Charles W. Flanagan High School Baseball

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Eric Cruz enters his 8^th season with Ray Evans at Flanagan High School. The 13 year veteran is the Falcons infielders coach and he has groomed some of the best infield talents in Broward County as well as in the State over the past 7 years. Players such as 3^rd basemen David Maristany, (Union University - 2004), and Eric Trillas, (FIT – 2005), Shortstops Luis Peñate, (NSU - 2007), and Rolando Gomez, (Aneheim Angels - 2008), 2^nd basemen Eric McCans, (NSU - 2006) and Alejandro Sanchez, (Bethune Cookman - 2008), and 1^st Baseman Mitch Massard, (Ball State - 2007) have all done well for themselves thanks to his tutelage. Coach Cruz’s greatest contribution comes from his involvement in the college recruiting process for college bound players. He has helped countless seniors throughout Broward and Dade Counties fulfill their collegiate baseball dreams. He has been instrumental in getting 40 of 46 Flanagan graduates into college baseball programs since joining the Falcons in 2004. Coach Cruz graduated from Florida International University in 1991 with a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies. He was a 1^ST Team All-Conference Selection as a Senior playing 2B and shortstop for the Sunblazers (Golden Panthers). In 1991 he broke the Division IA National record for walks in a season a record which still stands today. As a Junior he led the team in stolen bases with 53 which was good for 7^th in the Nation earning him team MVP honors. He finished with a .340 career batting average. Coach Cruz began his collegiate career at Valencia College in Orlando where he played for 2 seasons as the starting shortstop. He batted .360 with 48 stolen bases as a sophomore. He was named team MVP and earned 1^st Team All-Mid Florida Conference Honors. Eric graduated from South Dade Senior High School in Homestead, Florida in 1986. He played 4 years as a Varsity starter at shortstop compiling a .350 career batting average. He was an All-Dade Honorable Mention his Junior and Senior years. Coach Cruz and his wife Marie who is an Elementary school teacher live in Pembroke Pines. He is employed by the Broward County Public School system as Flanagan High School’s BRACE advisor.

Joe Chacko begins his 1st season as the Falcons Baseball Operations Coordinator. He joined the Falcons Baseball program in the fall of 2004 after serving as Coach Evans’ assistant at Dr. Krop High School from 1998 thru 2003. He was the Falcons catchers coach and has been in charge of scouting since 2004. Joe enters his 13^th year overall having the privilege of coaching some of the finest catching prospects in the State of Florida. Jorge Fernandez (Krop 2000-2002) was a 1^st Team All-Dade selection and a St. Thomas University graduate, Nick Navarro (Flanagan 2004-2007) was a 1^st Team All-Broward selection 3 times and a 3^rd Team All-State selection in 2005, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 22^nd Round, Joel Carranza (Flanagan 2004, 2007) who was a 1^st Team All-Broward selection, 2^nd Team All-State selection and a 23^rd Round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007 and most recently Corey Janson (Flanagan 2009-2010) a 2^nd Team All-Broward selection, he is currently playing at the University of Miami.

Chacko brings a wealth of knowledge of the catching position having played at a high level of competition both in high school and at the collegiate level. He also attributes his knowledge from being invited to, and participating in high profile Summer Camps. He has been a guest coach at the University of Miami, Jim Morris Camp (2000-2001) and at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Jim Schlossnagle Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2002. Chacko graduated from Barry University with a Bachelors Degree in Sport Management in 1998, he played 2 seasons as a catcher for the Buccaneers and the team enjoyed back to back 30+ win seasons for the 1^st time in the programs history. He began his collegiate career in 1993 at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY where he earned his Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. As a catcher for the Fighting Hawks he guided the team to a District and Regional Championship his freshman year. The Hawks landed in the National Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado where they went 2-2 and finished the season ranked 5^th in the Nation. Joe graduated from Clarkstown North Senior High School in New City, NY in 1991. He played Varsity Football and Baseball for 3 seasons. The baseball team won Back to Back Section 1 Titles in 1990 & 1991. As the Rams starting catcher (baseball) he played with former San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves pitcher Will Cunnane. He also played Strong Safety (football) alongside New York Giants linebacker Keith Bulluck. Chacko earned Rockland – Journal News 2^nd Team All-County Honors in 1991 for Football and Baseball. In 1990 he was named 2^nd Team All County in Football and Honorable Mention All-County in baseball. A native of Congers, NY. Joe, his wife Anitha and their 2 children Amy (4) and Jake (21/2), live in Pembroke Pines. He is employed by the Broward County Public School System as a Substitute Teacher at Flanagan High School.             

Coach Greenwood begins his 4^th season as part of the Flanagan coaching staff. He enters his 12^th year of coaching overall.  He serves as the Falcons pitching coach along with Coach Evans and is the primary assistant JV coach. Flanagan High School is Coach Greenwood's first coaching stop in the state of Florida after spending the past 5 years in North Carolina.  The last two seasons he was an assistant coach, head pitching coach and catching coach for Hopewell High School in Huntersville, North Carolina.  During the two seasons at Hopewell High School, the program won league and district titles. All 5 seniors on Coach Greenwood's 2008 pitching staff went on to pitch at Division 1 programs. The last season at Hopewell High School his pitchers combined to go 23-5 with a team ERA of 1.09. Coach Greenwood began his coaching career in Michigan at Powers Catholic High School of Flint, Michigan. A graduate of Powers in 1996, he went back to work as an assistant coach.  He spent his 1^st season at Powers working with infielders and hitters. He coached the schools summer program and became a head coach for the United States team in the Canada/USA games from 2000-2003.  He served as the 17 and under teams head coach as well as the 15 and under assistant coach. Starting in 2000 he began coaching pitchers in Lansing, Michigan. He worked in the winters with high school pitchers in the area. He also worked with pitchers from Michigan State University, Lansing Community College and pitchers in the Chicago Cubs organization from the Lansing Lugnuts. He spent two years working with Stan Kyles the pitching coach for the Lugnuts, giving winter lessons. While in North Carolina Coach Greenwood worked as an assistant coach and pitching coach for the Lake Norman Copperheads of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.  His experience enabled him to work with many players from universities all over the Southeast coast of the United States.

                 Ray Evans was officially hired as the head baseball coach at Flanagan High School in August of 2003 after successful stints at 2 Miami-Dade County schools. His career began at Miami Beach High School where he spent 10 years, and then went on to build a program from scratch at Dr. Michael Krop. Evans is now entering his 14^th season at the helm of one of the nation’s top baseball programs at Flanagan HS. He enters his 28^th year overall as a Head Baseball Coach in South Florida.

                 Coach Evans is no stranger to winning baseball. He currently holds a 473-222-2 career record. Once Coach Evans took over at Flanagan High School in 2004 the Falcons quickly reaped the benefits as he guided the Falcons to a 21-9 record with a District 11-6A Runner-up finish and the teams 3^rd Regional Finals appearance in 5 years. In 2005 the team took the next step completing a 26-5 season culminating with the programs 3^rd District Title, 1^st Regional Title and the school’s 1^st State Title. The Falcons repeated the feat in 2006 finishing the season 29-3 ranked #3 in the Nation by Baseball America. In 2007 Flanagan would finish with a 23-8 record, reach the State Final Four for the 3^rd consecutive year, but would be denied a “3-Peat”. The 2008 season saw his Falcons finish with a 21-9 record. They won their 4^th straight District Title, 6^th overall, and made a Regional Final for an unprecedented 5th straight time. The 2009 team would finish with an impressive 22-4 record yet an early exit from playoff competition left a bitter taste to the season. In 2010 the Falcons bounced back with a vengeance storming through the season on their way to a District, Regional and 3^rd State Championship. They finished the season with a 25-2 record and a #1 NATIONAL RANKING in Baseball America. In 2011 the Falcons had yet another stellar year winning their District Championship and finishing the season, 22-3. The team fell a couple runs short of returning to the State Final Four with a 7-6 loss in the Regional Final to Park Vista. In 2012 the Falcons won another District Championship but lost in the Regional Semi-Final 4-3 to West Broward. In 2013 the Falcons won the 4^th consecutive District Championship.  They advanced all the way to their 8^th Regional Championship game in 10 years where they met up with Jupiter H.S. Their season would come to an end with an 8-1 loss. In 2014 the Falcons were once again crowned District Champions for the 5^th consecutive year. The team advanced to their 9^th Regional Championship game in the 11 years Coach Evans has been at the helm. They lost a heart breaker 5-3 to the eventual State Champion, South Dade H.S. In 2015 the Falcons were once again crowned District Champions for the 6^th consecutive year. The team advanced to their 10^th Regional Championship game in the 12 years Coach Evans has been at the helm. For the 2^nd consecutive season they lost another heart breaker 1-0 to the eventual State Champion, Columbus H.S. The 2016 team would finish with an impressive 17-5-1 record yet an early exit from playoff competition left a feeling of disappointment and disgust to what could have been another championship season. 

                Coach Evans’ currently has a 288-68-2 record and a playoff record of 54-12 at Flanagan. Coach Evans was awarded the highest high school baseball honor in 2008 being named the National Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). In 2010 Evans was named the National High School Coach of the Year by Baseball America. In 2011 Evans was named FACA 6A Coach of the Year and was also named to the FACA All-Star Coaching Staff. In 2012 Evans was named the HSBN 7A-8A Broward Senior All-Star Head Coach. In 2014 Coach Evans was named the Coach of the Year by the Sun-Sentinel and HSBN. He was also named the BCAA Senior All-Star Coach for the South squad. . In 2015 Coach Evans was named the 8A FACA Coach of the Year.

                Prior to his coaching career Evans played professional baseball, 1^st overseas in Florence, Italy and then with the unaffiliated Miami Marlins of the Florida State League. He decided to begin his teaching and coaching career in 1989. Coach Evans attended North Miami Senior High where he graduated with honors as the school’s Scholar Athlete Award Recipient in 1983. He began his college career at Broward Community College on a baseball scholarship where he continued his academic and athletic prowess as an honor student and was selected 1^st Team All-Conference. After 2 years at BCC, Evans moved on to continue his education at nearby St. Thomas University where he played for Hall of Fame Coach, Paul Mainieri, current LSU Head Coach, and as a senior Evans made 3^rd Team All-Conference. Coach Evans graduated with honors and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Administration. He later went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Sport Management from the U.S. Sports Academy while he was coaching at Miami Beach High School.

                Coach Evans stresses the importance of being good students, good athletes and most of all good people to his players. He is currently a Physical Education teacher and Drivers Education Instructor at Flanagan High School. Ray, his wife Christine of 24 years, son Tyler (17) and daughter Emily (15) reside in Pembroke Pines.      

                       

Evans’ Coaching Capsule (2005 – PRESENT)

2005 – Miami Herald & Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year

              Broward County Umpires Association Coach of the Year

2006 – Miami Herald & Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year

              BCAA Southern Division Coach of the Year

              Duane Shaffer Achievement Award – Broward County Coach of the Year

              Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) District 3 Coach of the Year

              National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) State Coach of the Year

              Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 6A Coach of the Year       

2007 – Miami Herald Coach of the Year

              Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) District 3 Coach of the Year                    

2008 – Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year

              National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) State Coach of the Year

2009 – Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) State All-Star Coach

2010 – Miami Herald Coach of the Year

              Don Roper Coaches Award – Broward County Coach of the Year

              Broward County Umpires Association Coach of the Year

              Florida Dairy Farmers Class 6A Baseball Coach of the Year

              Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) District 3 Coach of the Year

              ABCA Regional Coach of the Year  

              Baseball America National High School Coach of the Year

              National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Coach of the Year

2011 – Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 6A Coach of the Year

             Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) State All-Star Coach

2012 – BHSB 7A-8A Broward Senior All-Star Head Coach

2014 – Sun-Sentinel Coach of the Year

              HSBN District 13-8A Coach of the Year

              BCAA Senior South All-Star Coach

2015 – Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 8A Coach of the Year            

               

                OVERALL COACHING RECORD – 473-222-2

                FLANAGAN RECORD – 288-68-2, 54-12 playoff record

                10 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS

                4 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

                3 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

                1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

                                      

                                                FLANAGAN (2004 – PRESENT

2004 – District & Regional Runner-up, 21-9

2005 – District, Regional & Class 6A State Champion,

              Finished 21^st in Nation in Baseball America’s final top 25 ranking, 25-6

2006 – District, Regional & Class 6A State Champion,

              Finished 3^rd in Nation in Baseball America’s final top 25 ranking, 29-3-1

2007 – District, Regional Champion, Final Four Semi-finalists, 23-8

2008 – District Champion, Regional Runner-up, 21-9

2009 – HIT Baseball Tournament Champion in Hanahan, S.C., 22-4

2010 – District, Regional & Class 6A State Champion

              Baseball America’s National Champion, 25-2

2011 – BSN / Nike Tournament Champion, Tournament of Champions Champion

              District Champion, Regional Runner-up, 22-3

2012 – BSN / Nike Tournament Champion

              District Champion, Regional Semi-Finalist, 18-5

2013 – District Champion, Regional Runner-up, 20-6           

2014 – BSN / Nike Tournament Champion

              District Champion, Regional Runner-up, 24-2

2015 – District Champion, Regional Runner-up, 21-6

2016 - Finished season with a 17-5-1 record