GAINESVILLE (June 14) — The nine individual class finalists for the 2018 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Baseball and Baseball Coach of the Year have been announced following balloting by a statewide panel of high school baseball coaches and prep media representatives.
Every finalist was the leading vote-getter in their classification, making each one the Player of the Year or Coach of the Year in their class. The two overall winners will be announced following a final round of balloting by coaches and media.
Following are the 2018 Mr. Baseball Award finalists (area players/coaches in bold):
Bret Neilan, Senior, Pitcher, Timber Creek (Orlando), Class 9A Player of the Year
The Stetson signee led his team to the state title game with an 8-1 record and an 0.77 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched.
Caleb Roberts, Senior, Catcher, St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale), Class 8A Player of the Year
The University of North Carolina signee led his team to the state title with a .506 batting average with 18 doubles, six home runs and 53 runs batted in.
Rece Hinds, Junior, Infielder, Niceville, Class 7A Player of the Year
Led his team to a district title by posting a .494 batting average with eight doubles, four triples and 13 home runs with 45 runs scored and 53 runs batted in.
Mason Denaburg, Senior, Pitcher, Merritt Island, Class 6A Player of the Year
The University of Florida commit led his team to the state title game with a 5-1 record, an 0.99 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 35 innings pitched while posting a .410 batting average with five home runs and 21 RBI. He was the first-round pick of the Washington Nationals in the recent major league baseball draft.
Hunter Barco, Junior, Pitcher, The Bolles School (Jacksonville), Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state title game with a 9-1 record, a 1.90 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Hit .330 with 10 doubles, four home runs, 19 runs scored and 28 runs batted in.
Christian Scott, Senior, Pitcher, Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale), Class 4A Player of the Year
The University of Florida signee was the pitching ace for the state champions, posting an 11-0 record with a 1.44 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched.
JD Tease, Junior, Shortstop, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee), Class 3A Player of the Year
Led his team to a state runnerup finish with a .505 batting average, 19 doubles, 45 runs scored and 35 runs batted in.
Parker Pillsbury, Senior, Outfielder, Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto), Class 2A Player of the Year
The Florida State signee led his team to the Final Four with a .595 batting average with 11 doubles, nine home runs, 42 runs scored and 26 runs batted in.
Landon Kennedy, Senior, Pitcher, Trenton, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to the Final Four by posting an 11-1 record with a 1.13 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. Also had a .324 batting average with 20 runs batted in.
Following are the 2018 Baseball Coach of the Year finalists:
Andy Mook, Jupiter, Class 9A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 20-11 record and the state title. In seven years at Jupiter, Mook has a 143-65 record with another Final Four appearance in 2013.
Troy Cameron, St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale), Class 8A Coach of the Year
In his sixth year at Aquinas, Cameron led the school to a 27-3 record and the state championship. He has a career record of 127-33 with another Final Four appearance in 2013.
Craig Faulkner, Venice, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led Venice to a 26-8 record and its fifth state title in the past 11 years. He has been to the Final Four six of the past seven years and has posted a 437-172 record in his 20-year head coaching career.
Juan Fontela, Jefferson (Tampa), Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 22-8 record and the Class 6A state title. In four years at Jefferson, Fontela has a 70-41 record.
Tom Duffin, Monsignor Pace (MIami), Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 24-6 record, including 15 straight wins to close the season, and the state title. In 23 years at Pace, Duffin has a pair of state titles (2006) and a pair of state runnerup finishes (2013, 2016).
Alan Kunkel, Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale), Class 4A Coach of the Year
In his third year at the school, Kunkel led his team to a 17-15 record and his second state title (2016). His overall record in 10 years (seven at Orangewood Christian) is 182-113 with a state runner-up finish in 2011.
Frank Turco, Canterbury (Fort Myers), Class 3A Coach of the Year
Turco’s squad went 27-5 record and won its third straight state championship. In four years at Canterbury, Turco has posted a 107-16 record. His overall record in 18 years (14 at Estero) is 410-132 with a state runnerup finish in 2013.
Chris Cuadra, Miami Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Cuello led his squad to a 24-5 record and the Class 2A state championship.
Ashley Summerlin, Port St. Joe, Class 1A Coach of the Year
In his first year at Port St. Joe, Summerlin led his squad to an 18-12 record and the Class 1A state championship.
Final voting numbers by class listed below:
Class 9A
Player School Points
Bret Neilan Timber Creek 116
Franco Aleman Alonso 94
Frank Gonzalez Flanagan 70
Coach School Points
Andy Mook Jupiter 184
Tim Beaman Timber Creek 120
Joe Weber Columbus 48
Class 8A
Player School Points
Caleb Roberts Aquinas 162
Kris Williams Lee (Jacksonville) 78
Pablo Garabitos Lakewood Ranch 69
Coach School Points
Troy Cameron Aquinas 154
Clyde Metcalf Sarasota 105
Chad Crosby George Jenkins 86
Class 7A
Player School Points
Rece Hinds Niceville 119
Lency Delgado Doral Academy 76
Orion Kerkering Venice 62
Coach School Points
Craig Faulkner Venice 127
Jason McBride Pace 65
Jeff Blackstone Melbourne 52
Class 6A
Player School Points
Mason Denaburg Merritt Island 98
Carter Stewart Eau Gallie 85
Triston Casas American Heritage 81
Coach School Points
Juan Fontela Jefferson 122
Greg Plecki Merritt Island 87
Josh Persinger Clay (Green Cove Springs) 61
Class 5A
Player School Points
Hunter Barco Bolles (Jacksonville) 104
JP Gates Nature Coast (Brooksville) 78
Xavier Edwards North Broward Prep 67
Coach School Points
Tom Duffin Monsignor Pace 141
Mike Boswell Bolles (Jacksonville) 88
Frank Vitale Nature Coast (Brooksville) 65
Class 4A
Player School Points
Christian Scott Calvary Christian Academy 114
Nolan Hudi Clearwater Calvary Christian 86
Alec Sanchez Providence (Jacksonville) 73
Coach School Points
Alan Kunkel Calvary Christian Academy 139
Greg Olsen Clearwater Calvary Christian 102
Gil Morales Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 59
Class 3A
Player School Points
JD Tease North Florida Christian 89
Max Rippl SW Florida Christian 74
Ryan Guida Coral Springs Charter 68
Coach School Points
Frank Turco Canterbury 165
Mike Posey North Florida Christian 106
Ken Akins Carrollwood Day 45
Class 2A
Player School Points
Parker Pillsbury Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) 108
Andrew Miller Seacrest 81
David Santiago Bayshore Christian 70
Coach School Points
Chris Cuadra Miami Christian 135
Bubba Dempsey Wakulla Christian 101
Ryan Abrams Mt. Dora Christian 41
Class 1A
Player School Points
Landon Kennedy Trenton 126
Christian Rey Williston 88
Dakota Goodman Baldwin 59
Coach School Points
Ashley Summerlin Port St. Joe 137
Jason Fletcher Madison County 86
Emory Horne Blountstown 62
