Save for a few rough patches of grass near the bullpen, Plant City High School’s baseball field looks immaculate. The ryegrass is fresh, the clay is bright, and everything else looks more like a high school field than the makeshift diamond of “The Sandlot.”
It’s second-year coach Mike Fryrear’s labor of love and, for now, the most obvious feature of his overhauled baseball program.
“We want to give the kids something special,” he said.
When Athletic Director Traci Durrance hired Fryrear before the 2012-13 season, he was just happy to have the job. After the Raiders made an appearance at regionals, Durrance gave Fryrear the freedom to rebuild the entire program however he wanted to — and he jumped on the chance right away.
FROM THE GROUND UP
Fans also will notice the Raiders’ new duds this season, which Fryrear designed. The old logo with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-inspired flag and crossed swords, which some coaches began phasing out in 2013, will be retired by the baseball team in favor of the new, pointy Plant City logo. The team is going for a slightly more modern look while keeping a few old-school touches — such as brand-new striped stirrups for the players to wear in certain games.
But, Fryrear gets the most animated when he starts talking about the improvements to the field and facilities. He’s got all the enthusiasm of a car guy who was just given an excuse to talk about his pet project, some older-model Chevy Camaro or Dodge Challenger that just came out of the paint garage and had a new big-block engine installed.
“We held a golf tourney in the fall, raised $5,000,” Fryrear said. “That was big. Any money that we got from fundraisers, we put into the field.”
The field received a new wind screen and flagpole, and a series of teal and orange flags now line the outfield wall. The batter’s eye is new, as is the warning track, and there are now on-deck circles — marked with the Plant City logo — and three new bullpens for teams to use. “Plant City,” written in script, soon will be painted behind home plate, similar to the setup many Major League Baseball teams have.
“And, we also got new baselines,” Fryrear said. “We don’t have them chalked up yet but, when we do put them on the clay, man, they really pop.”
The dugouts, which were previously hospital-white, are now painted tan with some orange and teal striping, and there are wordmarks beneath the netted windows. The press box also got the same treatment. The locker rooms are also completely redone, although there are still a few finishing touches to be added on.
As for the coaching staff, only Byron Humphrey remains from last season’s squad. Fryrear’s big hire was lauded pitching coach Gary Cates, formerly with Brandon High School.
“I went to a coaches’ convention, a PCA conference, I met with four baseball coaches and that’s all they talked about: this gentleman coming over here,” Fryrear said. “They said, ‘Man, you guys are gonna be a powerhouse!’ I said that we still have to suit up and play.”
Hiring a hot prospect such as Cates certainly seems like a good move on Plant City’s part, as the pitching staff has big shoes to fill.
LONG GONE
Although Fryrear is focused on this year’s group, he’s quick to point out the reason for much of the team’s success last season.
“I’ll tell you the truth: it was Kevin Long,” Fryrear said. “And, the kids buying into the system.”
There was no way Long could have carried a team so far all by himself, which is true of any pitcher in any level of play. But, it can’t be denied that Long was the lynchpin of the Raiders. He didn’t strike out nearly as many batters as Tyler Danish did for the Durant Cougars, but Long’s 0.80 ERA and 8-3 record were nothing to balk at.
Now that he’s gone, junior Miguel Martinez has been tabbed as the team’s new ace. Martinez, a middle reliever last season, had the second-lowest ERA on the team with a 1.35 over 31 innings. Center fielder Mikey Wells, who throws a knuckleball, is also going to see some time on the mound as the team’s closer. Other than that, it’s an open competition.
“We may even go with a new pitcher every inning,” Fryrear said.
To help the pitchers out, Fryrear is counting on junior catcher Trey Mathews, an excellent defensive backstop who can call an entire game himself.
Like Danish, Long was also excellent in the batter’s box, leading the team with 29 hits and sporting a .387 batting average. The team will also miss the offensive presences of Nick Rodriguez and Sergio Garcia, but this is clear right now: two-sport athlete Sawyer Dawson batted .409 in 13 games played, and .370 hitter Connor Slagill will be back for his junior season. Sophomore Ryan Boyd, a transfer from Durant, is also expected to make an immediate impact.
Tryouts and practices will take up the rest of the Raiders’ time this month, as they try to build upon their new identity. But Fryrear’s not done with the program overhaul yet.
BUILDING PERCEPTION
One of the things that Fryrear would like to do, taking a cue from some of Florida’s more notable programs, is become more involved in tournament play.
So, with February comes a new tradition: a preseason classic, held here in Plant City.
“We want to get the best of the best teams out here,” Fryrear said.
From Feb. 7 to 8, the Raiders will play host to district rival Strawberry Crest, regional finalist Wiregrass Ranch, and Jacksonville-Trinity Christian.
The Raiders also will play in this year’s Saladino Baseball Tournament and, pending approval, the Florida-Georgia Showdown.
Getting the Plant City community involved in the games is another goal for the program, starting with first-pitch ceremonies.
“We want someone from the community to throw out the first pitch at every other game,” Fryrear said.
This could be anyone from a city commissioner to a prominent local name, but that may not be the extent of the Raiders’ outreach — one of their ideal candidates is Plant City native and former Major League pitcher Kenny Rogers, whose nephew, Cole Rogers, is back in the game after a one-year sabbatical.
So much has changed in so little time, and Fryrear and his team are just eager to suit up, play some baseball and put Plant City on the map.
“We live for this,” he said.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.