2016 SEASON OUTLOOK

 

Welcome Falcon fans to another season full of excitement, thrills and cheers as Head Coach Ray Evans and his Assistant coaches: Howard Stein, Noel Figueroa, Johnston Hobbs, Zac Westcott and former Falcons Luis Penate (04-07) and Collin Martindale (07-10) look to guide the Falcons into the 2016 season. This year they will try to return to the State FINAL FOUR for the first time since 2010! We would like to thank you for your continued support in helping us build a “Tradition of Excellence" at Charles W. Flanagan High School.

Entering his 13th season, Coach Evans and his staff have worked long and hard, along with the help of the Falcons Baseball Booster Club, have established one of the premier public high school baseball programs not only in South Florida, but in the Nation as well.  The Falcons have built a Dynasty amassing a 271-63-1 record, including a 54-11 playoff record during the Ray Evans era.

2015 Review: The 2014 season ended in a 5-3 Regional Final loss at Falcon Field against the eventual state champion, South Dade High School. This resulted in the Falcons continuing their hard work throughout the off season in order to try and get back to the Regional Final for a chance at redemption.

The Flanagan Falcons played the 2015 season determined to get back to the Regional Final. The season began with the team going 1-2 in the BSN tournament. It wasn’t the start they had hoped for. However, as the season progressed, they put together some quality wins and began to look like the champion Falcons of old. They went 3-1 in a very difficult spring tournament and finished the season winning 7 of their final 8 games to take them all the way back to the Regional Final. Every team they faced seemed to play with a chip on their shoulder, along with something to prove. Most of the teams, if not all, pitched their #1 against us. The Falcons held tough and had another good season that ended with a 21-6 record.  For the 10^th time in 12 years the Falcon’s became District Champions and a Regional Finalist. This Regional Final was played on the road at Columbus High School. Just as the year before, it was a very tight game, ending with the same result, a 1-0 loss to the eventual State Champion, Columbus H.S. This ended the Falcons’ season and their hopes of returning to the State Final Four, as well as senior Gentry Fortuno’s career. He finished high school having set a record for the most wins in a pitching career with an overall record of 35-5.

2016 Outlook: Since 2004 the pitching staff has been the foundation of Flanagan baseball. Entering the 2016 season, the Falcons have a big question mark surrounding this year’s pitching staff after losing All-American Gentry Fortuno. Newcomer senior Nick MacDonald is an excellent addition to an already talented group of arms. The returners include seniors Dylan O’Connell and Eric Morera, juniors Jeremy Cook and Arrison Perez, along with new additions of Justin Ricard and Nick Davila. In all, the Falcon’s pitching staff should dominate the 2016 season. Last season, O’Connell had a 5-0 record with an ERA of 0.39; Morera went 2-1 with an ERA of 1.50. Meanwhile, Cook went 3-0 with 1 save, and held an ERA of 2.91. The players mentioned, along with rest of the pitching staff, are eager to prove themselves and contribute to this year’s season.

Behind the plate, Flanagan will look to junior catcher Alex Hernandez and senior Erich Kiss to handle the talented pitching staff.

Around the infield the Falcons return to the 2016 season with all of the previous starting infielders. Covering the infield are juniors Ricky Presno at 2B, Mark Vientos at SS, and Arrison Perez at 3B. Last year’s starting 1^st baseman, senior Peter Moforis also returns and junior Austin Cole will be ready to fill in when needed. Throughout the 2015 fall season, the coaches have worked with the infielders to assess their strengths and weaknesses. This assessment led to the coaches revealing hidden talents, resulting in the utilization of players in multiple positions around the infield.

             The outfield returns one starter, senior Eric Rivera, who has handled everything in centerfield for the past two years. Seniors Andy Epstein, Jorge Gonzalez, Eddie Schissler, juniors Justin Connell, Ihosvany Castaneda, Cheyn Bartels and sophomore Tyler Evans will compete for playing time throughout the season in the other two positions.

 This year starts with one prominent question waiting to be answered.  Will this year's team be able to hold the torch that has been passed onto them?

             The Flanagan Falcons baseball team is recognized as one of the top programs in not only in the County and State, but also in the Nation. The success the program has gained has been built through the hard work and dedication of the coaches, players, family and friends of the past and present. As a new season is upon us, questions, comments and concerns are of course inevitable. But the players and coaches are prepared to answer any and all calls that come their way.

             The Falcon program is very proud of this year’s graduating class. The following young men have accepted a baseball and or academic scholarship to a school and will continue to play baseball at the collegiate level next year.

 

Eric Rivera – Florida Atlantic University

Dylan O’Connell – Florida Atlantic University

Nick MacDonald – Alabama State University

Peter Moforis – Palm Beach Atlantic University

Andy Epstein – Nyack College

Jorge Gonzalez – St. Thomas University