ITG Next spoke with Out-of-Door Academy head baseball coach Mike Matthews about the Thunder’s biggest keys to repeat as Class 2A state champions in 2022, last year’s senior class, and which players could play bigger roles this season.
Q: How long have you been involved in coaching, including Out-of-Door Academy?
A: This is my tenth year coaching overall. I have been at Out-of-Door Academy for seven of those years. I was an assistant to Tim Orlosky for five of those years with this being my second year as head coach. Previously, I coached at Estero High School for three years, where we were state runner-up in 2013. I have been a head coach with the Florida Burn for the last ten years as well at various age groups.
Q: Having won the Class 2A state championship a year ago, what are some of the biggest keys for your team to repeat this season?
A: First and foremost is to continue the daily hard work that helped prepare us to win the state championship. Last year was a great accomplishment, but it has no bearing on this year. If anything, we now have a target on our back. It is important to stay humble and continue to work hard to get better everyday. The other key is for some of our younger guys to step up into the roles our seniors left behind.
Q: Your team returns multiple players from last season, but will also have to replace some key names. What did last year’s senior class mean to you personally, as well as this Thunder program overall?
A: Last year’s group of seniors had a diverse set of personalities. It was interesting to see how they collectively came together to help lead the team. They helped set the standard for the underclassmen to follow with working hard everyday and doing things the right way on and off the field. It is important for any program to have underclassmen lead the younger players without delegation from the coaching staff. When this happens, standards are set with the younger players that they follow and eventually pass on to the players younger than them. Some of the seniors I had coached since they were 13- years-old. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to watch them get older and develop to help us win a state championship. This year’s senior class is in the same boat. They are hungry to build off the success they had last year and are looking forward to the challenge of defending their title.
Q: Who are some players that may play a bigger role this season compared to a year ago?
A: Nevan Hernandez first comes to mind. He is an impact player that should have been in our starting lineup last year but had a season ending knee injury in the fall. He will be the starting right fielder and be a middle of the order hitter for us. Jack Hobson, Luca Marino, Brandon Beasley, Giovanni Giuliani are all juniors that should make immediate impacts as starters on this year’s team. All four were on the roster on the championship run. Jack played sporadically with varsity and was our number one pinch hitter off the bench. He has good pop and will also help on the mound. Luca, Aidan’s younger brother, will step in as starting catcher. Brandon has some pop at the plate and will play infield for us. Giovanni will likely take over center field and provide the defense needed to replace Nolan Lewellen. Nolan Naese was a starting freshman for us last year who should see a more developed role offensively for us.
