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FHSI Showcase Tournament Preview



POOL A PREVIEW

Pool A consist of four teams that have at least one year of FHSI experience. Don't be fooled by the 2022 records, each one of these programs has the talent and experienced leadership to take home the Showcase trophy.


IMG Academy Silver

Nickname: Ascenders

Location: Bradenton, Florida

Head Coach: Mark Morawski

2022 Record: 22-6

Playoff Finish: N/A (Independent)

Key Players:

Parker Loew, MIF, c/o 2026 (LSU commit)

CJ AuBuchon, LHP/OF, c/o 2026 (Mississippi State commit)

Dillon Moss, C/UTIL, c/o 2026 (Stanford commit)


One of the nation's top baseball programs sends their Silver team to this season's FHSI, and the future of the Ascender baseball program will be on full display in Sanford. IMG Silver, also referred to as IMG's junior national team, boasts three of the top freshmen in the nation in Parker Loew, CJ AuBuchon, and Dillon Moss, all of whom are committed to College World Series level programs. Head coach Mark Morawski, a former Eckerd College standout, said his team "love(s) to compete and continue(s) to amaze us coaches daily."


Miami Palmetto

Nickname: Panthers

Location: Miami, Florida

Head Coach: Danny Smith

2022 Record: 12-11

Playoff Finish: Regional Quarterfinals

Key Players:

Blake Brookins, OF, c/o 2023 (Florida commit)

Sebastian Font, OF, c/o 2024

Mike Arnold, 3B, c/o 2024


The Palmetto Panthers took a major step forward in 2022, winning a district championship and making their first state playoff appearance since the 2018 season. The headliner for the Panthers is outfielder Blake Brookins, a Florida commit that is considered one of the top 25 players in the Sunshine State. Palmetto's lineup around Brookins is loaded with sophomores and juniors, and longtime Palmetto head coach Danny Smith stated the Panthers will mature as the season moves along.


Pembroke Pines Charter

Nickname: Jaguars

Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida

Head Coach: Carlos Iglesias

2022 Record: 8-14

Playoff Finish: Regional Quarterfinals

Key Players:

Paul Abolafia, Jr., 3B/RHP, c/o 2023 (Lander commit)

Dylan Escobar, C/OF, c/o 2023 (Alabama State commit)


Despite their 8-14 record last season, Pembroke Pines Charter was still a state playoff team in 2022, having played an extremely challenging schedule. The Jaguars will be looking for a return trip to the playoffs in 2023 in the wildly competitive 5A Region 4, which includes state powerhouse American Heritage. Much of Pembroke Pines Charter's playoff team from 2022 returns, including a Division I commit at catcher in Dylan Escobar and a quality arm in Paul Abolafia.


West Boca Raton

Nickname: Bulls

Location: Boca Raton, Florida

Head Coach: Jerry Albert

2022 Record: 18-11

Playoff Finish: Regional Semifinals

Key Players:

Corey Kling, P/INF, c/o 2023 (South Florida commit)

Prince Ferguson, OF, c/o 2023 (Florida Memorial commit)

Pier Figueroa, OF, c/o 2023 (Palm Beach State commit)

Chris Owens, P, c/o 2023 (Northwest Florida State commit)

James Litman, P, c/o 2024 (Florida Atlantic commit)


Longtime Miami Belen Jesuit head coach Jerry Albert moved over to West Boca in the offseason, inheriting one of two teams in this year's FHSI to win a game in the state playoffs last season. The Bulls bring a strong pitching staff to the Invitational, led by Division I commits Corey Kling and James Litman, who are both ranked among the top 25 righthanded pitchers in their respective classes in Florida. Along with Northwest Florida State commit Chris Owens, Albert believes he has a pitching staff that can shut down opposing hitters.


POOL B PREVIEW

A traditional power and a rising one are the favorites in the Showcase's Pool B. American Heritage features five players committed to power five schools, while Western High is the lone team in the pool to win a playoff game in 2022. Coral Springs and Flagler Palm Coast will look to play spoiler in what is expected to be an entertaining pool overall.


American Heritage

Nickname: Stallions

Location: Delray Beach, Florida

Head Coach: Carm Mazza

2022 Record: 11-17

Playoff Finish: District Finals

Key Players:

Matthew LaPira, LHP, c/o 2023 (North Carolina commit)

Josh Ramos, C, c/o 2023 (Northwestern commit)

Sean Collins, OF, c/o 2023 (Northwestern commit)

Ayden Gurevich, C/1B, c/o 2023 (Coast Guard commit)

Anthony Tralongo, SS, c/o 2024 (Auburn commit)

Evan Fernandez, 3B, c/o 2025 (Mississippi State commit)


American Heritage has been no stranger to success during Carm Mazza's tenure as head coach, winning five regional championships and advancing to two state championship games since 2006. This year's Stallions could represent a return to form, as American Heritage brings a team loaded with five Power Five commits to the FHSI. Northwestern commits Josh Ramos and Sean Collins are both ranked at the top 30 at their position in Florida by Perfect Game, and North Carolina commit Matthew Lapira is considered a top lefthanded pitcher.


Coral Springs

Nickname: Colts

Location: Coral Springs, Florida

Head Coach: John Brown

2022 Record: 8-14

Playoff Finish: District Quarterfinals

Key Players:

Martin Malick, INF, c/o 2023

Alexander Montero, P/OF, c/o 2023

Ruben Zuany, OF/3B, c/o 2025

Ryan Guthrie, 2B, c/o 2026


Head coach John Brown is in his second year at the helm of the Coral Springs program, who will be making their first appearance in the Florida League High School Invitational. Brown stated the Colts' strength lies in a deep pitching staff, which should allow the Colts to be competitive in their new Class 7A district. Sophomore Ruben Zuany is one of Coral Springs' most promising prospects, as the third basemen is ranked among the top 20 sophomores at his position in Florida.


Flagler Palm Coast

Nickname: Bulldogs

Location: Palm Coast, Florida

Head Coach: Kyle Marsh

2022 Record: 10-16

Playoff Finish: District Semifinals

Key Players:

Tristen Miller, 1B/OF, c/o 2023

Dalton Schell, 1B/C, c/o 2023

Cody Clymer, SS/RHP, c/o 2024


Kyle Marsh, a former UCF and Embry-Riddle standout that won a state championship as a player at Spruce Creek, takes over the program at Flagler Palm Coast. Marsh is looking to build the Bulldogs, who have made seven state playoff appearances in their history, into a contender in the Space Coast area. The Bulldogs have been a mainstay at the FHSI, playing in each edition of the tournament dating back to 2014.


Western

Nickname: Wildcats

Location: Davie, Florida

Head Coach: Onel Garcia

2022 Record: 22-6

Playoff Finish: Regional Semifinals

Key Players:

Alex Pena, RHP, c/o 2023 (Nova Southeastern commit)

Luis Lorenzo, INF, c/o 2023 (Nova Southeastern commit)

Brandon Lorenzo, SS, c/o 2026 (Florida commit)


The Wildcats of Western High have become a player in the South Florida baseball scene, winning their first district championship last season and advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the second year in a row. Western figures to be a contender once again in a loaded Class 7A, especially with the addition of a Florida-committed freshman in Brandon Lorenzo. The Wildcats bring a deep pitching rotation to Seminole County, as well as what head coach Onel Garcia refers to as a "stable (lineup) 1-9"

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