TC pitches a pair of aces
Schumacher, Neilan are a combined 19-2
After having nothing left to lose entering last year’s baseball state title game, Timber Creek’s Preston Schumacher emerged with a renewed confidence that has carried him through a stellar senior season.
“I always knew I had the potential to be really good, but I couldn’t quite put everything together,” Schumacher said of inconsistencies in 2017. “Even in my bullpen [session] going into that state championship game, I was erratic and all over the place, then everything just fell into place.” Just in time. Schumacher, the team’s No. 2 pitcher behind standout Bret Neilan, took the mound and went on to strike out 12 batters and allow just five hits in helping the Wolves claim their first state title with a 5-0 win over Orange City University.
“When I pitched in that game it gave me a ton of confidence,” Schumacher said. “I realized I’m not intimidated anymore, and that maybe if I can pitch like that in every game I’ll continue to be successful.”
Timber Creek returns to the state tournament for the third time in four years this weekend.
And with Schumacher on top of his game, the Wolves are armed with two ace pitchers as they attempt to join the Orlando High School teams of 1927 and 1928 in becoming the only Orange County programs to win consecutive baseball championships.
Neilan, a senior signed to Stetson, is expected to start for Timber Creek (21-7) in an all-Orlando Class 9A semifinal against Dr. Phillips (18-13) on Friday at 4 p.m. at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers.
Schumacher is in line to start again in the title game should the Wolves find a way to advance.
“A high school player is lucky to make it there one time — but two times — that’s unbelievable,” said Schumacher.
Neilan and Schumacher have pieced together strong seasons on the rubber as part of a staff that returned every pitcher from a year ago.
Their success has trickled down as the Wolves have combined for a 1.33 earned-run average as a team this season under the direction of assistant coach Miguel Gonzalez.
“They both are very competitive and have the will to compete and the will to win,” Timber Creek coach Tim Beaman said of his starters.
They’ve also been each other’s biggest fans in games and practices despite being worlds apart while away from the field.
Neilan, who enjoys fishing and the outdoors, owns a four-pitch arsenal
BASEBALL SUPER SIX RANKINGS
How area baseball teams stack up (with previous ranking and win-loss record in parentheses):
— Defending Class 9A state champs won 7-1 vs. Vero Beach in region final.
— Rams held 3-2 lead through five innings before losing 6-3 region final vs. Dr. Phillips.
— Season ended in Class 5A region semifinal loss to tough Brooksville Nature Coast. that’s routinely kept batters off balance. After going 15-0 last season, he’s produced a 9-1 record and 0.75 ERA with 110 strikeouts through 75 innings in 2018.
Schumacher, an aspiring mechanical engineer who finished 2017 with a paltry 4-4 record and 3.20 ERA, enters the state tournament this time around with a 10-1 mark and two saves to his credit. The Florida Tech signee has lowered his ERA to 1.81 while striking out 71 batters in 58 innings.
“He’s been growing and his fastball has gone up in velocity a lot,” Neilan said. “We’re the one-two punch. We’re always in the bullpen together and do a lot of defensive stuff together every day at practice. I’m just hoping to get us there so he can finish it up for us in the championship game.” — Cinderella team rallied vs. Lake Mary. Next is Friday state semifinal vs. Timber Creek. — Season
ended in district semifinal.
— Season ended in Class 9A region quarterfinal. Osceola (19-7), Hagerty (23-7), Spruce Creek (18-9), Apopka (18-7), Boone (18-9), Lake Howell (16-10).