GAINESVILLE (June 10) — The nine individual class finalists for the 2019 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 2019 Mr. Baseball Award finalists (area winners in bold)
Matthew Allan, Senior, Pitcher, Seminole, Class 9A Player of the Year
Led his school to its first state title with an 8-2 record, a 1.20 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched. Threw a perfect game with 17 strikeouts in district semifinal. Signed with the University of Florida. Picked in the third round of the MLB draft by the New York Mets.
Parker Messick, Senior, Pitcher, Plant City, Class 8A Player of the Year
The Florida State signee led his school to the state title with an 11-1 record, posting a 1.06 ERA with 125 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 86 innings pitched. In regional final and state semifinal wins, threw 14 shutout innings, giving up only four hits and striking out 24 batters. Also hit .319 with 18 runs batted in, nine doubles and two home runs.
Jackson Miller, Junior, Pitcher/Third Baseman, Mitchell, Class 7A Player of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-0 regular-season record with a 9-1 record and an 0.67 ERA. Had 81 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 63 innings pitched. Hit .464 with 28 runs scored and 32 runs batted in. Has committed to Wake Forest University.
Camden Minacci, Junior, Pitcher, Jesuit, Class 6A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship with a 12-1 record and a 1.12 ERA. Had 85 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. Has committed to Wake Forest University.
Nick Durgin, Senior, Pitcher/Shortstop, Melbourne Central Catholic, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his squad to the state title with a 9-1 record and an 0.31 ERA, allowing only three earned runs in 67 innings pitched while striking out 108 batters. Threw a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in the state semifinal. Has committed to Stetson University.
Nolan Hudl, Senior, Pitcher, Clearwater Calvary Christian, Class 4A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state championship game with an 11-1 record and an 0.68 ERA, striking out 107 batters with only 11 walks in 62 innings pitched. Hit .338 with 17 runs batted in. Signed with Texas Christian University.
Brandon Walker, Senior, Pitcher/Utility, North Florida Christian, Class 3A Player of the Year
Led his team to the Final Four with an 8-2 record and a 1.00 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 63 innings pitched. Hit .341 with seven doubles, five home runs and 27 runs batted in. Signed with Florida State University.
Carson Pillsbury, Junior, Pitcher/Utility, Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto), Class 2A Player of the Year
Following in the footsteps of his brother Parker, the 2018 Class 2A POY, Carson compiled a 4-0 record with 74 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. He hit .473 with eight doubles, six home runs and 46 runs batted in.
Cade Parker, Senior, Pitcher, Bozeman, Class 1A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state Final Four with a 9-2 record and a 1.05 ERA, striking out 91 hitters in 67 innings pitched. Hit .382 with 43 runs scored and 23 runs batted in. Has signed with Florida Atlantic University.
Following are the 2019 Baseball Coach of the Year finalists:
Kenne Brown, Seminole, Class 9A Coach of the Year
In his first year as head coach, led his squad to a 23-9 record and the school’s first Final Four appearance since 1992, culminating in Seminole’s first state baseball championship.
Michael Fryrear, Plant City, Class 8A Coach of the Year
In his seventh year at Plant City, Fryrear led the school to a 30-2 record and the state championship. He has a career record of 106-66.
Craig Faulkner, Venice, Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led Venice to a 27-6 record and its sixth state title in the past 12 years. He has been to the Final Four seven of the past eight years and has posted a 456-178 record in his 24-year head coaching career.
Miguel Menendez, Jesuit, Class 6A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 27-5 record and the Class 6A state title. In five years at Jesuit, Menendez has a 114-37 record with a state runnerup finish in 2017. His overall record in 13 years as a head coach is 243-127.
Tom Dooley, Melbourne Central Catholic, Class 5A Coach of the Year
Led his team to a 25-6 record and the state title. In 31 years at the school, Dooley has a pair of state titles (2013, 2019) another Final Four appearance (2016) and an overall record of 584-235.
Carm Mazza, American Heritage-Delray, Class 4A Coach of the Year
In his 21st year at the school, Mazza led his team to a 29-3 record and his first state title. His overall record of 435-167 includes a state runnerup finish (2012) and three other Final Four appearances (2006, 2007 and 2017).
Blane Fox, Lakeland Christian, Class 3A Coach of the Year
Fox led his school to a 24-5 record, its first Final Four appearance and its first state championship. In 14 years at LCS, Fox has a 200-147 record.
Chris Cuadra, Miami Christian, Class 2A Coach of the Year
Cuadra led his squad to a 20-8 record and its second straight state championship. In seven years at MCS, Cuadra has a 105-74 record, including a 64-21 mark the past three years.
Jim Smith, Williston, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 21-9 record and the state championship. In 17 years at Williston he has posted a 314-54 record and in his 23-year head coaching career he has an overall mark of 404-197.
Final voting numbers by class listed below:
Class 9A
Player School Points
Matthew Allan Seminole 85
Will Sullivan Dr. Phillips 77
Hunter Fitz-Gerald Stoneman Douglas 50
Coach School Points
Kenne Brown Seminole 110
Tim Beaman Timber Creek 54
Chris Leon Coral Reef 44
Class 8A
Player School Points
Parker Messick Plant City 87
Riley Greene Hagerty 82
Dylan Eskew Sickles 46
Coach School Points
Michael Fryrear Plant City 105
Eric Beattie Strawberry Crest 65
Oddibe McDowell McArthur 34
Class 7A
Player School Points
Jackson Miller Mitchell 67
Mitchell Fairgrieve Creekside (St. Johns) 59
Gabriel Gutierrez Doral Academy 57
Coach School Points
Craig Faulkner Venice 97
Kris King Creekside (St. Johns) 57
Ralph Suarez Doral Academy 38
Class 6A
Player School Points
Camden Minacci Jesuit 65
Ben Gilbert Lake Wales 42
Anthony Nunez Miami Springs 34
Coach School Points
Miguel Menendez Jesuit 102
Ron Sexton Dunedin 73
David Fanshawe Miami Springs 54
Class 5A
Player School Points
Nick Durgin Melbourne Central Catholic 79
Ethan Thompson Santa Fe (Alachua) 45
Bo Bonds Suwannee (Live Oak) 42
Coach School Points
Tom Dooley Melbourne Central Catholic 110
Jason Hamilton Cardinal Gibbons 72
Justin Bruce Suwannee (Live Oak) 51
Class 4A
Player School Points
Nolan Hudl Clearwater Calvary Christian 86
Tyler Callihan Providence (Jacksonville) 60
Nelson Berkwich American Heritage 48
Coach School Points
Carm Mazza American Heritage 85
Greg Olsen Clearwater Calvary Christian 72
Gil Morales Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) 39
Class 3A
Player School Points
Brandon Walker North Florida Christian 65
Jovan Gill SW Florida Christian 54
Josh Morse Orangewood Christian 47
Coach School Points
Blane Fox Lakeland Christian 115
Frank Turco Canterbury 65
Mike Posey North Florida Christian 42
Class 2A
Player School Points
Carson Pillsbury Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto) 67
Alejandro Rosario Miami Christian 47
Korbin Kurtz Real Life Christian 35
Coach School Points
Chris Cuadra Miami Christian 102
Mark Marsala Seacrest Country Day 60
Mike Koronka Real Life Christian 52
Class 1A
Player School Points
Cade Parker Bozeman 61
Parker Seay Williston 52
Connor Varnum Paxton 45
Coach School Points
Jim Smith Williston 97
Kyle Parnell Chiefland 53
Jeff Patton Bozeman 39
