2020 SFCBL Championship Series MVP – Derek Cartaya (West Boca Snappers/Florida International University)
The 3-time SFCBL Champion returns for his 3rd summer in the SFCBL once again having an outstanding season and being a leader on the field. Cartaya hit .360 with 3 doubles, 9 RBI’s and 7 stolen bases. In the Championship Game he went 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI’s which broke the game open for the Snappers. Defensively he has a secure glove with smooth hands and quick feet. He has excellent baseball instincts and his ability to read situations shows through his leadership on the field. The past two seasons at FIU, Cartaya has been the starting shortstop and has consistently been a leader in several offensive categories. Arguably the best leader the SFCBL has seen, Cartaya is the glue that has held the West Boca Snappers together the last 3 seasons and has led to three consecutive SFCBL Championships.
Offensive Player of the Year – Zack Neto (Delray Beach Lightning/Campbell University)
During the summer 2020 season, Zack Neto put on the best all-around offensive seasons the league has seen in its 10 years of existence. He led the league in HR’s with 6, batting average at .439 which set a new league record and was 1 RBI away from leading the league in RBI’s. Neto has solid bat speed and showed plenty of power during BP and the game. He is a pure hitter and makes consistent solid contact Defensively, he played both 2B and 3B for the Delray Beach Lightning with a secure glove and plus arm strength. Neto saw only two games of action during the 2020 Campbell season due to a fractured right wrist during pre-season but is expected to be a major part of the lineup during the 2021 season. Neto loves to play the game and has the potential to be a top round type draft pick. We see Neto continuing to develop into a very solid prospect as he has two more years until he is eligible for the 2022 MLB Draft.
Pitcher of the Year – Mason Black (Boca Raton Blazers/Lehigh University)
Every time Mason Black threw this summer you were sure to see scouts in the stands as he dominated on the mound this summer with a miniscule 0.64 ERA. Black led the league in strikeouts with 42, only gave up 2 earned runs and 10 hits in 28 innings pitched. Black has a strong durable pitchers frame at 6’3/220 pounds. He throws from a ¾ arm slot with his fastball sitting 93-96 and will hit 97/98 in his starts. Black will hold his velocity deep into his outings and maintains velocity from the stretch as well. He has good mechanics with a clean delivery and pounds the zone throwing lots of strikes. He features three breaking pitches: a cutter at 90-92, a plus slider at 84-88 and an average curveball at 79-81. He also throws a change up in the 83-86 range that has some depth and fade. His slider gets the most swing and miss from hitters and is his out pitch. His slider developed and became more effective during his time in the SFCBL. Mason will go into the 2021 MLB Draft as a potential top round selection as he showed signs of potentially being a starter at the next level.
Defensive Player of the Year – Hal Hughes (Florida Pokers/Rice University)
Hal Hughes put on one of the best defensive performances the SFCBL has ever seen as he did not make a single error at short stop in 127.1 innings played. The super defender started 105 games for the LSU Tigers in his freshman and sophomore year and will spend his junior year at Rice University. Hal posses a secure glove with above average footwork and average Major League arm strength. Florida Pokers Head Coach Ryan Combs had the following to say about Hal. “Hal is without a doubt the best defensive short stop I have ever had the chance to coach. He has the ability to make even the most difficult plays look routine. The pitchers remarked on multiple occasions that it was so nice to know you had that guy playing behind you”.
Top Relief Pitcher – Mitch Hartigan (Ft. Lauderdale Knights/Florida Atlantic University)
Hartigan was a big part of the Knights pitching staff this summer with all 14 of his appearances coming out of the bullpen. In 17.2 innings pitched, he struck out 21 batters, had a 1.52 ERA and had a 2-1 record only giving up 6 hits. The FAU two-way player struck out 3 batters in 4 innings of relief this past spring in the shortened season. Bill Hanscak 10th Player Award – Braden Forchic (Delray Beach Lightning/Lynn University) Forchic was utilized in multiple positions this summer including third base, second base, short stop and the outfield while hitting .346 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR’s and 33 RBI’s in 124 plate appearances. His performance also landed him a spot on the 2nd Team All-SFCBL Team roster. Forchic’s versatility was a valuable asset for the Delray Beach Lightning as his athletic ability allowed him to be successful at all positions played.
Rookie of the Year – Ryan Bruno (Pompano Beach Clippers/Stanford University)
Ryan Bruno was one of the youngest players during the 2020 SFCBL season but that did not hold him back from being successful. Bruno opened some eyes when during the All-Star Game when he touched 97 MPH and sat 94-96. In short stints he gained confidence on the mound. He has a great pitchers frame and broad shoulders with more room to fill out at 6’4/195 pounds. He features a breaking ball which is his out pitch that has bite and depth. Bruno will enter his freshman year at Stanford this fall and has the potential to develop into a top round prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft.
Most Improved Player – Connor Goodman (Pompano Beach Clippers/University of Maine)
In the summer 2019 SFCBL season, Goodman hit .186 with 1 double and 3 RBI’s. Flash forward to his freshman year at the University of Maine where he was an everyday starter at second base for the Black Bears and hit .231 in the shortened season. In summer 2020 things really clicked for Goodman as he finished the year hitting .363 in 102 plate appearances with 2 doubles, 11 RBI’s and 13 BB’s landing him on the 1st Team All-SFCBL roster. Clippers Head Coach Kyle Baumholtz had the following to say. “Goody was clutch for us all summer. He can bounce around defensively at 2B, 3B, in left and right field. However, his at bats are what always put us in a position to win ball games. He’s got a quiet and simple approach and he does damage at the plate. On top of that he is an A1 person. He is the type of kid that every D1 coach wants in their clubhouse. He is all in and leads by example. It was a pleasure to coach him this summer”.
Evan Hirschbaum Sportsman of the Year – Zack Neto (Delray Beach Lightning/Campbell University)
Neto received multiple nominations from opposing coaches for Sportsman of the Year. Coach Nick Franco of the Boynton Beach Buccaneers had the following to say. “Not only is he a stud, he is humble and played the game right. I talked to him a lot since he mainly played 3B and we discussed the game quite a bit. He is wise and beyond his years and I think it is rare on how he acts for how good he is. He would complement our players swings or plays to me. He asked me for advice on his previous at bat. He said goodbye to me and good luck in the parking lot more than once. He certainly stood out to me as an opposing coach”. His Head Coach Beau McMillan from the Delray Beach Lightning also had the following to say. “Zack has outstanding character and is ready to play every day. He has fun at the yard and has a winner’s mentality. There is not a bad thing you can say about him. He’s a true leader that made everyone around him a better player”.
1st Team All-SFCBL
C Daniel Labrador (Boca Raton Blazers/University of Miami)
1B Cade Beloso (Phipps Park Barracudas/LSU)
2B Cade Doughty (Boca Raton Blazers/LSU)
3B Zack Neto (Delray Beach Lightning/Campbell University)
SS Derek Cartaya (West Boca Snappers/Florida International University)
OF Andrew Martinez (Palm Beach Diamond Ducks/Embry-Riddle University)
OF Connor Goodman (Pompano Beach Clippers/University of Maine)
OF Marcos Sevillano (West Boca Snappers/Seminole State)
DH Ronald McGhee (Florida Pokers/Tuskegee University)
UTL Cal Bocchino (Palm Beach Xtreme/Erskine College)
RHP Mason Black (Boca Raton Blazers/Lehigh University)
RHP Adrian Reese (Palm Beach Diamond Ducks/Florida Atlantic University)
LHP JT Larson (Florida Pokers/Eastern Florida State)
RHP Matt Svanson (West Boca Snappers/Lehigh University)
RHP Justin Alintoff (Delray Beach Lightning/University of Florida)
2nd Team All-SFCBL
C Caleb Roberts (Delray Beach Lightning/University of North Carolina)
1B Davis Payne (Delray Beach Lightning/University of Richmond)
2B Hal Hughes (Florida Pokers/Rice University)
3B Braden Forchic (Delray Beach Lightning/Lynn University)
SS Willie Escala (Palm Beach Diamond Ducks/Barry University)
OF Nick Ortega (Boca Raton Blazers/Butler University)
OF Andrew Martinez (Palm Beach Diamond Ducks/Embry-Riddle University)
OF Ross Maertz (West Boca Snappers/Fairleigh Dickinson University)
DH Freddie Matos (Pompano Beach Clippers/Butler University)
UTL Caleb Durbin (Ft. Lauderdale Knights/University of Washington)
LHP Zack Morris (Delray Beach Lightning/University of Arkansas)
LHP Ryan Steckline (Delray Beach Lightning/Monmouth University)
LHP Tyler Montoya (Florida Pokers/Northwest Florida State)
RHP Ryan Mclinskey (Phipps Park Barracudas/Seton Hall University)
RHP Chris Kahler (Boca Raton Blazers/George Washington University)
Editor’s note: For All-SFCBL selections a minimum of 75 plate appearances were needed to qualify as a position player and a minimum of 20 innings pitched were needed to qualify as a pitcher. Plate appearances include AB’s, BB’s, HBP’s, SH’s and SF’s. For hitters, average, extra base hits, RBI’s & stolen bases were the stats used for selections. For pitchers, ERA, strikeouts, wins/losses and walks were the stats used for selections.
