ITG Next spoke with The Villages Charter baseball coach Brady Bogart about the Buffaloes’ run through the Class 3A playoffs and their semifinal matchup with Berkeley Prep.
Q: What are some of your thoughts on what this Buffalo team has accomplished so far?
A: Our players have exceeded our expectations for this past season. We were not sure what we would be able to put together and maintain throughout the season. Our pitching has carried us the entire season. They continued to carry us in our regional playoff games, winning 3-1, 1-0 and 2-1, striking out 26 batters in the 21 innings pitched, and only allowing eight hits and the two runs.
Q: What do you believe has led up to this impressive 2022 season, and what have you enjoyed most about coaching this group?
A: This group had a tough strength of schedule this year and competed in games that were playoff-type games throughout the season. We wanted to challenge them during the year for moments like the postseason. That is probably what we are most proud of as coaches. Keep the games close with pitching and defense and get some big hits in big situations.
Q: This Villages Charter baseball team has a strong pitching staff led by names such as James Garvey, Carter Parks and Anthony Karoly. What have those three in particular, as well as this pitching staff overall, meant to this team’s success this season?
A: Our pitching staff is why we are where we are. They have minimized scoring opportunities by our opponents by having 270 strikeouts in 188 innings pitched this season.
Reuben Barron also has stepped up this season on the mound. He pitched and hit us past Providence School in the regional semifinals 1-0. He hit a solo HR in the sixth inning and pitched five innings of shutout ball, striking out five and allowing just two hits. He’s a hard-throwing RHP who will get many looks at the next level to pitch.
Garvey, Parks and Karoly all have great K/BB ratios and we pride ourselves on throwing strikes, but also getting the big strikeout when you need it in certain situations throughout the game.
Q: Looking ahead, your team is set to take on Berkeley Prep in the Class 3A semifinals. What do you believe are some keys for your team to advance going into the week?
A: Berkeley Prep is the real deal. Very talented team and dominating pitching. Definitely a quality opponent with great ballplayers. We need to minimize their hitters and keep them off the bases. They can swing it. We need to do what we’ve always done and try to keep the game close for as long as possible and then try and make some magic at the end. Our hitters must compete in the batter’s box and be tough competitive outs.
