Sharks Aim To Return To College World Series

The  Miami Dade College baseball team had a very successful season last year: three wins at the National Junior College World Series, a 38 win season and  coming within one game of being crowned National Champions.

But the Sharks are not resting on their laurels. After reloading in the offseason with new talent to augment a talented core of returning players, they are poised to make another run at a JUCO title.

“I want to help Miami Dade College to become first in the country,” said freshman right-handed pitcher, Richard Moesker, one of the new players on this year’s team.

Moesker will be joined by another promising pitcher, first year right-hander Mauricio Amaral and a  trio of talented freshman outfielders Kevin Williams, Chris Bec and Brandon Vicens, a Plantation American Heritage product who was drafted in the 35th Round by the Cincinnati Reds last year.

Also adding to the mix will be some key transfers such as sophomore third baseman, Mike Perez, from Florida International University, right-handed pitcher Colyn O’Connell, who is coming back from Tommy John Surgery, and catchers Dakota Robbins from Auburn, and  Nelson Mompierre from FIU.  

“We need to become a family in order to get as far as we can,” Amaral said.

The newcomers will be joined by returning players such as pitchers Robert Evans, who returned to the baseball field last year after having open heart surgery 16 months prior, Jonathan Bermudez, who was 7-2 with a 3.18 ERA and strikeouts out of the bullpen, shortstop Bryan Colon, who hit .355 and added three home runs and 29 RBI, and first baseman David Palenzuela, who batted .329 and had 38 RBI.  

The team is aware they have some big shoes to fill.  

“Just from the generations before us, so many great teams came out of here and won state championships,” Perez said.  

Sharks Head Baseball Coach Danny Price, a baseball veteran who picked up his 1,200th career win last year, said the team must develop leadership to be successful this year.   

“Discipline and prioritizing is key for baseball victory,” Coach Price said  “They are also life essential skills; that was what our team looked like last year.”