After honoring nine other sports, TCPalm wraps up its Spring All-Area season by looking at the boys of the summer.
Baseball concludes matters as area teams saw plenty of success on the diamonds. Eight programs in total qualified for regionals, with two squads advanced beyond that stage.
Vero Beach and Martin County each hoisted regional championship trophies. For Vero, it was the program’s second trip to Fort Myers in three years. As for the Tigers, it was their first state appearance in 58 years.
Okeechobee and St. Edward’s were among the other area teams that experienced postseason success. Those schools highlight the players selected for the All-Area baseball teams. See which players were the best of the best as TCPalm finishes its celebration of the spring’s top athletes.
Player of the Year
Caleb Wood, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Wood was the best overall bat on the area’s best team. The senior hit for average while displaying tremendous pop, as he paced the area with five home runs. He also added four doubles and two triples as part of a .390 average. Additionally, Wood drew 12 walks, drove in 26 runs while scoring 14 himself. His best game of the season came during money time, as he went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and three RBI’s during the team’s Game 1 win over Park Vista in the regional finals.
Pitcher of the Year
Cody Morgan, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
A part of a tremendous starting staff, Morgan remained the team’s ace and go-team arm. The South Alabama signee set new career-bests in ERA (1.30) and strikeouts (111). His strikeout number stood for an area-best. The senior fanned at least 10 batters on three occasions and held the opponent to two hits or less four times. Although Morgan was pinned with the loss during each of Vero’s defeat, the pitcher also became the program’s all-time wins leader. This is the second time in three years that Morgan has been named TCPalm’s Pitcher of the Year.
All-Area First Team
Peyton Baum, Jensen Beach
Year: Senior
Despite a 5-6 record, Baum was a reliable arm at the top of the Falcons staff. The senior delivered a 2.02 ERA, which is nearly a full-run better than his previous season. Baum backed that up with 57 strikeouts to only 16 walks along with a .177 opponent’s batting average. Even when he wasn’t at his best, he always gave the Falcons a chance. His most notable performance in the dstrict title game against Dr. Joaquan Garcia, where Baum struck out seven through five innings to get the win..
Colton Bettencourt, Martin County
Year: Junior
Bettencourt transferred to the Tigers after putting up solid numbers at South Fork. And during his first year in blue and gold, the junior catcher produced his best year yet, as paced state-bound Martin County in batting (.322) and RBIs (24). He added a home run and five doubles while not committing an error in 121 total chances.
Landon Del Tufo, Martin County
Year: Junior
Transferring over from John Carroll Catholic, Del Tufo turned into the Tigers’ workhouse capable of putting up zeros. The junior tossed a team-best 45 1/3 innings, 12 more than the next closest teammate. During his time on the bump, Del Tufo managed a 1.85 ERA with 53 strikeouts and a .152 OBA.
Nate Downey, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Taking a major leap in competition, Downey proved to be just about as valuable to Vero as he was previously with Master’s Academy. The senior was outstanding at the plate. Hitting near the top of the lineup, Downey batted a strong .375 with eight doubles, a triple and a team-best 30 runs scored. He was seldomly used as a pitcher, but still posted a 3.18 ERA through 11 innings of work.
Caden Freedman, St. Edward’s
Year: Sophomore
Freedman starred for a Pirates team that enjoyed a six-win improvement and reached the regional semifinals during their return to the FHSAA. With plenty of years to look forward to in a St. Edward’s uniform, the sophomore was impressive both on the mound and at the plate. He totaled 49 strikeouts to just 14 walks and 1.41 ERA through 49 2/3 innings pitched. Freedman also batted .451 with 27 RBIs, five doubles and two triples.
Dominick Grimaldi, Fort Pierce Central
Year: Senior
Grimaldi was a critical piece in the Cobras’ march to the regional quarterfinals. The senior provided production in the middle of a dangerous lineup. He hit .400 with a home run, six doubles and a triple. Grimaldi paced Central in RBIs (23) and extra-base hits (8) while putting up a 1.053 OPS. He had just one error while playing a clean shortstop.
Thomas Johnson, Treasure Coast
Year: Senior
Johnson returns to the All-Area First Team thanks to a stellar senior campaign. The shortstop/third baseman was far and away the Titans’ best performer, pacing the team in batting (.464), hits (26), doubles (6) and runs scored (17). Elsewhere, he stole 10 bases and didn’t record an error in 51 total chances.
Bradyn Lineberry, Okeechobee
Year: Senior
Lineberry played a key role in the Brahmans’ run to back-to-back district titles. The senior ranked near the top of several offensive categories. He was first in RBIs (24), walks (19) and runs scored (23), second in hits (27), third in batting average (.370) and OPS (.963), and tied for third in doubles (5). Additionally, Lineberry only committed three errors on the infield and racked up 10 strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings on the mound.
Colt Miller, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Another John Carroll transfer, Miller was often overshadowed by the team’s top two pitchers. However, the senior shined in both spot starts and as a receiver. He finished 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA with 47 strikeouts to just seven walks and a .167 OBA. Miller was called on to close multiple games as he recorded three saves out of the bullpen.
Zane Moody, Martin County
Year: Senior
Moody’s grand slam in the top of the seventh inning during Game 3 of the Region 2-6A Finals sealed the Tigers’ comeback victory vs. Lake Minneola. But the senior was more than that just moment, as he was called on to pitch due to injuries in the rotation. Moody, who signed to play at Pasco Hernando State, responded with a 0.63 ERA, 34 strikeouts and a .168 OBA through 33 1/3 innings. Additionally, he batted. .295 with three home runs, four doubles and 19 RBIs.
Timothy Stevens, Fort Pierce Central
Year: Junior
This Cobras outfielder captured the area’s batting title. Stevens rarely recorded an out after he batting .571 with four extra-base hits, 32 overall hits, 19 runs scored and 16 more driven in. He was on base 63 percent of the time and had an OPS of 1.292. Stevens hit safely on 18 of 19 Central games.
Brandon Walker, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Towering over his opponents thanks to a 6-foot-5 frame, the second half of Vero’s dynamite 1-2 pitching punch was the most consistent pitcher while working at a high volume. Walker made a team-best 16 appearances, finishing undefeated at 9-0 with a miniscule 0.55 ERA. He struck out 77 batters and posted an OBA of .160. The Wallace State Community College signee tossed a 1-0 masterpiece against Harmoney during the regional semifinals. That night, Walker gave up two hits during a complete-game shutout.
Carsen Williams, Okeechobee
Year: Senior
Arguably no player was in a better groove during the stretch than this senior. The Brahmans ace tossed sparking gem after sparking gem to lead the program to a regional semifinal appearance. Williams allowed just one run through five consecutive starts, which includes two complete-game shutouts and six no-hit frames in another game. He ended his final season with a 1.07 ERA with 67 strikeouts and a .152 OBA. The senior was also the Okeechoebee’s best hitter, batting .439 with eight doubles and two triples.
All-Area Second Team
Nolan Ange, St. Edward’s
Year: Eighth grade
Stats: .500 avg., 4 2B, 2 3B, 31 H, 18 RBI, 28 R, 12 SB, 1.180 OPS
Jakobe Blackwood, Fort Pierce Central
Year: Senior
Stats: .463 avg., 5 2B, 25 H, 6 RBI, 20 R, 17 SB, 0 E in 89 TC, 1.088 OPS
Carlos De La Cruz, Fort Pierce Central
Year: Senior
Stats: .553 avg., HR, 4 2B, 2 3B, 21 H, 16 RBI, 8 R, 12 SB, 1.437 OPS
Brennan Jones, Martin County
Year: Junior
Stats: .306 avg., HR, 8 2B, 30 H, 15 RBI, 23 R, 14 BB, 17 SB, .839 OPS
Jamison Jones, Sebastian River
Year: Senior
Stats: 48 2/3 IP, 6-2 record, 1.44 ERA, 55 K, 16 BB, .160 OBA
Andrew Polhemus, Jensen Beach
Year: Sophomore
Stats: .329 avg., 2 HR, 5 2B, 3B, 23 H, 13 RBI, 25 R, 14 BB, .982 OPS
Jaxon Pomar, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Stats: .317 avg., 2 HR, 3 2B, 20 H, 18 RBI, 14 R, .910 OPS
Kamai Pruce, Fort Pierce Central
Year: Junior
Stats: .386 avg., 4 2B, 3B, 21 H, 13 RBI, 22 R, 12 BB, 22 SB, .953 OPS
Colin Ryan, Jensen Beach
Year: Senior
Stats: .360 avg., 5 2B, 3B, 27 H, 21 RBI, 21 R, 11 BB, .890 OPS
John Thornton IV, Martin County
Year: Junior
Stats: .277 avg., 2 HR, 4 2B, 3B, 23 H, 12 RBI, 26 R, 24 BB, 16 SB, .922 OPS
Dillon Thomas Martin County
Year: Junior
Stats: 26 2/3 IP, 2-1 record, 2.62 ERA, 40 K, 7 BB, .208 OBA
Jordan Tomas, Vero Beach
Year: Senior
Stats: .446 avg., 25 H, 10 RBI, 18 R, 1.027 OPS
Will Vining, South Fork
Year: Senior
Stats: .354 avg., 6 2B, 17 H, 16 RBI, 10 R, .954 OPS
Aaron White, Okeechobee
Year: Junior
Stats: 47 IP, 4-4 record, 1.94 ERA, 57 K, 15 BB, .211 OBA
Honorable Mention
Layton Chandler, John Carroll Catholic junior
Luke Dowd, South Fork junior
Armani Estevez, St. Lucie West Centennial senior
Colton Freedman, St. Edward’s freshman
Mason Kindell, Okeechobee senior
Jacob Higgins, Master’s Academy junior
Hunter Johnston, Vero Beach junior
Peyton Landers, Sebastian River junior
McClain Lewis, Jensen Beach junior
Dom Lopez, Vero Beach junior
Grady Messner, Martin County senior
Jabari Monds, Fort Pierce Westwood senior
Seth Osborn, Jensen Beach junior
Brycen Payne, Martin County junior
Wyatt Parks, Martin County junior
Jacob Sanchez, Treasure Coast senior
Hudson Schlitt, Vero Beach junior
Charles Singletary, Vero Beach senior
Jack Torresson, St. Edward’s freshman
Hunter Wilson, Martin County senior
Coach of the Year
Brett Hawkins, Martin County
Hawkins was the man behind the Tigers’ miracle run, leading the program to its first state appearance since 1968. Martin County got hot at the right time, winning 10 of 11 games before falling in extra innings to top-seeded Buchholz in a tight 6A semifinal to finish the season at 24-8.. Along the way, the Tigers squeezed past Dwyer to win a district title. They convincing beat Viera in a Region 2-6A quarterfinal, sweep top-seeded Bloomingdale in the semifinals before staging an epic comeback to beat Lake Minneola in the region finals.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: TCPalm Spring All-Area: Baseball’s best on the Treasure Coast
Reporting by Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Patrick Bernadeau, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
