Highlands Christian.

Photo gallery for this game includes 215+ photographs and can be viewed exclusively at www.TCSportsJournal.com.

© Copyright 2017 Ned Schuster / Treasure Coast Sports Journal. All Rights Reserved.

Eagles Trace Meding One Hits Fort Pierce Westwood In Three Inning Slugfest

February 27, 2017 – Fort Pierce, FL – St. Lucie West Centennial Pitcher Trace Meding only needed 52 pitches to work his magic against Fort Pierce Westwood in an afternoon game in Fort Pierce as the Eagles downed the Panthers 16-0 in three innings. Meding allowed just one hit on the day as 64% of his pitches reached the strike zone where he fanned four Panther batters while walking two. He averaged just 5.7 pitches per batter for the day.

At the plate the Eagles were led by Nathan Hinkley who went 3-2 with three RBI’s, Austin Hiller with two RBI’s, Danilo Quezada with two RBI’s, and Luke Hartely who went 2-2 with five RBI’s as the Eagles plated four runs in the first, ten in the second and two in the third to improve to 2-1 for the season.

Maurieio Calderon had the sole hit for FP Westwood, a shot to third base in the bottom of the first inning.

Three Panther pitchers combined for 113 pitches allowing nine hits, one walk and six errors while striking out one Eagle batter.

The Eagles put 21 batters to the plate for the day compared to nine for Westwood.

The Panthers travel to Treasure Coast tomorrow to face the Titans at 3:30 while the Eagles are on the road against Jensen Beach on Wednesday for a 6PM start and back at home vs. Fort Pierce Central on Friday for a 3:30 matchup.

Rams Drop Close Game to Martin County Despite Great Pitching by Brian Jacobus

John Carroll 11th grade
flame thrower Brian Jacobus
and his 6'6" frame are sure
to catch the attention
of college and professional
scouts.

February 26, 1017 – Stuart, FL – John Carroll’s Varsity Baseball team lost a tight game to Martin County last night 5-3 in Stuart. The non-district game was a make-up contest from Wednesday’s rain out.

  

On the mound, Junior Brian Jacobus threw 77 pitches over four innings of which 51% landed in the strike zone and allowed only three hits on the day while fanning five Tiger batters. Jacobus 6’6” frame is sure to grab the attention of recruiters at the Division I level and professional scouts as he refines his craft. We are just beginning to see the talent in this up and coming talent.

Ram Senior Michael
Pedersen is having
a great year at the plate.

Led at the plate by Michael Pedersen who went 2-4, the Rams outhit County 7-5, while stealing five bases including a rare steal of home plate to score a run. Ram Sophomore Michael LaRocca had yet another great game that included a RBI and a stolen base.

10th grader Michael LaRocca continues
to impress at the plate.

The difference in the game were Ram batters striking out ten times to nine times for Tiger Batters and the Rams stranding 10 base runners while Martin County stranded nine.

John Carroll faces Lincoln Park Academy in a non-district game on Tuesday at Lawnwood Baseball Complex at 6:00PM and travels to Coral Springs Christian on Thursday for an early key District game with a 3:45PM first pitch.

Wells Having Fun Coaching At St. Andrews

Feb 23, 2017 – Fort Pierce, FL - St. Andrews Lions new Head Baseball Coach Andy Wells is picking up right where he left off last year – winning! Wells, who took his John Carroll Golden Rams Baseball Team to the State Final Four last season is off to a 2-0 record at the cross-town rival, including a 12-2 victory of Masters Academy of Vero Beach tonight at the Lawnwood Baseball complex.

Lee Kubitschek pitched for 4.2 innings and recorded nine strikeouts, including 12 first pitch strikes and Brendan O’Shea closed it out for the Lions recording one strike out. Nate Fowler started the game for Masters going three innings with three strike outs before being replaced by Rollie Brown who threw two innings with a strikeout.

Both Fowler and Kubitschek, along with St. Andrews’ Steven Stagg belted two hits each, with Stagg accounting for five RBI’s.

St. Andrews cranked out nine hits and had no errors while Masters Academy had five hits and multiple errors, mostly on infield pop-ups where communication broke down between players, which is not unexpected this early in the season and is correctable through effective coaching – something that Masters Academy has.

As for Wells, he was relaxed and at ease and really seemed to be enjoying himself. He was doing what he told his players to do throughout the game – “just have fun”.

Sometimes we all forget that it is just a game and the players are still just kids. And Wells coaches’ the game the way it should be coached - with lots of fun!

Look for this year’s St. Andrews squad to make a run at the post season.

Golden Rams Off To Strong Start

John Carroll Senior Austin Nirenburg
packs a big punch in a small package.

The John Carroll Golden Rams Baseball Team finished the pre-season looking strong enough to make another deep run into the playoffs, and perhaps a return trip to the Final Four in Fort Myers where their season ended last year. Although the Golden Rams graduated six, including Chase Solosky, the area’s top pitching prospect, and lost their coach to cross town rival St. Andrews, they return a seasoned crew ready to pick things up where they left off last year.

New Coach Dan Taylor, who relocated to the area from North Carolina after being recruited by first year Athletic Director Dave Raym, is sure to bring out the hidden talent in Austin Nirenburg, Joey LeClaire, Michael Pederson and Joshua Harrell, four of the teams Seniors who were on last year’s Regional Championship Squad. Add in Juniors Justin O’Leary and Andrew Borque along with Sophomores Drew Hicks and Michael LaRocca and the team has eight players who were an instrumental part of last year’s championship run.

At the plate Nirenberg has been perfect this preseason going four for four with four RBI’s and stealing one half of the teams total stolen bases, while O’Leary and LaRocca account for the other half. Pederson has also gone four for four this preseason, scoring three runs an RBI and a stand-up triple, while LaClaire has gone three for three at the plate with two runs and an RBI.  The 6’1 LaRocca has also been strong at the plate going three for four, scoring two runs, and two RBI’s with a single, double and a stand-up triple.

Although pitching isn’t the luxury it was last year, the Golden Rams have a rich history of developing strong pitchers, including first round MLB draft pick Colton Willims a few years back. This seasons flame throwers have already recorded a combined 15 strike outs, while allowing only two walks, three hits and two runs. A core of five seasoned pitchers should rotate starts, while four additional pitchers will be available for relief work and to step in in case of injury.

Nirenberg has the most “big game” experience as he closed out the Regional Championship Game last spring. Junior Brian Jacobus, who leads the team in strike outs thus far and has not allowed a hit in the preseason along with Senior Josh Harrell, who has five of the teams 15 strike outs and has allowed only one hit, along with fellow Senior Hiram Garland will get plenty of innings once the season starts. Senior LeClaire and Sophomore LaRocca, the team’s sole southpaw pitcher) will surely add some spice on the mound as well.

John Carroll opened their season with a decisive 9-2 district victory over Jupiter Christian on Monday 2-20.