District 15-7A Preview: Four Teams Vie For Two Playoff Spots

District 15-7A will be up for grabs this season, with only four teams doing battle. Boyd Anderson, Coconut Creek, Monarch and Northeast will be playing it out to see which two teams will advance to regional play at the end of the season. BA, Coconut Creek and Monarch come out of a district that included perennial powerhouses Coral Springs and Douglas. Northeast escapes a district that had Nova and St. Thomas. With the prospects of advancing to the regionals within grasp for these teams, it is time to preview District 15-7A. Enjoy!

Coconut Creek Cougars

2011 Record: 3-17
Head Coach: Roger Davidson
Key Returners: Joseph Jones (Sr. PHP/1B), Angel Carballo (Jr. RHP/OF), Angel Ramos (So. 2B), Robert Morrison (Sr. C/RHP), Donovan Kamer (So. RHP/UTL), Anthony Illiano (Sr. RHP/3B)
Newcomers to Watch: Nick Rivera (Sr. RHP/SS), Luis Alvarez (Sr. RHP/OF), Milvio Martinez (Jr. OF)
Team Strengths: Pitching
Team Weaknesses: Lack of depth

Something people not around your program need to know about your
team?

“These kids work very hard and won’t back off. They’re not scared of the challenge. They’re here every day.”

It’s been more than a decade since Coconut Creek was considered among the top teams in the county, but coach Roger Davidson is working hard to put together a solid team for upcoming season that will look to improve on a three-win 2011 campaign.

The Cougars will be led on the mound by six pitchers. The staff includes three-year starters Anthony Illiano and Joseph Jones as well as Donovan Kamer, Angel Caraballo, Nick Rivera and Luis Alvarez.

Davidson said it’s pretty much wait and see as far as who develops into the top two or three starters, but he said Caraballo, Alvarez and Jones threw well in the fall, and Kamer did a good job last year.

Caraballo also is a plus to the team in center field. Davidson said he “has outstanding speed and an outstanding arm. He covers a lot of ground. Second baseman Angel Ramos shows promise, he said, as does Rivera at second base.

Defense is a priority for the Cougars, Davidson said, because the team “gave up too many crooked numbers last year.”

The Cougars are in a district with fewer strong programs than they have been in over the past several years, but Davidson said the team’s new district foes will be regarded the same way.

“We respect anybody in the district,” he said. “But we don’t fear anyone. We’ll come to play and see what happens.”

Monarch Knights

2011 Record: 11-9
Head Coach: Joe Franco
Key Returners: Josh Mila (C), Bobby Jakubek (OF), Nick Sposa (OF), Andy Rohloff (P/OF), Andrew Pierson (P/OF), David Webb (P), Nick Alonzo (1B/P), Kenny Finley (INF), Gino Poliandro (INF)
Newcomers to Watch: Nick Ritornato (INF/P), James Buckley (INF)
Team Strengths: Pitching, depth, defense, speed
Team Weaknesses: Power hitting

Something people not around your program need to know about your
team?

We are going to play hard until the last out and never give up.

The Monarch Knights feature a large senior class this season, including four senior pitchers to complement three sophomore pitchers to make for a deep staff. Andrew Pierson and David Webb lead the staff. Pierson struck out 51 in 57.1 innings while going 4-5 last year. Webb fanned 36 in 40 innings and went 5-3. Andrew Rohloff and Nick Alonzo also will figure prominently on the staff.

The team also will be solid defensively this year, coach Joe Franco said. Team speed also is a plus.

Although power hitting is a weakness, the Knights bring back five hitters who batted .328 or better last year. The team is concentrating on small ball and quality baserunning, two things Franco identified as being key in Monarch’s district.

To help give a boost to team unity, 10 players took some time out of their practice schedule Monday to serve dinner to homeless people in Fort Lauderdale. Franco organized the trip through the church he and his wife attend.

“It was a little bit of an eye-opener,” Franco said. “It was a real good experience for them. I was glad some of the guys came and really saw how fortunate they are.”

Pierson and Josh Mila were two players who participated.

“It’s nice to do something for your community and help people in need,” Pierson said.

“It helps you sleep better at night,” Mila added.

Also in the District:

Boyd Anderson Tigers
2011 Record: 2-15
Head Coach: Akil Buchanan

Northeast Hurricanes
2011 Record: 10-11
Head Coach: Kevin Carney

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