News Stories/Key West High Baseball Team Has A Lot Of Pitching

 

By Ralph Morrow

 

When Coach Ralph Henriquez Jr. says the Key West High baseball team has “lots of pitching,” he means just that.

 

 

In preseason games at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Rex Weech Field, against Somerset Academy and Southridge, Henriquez will have the luxury of using several pitchers, some for a couple innings, others, even starters, for not much more.

 

 

“With our style of pitching, we’ll save arms and several will get a chance,” said the coach, who returns to the diamond this season after resigning following the 2005 state championship season.

 

 

Henriquez said Brandon Presley, Steve Wells, Greg Veliz, Darren Miller and Hunter Sellers will all be considered starters, but others, including Jay Feathers, Damon Taylor and Hunter Mattieson, will pitch in relief. “We have eight guys who can pitch at the Varsity level,” said Henriquez.

 

 

Asked to name the eight starters in the field, Henriquez can almost do that, but with a caveat – some of those “starters” are also pitchers, so everyone on the squad will have to be on their toes ready to play.

 

 

Chris Varela, “who has been doing a good job defensively,” and Gus Galo, who has had a sore elbow for a couple weeks, will probably alternate catching, said the coach, with sophomore Patrick Edwards doing the bulk of the backstopping for the JV team.

 

 

Sellers will be the regular third baseman, Veliz at shortstop, Miller at second and Hugo Valdes at first. With one of the first three on the mound, Anthony Henriquez will move in at second base. In the outfield, if they’re not pitching, will be Presley in left, Wells in center and Andy Perez in right. Taylor and Mattieson will also play in the outfield as well as move down at times to play with the JV team.

 

 

“The kids are really working hard,” said Henriquez, as the Conchs try to improve on their 12-12 season of a year ago.

 

 

Senior Miller has committed to Florida State, while sophomore Veliz has already committed to the University of Miami –- probably as a pitcher, since Henriquez says his fast ball has been timed in the 92-94 miles per hour range. Wells and Valdes are probably headed to Santa Fe Junior College in Gainesville.

 

 

“Miami has promised Greg (Veliz) a 90 per cent scholarship of $52,000,” said Henriquez. “If he keeps improving, he may get the other 10 per cent. Presley has schools looking at him, too.”

 

 

While the Varsity squad is smaller in numbers than it has been in recent years, Henriquez said other potential players were ruled out by their own desires to concentrate on other sports or future occupations, while academics and off-season injuries also became issues.

 

 

After this weekend preseason set, the Conchs play for real the following weekend with 7:30 p.m.  Friday and Saturday games against Rockledge at The Rex, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 18 and 19  home games  against Canterbury School. The first District 16-4A game is at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, against Keys Gate.

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