Douglas’ Rodriguez and Ossenfort are Broward’s 7A-6A Pitcher and Player of the Year
The total package. The complete team.
While these phrases have often been used to describe some of the great teams in sports history, the 2023 Stoneman Douglas baseball team personified those accolades.
The Eagles were a team with pitchers that could shut opponents down on the mound or with batters that could mash their way to lopsided wins.
It’s no surprise that Douglas’ biggest weapons - seniors Christian Rodriguez and Matt Ossenfort are this year’s Miami Herald Pitcher and Player of the Year respectively for Broward County in Classes 7A-6A.
Rodriguez, who has signed with the University of Florida as well as being a potential Major League Baseball draft pick this July, had a case for both awards with the kind of season he put together both on the mound, at the plate and in the field.
But no one dominated on the mound quite like Rodriguez, who struck out 117 batters and walked only 12 while compiling a 13-0 record and a 0.69 ERA to earn Pitcher of the Year honors.
Rodriguez was at the heart of numerous key wins for Douglas, which went 29-0 and completed the first perfect season by a South Florida baseball team, also winning its third consecutive state and national titles.
Rodriguez also hit .359 and blasted six home runs while hitting in the cleanup spot for the Eagles, who will enter next season having won 51 consecutive games.
“Whatever situation you threw at us, we always found a way to make something positive out of it and I don’t think you could say that about every team,” Rodriguez said. “It’s what made this squad special. We turned it on whenever we needed to turn it on and once we got rolling there was no stopping us.”
While Douglas’ lineup was already one of the most potent in the country, the arrival of Ossenfort took things up a notch and made them unstoppable.
Ossenfort, who transferred in from South Dakota, belted a Broward County-best 10 home runs and hit .400 with nine doubles and 37 RBI while batting fifth behind Rodriguez in Douglas’ lineup.
Ossenfort, who stands at 6-3 and weighs 215 pounds, is a Vanderbilt signee, but his raw power from the left side of the plate and tools at first base have also made him an enticing prospect for potential pro clubs.
The ease at which he fit right in with his teammates in one year was crucial to Douglas’ success.
“This was what we worked for since day one and it feels so great to have an undefeated season. It was our ultimate goal and we got it done,” Ossenfort said after Douglas beat Tampa Plant in the Class 7A state championship game last month. “It just showed how tight of a group we had. This is a true brotherhood right here. For anyone thinking of coming to Douglas, do it. It’s the best environment you could be a part of.”
