Plenty has changed for Justin Nicolino since being drafted in the second round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 8.

Justin Nicolino (Photo by Mike Dydo)

While the recent graduate from University High School was having his car checked out by a local mechanic, the Toronto Blue Jays were making the left-handed pitcher the area’s first player to be selected in the draft, in the second round at No. 80 overall.

“I didn’t even get to tell anybody about it,” said Nicolino. In fact, upon finding out for themselves, family and friends went to sending him text messages and offering congratulatory phone calls.

“It’s been crazy ever since,” he said. “Everybody’s been calling. It seems everyday I’m doing something different because of it.”

There’s been a steady stream of television cameras and newspaper reporters interested in learning a little more about a kid who emerged from a potential third-to-fourth round pick in the draft to the lead story out of Central Florida.

Nicolino was chosen ahead of more heralded high school peers in Oviedo’s A.J. Cole (No 116 overall by Washington) and Mason Williams (No. 145 overall by New York Yankees) out of West Orange.

And with that, Nicolino was suddenly faced with a decision he knew would have a long-standing affect on his future. Having already committed to play baseball for the University of Virginia in 2011, Nicolino found himself with the kind of options any recent grad at his age would envy.

It didn’t take him long to decide that textbooks would have to wait, as the 6-foot-3, 160-pounder chose to bypass life in college in favor of the daily grind of the minor leagues.

“I am getting the chance to live a dream that not many kids my age have the chance to,” said Nicolino.

He knows just how rare an opportunity it is to be drafted by a major league team, never mind so high in the draft, and he’s seen firsthand how the recruiting process plays out.

While at UHS, scouts routinely paid visits to campus for a glimpse at the likes of fellow pitchers Steven Ewing and Brian Adkins, who recently completed collegiate seasons as freshman at Miami and UCF, respectively. It wasn’t long ago that former Cougars pitcher Jonathan Bachanov was taken No. 58 overall out of UHS in the 2007 draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Nicolino

“Having those guys around really took a lot of pressure off of me when I was younger,” he said.

Not only was it an opportunity to learn how to handle the attention that he too would eventually garner by scouts, but he also found that he thrived off of the chance to be in such a position in the first place.

“When scouts were coming to see them, I really started to feed off of that attention.”

Nicolino ascended to the top of University’s pitching rotation in his senior year under head coach Tony Mehlich after previously playing for Rodney Beatty, who is now at Cypress Creek.

By applying a little of what he learned from each coach – the “laid-back” approach of Mehlich and “old-school” style of Beatty, as he puts it – and instilling those things into what he does on the mound, Nicolino says he’s really grown into his own.

This past season his fastball clocked in near the low-90s while a curveball and changeup rounded out an arsenal used to strike out 74 batters in 44 innings at University.

The kid that’s called the east side of town home since moving to the area from Alliance, Ohio at a young age is likely to start his career with a Blue Jays minor league affiliate here in Florida once contract negotiations are ironed out.

At least he won’t be forced to stray too far from home. Not initially, anyway. Nicolino played his youth baseball at East Orange Little League and attended Bonneville and Camelot elementary and Corner Lakes Middle School.

No matter where baseball takes him from here though, the support he’s got at home is bound to help make that journey a little easier to set sail to. Such was the case when it came to deciding between Virginia and pro baseball.

“My parents have always raised me to make my own decisions,” said Nicolino. “Of course if I make the wrong ones then they step in to help with that, but it’s always been about not regretting anything. They just want me to be happy.”

Isn’t that what baseball is really all about anyway?

– More on Justin Nicolino –

Video at WESH

Video at WFTV

Stories at Orlando Sentinel

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Welcome to this edition of Orlando Sports Central Highlights…

– Orlando Magic Get New Look –

Fans will either grow to love it or hate it. Either way, the Orlando Magic will sport at bit of a new look this fall when they open the new Amway Center.

From the Magic: The new logo incorporates the Magic’s current jersey wordmark, giving a more integrated look.  It also continues the team’s colors with the Magic blue, Magic black and Magic silver.  The updated look includes the team’s current secondary logo with the iconic star ball for a smooth transition from old to new, building on the heritage and history of the Magic from its birth in 1989.

“This new logo signifies the beginning of a new era of excellence for the Orlando Magic and our fans,” said Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins. “We are excited about where our team is and the direction we are headed as we build on the legend already created and look forward to what the future holds.”

– UCF’s Culpepper Back In Action –

If all goes well between now and then, former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper will be back in the Florida Citrus Bowl on Thursday, Oct. 21 with his new football team, the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. The Mountain Lions will be in Orlando as visitors of the Florida Tuskers.

The 1998 All-American and Sammy Baugh Trophy recipient has reunited with two of his former coaches. Culpepper’s first NFL head coach, Dennis Green, is entering his second season, as is offensive coordinator Mike Kruczek, who coached him as a Golden Knight.

Green selected Culpepper with the 11th pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. After three trips to the Pro Bowl while with the Minnesota Vikings, he later wound up floating between the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions.

Following 95 career NFL starts with 23,208 passing yards, 146 touchdowns and 101 interceptions, his desire to continue playing the game of football prompted the reunion.

“When the opportunity came for me to sign with the UFL and play for coach Green in Sacramento I could not resist,” said Culpepper.

He’s also looking forward to teaming back up with Kruczek, whose offense helped Culpepper become just the third player in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 in a career. As a Knight, Culpepper passed for 11,412 career yards with 84 touchdowns.

After being named the starter in Minnesota in 2000, he led the Vikings to a 7-0 mark during a season that ended in an NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants, who were coached by Las Vegas Locos Head Coach Jim Fassel.

– UCF’s Coward An Outdoor All-American –

Of the three UCF track and field athletes competing at nationals this past weekend, it was sophomore Jackie Coward who came away with the program’s best-ever showing.

Coward became the first Knight to earn NCAA Outdoor All-American honors when she qualified fourth for the 100-meter hurdles at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. After clocking in at 13.04 seconds to qualify, she ran that same time in the finals for fifth place overall. Virginia Tech’s Queen Quedith Harrison won the title at 12.67.

By advancing to the championship stage, Coward became a two-time All-American. She previously advanced to the finals of the 60-meter hurdles at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Sophomore Sheila Paul (100-meter dash) and freshman Sonnisha Williams (long jump) also competed on the campus of the University of Oregon but did not advance to championship contention.

– Winter Park FHSAA All-Sports Champs –

Continuing its tradition of winning, the boys and girls athletic programs at Winter Park High School swept the Class 6A Florida High School Athletic Association Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Awards for the 2009-10 school year.

The Wildcats, with 1,173 total points, turned in an impressive margin of victory over Dr. Phillips (836.5) in the overall standings.

More details on standings for all classifications are available at the FHSAA site.

– Orlando Magic Youth Basketball Camps –

The Orlando Magic is hosting youth basketball camps throughout Central Florida this summer designed for boys and girls of all skill levels ages 7-16. While many camp dates are already sold out, limited space is still available for a number of others.

Each camp session offers instruction provided by the National Basketball Academy and other top area coaches offering personalized attention, drills, skill development, live games and an individual player evaluation.

All participants receive an official camp T-shirt and headband, a full-size Magic basketball, a ticket to a 2010-11 Orlando Magic home game in the new Amway Center, daily giveaways, prizes, awards and other trivia, contests and games. Guest appearances by Magic players are subject to availability.

–– Remaining Dates/Locations –

– June 21-25 at Lake Mary Preparatory School – 650 Rantoul Lane, Lake Mary 32746

– June 21-25 at 24 Hour Fitness – 15 West Crystal Lake Dr., Orlando 32806

– June 28-July 2 at Orlando Sports Center (Vince Carter’s Orlando Magic Basketball Camp) – 6700 Kingspointe Parkway, Orlando 32819

– July 5-9 at The First Academy – 2667 Bruton Blvd., Orlando 32805

– July 5-9 at Celebration School K-8 – 1809 Celebration Blvd., Celebration 34747

– July 5-9 at Warner University (Jason Williams’ 2010 Overnight Basketball Camp) – 13895 Highway 27, Lake Wales 33859

– July 12-16 at Willow Creek Church – 4725 East Lake Drive, Winter Springs 32708

– July 12-16 at Lake Mary Preparatory School – 650 Rantoul Lane, Lake Mary 32746

– July 19-23 at Pro-Health and Fitness Center – 8705 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne 32940

– August 2-6 at Orlando Christian Prep – 500 South Semoran Blvd., Orlando 32807

– August 2-6 at Lyman High School – 865 S. Ronald Regan Blvd., Longwood 32750

– August 9-13 at Magic Practice Court – RDV Sportsplex at 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd, Orlando 32810

– August 9-13 at Bolles Middle School – 7400 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville 32217

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

The Florida Gators, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, advanced to the field of eight for the sixth time in program history and first time since 2005. They defeated the Miami Hurricanes 4-3 in 10 Innings on Saturday night in front of a large crowd of 5,783 at McKethan Stadium in Gainesville.

The Hurricanes committed seven errors in the game, including one in the top of the 10th by right fielder Chris Pelaez, who misplayed a fly ball hit by freshman shortstop Nolan Fontana, out of West Orange High School. Fontana would end up scoring the game-winning run on a RBI double by Austin Maddox.

Lake Brantley High School alum Greg Larson entered the game in the bottom of the 10th with one on base and one out. The sophomore proceeded to catch freshman Michael Broad looking on strikes and then force sophomore Rony Rodriguez to ground out to Fontana at shortstop, who fired a bullet across the diamond to Preston Tucker at first base for the final out. Larson collected his third save and was greeted by teammates as the celebration began.

The Hurricanes made nine errors in their two games of Super Regional play, which as a result denied local kids such as freshman Steve Ewing out of University High School and Ethan Bornstein from Winter Park High School a chance to make it to Omaha. The Gators opened Super Regionals with a 7-2 win on Friday night.

Fontana and Larson join sophomore Ben McMahan and senior Clint Franklin as players from the Central Florida area with spots on the Florida roster. McMahon played his high school ball at Bishop Moore while Franklin played at Timber Creek.

Joining the Gators at the World Series are the Florida State Seminoles, who are making the trip for the 20th time in program history and 14th time under head coach Mike Martin. The Seminoles defeated Vanderbilt 7-6 in the decisive Game 3 of the team’s Super Regional matchup at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.

FSU, like the Gators, have four players from the Orlando area on its roster including senior outfielder Ohmed Danesh out of Dr. Phillips High School. Junior infielder Stuart Tapley and freshman Corben Madden both played baseball at Boone High School. Junior pitcher John Gast hails from Lake Brantley, where he was a teammate with Florida’s Larson from 2005-07.

For Gast, Tapley, and Danesh, this marks their second trip to Omaha in three years as FSU advanced in 2008, going 0-2 after losing to Stanford and Miami. The Seminoles open play this time around against TCU while Florida takes on No. 6 UCLA. The two state rivals could meet up early on as both are in the same bracket.

– More Local Players In College World Series –

Senior second baseman Mike Freeman out of Edgewater High School and sophomore shortstop Brad Miller from Olympia High School helped Clemson advance to the World Series. The Tigers take on No. 1 Arizona State to start the week’s final round of elimination play. Junior utility player Robert Beary out of Apopka started in 22 games for South Carolina, playing in 41 games on the year. The Gamecocks get underway against Oklahoma.

In the second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft, local baseball players began to be selected by big league clubs. Below is a look at who they were, where they were picked, and what team made the call.

– 2010 MLB Draft Top-10 Local Picks –

– LHP Justin Nicolino (University) selected No. 80 overall by Toronto in 2nd round. WESH Video

– RHP A.J. Cole (Oviedo) selected No. 116 overall by Washington in 4th round.

– CF Mason Williams (West Orange) selected No. 145 overall by NY Yankees in 4th round.

– LHP Alex Burgos (Osceola/State College of Florida) selected No. 163 overall by Detroit in 5th round.

– LHP John Gast (Lake Brantley/Florida State) selected No. 199 overall by St. Louis in 6th round.

– RF Jose Dore (The First Academy) selected No. 244 overall by San Diego in 8th round.

– SS Mike Freeman (Edgewater/Clemson) selected No. 331 overall by Arizona in 11th round.

– RHP Cody Allen (Boone/UCF/St. Petersburg JC) selected No. 480 overall by Cleveland in 16th round.

– RHP Owen Dew (UCF) selected No. 630 overall by Cleveland in 21st round.

– C Shane Brown (Winter Park/UCF) selected No. 715 overall by NY Yankees in 23rd round.

– More Local MLB Draft Picks –

LF Chris Duffy (Cypress Creek/UCF) at No. 801 overall to Philadelphia (26th round); CF Jay Gonzalez (Freedom) No. 833 overall to Boston (27th round); RHP Tim Griffin (Rollins College) No. 852 overall to Seattle (28th round); LHP Ronald Schreurs (Freedom) No. 1,296 overall to Toronto (43rd round); LHP Jimmy Hodgskin (Bishop Moore) No. 1,311 overall to Philadelphia (43rd round); OF Tyler Marincov (Timber Creek) No. 1,453 overall to Detroit (48th round).

– Draft Notes –

– The UCF Knights have had nine different players selected in the MLB Draft over the last three years, including Brown, who has now been drafted twice by the Yankees. Last season he was picked in the 47th round. In all, UCF has had its baseball players drafted by MLB organizations 73 times since 1979. Dew was taken in the 33rd round in 2009 by the Los Angeles Angels. Duffy, who was selected in the 9th round out of high school, completed his four-year career as a finalist for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as one of the top amateur players in the nation.

– The Florida Collegiate Summer League had the highest number of current or former baseball players drafted over the three-day MLB selection process as 25 FCSL players were taken, including five in the first eight rounds. A complete list of draftees is available at Florida League.

Last Saturday the former Bishop Moore High School lacrosse star ended his collegiate playing career, in the NCAA Division III title game in Baltimore, Maryland, in the same sort of manner his prep career came to a close. Salisbury dropped the decisive game to Tufts by a 9-6 score.

It proved to be a tough afternoon for Von Kamecke and the Sea Gulls as they trailed 6-1 after the first quarter of play.

One game removed from helping Salisbury slip past Stevenson 14-13 in overtime in the semifinals with three goals and two assists, the senior midfielder came up empty on seven shots last week and turned the ball over four times in the loss.

Now it’s back to Winter Park, where Von Kamecke was born and raised, before returning to school in Maryland this fall to finish up his degree. While he’s back in town, Von Kamecke plans to spend time helping with local lacrosse camps throughout the area.

Each time he returns home to Florida it’s as if the local interest in the sport continues to grow by leaps and bounds in comparison to past visits.

“It blows me away seeing how the sport has grown every time I go home,” said Von Kamecke.

He is among a handful of local lacrosse players that helped pave the way for such enthusiasm, so to speak.

– Quite A Career –

Von Kemecke’s final game at Bishop Moore in 2006 ended in defeat in the state championship game under the guidance of head coach Danny Hogan. That year he finished with 89 points, of which 46 came by way of assists.

In four seasons of varsity play he helped lead the Hornets to district titles each year and an overall record of 60-15. His 288 career points from 2003-06 ranks second all-time in program history behind the 321 points compiled by Ryan Zipperly (1999-02).

After earning three All-American selections in high school, Von Kamecke landed in Salisbury as part of one of the richest lacrosse programs in D-III history. The Sea Gulls entered the championship game last week with eight titles already under its belt and an impressive 500-108 overall record.

As a freshman in 2007 Von Kamecke scored nine goals and had five assists in 23 games for a national championship team. Salisbury returned to repeat the feat in his sophomore season, when he scored 32 goals along with 21 assists in 22 games en route to being named to the All-Capital Athletic Conference Second Team.

In 2009 he was a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Honorable Mention after having scored 27 goals with 17 assists for the Sea Gulls, who were bounced early from the postseason.

Although his senior season ended on a sour note, Von Kamecke did all he could for a team that finished 21-2.

The team captain was selected to the USILA All-American Second Team, All-CAC First Team and the Eastern Colleges Athletic Conference (ECAC) D-III All-Metro/South Region All-Star First Team this past season. He finished the best year of his career with 40 goals and 30 assists in 23 games.

– Growth Potential –

While growing up in Florida he witnessed firsthand how the sport of lacrosse was just beginning to catch on in terms of gaining mass appeal. It wasn’t until 2008 that the Florida High School Athletic Association began to officially recognize the sport at the high school level, making Orlando home to its state championship games.

And as great a high school lacrosse player Von Kamecke proved to be, he says it was his experience at Salisbury that taught him so much more about the game, and even himself. He says what he learned during his time in Maryland not only sharpened his game but also helped him better control himself mentally and physically out on the field.

“It’s really helped me grow as a person,” he said of the college experience. “You realize just how many different types of people there are out there to meet and how that all plays out on the lacrosse field.”

Von Kamecke was one of eight seniors at Salisbury that took the field with the Sea Gulls for the final time last weekend. Going into the game he and his teammates hoped to “go out the way it started,” referring to winning a title on the same field they did as freshman in 2007.

But it wasn’t meant to be. Still, three trips to the finals and two titles to show for it over the course of four years is nothing to hang your head about.

Now it’s back to another summer back home in Central Florida, where he can marvel at how much the sport he grew up playing has grown so much, just as he has individually while he’s been away.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Welcome to this week’s version of Orlando Sports Central Highlights…

– Local Product Leads AFL Predators –

Just two days after signing with the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators, former Kissimmee Osceola football and basketball standout Bobby Sippio made an immediate impact.

In the final seconds of Friday’s game, Sippio hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Nick Hill to help secure a 58-54 win over the visiting Milwaukee Iron. He finished the game with 88 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.

After starting the season 0-3, the Predators have won three-straight to move to 3-3 overall. They host rival Tampa Bay Storm (3-3) on Friday at 8 p.m. at Amway Arena. Orlando and Tampa currently trail Jacksonville (6-1) and Alabama (4-3) in the division.

After playing his college ball at Western Kentucky, Sippio (6’3″, 215 lbs) played arena football with the Storm, Chicago Rush, Dallas Desperados and Peoria Pirates of arenafootball2. He also got opportunities in the National Football League with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions as well as the United Football League’s California Redwoods and Florida Tuskers. In 2007 he led the AFL with 53 touchdown receptions while playing with the Rush.

– Former FCSL Player Gets Call To Majors –

Word out of the Florida Collegiate Summer League is that one of its own was recently called up to Major League Baseball last week.

Lucroy

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy became the first FCSL alum to crack the big leagues since the wood-bat league was founded in 2003. The Milwaukee Brewers brought up Lucroy from Triple-A Nashville on May 21 when Gregg Zaun was forced to the disabled list.

The rookie then got his first big-league hit that night in his first at-bat while on the road against the Minnesota Twins. He singled to left field in the eighth inning.

Lucroy, out of Eustis, was a standout for the Sanford River Rats and Winter Park Diamond Dawgs. He ranks second all-time in FCSL batting average (.325) and slugging percentage (.500).

Considered Milwaukee’s top catching prospect, and fifth-best prospect overall, Lucroy started the season at Double-A Huntsville before moving on to Nashville after hitting .452 in 10 games. He has since registered a .238 batting average with two home runs in 31 total games on the year.

The 2010 FCSL season gets underway on Thursday, June 3 at Sanford Memorial Stadium when the River Rats host Leesburg at 7 p.m. The five-team league runs through Aug. 5 when the championship game is played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

– Bishop Moore Lax Alum In D-III Title Game –

Von Kamecke

Salisbury University senior Mike Von Kamecke has one more lacrosse game to play before his college career closes out this weekend.

On Sunday at 12 p.m. in Baltimore, Md., the former Bishop Moore standout takes the field with the Salisbury Sea Gulls (21-1) for the final time as they meet up with Tufts (19-1) for the NCAA Division III title. In a 14-13 semifinal win in overtime against Stevenson, Von Kamecke finished with three goals on five shots and was credited with two assists. It’s the fourth trip to the championship game over the past five years for Salisbury.

Von Kamecke is capping off his best season to date as he’s second on the team in assists (30), third in points (70), fourth in goals (40) and leads the team in man-up goals with nine on the year.

He closed out his high school career with the second-most points ever for a Hornet (288) between 2003-2006 while leading Bishop Moore to a state runner-up finish his senior year.

– Student-Athletes Sign With Colleges –

– University High School girls basketball player Rachel Turner signed on with Southeastern University in Lakeland last week. Turner earned four letters as a Cougar, playing a big role in the programs first two district titles following the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons and its first conference title this past year. The two-year captain finished her career with over 500 points, 250 rebounds and 100 assists. She plans to study special education and would like to work as a teacher and coach.

– The number of Colonial High School football players moving on to play in college increased to five last week when defensive back Renard Allen signed with Concordia University in Chicago and quarterback Jose Castro signed with Baker University in Kansas. They join running back Jermaine Broomfield, bound for Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, defensive lineman Ryan Moore (Baker University) and offensive lineman Sammy Mendoza (Defiance University in Ohio) as signees from the 2009 team.

– Last week Timber Creek High School had two student-athletes sign on with college football programs as Cameron Smith is heading to St. Olaf College in Minnesota and Matt Jones will be off to Mount Union College in Ohio.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

The Wolves were outhit 14-9 in the loss as Jonathan Dydo got behind opposing batters early on before allowing four runs in the third and six hits through three innings. Travis McPherson gave up three earned runs on eight hits in relief while striking out seven over the final four innings.

2010 Timber Creek Baseball

Trailing 5-0 entering the bottom of the fifth, the Wolves had mustered just two hits before piecing together what looked to be a reversal of fortunes.

Timber Creek scored three runs on five hits in the fifth when Jason Anderson and McPherson were drove in by Eugene Vazquez and Branden Castro, respectively; and pinch-runner Emmanuel Acevedo made it home on a hit to right field by Cody Sharp.

But just as quick as the Wolves got back in the game, Flanagan loaded the bases in its next at-bat to extend the lead.

McPherson somehow got out of the sixth with minimal damage as he allowed only one run while faced with loaded bases four different times in the inning. Spencer Angelis got that run back in the bottom of the sixth though with a solo home run. Then the next three batters went down in order.

That made it 6-4 entering the seventh and final inning. And yet Flanagan was hardly done.

When McPherson returned to the mound he was hit hard to centerfield, scoring two more runs in the top of the seventh, before retiring the final two batters he faced. He could only watch from there as dreams of playing in the state title game were thwarted when Castro and Austin Moore were left stranded on base during the team’s final stab at a rally.

Angelis, McPherson and Castro each finished 2-for-3 on the night. Sharp, Anderson and Moore reached base safely with one hit apiece.

While Flanagan – ranked among the nation’s Top-25 by publications such as Baseball America – stranded 10 runners in the win, the Wolves had a tough time at the plate against one of the best teams in the country.

At one point Timber Creek batters were retired seven-straight times early in the game as big plays in the field robbed them of base hits, most notably in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Wolves stranded five runners in the loss.

Timber Creek finishes it’s best season in program history with a 24-8 mark.

–– Road To State Final Four ––

– end of Regular Season

– win over Hagerty

– win over Freedom

– win over Mandarin

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Somehow that seems so long ago.

Jonathan Dydo (Photo by Mike Dydo)

Thanks to a stellar pitching performance from Jonathan Dydo and some patience at the plate, the Wolves advanced in the tournament with a 4-1 win at Jacksonville Mandarin on Friday in the FHSAA Region 1 final.

Held hitless through four innings, Timber Creek (24-7) lit the scoreboard first when in the top of the fifth Jason Anderson homered and Eugene Vazquez drove in a run on a single.

Dydo, who TCHS Coach Scott Grove credited for using both sides of the plate and pounding the strike zone, allowed a run in the bottom half of the inning but finished with nine strikeouts in just over six innings of work.

Timber Creek tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Spencer Angelis drove in a run and Anderson advanced on a passed ball. Tyler Marincov also scored a run.

“Hats off to Mandarin,” Grove told the Florida Times-Union afterwards. “But that was typical of our kids to keep it up. We knew we would face some tough pitching, and we just feel fortunate to leave their field with a win.”

The Wolves take on Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) at Digital Domain Park (formerly Tradition Field) in Port St. Lucie on Friday at 8 p.m. in the state semifinals. Alonso (Tampa) and American (Hialeah) meet up in the other semifinal on Friday at 1 p.m. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Lake Brantley captured a 6A state title for Seminole County in 2008.

– When It Matters Most –

Following nine seasons of baseball, Timber Creek is finally finding ways to win when it matters most – in the postseason.

Scott Grove

And it may have a lot to do with the new approach of the lead guy in the dugout.

As the Wolves prepared for a third trip to regionals in the short history of the program, Grove took a step back, looked over Timber Creek’s body of work over the years and came away hoping to avoid any repeat of the past.

He figured there must be some explanation for the way the floor has fallen out from under his teams each postseason after completing such successful regular season runs. This, despite averaging more than 20 wins each year and finishing near the top of their district standings.

“I just thought ‘what could we do to make things different’,” said Grove.

Turns out the answer happened to be much closer than he imagined.

Grove began to temper his emotions as opposed to wearing any frustration on his sleeve whenever the game strayed from the picture-perfect production he’d envisioned going in. He proceeded to encourage his team to play through their miscues instead of reminding players of them each time through facial expressions.

Jason Anderson (Photo by Mike Dydo)

It paid off at Hagerty in the opening round, just one game after losing in the district finals. That’s when while trailing by a run, and maintaining a level of calmness, he gathered the troops and reminded them to keep competing until the very end. The Wolves responded with two runs in the sixth inning and solid play in the field to come away with the win.

“I think with me being so uptight and not wanting things to go wrong, that it’s affected them during games,” explains Grove. “They would see it in my face when things went wrong and that carried over into their attitudes.”

So he set out to change his own attitude.

Trailing by a run in the sixth inning? No problem. You’re No. 2 pitcher in a rematch with the big hitters that handed you a district championship game loss? No problem.

“We’ve been playing extremely relaxed,” said Grove.

No more worrying about mistakes on the spot because the Wolves already have their minds set on making the next play. No better way to play this game, one could argue. A game that could come down to a bad hop of the ball just as easily as it could a bad throw.

“I’m a perfectionist,” said Grove. “I want everything to go a certain way. But everybody makes mistakes.”

And in this year’s postseason everybody is getting a chance at redemption. For the errors, the strikeouts, the premature ending of season’s past. Including Grove, who is just as focused on reaching the pinnacle of this journey (after coming so close a decade ago) as his young team is.

“Baseball is a lot like life,” he said. “It’s about the way you respond to adversity when things don’t go your way.”

– It’s Been A Long Time –

To imply that Grove has somehow had it wrong all these years as a high school baseball coach would be like assuming every individual kid is wired in the same way. In fact, Grove has been consistent in both the win-loss column and in the impressive number of student-athletes he sends on to collegiate programs.

Tyler Marincov is safe at home on Friday in Jacksonville. (Photo by Mike Dydo)

This type of change is more about coming to grips with how best to manage the personnel you’ve got at your disposal, or rather on your roster.

Back in 2000, Grove led Colonial High School to a state runner-up finish behind fiery pep talks, which he said led to that group “rising to the occasion.”

That was certainly a slice of Grove’s personality which he carried over from his days of touring the minor leagues ranks as a pitcher for the Braves, Blue Jays and Brewers organizations.

And that might help shed light on what drives someone to become so demanding of others after spending their entire lives immersed in a game of skill, detail, chance, and the inevitable physical wear and tear that takes place over time. Grove has a shoulder that knows a ballplayer’s fate all too well.

But he sounds more like a parent today then he does a coach when talking about the kind of student-athletes he has on this year’s team at Timber Creek. He says they’ve truly bought into the system and that they’re all “really great kids with a lot of ability.”

They don’t appear to lack for effort, either.

“Nobody is sweating harder than us,” said Grove over the weekend. “Nobody is working harder than us.”

Proving that a coach can make all the personal changes they desire, but that there’s nothing as tried-and-true in sports as continuing to bust your tails in practice.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

On Friday night, Class 6A Coach of the Year Scott Grove leads the Wolves into the regional finals at Jacksonville Mandarin.

(Photo by Mike Dydo)

It was a 4-2 win at Freedom (26-5) last week, in a rematch of the District 4 title game won by the Patriots, which moved Timber Creek (23-7) along in the bracket.

With a 4-0 lead heading into the seventh inning senior Travis McPherson had held Freedom to just two hits on the night. The first against him came in the third inning when Alfredo D’Amelio singled. The second came in the sixth when Orlando Rivera singled to left field.

Grove stayed with McPherson in the seventh, though, even after he allowed singles to Jordan Scott, Jason Holland and D’Amelio to load the bases with two outs in the final frame.

Jay Gonzalez proceeded to drive in two runs on a pop-up to left field, which put the winning run at the plate. But McPherson held tough, getting Rivera to groundout to second for the final play of the game.

Then the dugout emptied in celebration.

McPherson struck out five in what became win No. 200 for Grove at Timber Creek. It marked the 15th win in the past 17 games for the Wolves.

The Wolves scored two runs in both the third and fifth innings while spending much of the night taking what they could get at the plate, against Freedom pitcher Michael Clark, and making the routine plays in the field to back up McPherson.

Three errors by the Patriots assisted the Timber Creek offense.

In the third, Tyler Marincov singled to right field and Spencer Angelis got on base with a grounder past third. Jason Anderson helped them reach home plate with a hit up the middle to centerfield, which was misplayed on a bounce, and gave TCHS an early advantage.

In the fifth, Marincov doubled on a grounder past shortstop then scored on a bad throw to the plate after Angelis hit a shot to right field. McPherson followed with a double to right field to plate Angelis and give the Wolves a comfortable cushion the rest of the way.

Timber Creek finished with nine hits in the game as both Marincov and Angelis got things started with bunts in the first inning. Freshman Eugene Vazquez singled on a line drive up the middle in the second and Branden Castro singled through a hole between shortstop and third base in the fourth.

Despite the setback for the Patriots, several big plays were made in the field.

Ronald Schreurs snagged a hart-hit line drive for an out along the first-base line and Scott laid-out to make a catch in right field for an out in the fifth. In the top of the seventh, Jeffrey Orvis fielded a grounder at third and fired a throw to second, where Rivera charged in to make the catch while all in one motion planting a foot on the base for a force-out. Orvis caught a liner on the very next play.

The Class 6A State Semifinals are scheduled for Friday, May 21 at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie with the championship game to follow on Saturday, May 22.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –

Timber Creek (22-7) used two runs in the top of the sixth inning and a gem of a pitching performance from Jonathan Dydo to ruin the postseason debut for Hagerty High School (17-11) on Tuesday night. TCHS overcame a one-run deficit on the road to pull out a 2-1 win over the Class 6A, District 3 champs.

Dydo, a Savannah State College commit, struck out seven and allowed just two hits over seven innings while Hagerty’s Brandon Bixler, bound for Florida Gulf Coast University, also struck out seven and gave up seven hits while going the distance.

It was a tough sixth inning for Bixler that benefited Timber Creek and proved to be the difference.

Trailing 1-0 with one out and runners at first and third for the Wolves, senior Tyler Marincov chopped the first pitch his way over the head of the third baseman to score pinch-runner Milton Alvira and knot the game at 1-all.

Branden Castro started the big inning with a single to left field before Cody Sharp moved him over to second base on a bunt. Alvira took over the base running duties from there and proceeded to third on a single by Austin Moore, who would soon advance to third base himself and tag up on a pop-up to right field by Spencer Angelis during the next at-bat to score the winning run.

That sets up a District 4 rematch on Friday between the Wolves and Freedom (26-4), who took the district title last week in a close game at Winter Park. Freedom ousted Oviedo from postseason play on Tuesday.

The Huskies got on the scoreboard first when in the bottom of the fourth inning Bixler logged Hagerty’s first hit of the game to right field, then made way for pinch runner Sergio Almarez to make his way around the bases.

With Jeff Driskel at the plate, Almarez stole second and third before making it home on a pop-up to centerfield.

Dydo looked to be in trouble from that point on as he then walked a batter and was charged with a balk, which moved runners to second and third with just one out. But then he struck out a batter on a full-count pitch and got out of the inning with a routine groundout to shortstop.

He would dominate from that point on, striking out four of the last nine batters he faced in the final three innings of play.

Marincov and Travis McPherson each finished with two hits while Eugene Vazquez added a single in the seventh for Timber Creek. Marincov also stole a base in the fourth.

Keeping the game close early on for Hagerty was Alex Greene, who turned in some big plays in the field for the Huskies in the loss.

In the third inning the second baseman made a nice catch to his left on a line drive before topping that play with a diving stop of a grounder to the same side, which he turned into the third out of the inning on a throw to first from his knees.

Greene then threw out a runner in the fourth and made a diving stop of a hart-hit grounder to his right side to hold up the hitter at first base. He later did the same thing in the top of the sixth, but the Wolves would do all the damage they would need in the frame for the win.