Baseball
2014-2015 Media Guide
Welcome to all as we usher in the 2015 season of Lake-Sumter State College Lakehawks Baseball! It is my pleasure to bring greetings to our loyal and enthusiastic fans and to say ―thank you‖ to our sponsors and benefactors. As you sit in the complex, enjoying the game here in the beautiful setting overlooking Sil-ver Lake, you should be thankful that the rites of Spring come early to us here in Florida while our friends up North battle cold and snow!
We are now known as Lake-Sumter State College, having changed our name when we initiated bachelor’s degrees in 2013. However, we remain deeply committed to ―community‖: building community here on campus and contributing to the larger community we serve. Our student athletes are very engaged in ―giving back‖, working, for example, in reading programs in the schools and providing service to organiza-tions like Habitat for Humanity.
LSSC values providing a high quality, personalized educational experience for all of our students and a unique ―family atmosphere‖ for our student athletes. Our coaches and athletic director strive to impart not just athletic skills but life skills as well. Our faculty and staff create a caring and supportive environment
in which learning can thrive. Our Foundation works hard to raise funds to support many students with scholarships. We are truly blessed to have such talented and dedicated people working with our students. For these reasons, LSSC is recognized as one of the leading colleges in the country, ranking in the ―Top Ten Percent‖ according to the prestigious Aspen Award for Community College Excellence!
We make sure our students are well prepared to succeed in the next stage of their lives - whether it is further education or moving into their chosen career, as evidenced by their high job placement rates and average GPA of 3.15 after transfer to the university system. We take pride in the fact that our athletes excel in the classroom as well as on the field, traditionally garnering All-State and even All American academic honors.
Thanks again for your support and enjoy the game. ―Go Lakehawks!‖
Mike Matulia has guided the LSSC Athletic Program for the past 17 years, while continuing to fos-ter improvement in all phases of Lakehawks Athletics. During his tenure, Matulia has lead the athletic teams, coached, designed and supervised the construction of facilities and has continued to work on improv-ing opportunities for the student-athletes and coaches. Matulia has served as the FCSAA Chair for the Council for Athletic Affairs, the FCSAA State baseball chair, the Suncoast Conference Baseball Commis-sioner and currently serves on the Lake County Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board, the North Lake Mir-acle League Board, is the Vice Chair of the Lake County Children’s Services Council, and serves as the NJCAA Region 8 Assistant Men’s Commissioner. Matulia coached the Lakehawks baseball team from 1999-2007, while having coached for over 25 years at the college level.
This past year the LSSC athletic programs achieved NJCAA Academic Team honors, posting GPA’s over the 3.0 average. Five individual student-athletes received NJCAA Academic Awards for aca-demic excellence, while former baseball player Chris Blanton received honors for: FCSAA Bill-Tuten
Base-ball Scholar-Athlete Award, Mid-Florida Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year, FCSAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and the NJCAA Lea Plarski Award (only one recipient nationally) for his excellence and service on and off the playing field. Other Highlights in-cluded: twenty-four All-FCSAA academic honors, 35 Mid-Florida All-Conference Academic honors and seven President’s list recipients. In addition to the academic awards, eight student-athletes received All-Conference honors in their respective sports; while softball player, Kayla Fuller received FCSAA All-State honors and three other softball players received FCSAA District All-Tournament Team honors. The 2013-2014 baseball team posted a 3.04 overall GPA, featuring NJCAA Academic Achievement and All-FCSAA Academic Team members, Chris Blanton and Sam Thomas, while returning player and 2015 NJCAA Academic Awards candidate, Austin Simmons re-ceived All-FCSAA Academic honors, achieving a 4.0 GPA. In addition, three Lakehawks players rere-ceived All-Conference honors on the playing field, including Dakota Higdon, Michael Hennessey and Chris Blanton.
The 2015 season, under third year Head Coach Josh Holt begins with high expectations and a new group of talented players. ―Coach Holt has been a great asset to the LSSC Athletic program and will prepare his Lakehawks players to compete in the tough, Mid-Florida Conference. Josh has been able to entice some of the best talent in Mid-Florida, being a tireless recruiter. We look forward to the 2015 season, in eager anticipation of a post-season berth‖. Beginning his ninth year at LSSC, Holt is no stranger to the challenges for competing for the Mid-Florida Conference and the FCSAA titles; serving as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Lakehawks program on their way to the FCSAA State Tournament in 2011. The 2015 baseball season will provide excitement for the LSSC fans and a challenge for the Lakehawks to achieve great things on and off the field. We look forward to seeing you at the ballpark!
Matulia resides in Eustis with wife Betsy and third son, Jake (16). Matulia has two other sons: Matt and John; and granddaughters Emma (4) and Olivia (18 months).
Josh Holt enters his third season as the Head Coach at Lake-Sumter State College and ninth overall at the school. Holt came to Lake-Sumter State College from Florida Tech University where he served as an assistant baseball coach in the spring of 2006. He graduated from Leesburg High School and then furthered his baseball career at Flagler College. While at Flagler College, he was a four-year starter at first base. In 2010, Holt was named to the Flagler College Baseball’s All-Decade Team (2000-2009) for his athletic achievements during his career. He graduated from Flagler College in December 2005 with a Secondary Education-Social Science degree. Holt went on to earn his Master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.
The 2014 LSSC Baseball team excelled in the classroom by achieving a 3.04 GPA for the 2013 -2014 school year and being named to the NJCAA All-Academic Team. Chris Blanton and Sam Thom-as were named Academic All-Americans. Blanton also received the Mid-Florida Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, FCSAA Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, and the Bill Tuten Award Base-ball Scholar Athlete given by the FCSAA BaseBase-ball Committee. In addition, Blanton also received the Lea Plarski Award which is the highest honor given to a NJCAA Student-Athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, athletic ability, and achievements.
In his time as a collegiate coach, Holt has coached twenty-six All-conference performers and two All-Americans. In the last eight years, Holt has helped move thirty-five former LSSC baseball pitchers on to the four year level, including eleven at the NCAA Division One Level. Since 2007, he has helped move over sixty former LSSC players on to the four year level.
Holt resides in Fruitland Park with his wife Lindsay and daughter Ella.
LSSC DISTRI CT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chairman - Mr. Timothy Morris, Vice Chairman -Mr. Richard Bowersox
Mr. Scott Blankenship - Ms. Marcia Butler - Ms. Kelly Flores -
Mr. Bret Jones - Ms. Emily Lee - Mr. Kelly Rice - Mr. Peter Wahl
Dr. Charles R. Mojock, LSSC President
#2
Miguel DeGuzman
Fr. LHP
Killian HS
Miami, FL
#3 Josh Jimenez
Fr. LHP
Dr. Phillips HS
Orlando, FL
#4 Ryan Kelley
Fr. INF
Bloomingdale HS
Valrico, FL
#12 Blake Crowell
RsFr. RHP
Lake Minneola HS
Clermont, FL
#
13 Ryan Girard
Fr. RHP
Wiregrass Ranch HS
Land O’Lakes, FL
#5 Austin Mauer
Fr. C/1B
The Master’s Academy
Orlando, FL
#
22 Mason McClellan
Fr. INF
Union Grove HS
McDonough, GA
#14 Connor Hermida
Fr. RHP
Viera HS
Melbourne, FL
#15 Tanner Long
So. OF
Leesburg HS
Lady Lake, FL
#6 Danny Cumba
Fr. OF
Killian HS
Miami, FL
#24 Austin Simmons
So. OF
Eustis HS
Eustis, FL
#27 Matt Weidenbach
Fr. RHP
Creekside HS
Jacksonville, FL
#16 Mitch Barati
So. C
Boone HS/Daytona State
Orlando, FL
#29 Bryce Myers
RsFr. INF/OF
GB Christian/Coastal Carolina
Virginia Beach, VA
#8 Taylor Westbrook
Fr. INF
Creekside HS
Jacksonville, FL
#7 Jay Jenkins
So. INF
SCD HS /Flagler
Estero, FL
#17 Isacc DaSilva
Fr. RHP
Southridge HS
Cutter Bay, FL
#10 Jose Brito
So. C
Ferguson HS/Chipola
Miami, FL
#9 Trevor Mckenna
Fr. LHP
Brooksville Central HS
Brooksville, FL
11 Patrick McClellan
Fr. INF
Olympia HS
Windermere, FL
#18 Brooks Estrada
Fr. OF
West Orange HS
Windermere, FL
#20 Anthony Mazzurco
So. LHP
Ocala Forest HS
Ocala, FL
#19 Ben Hoffmann
Fr. LHP
Somerset Academy
Plantation, FL
#21 Tanner Elsbernd
So. OF
Chiles HS
Tallahassee, FL
Roy & Ruth Ryan Foundation, Inc.
Marian S. Shuck Scholarship Trust
Shaw Charitable Trust
#
Name
Class
Pos.
Ht.
WT
Hometown / HS/ Previous College
2
Miguel DeGuzman
Fr
LHP
5’9
170
Miami, FL / Killian HS
3
Josh Jimenez
Fr
LHP
5’7
145
Orlando, FL / Dr. Phillips HS
4
Ryan Kelley
Fr
INF
5’7
155
Valrico, FL / Bloomingdale HS
5
Austin Mauer
Fr
C/1B
5’10
195
Orlando, FL / The Master’s Academy
6
Danny Cumba
Fr
OF
6’0
185
Miami, FL / Killian HS
7
Jay Jenkins
So
INF
6’0
175
Estero, FL/Seacreast Country Day/Flagler
8
Taylor Westbrook
Fr
INF
5’11
170
Jacksonville, FL / Creekside HS
9
Trevor Mckenna
Fr
LHP
5’11
185
Brooksville, FL / Brooksville Central HS
10
Jose Brito
So
C
6’0
200
Miami, FL/Ferguson HS/Chipola College
11
Patrick McClellan
Fr
INF
5’10
170
Windermere, FL / Olympia HS
12
Blake Crowell
RsFr
RHP
5’11
160
Clermont, FL / Lake Minneola HS
13 Ryan Girard
Fr
RHP
6’5
200
Land O’Lakes, FL / Wiregrass Ranch HS
14 Connor Hermida
Fr
RHP
6’0
200
Melbourne, FL / Viera HS
15 Tanner Long
So
OF
6’3
210
Lady Lake, FL / Leesburg HS
16 Mitch Barati
So
C
5’11
175
Orlando, FL /Boone HS/Daytona State
17 Isaac DaSilva
Fr
RHP
6’2
170
Cutter Bay, FL / Miami Southridge HS
18 Brooks Estrada
Fr
OF
6’0
170
Windermere, FL / West Orange HS
19 Ben Hoffmann
Fr
LHP
6’0
190
Plantation, FL / Somerset Academy HS
20 Anthony Mazzurco
So
LHP
5’9
185
Ocala, FL / Ocala Forest HS
21 Tanner Elsbernd
So
OF
6’1
205
Tallahassee, FL / Chiles HS
22 Mason McClellan
Fr
INF
6’4
205
McDonough, GA / Union Grove HS
24 Austin Simmons
So
OF
6’0
170
Eustis, FL / Eustis HS
27 Matt Weidenbach
Fr
RHP
6’2
180
Jacksonville, FL / Creekside HS
29 Bryce Myers
RsFr
INF/OF
6’3
190
Virginia Beach, VA/Greenbrier Christian/
Lake-Sumter State College
9501 US Highway 441—Leesburg, FL 34788
Tel: 352-323-3645
Fax: 352-323-3646
Website: www.lssc.edu
Media Guide Printed by Ford Press, Leesburg, FL
Justin Bass
Marlins (2008-2010 )
Nick Delguidice
Royals (2011– 2012)
Angels (2008– 2011)
Nick Pugliese
Kuehl McEachern
Red Sox (2014-present)
Other Former Lakehawks that played professional baseball:
Bubba St. Amant - Phillies 2000-2002
Tyler Barnett - Braves 2008-2010
Kevin Colon - Devil Rays 2005-2007
Nick D’Amico - Padres 2010
Jason Durst - Diamondbacks 2006-2008
Scott Hicks - Marlins 2000-2002
J.D. Huether - Twins 2001-2002
Justin Justice - Tigers 2004-2008
Brendan Katin - Brewers 2005-2011
Josh Lane - Padres 2002-2003
Kobi Perez - Cardinals 2001
Travis Rios - Red Sox 2005-2007(deceased)
Ralph Santana - Brewers/ Phillies 2000-2005 Patrick Ryan - Brewers 2005-2008/Mariners 2009
2014 Mid-Florida
Conference All-Academic
Team
Daniel Autiello Tanner Barnhard
Chris Blanton Michael Hennessey
Michael Howe Anthony Mazzurco
Taylor Saris Austin Simmons
Sam Thomas David Webb
2014 FCSAA
All-Academic Team
Tanner Barnhard Chris Blanton
Michael Hennessey Taylor Saris
Austin Simmons Sam Thomas
2014 Mid-Florida
Conference All-Conference
Dakota Higdon –2nd Team
Michael Hennessey –2nd Team
Chris Blanton– 2nd Team
Home Games in
BOLD
Date Opponent Time Location
