Stoneman Douglas baseball primed for more title runs

PARKLAND, FLORIDA – For an encore, the plan for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball team is to win some more.

Winners of back-to-back state and national titles, Stoneman Douglas enters 2023 with a couple of chances to three-peat. Based on their returning talent and overall depth, they certainly will be among the favorites.

A main reason coach Todd Fitz-Gerald’s squad isn’t slowing down is because the word “complacency” doesn’t exist around this program.

“It's a new group every year,” Fitz-Gerald said. “So we've got a lot of experience, and we have a lot of inexperience -- but we’ve got a lot of talented players.”

Elite talent alone, of course, doesn’t not guarantee championships. But what makes the Eagles so formidable is their unrelenting thirst for more.

“These kids are all driven,” Fitz-Gerald said. “Nobody on this team is complacent. Nobody dogs it. There’s a standard that’s been set, and they try to live by that standard every day.”

The standard is apparent from the moment the players step on the field, which is immaculately groomed by Fitz-Gerald, his staff and the players. Everything is a group effort with this program, no matter the task.

There’s a focus, work ethic and attention to detail that is second to none.

“We want to keep that legacy, that dynasty that coach Fitz has around here,” senior pitcher Christian Rodriguez said. “We want to keep pushing forward and really working for that goal. We push each other, and coach Fitz keeps it going. Just wearing that Stoneman Douglas jersey is really special.” 

Stoneman Douglas has a long legacy. Their home field is named after Anthony Rizzo, a Stoneman Douglas alum and currently the first baseman of the New York Yankees.  

Miami Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo pitched for the Eagles.   

On last year’s state and national title team, outfielder Roman Anthony was one of the best amateur players in the country – high school or college. The Boston Red Sox selected Anthony with a compensatory second round selection.  

Returning are the likes of Rodriguez, who was 7-1 with a 1.11 ERA and three saves last year. When he’s not pitching, Rodriguez is a threat at the plate, where he batted .355.  

The right-hander is committed to the University of Florida.  

“We're going to do it as a group,” Rodriguez said. “We're going to come up together and we're going to come down together. Whatever it is. We really take that group mindset, and it’s not really about, one by one. Everyone pushes everybody. It could be that freshman pushing a senior. Whatever it is.” 

Playing with a single-minded focus is one of the staples of the program.  

The players have a close bond, on and off the field. There are no cliques. In fact, players will go out to dinner together – everyone. Or they may go to someone’s house for a pool party and pizza.  

Their togetherness away from the field only strengthens their brotherhood on the diamond. 

“I feel like it's really just going to come down to which team has the best chemistry,” left-handed pitcher Jacob Gomberg said. “You know, South Florida has the best talent. I really think our team works hard, day in and day out. We hang out a lot off the field, so it makes us closer. Team chemistry and getting along with each other is the biggest thing.” 

Gomberg, like Rodriguez, is committed to Florida.  

But there are Division 1 players throughout the roster.   First baseman Matthew Ossenfort is a left-handed hitter who has committed to Vanderbilt.

“We are just really competitive everywhere,” Fitz-Gerald said. “We’re two deep at every position. So guys are pushing each other every day to get better and I think that's why we've been so good. And stability in the coaching staff.”

A year ago, Stoneman Douglas went 30-2 and outscored its opponents by more than 200 runs (252-47).

The Class 7A-District 13 power finished the season by winning 22 straight, and captured the state title with a 10-0 win over Palm Beach Gardens.

After winning their second straight state title, Stoneman Douglas was invited to the USA Baseball National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C. The Eagles were dominant early in the tournament, and took home the championship with a hard-fought, 5-3, victory over St. Johns Country Day from Orange Park, Fla.

As impressive as the Eagles were at the end of the season, the players are reminded that they actually lost their ’22 opener, 4-3, to Taravella.

“Our pitching staff is kind of our bread and butter,” Fitz-Gerald said. “We’ve got some really talented players all over.”

Fitz-Gerald’s son, Devin, is the shortstop. As a sophomore last year, he hit .364. Third baseman Ryan Lujo, now a junior, hit .347 as a sophomore.

The list of players with either commitments or offers from major programs goes on and on.

So what’s the common thread being passed along from year to year?

“We just develop,” Coach Fitz-Gerald said. “I think we do a really good job developing guys. Teaching these guys how to really compete at a high level. We try to practice at game speed every day, so the game becomes slower.”

For motivation, Stoneman Douglas has a couple of mottos: INAM (It’s not about me) and WTLG (Win the Last Game).

“We’re not really looking too much forward to national champs because that’s not going to happen unless we win states,” Gomberg said. “States is the goal.”