Titans maintain momentum
The road to the state tournament in baseball’s largest classification has gone through District 2 the past five years.
Orange City University kept that streak alive last spring by reaching the Class 8A state title game despite a season of illnesses and injuries.
The Titans have picked up where they left off as they’ve allowed only two runs during a 5-0 start. The pitching of lefthanded junior Logan Allen, the quickness of senior outfielder Quenell Rutledge, and the bat of junior catcher Jake Molle have led the way.
“The common denominator now is that the expectation is there,” University coach Frank Martello said. “Every year you go in hoping to advance in a playoff, play well in a postseason, and try to reach to the mountain in Fort Myers. Now they know this is tangible.”
The newly minted Class 9A, District 2 includes DeLand, a semifinalist in 2014, Lake Mary, Lyman, Seminole, and 2012 state champion Spruce Creek.
Lake Brantley won a title in 2013 and Deltona was state runner-up in 6A in 2011 as District 2 teams.
Milestone
Lake Nona coach George Kirchgassner is inching closer to 700 career wins.
Kirchgassner, who is in his 40th season of coaching in Orange County, enters Monday’s home game against Davenport Ridge Community with a career mark of 695-443-1.
Kirchgassner won 312 games at Colonial from 1980-92 and 166 games with Cypress Creek from 1993-03.
He began his career with 20 wins at Jones (1977-79) and later won 91 at Freedom (2004-09) before taking over Lake Nona, where he has 106 victories. The Lions are 5-3 this year.
Colonial coach Mike Smith entered his first season with the Grenadiers as the area all-time wins leader with a 721-333 record dating back to 1980. Lake Nona defeated Colonial 1-0 to open the season.
Names to know
Right-handed senior pitcher Austin Bergner of Windermere Prep ranks as the top high school prospect in the state by prepbaseballreport.com.
Bergner, one of five returning all-area players along with Allen at Orange City University, has signed with North Carolina but could be a first-round selection in Major League Baseball’s draft this summer.
Other all-area returnees include senior pitcher and North Florida signee Cooper Bradford for Class 7A state champion Oviedo and UCF signees Joe Sheridan (LHP) of Hagerty and Bishop Moore third baseman Joe Skinner. Skinner was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia on Dec. 8 and will miss his senior season.
Olympia lost its entire pitching staff to graduation but is off to a 7-1 start that included a no-hitter shared by two pitchers followed by a perfect game. Senior Aaron Bogovic tossed the perfect game in an 8-0 win vs. Wekiva on Friday.
TFA travels
The First Academy goes to the 2016 National High School Invitational at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., on March 23-26.
The Royals entered the season with four players committed to play collegiately, led by pitcher Garrett Milchin and centerfielder Kendrick Calilao to Florida.
Tourney time
Apopka, Dr. Phillips and West Orange are teaming up for the 6th Annual Central Florida Spring Break Slam from March 21-24.
Area teams include Eustis, Mount Dora, Orlando University, Montverde Academy, Colonial and Lake Minneola.
The 9th Annual Florida League High School Invitational returns to Sanford Stadium and surrounding venues over a threeweek stretch with The Classic (March 14-18), The Showcase (March 21-25) and The Challenge (March 28-Apr. 1).