FL HS Previews: Olympic Heights, Viera, Bozeman, Providence, Riverdale
February 4, 2021
As we continue our Preseason Power25 High School Rankings, we would like to highlight the teams that did not make our Top 25 but took the time to fill out our Preseason Team Preview Questionnaire.
Team: Olympic Heights
2020 Record: 4-7
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Casey Beck
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Jake Neese, 1B, 2021 (Christian Brothers)
Mike Velardi, SS, 2021
Tyler Bodden, C/DH, 2021
X-FACTOR
Ethan Zbeda - Sophomore lefty pitcher. If he can stay healthy and build confidence, he will be special.
Team Strengths
Young and Eager team
OUTLOOK
Olympic Heights is young but talented and eager to compete. They struggled last season but are looking to bounce back in 2021. They always come to play, and will be a tough matchup for any opponent. Coach Beck is excited to see what his team brings in 2021.
Team: Viera
2020 Record: 6-3
FHSAA Class: 6A
Head Coach: Bob Doty
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Cole Teply, RHP/1B, 2021 (Francis Marion)
Jake Vermeire, OF, 2021
Edian Espinal, SS, 2022
Alex Sosa, C, 2023 (NC State)
Lucas Glendinning, RHP/3B, 2023
X-FACTOR
Alex Sosa
Team Strengths
Pitching and defense
OUTLOOK
This upcoming squad will have senior leadership at top with Cole Teply and Jake Vermeire. David Rusnak will be a solid LHP at top of rotation. Team will have a solid pitching staff looking to sophomore Lucas Glendinning for quality starts. Defensively will be solid up the middle with Alex Sosa behind the dish, Espinal at SS, and Vermeire in Centerfield. Offensively Teply and Sosa will lead the way along with Espinal and Vermeire.
Team: Bozeman
2020 Record: 10-0
FHSAA Class: 1A
Head Coach: Jeff Patton
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Anthony Street, C/RHP, 2021
Jeremy Todd, RHP/3B, 2022
Brody Langlotz, OF/RHP, 2022
X-FACTOR
Banks Byers
Team Strengths
Team speed, Defensively solid, swing it well
OUTLOOK
Bozeman should be a team that can really run up and down the line up, going to put a lot of pressure on their opponents. They should swing it well with line up depth, hitting for average and power. Defense will be strong, that's been the hallmark of their success for years. Going to rely on their top end of the rotation guys and try to build some depth throughout the season.
Team: Providence
2020 Record: 7-3
FHSAA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Mac Mackiewitz
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Connor Hegan, RHP, 2022 (UNC)
X-FACTOR
Waz Rollings and Dylan Hale
Team Strengths
Pitching/Defense
OUTLOOK
Providence lost a lot after the 2019 season (Tyler Callihan - Cincinnati Reds, Nathan Hickey and Tucker Talbott - UF) but the 2020 team was very scrappy and was off to a solid start. Providence will look to continue that success in 2021 led by RHP Connor Hegan (UNC).
Team: Riverdale
2020 Record: 6-5
FHSAA Class: 7A
Head Coach: Bob Pringle
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Richard Belcher, RHP/OF, 2021
Garter Grant, OF, 2021
Julian Gomez, 2B, 2021
Tanner Smart, OF, 2021
Carson Sekula, C, 2022
Jessie Ramirez, RHP/3B, 2022
Garrett Corkhill, LHP/1B, 2022
Kannon Davis, LHP, 2022
X-FACTOR
Richard Belcher
Team Strengths
Pitching and speed
OUTLOOK
Riverdale will throw strikes, make the routine plays, put the ball in play, and use their speed to create chaos for their opponents. Coach Pringle likes his team’s chances in each and every game.
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