Last year was a pretty good season for Osceola County baseball teams. Despite losing the district championship game to Lake Nona, the Osceola Kowboys advanced all the way to the regional final—where they fell one run short of a Final Four appearance. Harmony won a district title and St. Cloud finished second with both teams advancing to regionals.
Osceola and Harmony once again appear poised for big seasons this year. Senior pitcher Shawn Lara settles into the top of its rotation. Two-sport star Isaiah Jean-Baptiste can cover a lot of grass in the outfield and is a dangerous leadoff hitter; while Edwin Melendez, Blake Birchler and Danny Ramirez will provide senior leadership.
Osceola’s roster received a big boost with the transfers of SS/P Nick Palmi and C/3B Chris Palmi from St. Cloud. Nick, a sophomore, was the Bulldogs starting shortstop and an outstanding pitcher; while Chris can play several positions and is signed with Lake-Sumter CC.
Harmony, another district champion, lost a lot of senior leadership but head coach Heath Williams says the overall talent level of the Longhorns has not dipped that much.
A look at the county’s public school teams:
Celebration Storm
Head Coach: Ed Kuzma
2021 Record: 11-10
Top Returning Hitters: Cody Bergeron (So., .286 BA), Alejandro Hernandez (So./OF) , Gael Torres (Jr, P/OF, .235 BA).
Pitchers: Bryce Reel (Sr, 6-1, 2.14 ERA, 36K, 36 IP), Torres (Jr., 1-1, 2.38 ERA)
Newcomers to Watch: Ciro Yanez (Fr., C), Santiago Gonzalez (So., P)
Outlook: The Storm graduated eight position players and pitchers. The Storm must rely on some young players to come through – including two solid pitching prospects.
Kuzma on Storm: “The season will depend on the ability of our pitchers to keep games close and offense’s ability to scratch out a few runs. We have some good young arms to compliment Bryce and Gael. We’re unproven but deep in pitching. Offensively, we just need to find a way to score a few runs and hope our defense can make the plays. We are going to need some of the other veteran players to produce at the plate.”
Gateway Panthers
Head Coach: Johnnie Kirkland
2021 Record: 5-9
Top Returning Hitters: Nick Bargelski (Sr., .296 BA, 6 RBI), Alejandro Rios (Jr., .333 BA. 10 RBI).
Top Pitcher: Liam Stern (Jr., 0-4, 4.12 ERA)
Newcomers to Watch: Anthony Segarra (So., Transfer, SS)
Outlook: There’s just 14 players and just one senior on this roster. Last year’s success came starting mostly sophomores.
Kirkland on Panthers: “We have another small roster but we do have a solid nucleus of mostly juniors. We are building our program around that group. They are a great bunch of kids that work hard and are not afraid to get dirty in practices and games. Anthony transferred in to our program and although he is just a sophomore, he is a tremendous player with a lot of potential.”
Harmony Longhorns
Head Coach: Heath Williams
2021 Record: 19-7-1
Top Returning Hitters: Anthony Medina (So., SS/2B, .407 BA), Bradley Meza (Sr., C/OF, .294 BA), Yathniel Matos (So., OF, .250 BA, 10 R, 11 RBI), Gabriel Castro (Sr., 1B/P, .224, 5 RBI)
Top Returning Pitchers: Caden Scarborough (3-3, 2.26 ERA, 50 K, 40.1 IP), Trace Loeding (Jr., 0-0, 1.11 ERA), Gabriel Castro (Sr., 2-0, 0.70 ERA)
Newcomers To Watch: Samuel Castillo (Fr., OF), Clayton Williams (Fr., P), Evan Christ (So, P)
Outlook: After losing five senior position players and two outstanding arms, Williams does not see a rebuilding year. Scarborough should be one of the top arms in the county, with Loeding a solid starter. Add closer Castro to the mix (88-90 mph) and the Longhorns field a formidable pitching staff. Harmony faces a tough schedule, with a series with state-ranked The First Academy and a game with state power West Orange (Mar. 2).
Williams on Longhorns: “We are young but in terms of talent and chemistry, this could be a very good team by the time the season is over. We definitely will rely on our pitching staff to carry us in the first third of the season, and hopefully our young talented position players will step up at the plate.”
Liberty Chargers
Head Coach: Zach Tayes
2021 Record: 5-18 Top Returning Hitters:
Top Returning Hitters: Genesis Hernandez (Sr., P/ OF, .375 BA), JC Santos (Sr., SS, .326 BA, 8 R, 7 SB).
Pitchers: Hernandez (Sr., 3.63 ERA, 27 IP, 21 K), Ruben Perez (Sr., 4.91 ERA, 15.2 IP, 22 K),.
Newcomers To Watch: Yandy Gonzalez (Sr., 3B/P), Jeydalier Aponte (Jr., C/ UTL), Edwardo Diaz (So., P/OF), Dylan Vazquez (So., P/UTL), Matt Sosa (so., C), Omir Santos (Fr., C)
Outlook: A slew of talented newcomers should change the Chargers’ fortunes in Tayes’ second year.
Tayes on Chargers: “I have been coaching at Liberty for a long time and this may be the most talented roster we have had since our Regional run in 2012. We really hope this year will be a turning point for our program.”
Osceola Kowboys
Head Coach: Scott Birchler
2021 Record: 20-8, regional finalists
Top Returning Hitters: Isaiah Jean-Baptiste (Jr., OF, .298 BA, 13 SB), Edwin Melendez (Sr., C/1B, .275 BA, 12 R), Danny Ramirez (Sr., 1B/P, .304 BA, 24 H, 18 RBI).
Pitchers: Shawn Lara (Sr., 5-1, 2.60 ERA, 42K, 43 IP); Blake Birchler (Sr., 2-0, 3.00 ERA)
Newcomers to Watch: Nick Palmi (Transfer, So., SS/P, .224, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4-0, 0.67 ERA, 24K, 20 IP), Chris Palmi (Transfer, Sr., 3B/C, .308 BA, 2 HR, 17 RBI).
Outlook: While the returning talent would be enough to get excited, the Palmi transfers could take the Kowboys to a different level.
Birchler on the Kowboys: “At this point I would probably say we’re a little bit better than we were at this time last year, the question is, can we put it altogether during the season? Isaiah will give us a lot of speed both in the outfield and on the base paths, while hitting at the top of the order. We have 12 different kids that we could roll out on the mound and that gives us both depth and options. The Palmis will certainly provide a lift to our lineup.”
Poinciana Eagles
Head Coach: Derek Petrangeli
2021 Record: 2-12
Top Returning Hitters: Anthony Colon (Sr., INF, .400 BA), Chris Rodriguez (Jr., 1B/P/OF, .214 BA, 6 R)
Top Returning Pitcher: Rodriguez (0-2, 8.27 ERA)
Outlook: The Eagles will rebuild after graduating seven starters and two top pitchers a year ago.
St. Cloud Bulldogs
Head Coach: David Blakemore
2021 Record: 13-9 (District Runnerup)
Top Returning Player: Lucas Larkins (Jr., .211, 11 RBI, 2-1, 5.25 ERA)
Newcomers to Watch: Ayden Hampton(Jr., CF/P), Benji Segura, Jr.. P/OF), Jorge Vicioso , Jr., C/IF, Roman Lopez, Jr., C/OF, Logan King, Fr., P/3B/1B; Aiden Pegauro, Fr., IF/P
Outlook: Burke Chisholm Field will see a rebuilding year. Between graduation and transfers, St. Cloud loses 93 of their 99 RBIs last year and 11 of their 13 pitching wins.
Blakemore on Bulldogs: “We have a young group that will have to learn quickly and step up. Our foundation to all our entire athletic program and baseball is to do things the right way. The great thing is our kids buy in to that, which will make us a tough out each week.”
Tohopekaliga Tigers
Head Coach: Nikko Martell
2021 Record: 5-12
Top Returning Hitters: Joseph Miglionico (Sr., OF/P, .242 BA, 9 R, 8 RBI), Javarius MaGee (Sr., C/ INF, .244 BA, 9 R, 9 RBI), Alex Santiago (Sr., P/INF, .182, 5 RBI)
Top Returning Pitchers: M o i s e s Hernandez (Sr., 2.69 ERA), Miglionico (Sr., 2.74 ERA), Fisher Sheffield (0-1, 17Ks)
Newcomers to Watch: Austin Montalvo (Jr., Transfer, C/3B), Jose Montalvo (Jr., Transfer, P/OF), Jeremy Sanchez (Fr., SS)
Outlook: The Tigers won five of their final six last year to finish on a high note.
Martell on Tigers: “This will be our first true senior class of guys who have played here all four years. We have six seniors that have started to build a solid foundation and the additional of the Montalvos. In the fall and preseason, Sanchez has shown to be both an excellent defensive player and he handles the bat well.”
