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Steve Mumaw

New coach named for Wesley Chapel High softball

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The Wesley Chapel High School varsity softball program, coming off its best season in school history, will look to continue its recent string of success under new leadership.

Bill Hoopes, who runs the Tampa Bay-based Florida Firecrackers U16 travel softball team, was recently named head coach of Wesley Chapel High School’s varsity softball program. (Courtesy of Florida Firecrackers)

Bill Hoopes, who runs the Tampa Bay-based Florida Firecrackers U16 travel softball team, last month was named the program’s head coach, replacing first-year coach Steve Mumaw.

In a public Facebook post dated Sept. 21, Hoopes wrote:

“This is an amazing school with a strong program that I look forward to building up even more over the years to come.

“Could not be more excited for this chance and opportunity to continue to make an impact on the game I love and helping these young ladies chase and achieve their dreams…”

A well-known name in the travel ball scene, Hoopes, also a teacher at Chasco Middle School in Port Richey, this past season guided the U16 Florida Firecrackers to a No. 3 ranking in the state and No. 67 in the nation, according to U.S. Softball Club rankings. Additionally, several of Hoopes’ travel players have landed scholarships and committed to Division I softball programs, including River Ridge High’s Jessica Bryson (University of Louisiana-Monroe) and Teah Steel (Alabama State University), and Mitchell High’s Alex Hare (Alabama State University).

Mumaw, meanwhile, guided the historically struggling Wildcats program to surprising feats in his lone season as head coach.

The 2017 Wesley Chapel varsity softball team achieved the program’s first winning season, going 19-7, with a 7-3 mark in district play. (File)

In 2017, the Wildcats achieved its first winning season, going 19-7, with a 7-3 mark in district play, and an appearance in the Class 6A regional semifinals.

The breakout campaign also featured a nine-game winning streak, including a shutout regular season victory over Land O’ Lakes High — the eventual Class 6A state champions.

In an email to the The Laker/Lutz News, Mumaw explained he decided to step down as softball coach, citing logistical issues between teaching at one school —Centennial Middle School in Dade City — and organizing practices at another — Wesley Chapel High.

Until Mumaw took over, the Wildcats softball program, which started in 2007, experienced years of futility, due to coaching instability and a dearth of talent.

In the program’s first five years, the Wildcats went 1-15, 2-20, 2-21, 1-22 and 2-21. Ensuing years were likewise taxing, as the program went 5-14, 0-24, 2-22 and 7-17.

Mumaw, also a former athletic director and baseball coach at Wesley Chapel High, credited the team’s rapid turnaround last season on its young, talented nucleus.

“It’s all the girls. When you have talent, it’s tough to mess that up,” Mumaw told The Laker/Lutz News in April.

Outside of one senior, the 2017 roster exclusively featured a collection of promising freshman and sophomores.

In addition to then-freshman ace pitcher/University of Central Florida commit Jordan Almasy (2.59 ERA, 130 strikeouts in 116.1 innings), the 2017 squad consisted of eight .300-or-better hitters.

Though many of those impact players are expected to return, some, however, have been redistricted to Cypress Creek Middle-High, which will force the new coaching staff to find added depth elsewhere.

One of those players certainly missed is catcher/Colorado State University commit Neely Peterson, arguably the Wildcats’ top all-around hitter last season.

Peterson, now a junior at Cypress Creek, paced the team in batting average (.443) on-base percentage (.566) and slugging percentage (1.207), and tied for the team lead in home runs (three) and RBIs (20).

Besides weathering key personnel losses, the new-look Wildcats have the ever-difficult task of again competing in District 7-6A, made up of perennial powerhouses Land O’ Lakes, coached by Mitch Wilkins, and River Ridge, coached by Kurt Goluba.

And, both programs are expected to compete at a high level again this season, with relatively minimal turnover.

Land O’ Lakes graduated four seniors — outfielder Jessie McCallister (.358 batting average), outfielder Lexi Turner (.293), outfielder/third baseman Justine Daniels (.280) and outfielder Maddie Burgett (.250) — while River Ridge graduated just one — catcher Brooke Vescey (.381).

The new Wildcats coaching staff will have an information meeting on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the school’s media center, for anyone interested in spring softball.

Most of the Wildcats’ 2018 schedule has been set:

Feb. 13: at Academy at the Lakes

Feb. 16: Sunlake High School

Feb. 20: at Land O’ Lakes High School

Feb. 22 River Ridge High School

Feb. 27: at Pasco High School

March 1: Zephyrhills High School

March 5: Mitchell High School

March 6: Anclote High School

March 8: Land O’ Lakes High School

March 13: at River Ridge High School

March 15: Pasco High School

March 20: at Zephyrhills High School

March 23: Palm Harbor Spring Break Tournament

March 24: Palm Harbor Spring Break Tournament

March 27: Anclote High School

March 28: York High School (Retsof, New York)

April 3: Academy at the Lakes

April 10: Wiregrass Ranch High School

2017 District 7-6A standings

  • Land O’ Lakes High (9-2; 29-3 overall)
  • River Ridge High (8-2; 16-9 overall)
  • Wesley Chapel High (7-3; 19-7 overall)
  • Pasco High (4-7; 7-11 overall)
  • Zephyrhills High (3-7; 6-15 overall)
  • Anclote High (0-19; 0-19 overall)

—Stats and information compiled using Maxpreps.com—

Published Oct. 4, 2017

Wesley Chapel High softball reaches first regional appearance

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The banner season for Wesley Chapel High softball isn’t quite over.

The Wesley Chapel High varsity softball team has advanced to its first regional appearance. They face the Robinson Knights (22-5) in the Class 6A Regional Quarterfinal on May 3 at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High Softball)

At 18-6, the Wildcats already have secured the program’s best record — and first winning season — in its 10-year history.

Now comes the school’s first playoff appearance.

The team is set to face the Robinson Knights (22-5) in the Class 6A Regional Quarterfinal on May 3 at 7 p.m.

The game, at Robinson High School in Tampa, looks to be an intriguing matchup, as both squads sport potent offenses and legitimate aces.

A slightly better offense statistically, the Knights average 7.3 runs per game, with a .344 team batting average; the Wildcats average seven runs per game, and bat .337.

In the circle, Wesley Chapel will rely upon freshman Jordan Almasy (2.91 ERA, 121 strikeouts). Robinson, though, has multiple starting pitcher options, and could turn to either junior Cassidy Renninger (0.78 ERA, 64 strikeouts) or senior Sammy Conlan (1.39 ERA, 51 strikeouts).

The main difference between the squads is experience.

Outside of one senior, the Wildcats roster consists entirely of freshman and sophomores.

The Knights, however, employ a handful of juniors and seniors, plus Conlan and Renninger.
Beyond matchups, the bigger question for Wesley Chapel is maintaining confidence after its nine-game winning streak was shattered on April 26 — an “emotional” 10-0 loss to Land O’ Lakes High in the District 7-6A finals. (Both the district champion and district runner-up qualify for regionals.)

“It was very tough on them,” Wesley Chapel head coach Steve Mumaw said, describing the impact of the defeat. “They were disappointed they didn’t play as well as they know they could’ve played.”

Land O’ Lakes High also advanced to regionals, after winning the District 7-6A title on April 26.
(Courtesy of Land O’ Lakes High Softball)

Since the setback, Mumaw and his staff have strived to ensure the team doesn’t waver psychologically, during the most critical point of the season.

“I think with any athlete, you want to try to stay on an even keel as much as possible, and not be on that (emotional) roller coaster — but especially with a young team,” Mumaw explained. “That’s something that we’re trying to teach them, so that they can learn that everything doesn’t just ride on one game.

“It’s difficult for them to learn, but it’s something that as they learn and mature, then it’s going to make them a lot better in the future,” he said.

Besides the mental aspect, shoring up the team’s defense — “just all over”— and putting balls in play — “with authority”— are other priorities.

In the Land O’ Lakes loss, Wesley Chapel committed three errors, and cobbled together just four hits against Gators sophomore standout Callie Turner (0.21 ERA, 200 strikeouts).

On the upside, the Wildcats struck out just seven times against Turner, who averages about 13 strikeouts per start.

Another positive, Wesley Chapel should have more depth entering regionals, as sophomore outfielder Cassidy Middleton (broken finger) is expected to make a full return to the lineup.

Prior to her midseason injury in March, Middleton was the team leader in RBIs (10).

“She’s a very valuable outfielder,” the Wildcats coach said. “We’re just now starting to get her back where she can swing the bat without a splint on.”

No matter its playoff outcome, Wesley Chapel’s 2017 season won’t soon be forgotten.

Until now, the school’s varsity softball program never experienced a winning record.

Coaching instability and talent deficiencies yielded paltry results since the program began in 2007.

In its first five years, the Wildcats went 1-15, 2-20, 2-21, 1-22 and 2-21. Ensuing seasons were similarly frustrating, as the team went 5-14, 0-24, 2-22 and 7-17.

“It’s just incredible,” Mumaw said, of the 2017 season. “Once the season is over, I’m sure they’ll look back on it and realize all of the things that they’ve been able to accomplish this year.”

Considering the youthful makeup of the roster, Wesley Chapel figures to be competitive against each school in its district — chiefly Land O’ Lakes and River Ridge — for the next several seasons.

Future aside, the Wildcats’ focus is squarely on this week’s playoffs.

“We’re going to play as hard as we can,” Mumaw said, “and see how long we can play in it.”

Other regional softball teams in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:
Class 8A: Steinbrenner High (17-5); Wharton High (16-5)
Class 7A: Sunlake High (18-6); Gaither High (15-8)
Class 6A: Land O’ Lakes High (24-3)
Class 3A: Carrollwood Day School (10-6)
Class 2A: Academy at the Lakes (19-2)

Published May 3, 2017

Wesley Chapel softball on the rise

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The Wesley Chapel High varsity softball program has never experienced a winning season — until now.

Years of futility were dotted by coaching instability and a dearth of talent, since the program began in 2007.
In the program’s first five years, the Wildcats went 1-15, 2-20, 2-21, 1-22 and 2-21. Ensuing years were likewise taxing, as the team went 5-14, 0-24, 2-22 and 7-17.

This season, however, is unlike any other.
The Wildcats — 13-5 overall, 7-3 district — are in the midst of a complete 180, under new head coach Steve Mumaw, and an influx of young standouts.
Besides one senior, the varsity squad consists entirely of freshman and sophomores.
While chockfull of underclassman, the newfound group has proven it can compete — and defeat — any opponent in District 7-6A.
That includes Land O’ Lakes (19-3) and River Ridge (13-5), two of the toughest teams in the Tampa Bay area.
Now enjoying a four-game winning streak, the Wildcats are arguably playing their best softball yet.
“It’s all the girls. When you have talent, it’s tough to mess that up,” said Mumaw, a former baseball coach and athletic director at the school.

And, the roster — top to bottom — is loaded with it.
Seven hitters in the regular lineup are batting .333 or better.
That includes sophomore catcher Neely Peterson, who’s pacing the team with a .459 average and .630 on-base percentage.

The Wesley Chapel varsity softball team is experiencing its first winning season in program history.
(Courtesy of Gigante Productions)

“I think we’re looking pretty good right now,” said Peterson, a verbal commit to Colorado State. “It’s very different than what it was in the past.”
The pitching staff, led by freshman ace Jordan Almasy (2.62 ERA, 90 strikeouts in 77.1 innings), has also proven vital to the program’s budding success.
“We’re just going to keep making progress,” said Almasy, a verbal commit to the University of Central Florida.
“We all pick each other up — it’s a team effort,” added sophomore third baseman Ashley Nickisher.

The team’s lone senior is Dana Mumaw, the daughter of Steve Mumaw.
She’s witnessed firsthand the program’s struggles in prior years. “It was tough,” she said, bluntly.
Yet seeing the team “come together” this season has been a memorable experience, in what has otherwise been a turbulent softball career at Wesley Chapel.
“I think from the first day on, we’ve developed and gotten better, especially with a bunch of new players,” Dana Mumaw explained. “I knew we were going to be pretty good, but I didn’t know if we were going to be this good.”
Being coached by her father has proven rewarding, too.
“I love having my dad as the coach,” she said. “It’s really great…and I learn so much from him.”
With four regular season games remaining, the attention soon will focus squarely on the district tournament, beginning the week of April 24. Should the Wildcats win or finish runner-up, they’d be making their first-ever appearance at regionals.
It would be a significant feat, considering the program had never even won a district tournament game until 2016, when they upset Pasco High.
“Our goal is to advance out of districts,” Steve Mumaw said, “and see what happens.”
“We’ve got something pretty special going on here,” he added.

Published April 12, 2017