(BROOKSVILLE)- The year 2014 is the last time Hernando’s varsity baseball team posted a 20-plus win campaign.
With a 23-5 record nearly four years ago, the Leopards have struggled to get back to that elusive mark. Hernando has steadily declined since then when it comes to victories, with the program winning 18 games in 2015, 17 in 2016 and 15 last year. Coming off a 2017 season in which Hernando was able to clinch a berth in the Class 5A playoffs, the Leopards are now poised to make a run at winning 20 games and once again contending for the district championship.
Losing to rival Nature Coast 15-5 in the Class 5A, District 7 championship and eventually falling 4-1 to Orlando Bishop Moore in the regional quarterfinals has Hernando back in the talks of being a playoff contender once more. The Leopards have plenty of talent returning to the roster, including sophomore Connor Morgan. Morgan currently leads Hernando with two home runs and eight runs batted in.
“I’ve always say that the best team wins,” Hernando coach Tim Sims said. “Pitchers and hitters situationally are very good. From top to bottom, we’ve got a great group. From experience wise, this group has played a lot of baseball. This team is a great squad when it comes to practices. If we can improve defensively, we need to just tighten up on defense.”
Currently 6-2 on the season heading into the spring, the Leopards have been one of the county’s most aggressive teams on the base pads, stealing 21 bases through eight games. Leading the team in steals is Dylan DuPhily with five steals. With Hernando averaging just over eight runs per game, the Leopards will be back in the hunt for a district crown.
“Connor Morgan and Dylan DuPhily have gone off to good starts for us,” Sims said. “We only have three senior starters really. Carson Lashley has had one start for us but he’s gotta chime in on the mound for us to be good. There’s some very, very good teams in our district with very good players.”
The Leopards’ pitching is another reason for optimism, as senior Jackson Short and junior Marrick Aske have both accounted for wins this season and are leading Hernando’s pitching staff. Hernando’s pitchers will need to be on point heading into the Farm Bureau Classic, which will be hosted by the Leopards.
“We are excited about the Farm Bureau Classic this year,” Sims said. “We’ve got 16 teams in the tournament again and all the coaches are very excited about it again. We open against a good Zephyrhills team and we are ready to go. It’s a great test for the two teams whoever can make the finals. Nature Coast is looking like one of the favorites heading out there heading into the Classic.”
The Farm Bureau Classic will feature many local and out of area clubs, but before that will face Loudon Redskins from Tennessee. Hernando will matchup against Loudon this week before the tournament begins and though the Redskins have just started to begin their regular season slate of games, the contest will be interesting one for onlookers. Other teams taking part in the tourney includes, Nature Coast, New Port Richey River Ridge and Zephyrhills.