The Miami Dade College baseball team’s 30-plus win season came to an end after they were eliminated from the State Tournament in Lakeland on May 9 after a 6-1 loss versus Palm Beach State College.
Miami Dade College finished with a 34-17 overall record and a staunch 20-8 record in conference play.
“I think we had awesome chemistry. I think the guys worked together extremely well,” said Head Baseball Coach Danny Price. “That was the key to it, how hard they worked.”
After losing six of their first nine games this season, the Sharks turned things around by winning 14 of their next 15 games. The team’s longest winning streak was an eight game streak in February. After a loss snapped the winning streak, the Sharks went on to win six consecutive games.
However, the Sharks struggled with games played on a neutral field (4-5) and they suffered several injuries to their pitching staff.
“I am not leaving because I had Tommy John surgery last season and I will play next year at Miami Dade,” said right handed pitcher Ernesto Pino, who suffered an injury to his right elbow this season.
Standout players for the Sharks included sophomore outfielder Ramon Varela, sophomore first baseman Christian Garabedian and freshman shortstop Brian Rey.
Varela and Garabedian finished first and second on the team in various offensive categories. Varela led the team in at bats (180), runs (43) and was second in hits with 66. Garabedian finished second in at bats (179), runs (40) and first in hits with 67.
Rey led the team in home runs (6), and batting average (.404) and and slugging percentage (.603).
As a whole, the Sharks played their way to the top of the Southern Conference standings and made it to state competition. The team had a .343 batting average and a .474 slugging percentage.
“As far as next season, we’re in great shape. We got a lot of people coming back. Ten guys returning,” Price said. “I got high expectations for the team next year and I spend a lot of time recruiting players and signing players.”
