After considerable debate with coaches and observers, and despite the impressive credentials posted by a number of players, Harmony pitcher Ismael Rivera is the Osceola News-Gazette Baseball Player of the Year for 2025.
Whether starting, pitching long relief or closing, Rivera filled whatever role the Longhorns needed, when they needed it. Harmony came within two runs of the Class 7A Final Four—dropping a 12-11 decision to powerful Jupiter in the regional final.
“Samuel (Castillo, .394, six home runs 30 RBI, the OBC coaches’ Player of the Year) was certainly a deserving candidate and I’m happy he was recognized by the OBC coaches,” Harmony Coach Heath Williams said. “But I am equally happy for Ismael. He was absolutely unreal for us this season. He didn’t always get the win in the box score but more often than not he was the reason we got the win.
“I can’t remember the number of times we put him in with traffic on bases or the bases loaded. It’s not easy to come in and pitch with that pressure, but he always responded. In the second inning, he comes in against a great hitting Jupiter team in a tough situation and simply shut them down. He was our ‘Iceman’ all season.”
Rivera compiled a 6-1 record, three saves and a 1.54 ERA. He struck out 71 in 45.1 innings. Opponents hit just .211 against him.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the paper, but it really was a team effort all year,” Rivera said. “We had a lot of good players on the team and they all contributed to our success. We had a lot of fun this season and battled every game.”
Rivera, who will play at Eastern Florida State College this fall, says he will play wherever the coaches want him but said he loves coming into the game in relief.
“There’s nothing more exciting than entering with the game on the line. Some pitchers don’t like that type of pressure, I love it.”
Teammates Castillo and Angel Medina certainly were worthy as were several other candidates. Castillo, finishes his career with a .322 average, 14 home runs, 82 RBI and 100 runs scored in 105 games. Medina hit .360 with 20 extra base hits, six home runs and 30 RBI. St. Cloud catcher Sammy Echeverry hit .426 with four home runs, 27 RBI and a 1.241 OPS.
All-County Baseball
Player of the Year: Ismael Rivera, Sr., P, Harmony
Coach of the Year: Heath Williams, Harmony
All County Team: C: Sammy Echeverry, St. Cloud, So.;
1B: Cole Davis, St. Cloud, Sr. (.338 BA, 4 HR);
2B: Diego Vazqueztell, Jr., Gateway (.400 BA);
SS: Jose Scrofani, Sr., Harmony, (.390 BA, 30 RBI, no errors);
3B: Angel Medina, Jr., Harmony;
OF: Samuel Castillo, Sr., Harmony,; Lewis, So., St. Cloud, (.325 BA), Westin Thompson, So., Harmony, (.330 BA, 23 RBI, 28 Runs);
DH: Clayton Williams, Sr., Harmony (.326 BA, 32 RBI);
UTL: Cole Davis, Sr., St. Cloud, (.338 BA, 4 HR); Hudson Moberly, Sr., Tohopekaliga, (.426 BA, 26 RBI);
Pitchers: Ismael Rivera, Sr., Harmony; Trevin Bean, So., Harmony (5-2, 2.71 ERA); Brian Wright, So., St. Cloud (1.83 ERA, 36Ks in 30 IP); Maricol Santiago, Gateway (4-3, 2.16 ERA, 77 Ks)
Honorable mention: Ciro Yanez, Sr,, Celebration, C/DH; David Sevilla, Sr., Celebration, UTIL; Ethan Grant, So., Osceola, UTIL; Drew Kelly, Sr., St. Cloud, OF; Fernando Ferrer, Sr., Tohopekaliga, OF; Jose Malave, Sr., Four Corners Charter, P; Cameron Morgan, Jr., Four Corners Charter, P.
