By Kyle LoJacono
Before this year, Wesley Chapel High had never won more than half its games, but the team changed that forever in 2010.
The Wildcats also won their first regional tournament game against Nature Coast Tech, but were eliminated by Hernando in the second round.
The Wildcats (24-4) have reached the regional tournament every year since coach Chuck Yingling took over the program for the 2008 season. They were the district runners-up his first year and took the championship last season.
“The season has gone extremely well,” Yingling said. “I think it’s really special to have the kind of season we’ve had. I’d say it’s a little better than we expected. Other teams know we’re tough to play home or away.”
Wesley Chapel built its team on pitching and defense.
“We felt we would mature and grow as a pitching staff this year,” Yingling said. “Matt Wynne is our big closer. Marcus (Crescentini) comes out of the bullpen and has made a couple big starts for us this season too. Jeremy Thompson has stepped up big when needed.”
The two leaders in the starting rotation have been left-handers Cole Miraglia and Brandon Mumaw.
“I think they’ve both had outstanding seasons,” said pitching coach Steve Mumaw. “…To be honest it would have been nice to have Cole for the last two or three years because he is outstanding. He was great with Zephyrhills too and sometimes guys who come to a new program after having success don’t listen, but he’s been very coachable and willing to learn.”
Miraglia (9-1) transferred from Zephyrhills for his senior year. He was out of the fall season because of an old injury to his pitching arm.
“I had a hairline fracture in my arm when I was a sophomore and had to wear a cast for a couple months,” Miraglia said earlier this season. “It was giving me problems and coach Yingling wanted me to have it looked at.”
Miraglia originally suffered the fracture when he and a friend were “messing around” as he put it. He ended up being hit with a bat in his arm and cracked his ulna, one of the two bones in the forearm.
Miraglia finished the year with a team leading 95 strikeouts and a 1.49 earned run average (ERA). He throws a fastball, curveball and changeup.
Steve, who is also the Wildcats athletic director, is Brandon’s father.
“It’s a little bit different coaching your son,” Steve said. “The relationship is different. You can talk with your son in the car and at home, but I treat all the players like they are my sons and as individuals.
“It’s great to watch (Brandon) grow as a pitcher,” Steve continued. “It’s been special to coach him the last three seasons. It’s very satisfying as a father.”
Brandon season was cut short with a few weeks left in the regular season because of a broken finger on his nonthrowing hand. Even though he missed several starts, he still managed a 6-0 record with one save and a 0.50 ERA.
“I think we’ve played up to our potential this season,” Brandon said. “We are a complete team. We get hits when we need to and our pitching and defense have come through all year.”
Brandon also throws a fastball, curveball and changeup. He has 47 strikeouts to just five walks, a ratio of nearly 9.5 Ks to every one BB.
“I’ve tried to work both the outside corner and inside corner and use the least number of pitches possible,” Brandon said. “That’s something our coaches have emphasized to all the pitchers. Getting 12 strikeouts a game is great, but if you can only go four innings it doesn’t matter much. It is better to go deep into the game and get people out quicker.”
The Wildcats have a team ERA of 1.51 and have 225 strikeouts to 52 walks. An important part to any successful pitching staff is strong defense.
“They’ve helped out all the pitchers a lot,” Brandon said of the team defense. “When guys get on I have confidence the defense will get them out…Our catch Justin (Frost) throws out everybody trying to steal and blocks everything we throw at him.”
Wesley Chapel has come a long way from the team Yingling took over three seasons ago.
“They’re a really close team and a lot of people have contributed to the success,” Yingling said. “To see the program come so far in three years is very special.”
-All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches as of May 10. Kyle LoJacono can be reached at or (813) 909-2800.
