Four local teams enter first-ever U-15 tourney
The first-ever Dixie Boys 15-Under State Baseball Tournament is set to begin Thursday and run through Sunday (weather permitting) at Springstead High.
The inaugural seven-team field is expected to feature: West Seminole, Wahneta, Winter Haven, Ridge Manor, Spring Hill, Hernando High and Springstead in a double-elimination format.
The two top teams, the state champion and state runner-up, will automatically qualify for the U-15 Regional Tournament on June 20 at Ozark, Ala.
Host Springstead will be guided by veteran Dixie skipper Shawn Laferty.
Laferty, who served as Springstead’s junior varsity mentor the past two seasons, is expected to arrive with a solid 13-man roster. Laferty will be assisted by Tony Siem and Dale Ashton.
The Springstead U-15 all-star team features: 3B/SS/2B Morgan Ashton, P/LF/3B Robert Bunyon, P/CF/3B Paul Coumoulos, SS/C/2B/P Luke Laferty, C/3B Zack Lawrence, CF/LF Brett Maharaj, 1B/P/3B Dominic Marrone, C/RF Nick Nguyen, CF/2B Logan Ross, RF/2B Dylan Sbashnig, P/1B/RF Noah Siem, P/3B Kyle Stein and P/LF/3B Trevor Vendrone.
This will be Laferty’s sixth state appearance. He has guided two previous Spring Hill teams to state titles – the 2011 Spring Hill National AAA Majors (ages 11-12) and 2008 Spring Hill American AAA Majors (ages 11-12).
The purpose of the inaugural event is “to create what we have already with the Dixie 13 and Dixie 14 Boys,” declared Laferty. “The mound is 60 feet from home plate, not 54, and it’s 90 feet between bases, not 80.
“Playing on the larger parks and lengthier bases is a big difference, if you haven’t done it before,” noted Laferty.
In the arms race, Springstead will lean on its solid 1-2 punch of right-hander Kyle Stein and southpaw Noah Siem. Both pitched for Laferty at the JV level last spring.
“Kyle is a big, tall, lanky righty. He’s our number one and throws hard,” described Laferty. “Noah is almost a carbon copy body-wise. He’s got all the tools. He has to work on setting up the batters.”
Besides Stein and Siem, SHS can call on any one of four right-handers including: Bunyon, Marrone, Vendrone and Coumoulos.
“Vendrone is coming off some shoulder problems, but he is more than capable of giving us 4-5 innings in any one start,” noted Laferty. “Dominic (Marrone) has been a horse for me in the past. I love him because he wants the ball and wants to compete.
“Bunyon has pitched for us in the past and always done a terrific job. He’s not cute; he’ll throw hard,” stressed Laferty. “Coumoulos is very athletic and throws hard, too. He lacks the mound experience of some of the other guys.”
Behind the dish, look for Springstead to utilize either Nguyen, Lawrence or Luke Laferty.
“I’m very comfortable using any of those guys behind the plate,” acknowledged Coach Laferty.
At the second base and shortstop, SHS will likely utilize Ross, Sbashnig and Morgan.
Depending on who’s on the mound, Ross or Coumoulos will anchor center field.
According to Coach Laferty, his lone concern on defense revolves around, “Our team speed,” he said. “At this age, we really haven’t got a bunch of guys who have worked on their craft out there.”
On the team’s offensive identity, “We just scrimmaged our 13s and we scored 22 runs behind two homers at Anderson Snow,” described Coach Laferty. “We have a little pop, but we’ve got to be able to bunt and move runners over. We understand to advance, we’re like everybody else – we’d sure like to get some two-out hits.”
Springstead is set to debut at 7 p.m. Thursday against the survivor of Spring Hill/Winter Haven.
“Sure, I’d love to see us play as close to error-free ball as possible,” said Laferty, who’ll guide the Spring Hill Senior Boys (age 14) All-Stars later this month. “Deep down, I just want to see how this group competes.
“A tournament like this shows us where we match up against other people,” added Laferty. “On whether we can win this? I wouldn’t be surprised to see us play in the finals.”
???Unlike Springstead, the Spring Hill All-Stars feature a mixture of players from Central and Nature Coast Technical.
Ex-Bear product Anthony DiSciascio serves as head coach.
The Spring Hill U-15 All-Stars feature: SS/OF Stephen Bienstock, 1B Andres Cabrera, C Justin Chevalier, SS/CF/P Matthew Clark, OF/P Jeff Misener, OF/P Matthew Myers, P/OF Richie Quinn, P/OF Hunter Rhineberger, 1B/P Thomas Sorrentino, 2B/C Zach Sorrentino, 3B Marianne Sparacia, C/P Jeff Urling and OF/P Matt Warner.
On the team’s initial impressions, “We have several players who have played for me at the high school level or at Dixie,” explained Coach DiSciascio. “Nine of them were members of our World Series teams (Spring Hill 13s state champs under skipper Jeff Hamilton in 2011 or the 2010 Spring Hill National AAA Majors under Al Sorrentino). Overall, this is a real experienced group.”
On Spring Hill’s offensive identity, “We can play small ball,” noted Coach DiSciascio. “But we’ve got some guys who can hit gap-to-gap. We don’t necessarily go deep, but we have the ability to use the whole field.”
On the hill, “We can utilize 11 of our 13 kids on the mound,” pointed out Coach DiSciascio. “Of that group, 3-4 guys could win us a game, 1-0 or 2-1.
“Guys like Misener, (southpaw Thomas) Sorrentino, Warner and Myers are our leading pitchers,” added Coach DiSciascio. “We don’t want our pitchers to nibble; we’d like them to attack the strike zone.”
Behind the plate, Zach Sorrentino would probably start for any team. Right now, he’s an invaluable backup to defensive-minded Chevalier.
With Chevalier at catcher, look for Zach Sorrentino to handle second base with the athletic Clark anchoring shortstop.
At press time, Coach DiSciascio sees, “Warner, Bienstock and Misener holding down the outfield spots. Each of those guys makes the routine plays.”
Spring Hill opens at 1 p.m. against the perennially tough Polk County entry, Winter Haven.
“Of course we’d like to win that first game,” said Coach DiSciascio. “It (winning) sets you up better in the brackets. The biggest thing is with each tournament win, you build critical confidence.
“As far as we know Winter Haven could be a great team,” said Coach DiSciascio. “That’s not going to affect our approach to the first pitch.”
On whether the Spring Hill nine can contend for a state title, “That remains to be seen. Baseball is baseball,” summed up Coach DiSciascio. “You still have to do all the little things right to win ballgames.”
???Like Springstead, Hernando High will be also by guided by a veteran mentor, Jeff Laing.
Laing, who has served as an assistant coach to Tim Sims at HHS, has pulled double duty in Dixie ranks.
This will be the eighth time since the millennium that Laing has led a Brooksville nine at states. He is seeking his first state championship. Laing’s 2000 and 2006 Hernando Pre-Majors (ages 15-16) teams both finished as state runners-up.
Hernando’s 15-U all-star team features: P/SS/2B Kyle Bonak, 3B/1B Gabe Bonilla, P/3B Brad Ellis, P/OF Clay Everett, 1B Pierce Kimbrough, P/OF/C Tyson Libengood, P/SS/3B Daniel Miller, C Owen Morgan, 2B/SS Cameron Price, OF/INF Chris Quarnata, 3B/SS Elijah Ramirez, P/1B Dustin Ratliff, 2B Travis Ritter, CF Tyler Skipper, P/OF Jacob Sullivan, OF Devon Thomas and OF Justin Wilson.
Another veteran HHS mentor and Dixie Youth League skipper, Donnie Whitehead Jr., will assist Coach Laing.
Hernando opens the tournament at 10 a.m. Thursday against Ridge Manor.
“This is an opportunity for those kids that are freshmen and who were behind some sophomores and other kids to start showcasing their abilities,” described Coach Laing. “Summer is the perfect time to start developing for next year.”
Hernando County’s fourth entry, Ridge Manor, will feature a 12-member roster: CF/LF Savanaha Bowden, 2B/CF/C Shawn Bystrom, SS/P Marc Cormier, RF Mackenzie Davis, 2B/3B/CF Judgement Glass, 1B/C Colton Hammett, 1B/C/P Blakely Keeling, P/C/2B/CF T.J. Lewis, RF Allison Liddington, 2B/P/C Michael Listebarger, 2B/RF Ataleeza Roy and 3B Abel Terkovich.
Veteran Ridge Manor skipper Gene Roy will assisted by John Bowden, Samantha Cooke, Angel Liddington and Cody Miller.
At a Glance
What – Dixie Boys U-15 State Baseball Tournament.
Who – Seven teams in a double-elimination format featuring: West Seminole, Wahneta, Winter Haven, Ridge Manor, Spring Hill, Hernando High and Springstead High.
Where – Springstead High
When – Today through Sunday (weather permitting)
At Stake – State champion and state runner-up automatically qualify for the U-15 Regional Tournament on June 20 at Ozark, Ala.
Hernando U-15 All-Stars
NO. NAME POSITIONS
1 Kyle Bonak P/SS/2B
2 Devon Thomas OF
3 Clay Everett P/OF
4 Tyler Skipper CF
5 Travis Ritter 2B
6 Justin Wilson OF
7 Cameron Price 2B/SS
8 Elijah Ramirez 3B/SS
9 Owen Morgan C
10 Chris Quarnata OF/INF
11 Jacob Sullivan P/OF
12 Daniel Miller P/SS/3B
19 Pierce Kimbrough 1B
22 Dustin Ratliff P/1B
23 Tyson Libengood P/OF/C
32 Brad Ellis P/3B
40 Gabe Bonilla 3B/1B
Head Coach – Jeff Laing
Assistant Coach – Donnie Whitehead Jr.
Ridge Manor U-15 All-Stars
NO. NAME POSITIONS
1 Abel Terkovich 3B
2 Mackenzie Davis RF
3 T.J. Lewis P/C/2B/CF
4 Michael Listebarger 2B/P/C
5 Allison Liddington RF
6 Marc Cormier SS/P
7 Colton Hammett 1B/C
8 Blakely Keeling 1B/C/P
9 Savanaha Bowden CF/LF
10 Ataleeza Roy 2B/RF
11 Judgement Glass 2B/3B/CF
15 Shawn Bystrom 2B/CF/C
Head Coach – Gene Roy
Assistant Coach – John Bowden
Assistant Coach – Samantha Cooke
Assistant Coach – Angel Liddington
Assistant Coach – Cody Miller
Spring Hill U-15 All-Stars
NO. NAME POSITIONS
1 Stephen Bienstock SS/OF
4 Zach Sorrentino 2B/C
5 Richie Quinn P/OF
6 Jeff Urling C/P
8 Jeff Misener OF/P
9 Matt Warner OF/P
13 Matthew Myers OF/P
14 Andres Cabrera 1B
24 Thomas Sorrentino 1B/P
27 Matthew Clark SS/CF/P
33 Marianne Sparacia 3B
44 Hunter Rhineberger P/OF
99 Justin Chevalier C
Head Coach – Anthony DiSciascio
Assistant Coach – Jim DiSciascio
Assistant Coach – Thomas Tambasco
Springstead U-15 All-Stars
NO. NAME POSITIONS
2 Dylan Sbashnig RF/2B
3 Luke Laferty SS/C/2B/P
4 Logan Ross CF/2B
5 Brett Maharaj CF/LF
7 Noah Siem P/1B/RF
9 Trevor Vendrone P/LF/3B
13 Robert Bunyon P/LF/3B
18 Kyle Stein P/3B
23 Morgan Ashton 3B/SS/2B
24 Paul Coumoulos P/CF/3B
25 Dominic Marrone 1B/P/3B
28 Nick Nguyen C/RF
77 Zack Lawrence C/3B
Head Coach – Shawn Laferty
Assistant Coach – Tony Siem
Assistant Coach – Dale Ashton
