Viera baseball has plenty of offense, depth BY CARL KOTALA On a team loaded with seven seniors, the Viera High baseball team certainly isn’t lacking for motivation this season. Take senior captains Andrew “Bammer” Brait and Connor Leary. “It’s our last year we’re going to be playing together,” Brait said. “We’ve played together since we were 11. We really want to win.” While the Hawks certainly have plenty of veteran leadership this season, they will also have a lot of depth … and a potent offense to go with it. Brait will once again be at shortstop, but Leary will miss the early part of the season recovering from an injury. In his place will likely be true freshman Edian Espinal, who already is turning heads with his defensive play. Brady Janssen, who played third base last season, could move to first base where he would share time with Liam Samuels and Bill Moser. Third base would then go to Zach Taylor or Ethan Huffman.
The outfield candidates include Aiden Davis, Joe Veltri, Luke Brown, Jake Vermeire, JT Smith and Carson Janssen. Starting at catcher will be Alan Espinal or Declan McDermott. “We’ve got to put our best nine guys out there defensively, but our priority is definitely going to be swinging the stick,” Hawks coach Bob Doty said. “We’ve got a chance to be really good offensively if we can really lengthen that lineup out.” Scoring runs likely won’t be a problem for the Hawks this season. As always, it will come down to pitching. Junior Christian Stubbendeck, who struck out VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala Carson Janssen, left, Eric Allen, Joe Veltri, Luke Brown, Andrew Brait and Brady Janssen are seniors on the Viera 17 batters in 10 innings last High School baseball team. They are motivated to have a successful season. Senior Connor Leary is not pictured. season before getting hurt, is expected to anchor a staff that should include Moser, experiences of last year,” he can’t be better than last year.” got to know that if you win Tyler Madl and Jake Moldrem said. “We got off to a really With a schedule that your district, or you’re the among others. slow start last year, so we can includes tough road games at runner-up and advance, Brady Janssen believes the use what we learned to get Rockledge, Vero Beach and you’re going to have to play Hawks have what it takes to go off to a quick start this year. IMG Academy, the Hawks will on the road,” Doty said. “We far, especially if they can get off “I think we’re just as certainly be tested before wanted to play some stateto a quick start. talented as last year, so if their district tournament. championship caliber teams “I think (the outlook is) we get off to a quick start, “We play 16 of our 25 on the road. You can’t play really good, especially with the there’s no reason why we games (at home), but you’ve everybody at home.” VV
CALLING ALL STUDENT ARTISTS - AGES 5-18
Charlie Corbeil Art STUDENT ART CONTEST 2019
Deadline to apply: 5 p.m. Friday, April 5 For details and submission requirements go to VieraVoice.com or call 321-242-1235 7630 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 105, Viera, FL 32940
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Viera Voice | March 2019
Bluewater Foundation
Photography
Writing W Wr i ing it
Over $500 in Prizes
Winners announced at 1 p.m. on April 13 at the Viera Wetlands Festival vieravoice.com
