GAINESVILLE — The nine individual class finalists for the 2017 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 2017 Mr. Baseball Award finalists (Area winners in bold):
Logan Allen, Senior, Pitcher/Outfielder, University (Orange City), Class 9A Player of the Year
The Florida International signee led his team to the state title game with a 13-0 record and an 0.35 ERA with 151 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. He also had a .450 batting average with 22 runs batted in.
Austin Pollock, Senior, Pitcher/Infielder, Lincoln (Tallahassee), Class 8A Player of the Year
The Florida State signee led his team to the state title, posting a 10-3 record with a 1.67 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched. He closed the season without allowing an earned run in his final 43 innings and batted .317.
Shane Roberts, Senior, Pitcher, Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens), Class 7A Player of the Year
The University of South Carolina signee helped his team to the Final Four with a 9-1 record, posting an 0.82 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 56 innings pitched.
Joe Perez, Senior, Pitcher/Third Baseman, Archbishop McCarthy (SW Ranches), Class 6A Player of the Year
The University of Miami signee led his team to the state title with a .526 batting average with 14 doubles, nine home runs, 24 runs scored and 37 runs batted in. He also had a 4-0 record, a 1.88 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 18 innings.
Trevor Kniskern, Junior, Pitcher, Pompano Beach, Class 5A Player of the Year
Led his team to the Final Four with an 11-1 record, an 0.78 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched. Hit .432 with four home runs, 26 runs scored and 27 runs batted in.
Nolan Hudi, Sophomore, Pitcher/Outfielder, Calvary Christian (Clearwater), Class 4A Player of the Year
The Texas Christian University commit was the pitching ace for the unbeaten state champions, posting a 10-0 record with an 0.54 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 65 innings pitched.
Sam Keating, Senior, Pitcher/Outfielder, Canterbury (Ft. Myers), Class 3A Player of the Year
Last year’s Class 3A Player-of-the-Year led Canterbury to its second straight state title by posting an 11-1 record, a 1.06 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. The Clemson University signee also hit .405 with 26 runs batted in.
Trenton Brickhouse, Senior, Pitcher, Deltona Trinity Christian, Class 2A Player of the Year
Led his team to the state title game by posting an 11-2 record with a 1.94 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched. Also hit .429 with 26 runs batted in.
Trent Simmons, Senior, Pitcher, Trenton, Class 1A Player of the Year
The Hillsborough Community College signee led his team to the state title with a perfect 12-0 record, posting an 0.74 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched.
Following are the 2017 Baseball Coach of the Year finalists:
Tim Beaman, Timber Creek (Orlando), Class 9A Coach of the Year
Led his squad to a 25-7 record and the state title. In four years at Timber Creek, Beaman has a 64-45 record with another Final Four appearance in 2015.
Mike Gauger, Lincoln (Tallahassee), Class 8A Coach of the Year
In his first year at Lincoln, led the school to a 26-6 record and its first state championship, closing the season on a 19-game winning streak. In 13 years (12 at Wakulla with a 2011 Final Four appearance) has a career record of 224-116.
Jeremiah Klosterman, Nease (Ponte Vedra), Class 7A Coach of the Year
Led Nease to a 21-11 record and the school’s first state title in his first season at the school. His career mark in five years (four at Fleming Island) is 82-45.
Rich Bielski, Archbishop McCarthy (SW Ranches), Class 6A Coach of the Year
Bielski led McCarthy to a 29-2 record and its seventh state title in the past eight years. In 19 years as a head coach (nine at McCarthy and 10 at Hialeah), Bielski has posted a 468-122 record, including two more state titles at Hialeah (2001-02).
Mike Boswell, The Bolles School (Jacksonville), Class 5A Coach of the Year
Boswell led Bolles to a 22-10 record and its second straight state title. In 12 years at the school he has posted a 259-82 record. In 18 years overall (six at Englewood) he has a 397-126 record, with another state title in 1999.
Greg Olsen, Calvary Christian (Clearwater), Class 4A Coach of the Year
Olsen led his squad to a 30-0 record and his school’s first state title in any sport, posting Florida’s first unbeaten record since Pensacola Catholic pulled off the feat in 2013. In six years at Calvary, Olsen has a 125-46 record and
a 12-year career record of 253-86.
Frank Turco, Canterbury (Ft. Myers), Class 3A Coach of the Year
Turco’s squad went 27-5 record and won its second straight state championship. In three years at Canterbury, Turco has posted an 80-11 record. His overall record in 17 years (14 at Estero) is 363-127 with a state runnerup finish in 2013.
Miguel Cuello, Trinity Christian (Lake Worth), Class 2A Coach of the Year
Cuello led his squad to a 22-6 record and its second straight state championship. In 13 years as a head coach he has compiled a 283-73 record, with two state runnerup finishes (2007 and 2010).
Adam Burton, Trenton, Class 1A Coach of the Year
Burton led his squad to a 27-1 record, including a season-ending 20-game winning streak, on its way to the state championship. In two seasons at Trenton, Burton has a 41-8 record.
Final voting numbers by class listed below:
Class 9A
Player School Points
Logan Allen University 104
Bret Neilan Timber Creek 85
Jordan Butler Alonso 51
Coach School Points
Tim Beaman Timber Creek 130
Frank Martello University 89
Andy Mook Jupiter 37
Class 8A
Player School Points
Austin Pollock Lincoln 71
Trace Moore Nova 67
Andrew Eyster Forest (Ocala) 47
Coach School Points
Mike Gauger Lincoln 145
Matt Cleveland Hagerty 77
Pat McQuaid Nova 48
Class 7A
Player School Points
Shane Roberts Dwyer 123
Brian Lee King 51
Brennan Vasquez Milton 23
Coach School Points
Jeremiah Klosterman Nease (Ponte Vedra) 129
Jim Macaluso King 74
Frank Torre Dwyer 42
Class 6A
Player School Points
Joe Perez Archbishop McCarthy 130
Nick Agosto Mosley 72
Tyler Vogel Dunedin 31
Coach School Points
Rich Bielski Archbishop McCarthy 132
Miguel Menendez Jesuit 71
Jon Hudson Mosley 56
Class 5A
Player School Points
Trevor Kniskern Pompano Beach 83
Austin Knight Bolles (Jacksonville) 61
Josh Bates Bishop Moore 50
Coach School Points
Mike Boswell Bolles (Jacksonville) 108
Joe Giummule Pompano Beach 80
Tony Mehlich Bishop Moore 68
Class 4A
Player School Points
Nolan Hudi Clearwater Calvary Chr. 81
Eric Kennedy Clearwater Calvary Chr. 75
P.J. Cimo John Paul II 54
Coach School Points
Greg Olsen Clearwater Calvary Chr. 140
Sonny Reedy Pensacola Catholic 73
Scott Grove The First Academy 27
Class 3A
Player School Points
Sam Keating Canterbury 107
Dominic Diaz Bishop McLaughlin 46
Cody Melton University Christian (Jacksonville) 35
Coach School Points
Frank Turco Canterbury 127
Daryl Bizier University Christian (Jacksonville) 57
Andy Blanco Archbishop Carroll 51
Class 2A
Player School Points
Trenton Brickhouse Trinity Christian (Deltona) 81
Angel Tiburcio Lake Worth Trinity Chr. 77
Josh McDonough Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) 54
Coach School Points
Miguel Cuello Lake Worth Trinity Christian 142
Bryan Maples Trinity Christian (Deltona) 87
Kurt Dugan Christ’s Church Academy (Jacksonville) 25
Class 1A
Player School Points
Trent Simmons Trenton 110
Austin Garofalo South Walton 60
Bryson Horne Blountstown 53
Coach School Points
Adam Burton Trenton 140
Terry Barrs Madison County 55
Nick Borthwick South Walton 55
