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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/1/2023

East Coast Baseball Rolling at Freedom Classic

Riley Sheppard     
Some teams run into complications with players being too old for a certain age division. However, East Coast Baseball has the opposite issue - with players ranging from as young as 15 to upwards of 18 years old. 

“The older guys will tell the younger ones to just try to take it in, watch the game and learn every time you’re on the field,” head coach Tommy Collaro said. “All these guys are going to college so they're doing something right. So just try to watch them and see if they do anything different than they've done in the past and try to change. The mental side is big with the younger guys especially.”



And that benefit has propelled them to 2-0 start at the Freedom Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. 

The first win came bright and early Saturday morning, defeating SWFL Phantom 9-3 behind strong pitching from two of its youngest players in Easton Viveros and Jimmy Engle. 

“We have a lot of experienced guys,” Collaro said. “They were just being smart hitters today and got a lot of ball-fours. That 8:00 a.m game is tough for any pitcher, we got some counts and got some hits when we needed it.”

But the second was an even more dominant performance from underclassmen and pitching, coming away with a 13-0 victory in just four innings. 

Left-hander Richard Bello received the start on the mound and pitched all four frames - striking out three with a mid-80’s fastball and low-70’s curveball. 

“He’s a lefty so he’s a little different,” Collaro said. “He throws a lot more breaking balls, lefty and crafty and established the zone early and got guys to chase when he needed to.”

East Coast wasted no time getting the offense rolling with its first three batters reaching base. With Christopher Alfonseca and Emilio Gonzalez on the corners and one out, Florida Atlanta commit Dylan Lapointe drove both in with a double - being brought home by Kevin Martinez in the next at-bat. 

However, it wasn’t until a nine-run outburst in the top of the fourth where East Coast really started widening the gap - with 15 batters and eight different hits in the inning. Including a two-run single from Zachary Johnson and RBI double from Viveros, with Bello ending things in run-rule fashion the next inning. 

Posting 22 runs through its first two games, it’s safe to say East Coast’s offense has been dominant, but to continue on this hot streak they know it’ll come down to smart at-bats in this Florida heat. 

“Just being aggressive,” Collaro said. “Swinging at strikes is the main thing, let guys work. Obviously we all know it's 95 degrees out here today so pitchers are not on the plus side. But if we can command the zone on the pitching side and throw strikes I think our offense will be fine.”

Collaro and Co. are back in action Sunday at the Lee County Sports Complex against the Miami Night Owls. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. 
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