Stoneman Douglas gets one more accolade after dominant season: National champions
Todd Fitz-Gerald knew he had a talented team this year, very likely the most talented team he has fielded in his 11 years at the head baseball coach at Stoneman Douglas.
Considering the talent that has come and gone through the program, that’s saying something.
And the group lived up to the expectations.
A 30-2 record. A clean sweep at the 2022 USA Baseball National High School Invitational in Cary, North Carolina. A second consecutive Class 7A state title.
And now, another national championship.
Baseball America this week named Stoneman Douglas its High School Team of the Year. It’s the second time the outlet has given the Eagles the honor, with the other coming in 2016. Stoneman Douglas was also named the top team in the country by Perfect Game last season.
Stoneman Douglas cruised through its schedule and rattled off 22 consecutive wins to end the season. The Eagles’ lone losses were one-run defeats to Taravella (4-3 on Feb. 22 to open the season) and Park Vista (4-3 on March 22). At the USA Baseball National High School Invitational, Stoneman Douglas crushed its first three opponents by a combined score of 38-1 before beating Orange Park St. Johns Country Day 5-3 in the title game.
Back at the state level, Stoneman Douglas dominated in the playoffs. The Eagles won their seven games — two district contests, three regional games and two state matches — by a combined score of 49-14.
The Eagles’ dominance came from the top, with a group of 10 seniors leading the way.
Outfielder Roman Anthony, the Miami Herald’s 7A-6A Baseball Player of the Year and Gatorade’s Florida Player of the Year, led the charge on offense and could very well hear his name called during the first two days of the MLB Draft in June. The Ole Miss signee is ranked as the No. 57 overall draft prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 73 by Baseball America.
Jake Clemente and Chris Arroyo, the Miami Herald’s Co-Pitchers of the Year and both University of Florida signees, were the Eagles’ co-aces on the mound.
Beyond Stoneman Douglas, Doral Academy finished No. 12 in Baseball America’s national rankings, while North Broward Prep (No. 35) and Plantation American Heritage (No. 46) also cracked the top 50.
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