By Kyle LoJacono
The Gaither baseball team has one of the most successful traditions in Hillsborough County.
The Cowboys (10-7) have averaged more than 19 wins the last six years and have made the playoffs every season since 2005, a campaign that included a trip to the Class 6A state finals.
“I like our team, and I told them at the beginning of the year ‘Why not us?,’” said Frank Permuy, the only coach the program’s 27-year history. “We’re just as good as anyone, and it’s not because we don’t work. We have guys who’re capable of playing in the state tournament. We’re as good as we were in 2005.”
Senior designated hitter (DH), outfielder and pitcher Matt Frey also sees something special.
“I think we could be in the final four,” Frey said. “We have a lot of potential. There’s so much talent on this team and we have 14 seniors who have basically grown up playing together.”
Part of that belief comes from Gaither losing only three seniors, but two were pitchers Robert Johnson and Zach Jackson who had a combined 12-3 record in 92.1 innings.
“That’s hard to replace,” Permuy said. “We got Alex Milne back, who had an off year last year and is doing alright. Evan Gainey came out of nowhere, and he’s become a pretty good pitcher.”
Gainey is 4-3 with a 1.46 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 48 innings.
“We have some depth,” said Gainey. “Starting wise we could be a little more consistent throwing strikes, but I think we have great potential.”
Milne, a University of Central Florida signee, is in his fourth year in the starting rotation. He is 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA. Frey (2-1) has helped the rotation after only playing DH a year ago while recovering from left shoulder surgery.
Frey has also been a force in the lineup, hitting .405 with 11 RBI after batting .317 with 11 RBI last year.
“I feel more comfortable in the box,” Frey said. “Sometimes I feel it in the arm, but when it’s good I feel really good.”
Frey’s increased batting average is part of an overall change for Gaither. The squad hit .294 in 2011, which has risen to .319 this year with a .414 on-base percentage. Seven Cowboys with at least 25 at bats are hitting better than .275.
“It really speaks volumes of our coaching staff preaching about the approach we need at the plate,” said senior outfielder Hayden Kelley, who is hitting .370. “That’s the biggest thing that has helped me this year. Just going up to the plate and knowing what you want to do. Is it to get a guy over or in and what do you have to do to accomplish that. Even if you are out be a productive out.”
Junior shortstop Oscar Mercado, a Florida State University commit, has led the way at the plate, hitting.417. He also has 19 RBI and eight steals while shining as the infield’s leader.
“We had a young infield coming in,” said Mercado, who is in his third year starting. “Our first baseman was starting for the first time on varsity. Our starting second baseman broke his jaw, so we had to go with a young backup, and our third baseman is starting for the first time. I felt like I had to show them how to do things.”
Gaither is in Class 7A-District 9, which includes Chamberlain, Freedom, Steinbrenner and Wiregrass Ranch. Only the Chiefs are below .500, making the race for the No. 1 seed and a first round bye in the district tournament hotly contested.
The Cowboys hosted Middleton on April 2, but results were not available by press time. Gaither hosts Wiregrass Ranch on April 10 at 7 p.m.
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches
