Montverde, back in FHSAA title race, rips 10-time Tennessee baseball state champ
For the first time since 2008, the talent-rich Montverde Academy baseball team is back in FHSAA state series play. If their start to the season is any indication, the Eagles are picking up where they left off and back to being state championship contenders.
In 2007, Montverde was the Class 2A state runner-up. But the program was penalized by the FHSAA following that season for recruiting rules violations and placed on probation in ‘08 and ‘09. Since then, Montverde has remained a member of the FHSAA but did not participate in baseball state playoffs — similar to its agreement with the association for its powerhouse boys basketball and soccer programs.
Montverde (10-1) is ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by MaxPreps. The Eagles, who owe their only loss to Oxford (Miss.) are ranked No. 5 overall in the state by MaxPreps and Prep Baseball Report.
“How close we are as a team,” Montverde coach Victor Valencia said of what led to the hot start. “That’s the main thing with this team. We have a lot of talent, we have a lot of good players, but we are very close.”
The Eagles continued their roll by run-ruling 10-time Tennessee state champion Farragut 10-0 in five innings in a Florida League Invitational semifinal at Sanford Memorial Stadium. Montverde will play for the tournament title today at 6:45 p.m. at Sanford Memorial Stadium against the winner of the second semifinal, which matched Treasure Coast vs. West Orange.
USF signee Logan Bevis pitched a complete-game shutout and struck out 5 batters in the win over Farragut. His teammate and Nova Southeastern commit, Oscar Martinez, pitched a no-hitter on Wednesday in an 8-0 win over Seminole.
Senior outfielders Anthony Cole and Eric Correa and junior outfielder Cael Reish each had 2 RBI for the Eagles. Cole is committed to Florida Gulf Coast andCorrea to Rice University. The Eagles have 10 college commits, eight to D-I schools.
Through 11 games, Montverde is averaging just more than 7 runs a game and has allowed just under 2 runs a game. The Eagles have pitched 5 shutouts and allowed just 1 run twice in their 10 wins.
“We have a great pitching staff and we have a lot of confidence in our boys,” Valencia said.
Farragut (3-1) won 10 state titles in its past 20 seasons and has seven players committed or signed to play at D-I. Junior infielder Lukas Buckner is committed to UCF.
Senior infielder and pitcher Jett Johnston is signed to play at Texas A&M, while juniors Brennon Seigler and Stratton Scott are committed to Tennessee.