Editor’s Note: This is the second of five stories unveiling the 2024 Bosshardt Realty All Area Softball and Baseball Teams. Click here to read about the Small School Softball Team.
There was an element of surprise for small school baseball this past season.
Newberry was poised to make a run at another state title, but Trenton upset the Panthers, 4-3, in the 1A-Region 4 Final to deny the Panthers their third trip to the final four in the past four years.
The two teams filled six of the 11 positions on the 2024 Bosshardt Realty Small School All Area Baseball Team.
Leading the way for the state semifinalist Tigers, who lost to Bozeman (Panama City) in the Class 1A state semifinals at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, is freshman Brant Bivens.
Bivens made the team as a utility player after leading Trenton (13-12) with a .395 batting average, a .474 on base percentage, 32 hits, 20 runs batted in, 29 runs scored, a .580 slugging percentage, 11 doubles, 17 stolen bases, and he tied for the team lead with two triples.
He was 4-3 on the mound with a 2.88 earned run average and had 56 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.
“Plus-hitter and plus-defender,” said first-year Trenton coach Chris Marlo. “Put the team on his back and he carried us to the playoffs.”
Trenton catcher Ty Moses joins his teammate on the All Area team.
The sophomore was second on the Tigers with a .308 average, 24 H, 18 RBI, 20 RS, and 15 SB.
“Team-first type player who was a leader the whole year at practice and during games,” Marlo said. “He never got frustrated, just played the game hard and competed every play. He stepped up and played catcher to fill the need.”
Newberry led the way with four selections, including infielder Tavis Honeycutt.
The freshman led the Panthers with a .602 OBP, a .737 slugging percentage, five home runs, nine doubles, 23 SB and 35 RS. He was second with 27 RBI.
“Tavis was a huge contributor to our team’s success this season as a freshman,” said Newberry coach Mike Spina. “He led the team offensively with five home runs and the highest OBP. His IQ of the game is unmatched and he is a great teammate and leader.”
Oak Hall’s Harrison Beach earned a spot after helping lead the Eagles (13-6) to a Class 2A-District 4 title and state playoff appearance.
He was second on the team with .479 OBP, 17 SB, 21 RS, 22 hits and he tied for the team lead with two triples while adding a .379 batting average.
“Harrison Beach was a solidifying force in the middle of the infield at shortstop and made some spectacular plays throughout the whole year,” said Oak Hall coach Kevin Marins. “He and his twin brother, Jackson, turned numerous double plays getting us out of some big jams in big games. It was always entertaining to watch him field balls throughout the season. He was a consistent bat in the lineup hitting in the 3-hole all year long. His production offensively was fun to watch from laying a bunt down to speeding around the bases with triples.”
The Eagles’ Gavin Jones joins his teammate in the infield.
Jones had a big junior year with a team-leading .479 average, a .597 OBP, and a .687 SLG%.
“Gavin was a dominant 4-hitter for us all year long,” Maris said. “He showed some pop in the bat as well as being a clutch hitter with a runner in scoring position. He also played solid infield for us that gave our pitchers the confidence to just throw a ground ball and the fielders do their thing. He was a solid leader that led our offensive attack all year long.”
Williston junior Breeden Clemenzi completes the infield.
In 64 at-bats, Clemenzi (.453) finished with 29 hits, 19 runs, 10 RBI and a .568 OBP for the 1A-District 8 champion Red Devils (9-19), who lost 5-0 to Newberry in the 1A-Region 4 semifinals.
Newberry placed a pair of outfielders on the All Area team in Brycen Ochs and Tristan Woodrome
Ochs had a big freshman year for the Panthers (22-6).
He led the team with a .458 average and was second on the team with a 595 OBP, 21 stolen bases and 31 runs.
“Brycen was and is an absolute dog in center field,” Spina said. “His speed and agility make him unbeatable. He led the team in batting average and can be counted on to move runners and getting into scoring position.”
Woodrome, a junior, led Newberry with 33 hits and 27 RBI. He was second with a .393 average.
“Tristan was an incredible offensive threat,” Spina said. “He consistently drove in runs behind Tavis Honeycutt, and he always came in clutch. His discipline at the plate makes him a tough out.”
St. Francis Catholic Academy senior Ty Powell joined Ochs and Woodrome in the outfield.
Powell helped lead the Wolves (14-10) to their first postseason appearance since 2015 by batting .385 with a team-best .549 OBP and a .557 SLG%. He also led the team with three triples and 26 RS and was second with 18 SB.
He only made one error all season and finished with a .941 fielding percentage.
“Ty is a great young man who plays the game of baseball the way it should be played, with focus, energy, and passion,” said first-year St. Francis Catholic Academy coach Ryan Brown. “I try to coach the game that way, so Ty fits in very well with our system. Ty was our lead-off hitter and set the tone for us in every game. He played a big part in us making the playoffs.”
Chiefland’s Siosaia Wilson was one of two pitchers named to the team.
This past season, the senior finished 7-2 on the mound with a 1.54 ERA. He had 60 strikeouts and only eight walks in 50 innings pitched.
“Saia has had a huge impact on our program,” said Chiefland coach Chad Brock. “He bought in to everything we tried to teach as coaches. He not only played the game with high energy and a lot of effort but attacked every day during practice the same way. His work ethic and determination will leave a lasting impact at CHS.”
Newberry senior pitcher Ben Beck rounds out the All Area team.
Beck (6-2) had a team-best 1.48 ERA for the 1A-District 7 champions with 61 Ks in 52 innings pitched and opposing batters hit just .156 against him. He also batted .295 with 16 RBI.
“Ben was a force on the bump,” Spina said. “He led us on the mound and always gave our team the chance to win when he toed the rubber.”
2024 Bosshardt Realty Small School All Area Baseball Team
C – Ty Moses, Trenton (SO)
INF – Harrison Beach, Oak Hall (SR)
INF – Breeden Clemenzi, Williston (JR)
INF – Tavis Honeycutt, Newberry (FR)
INF – Gavin Jones, Oak Hall (JR)
OF – Ty Powell, St. Francis Catholic Academy (SR)
OF – Brycen Ochs, Newberry (FR)
OF – Tristan Woodrome, Newberry (JR)
Utility – Brant Bivens, Trenton (FR)
P – Siosaia Wilson, Chiefland (SR)
P – Ben Beck, Newberry (SR)
Honorable mentions
Bell – Jayden Lopez (Jr.), Jorge Gonzalez (Jr.), Rocco Lovinelli (Jr.), Zane McArdle (8th)
Branford – Andres Maysonet (Sr.), Austin Humphries (Sr.), Troy Roberts (Jr.), Tucker Floyd (Jr.), Dawson Cannon (So.)
Bronson – Liam Meeks (Sr.), Dalton Jones (Jr.), Zachary McClelland (Jr.), Tristen O’Neal (Jr.), Bradley Smith (Jr.)
Chiefland – Trent Bright (Jr.), J.R. Hudson (Jr.), Taylor Brown (Jr.), Keilani Wilson (Jr.), Trey Meeks (Jr.), Luke Watkins (Jr.)
Countryside Christian – Everett Byrd (Jr.), Jace Reustle (Jr.), Clay Dees (Jr.), Brayden Dalton (So.)
Dixie County (Cross City) – Kade McCaskill (Sr.), Andrew Pleasant (Jr.), Braxton Bernier (Jr.), Mason Jones (So.), Joel Lord (Fr.)
Fort White – Hayden Adams (Sr.), Kenton Haase (Sr.), Garrett Depaola (Sr.), Patrick Kennedy (Jr.), Carson Capallia (So.), Matthew Pitts (So.), Cadan Hall (So.)
Hawthorne – Amari Johnson (Sr.), Drake Barbato (So.), Branson Byrd (Fr.), Connor Flinchum (Fr.)
Newberry – Braxton Brady (Sr.), Jayden Holcombe (Sr.), Josh Morison (Sr.), Desmond Taylor (Fr.)
St. Francis Catholic Academy – Joey Calhoun (Sr.), McCabe Long (Sr.), Richard Jones (Sr.), Dylan Diaz (Jr.), Chris Durstine (So.), Sawyer Williams (Fr.), Colin Kuruppacherry (Fr.)
Oak Hall – Ethan Szlachetka (Sr.), Jack Steen (Sr.), Troy Freeman (Sr.), Darion Medley (Sr.), Jackson Beach (Sr.), Emory Ezzell (Sr.), Brody Beaupre (Jr.)
Trenton – Dax Becker (Sr.), Jordan Marlo (Jr.), Isaac Johnson (Jr.), Mason VucCannon, (Fr.), Noah Owens (Fr.), Pierson Weatherilt (Fr.)
Union County (Lake Butler) – Preston Bonsall (Sr.), Riggs Davis (Sr.), Foster Smith (Jr.), Jake Walker (Jr.), Trenton Klein (Jr.), Kacen Thomassen (Jr.), Erick Lasseter (So.)
Williston – Shamon Coleman (Sr.), Blake Martin (Jr.), Anthony Gardea (Jr.), Koleby Benson (Fr.), Wyatt North (8th)