Fort Lauderdale On Equal Ground In District 7A-14

It’s a new era for the Flying L’s. With a move up to Class 7A and a lineup that returns very little varsity experience, the timing has aligned to create a fresh new chapter in the history of one of Broward County’s oldest programs. Although so much has changed from just one season ago, it serves as a positive breathe of fresh air that has excited the Fort Lauderdale baseball program.

For what seems like the first time ever, Fort Lauderdale now finds itself in a district made up entirely by public schools. After years of slugging it out against private schools such as St. Thomas Aquinas, Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop McCarthy, the team now enters a district with Ely, Monarch and Northeast.

“I feel like we’re on an even playing field,” said longtime Flying L’s Manager Terry Portice. “I’ve known the other coaches for a long time and I respect them. It’s going to be fun; we’re going to have a blast. I just wish Stranahan was in here with us too, since us and Northeast are all longtime rivals. There is a lot of excitement for those games. I think it’s great for high school baseball when you’ve got that type of district with teams who have been around a long time.”

Portice is the one primary constant with his program, as he is entering his 25th season with the school and his 17th as the school’s skipper. He is widely respected among his peers and beloved by his players, and opposing teams respect the clean and competitive style of baseball that Portice’s clubs always represent. The Flying L’s maintain a reputation for fundamental team baseball, employing a blue-collar approach that focuses on execution through the basics.

“That’s what we try to do here is to play with young men who have character who play the game with character, and who have great respect for the game,” said Portice. “That includes respecting the teams you play. Win, lose or draw, when you come off the field you come with your head up knowing you’ve done the right thing the right way. As I’ve said for a long time, I’d much rather be respected than liked.”

Portice’s players love him, and they love playing for him. There is a trust among player and coach that always seems to bring out the best in every individual.

“Coach Portice is a leader among men,” said senior Lucas Berken. “He really molds people, and these last four years my high school experience wouldn’t be the same without him. He is one of the best men I know.”

Berken is one of just a few players on the team who returns any varsity experience. The program graduated seven seniors last year, including longtime stalwarts in Brad Smith and Kenny Miggins. Yet despite this turnover that included the loss of their nucleus, players such as Berken, Justin Fucci and Matt Freeman have proudly stepped up to take the torch and carry it on into a new season.

Berken is quick to point out that every player on the team has been with the program already; and that as a whole they are all close friends who function very well together. With such turnover this year, nearly every position is up for grabs and players are eager for the chances they have to earn their spot and carve their niche in the program’s storied history. But there has been as much need as ever for leadership and instruction.

The past few seasons, players such as Berken, Fucci, Freeman and first baseman Cory Stern have earned their playing time as role players. They have been eager to assume the leader’s roles and become the key contributors, while leading the younger players in their quest for the team’s first district title since 2004.

“We are really excited about entering the new district this year,” said Berken. “Each team is at the same competition level, so each game everyone in the stands can expect for it to be close. Coach always harps on base-running, defense and pitching. By the spring we expect to be up to par and give the district a good run for its money.”

Most young players who make a varsity team rely on the veterans to set the proper example, to show the ropes and to take accountability for things beyond just their own personal duties. When that time comes that they now find themselves as the veterans on the club, it then becomes their role to share what they have learned in order to lead and instruct the new young guys playing behind them.

The few players with any varsity experience are more than happy to instruct the newer players, as they are so hungry to make the most out of every chance they get to enjoy their time at the front of the class.

“The tempo is really fast up in varsity, and they’ve got to get used to it,” said Justin Fucci. “It’s a lot different than what they are used to. I’ve always wanted to do this, and being a leader is a great opportunity to show these guys what a great opportunity it is for them to come and play as sophomores and juniors.”

Among some of the new faces to the varsity team are Daniel Silva, who was the junior varsity team’s top ace last season, reliable infielder Reese Blankenship and Northeast transfer Hassan Westbrook. Senior Chase Navarro also returns to bolster the pitching staff, as the left-hander looks to build upon the success he had in limited action of only 15 total innings pitched a season ago.

The former ace Brad Smith and standout backstop Kenny Miggins represented the identity of the team during their tenure the past few seasons. For any team looking to earn a victory over the Flying L’s, they accepted that those two guys were the driving force that stood in their way of such a win. But now that they are gone, those roles are now up for grabs.

The team has not had to look far to find the next guy ready to pick up that torch and become the face of the ballclub.

“I hope to make teams start saying ‘we’ve got to go face Freeman at Fort Lauderdale and it’s going to be a tough one’,” said Freeman, the senior right-hander who has risen up to earn the number one starting pitcher position. “I want to be the face and I want to be the man on the mound. Brad always pitched against the elite teams in Broward, and with me coming in after him it made me used to facing the big names and the big talent. I like being on the mound and I like controlling the game. I’m glad to fill Brad’s spot as the man on the mound for Fort Lauderdale.”

It is this sort of pride that helps to carry on the traditions that have come to identify the Flying L’s program. Coach Portice praises Freeman’s enthusiasm, how much he influences the other players with his love for the game and his intensity both on the mound and in the dugout. Freeman expects performance from himself, which makes it tough for anybody else to question him when they see how hard he works and how much he leads by example.

Although Freeman made just five appearances for a total of five innings pitched last season, he proved his mettle by tossing some tough innings against some very difficult opposition. The right-hander allowed just one earned run, while picking up three strikeouts. Following a strong summer and fall, Freeman looks poised to lead the way for this revamped Lauderdale pitching staff.

“I’m blessed with the type of young men that I get over here,” said Portice. “I think their parents do a nice job with them, and that’s the important thing. If there is something solid at home then it’s a lot easier for something solid here at the field. We just tell them when opportunities arise, take advantage of it. You need to prepare everyday like you’re the guy starting on the field. Competition just makes us a better team.”

Another factor that is helping them become a better team is he overall growth of the student population at Fort Lauderdale, which is reflected in their move up to Class 7A. Besides having a deeper pool of players to fish from, more and more Lauderdale students have begun to get involved in athletics. For the baseball team this has helped to allow them to run a junior varsity program in the fall for each of the past two seasons, and this year alone they have 14 freshmen on the jv team.

There is more pride than ever for Flying L’s athletics. Over the past three seasons Fort Lauderdale has gone 26-10 at home, including a 10-3 mark on their home diamond last year. This is encouraging news for the team, as they will host the district tournament this season for the first time since 2002. Coach Portice appreciates that their home crowd helps to inspire better play from his boys, but even more so he appreciates the importance that his team places on winning on their home turf.

“I always say that letting somebody come in and win on your field is like letting somebody come into your backyard and steal your toys,” joked Portice. “I think at home you have to establish that when people come to your park they are in for a tough ball game. We impress that upon them.”

After a career devoted to Flying L’s baseball and over 200 career coaching victories, it would serve as a great reward for Coach Portice to bring the program its third district title in school history. Timing, opportunity and ability have all aligned to give the team their best chance at this feat in years.

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