Gant and Mumaw picked as FACA baseball all stars
By Kyle LoJacono
Wesley Chapel is still a relatively new town, but its two public schools are fast becoming a hotbed for baseball talent.
In fact, the only two Pasco County high school baseball players selected for the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s (FACA) Baseball All Star Classic are from Wesley Chapel based facilities.
Wiregrass Ranch senior pitcher John Michael Gant and Wesley Chapel senior pitcher Brandon Mumaw each made the cut for the event, which was May 26-28 in Sebring.
“I was surprised to hear that I’d even been nominated,” Mumaw said. “I didn’t expect to be selected, but I was. It was really a shock and it’s a great way to end my time playing high school baseball.
“When I heard that there was only two kids from Pasco, I knew the other was John Michael,” Mumaw said. “He’s a dominating pitcher.”
Mumaw is the first in Wesley Chapel’s 12-year baseball history to be selected, making the nomination even more special.
“There have been a lot of great players that have come through here,” Mumaw said. “Last year Cole (Miraglia) was our top starter, and I think he was good enough to make the game. It makes me very proud to be the first from Wesley Chapel High School.”
It is the second straight year a Bulls player has been picked for the game, following former Wiregrass Ranch and current Saint Leo University catcher Spencer Bowles.
“I think that shows how much the area has grown,” said four-year Wesley Chapel baseball coach Chuck Yingling. “When I first moved out here 14 years ago, there were no youth baseball programs. Now the kids have the youth clubs to start teaching them the game and over the years, the competition and respect for the high school programs have grown.”
Yingling said Wildcat senior shortstop Geoff DeGroot was also selected as an alternate for the game. Additionally, Miraglia was nearly being picked as an all star in 2010.
“We were very close with Cole last year,” Yingling said. “I think he was talented enough to make the game, but we were just starting to take off as a program. This year with what we did drew some attention.”
Wesley Chapel has won 49 games the last two years, including a 25-3 record in 2011. Mumaw was the Wildcats No. 1 starter, compiling a 10-1 record with four complete games, a 1.33 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 68.2 innings of work. When he was not on the mound, he fielded first base and batted .271 with 21 runs scored, 19 hits and 18 RBI.
Wiregrass Ranch had 38 victories since 2010, 18-9 in Gant’s senior season. Gant was also his squad’s ace, compiling a 6-0 record with two saves, four complete games, a 1.90 ERA and 107 Ks in 62.2 innings. Like Mumaw, Gant played first base when not pitching and batted .305 with 25 hits, 21 runs scored, 14 RBI and three homers as the Bulls’ cleanup hitter.
Mumaw said he has two favorite memories while playing at Wesley Chapel; making it to the Class 4A regional semifinals as a junior and winning the inaugural RBI Pasco Varsity Tournament this spring. The Wildcats defeated Wiregrass Ranch to claim the spring break tournament title.
Gant said his best moment as a Bull was throwing a no hitter against Lecanto in his first start this season on Feb. 15. He needed only 100 pitches to complete the game, striking out 14 of the 23 batters he faced.
Both Gant and Mumaw have signed letters of intent to play in college.
Gant will pitch with Division I Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus while studying athletic training and sports medicine. The 6-foot-4 righty uses a fastball, curveball and a changeup.
Mumaw will stay closer to home for college at Saint Leo, a Division II program. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound left hander uses a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup.
Both have said they would like to play professional baseball, but will take the next challenge in college before thinking about a career with the sport.
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
