ENGLEWOOD — In what has been something of a star-crossed season for the Lemon Bay baseball program, Wednesday afternoon was, well, star-studded.
Five Lemon Bay baseball players signed their letters of intent to play the game at the next level. Bradyn Wise and Joel Vazquez will do so together at Glen Oaks Community College in Michigan. Austin Woodbury will be close to home, playing for New College of Florida. Bradley Henson is headed to Lander and Gabe Todaro will head up the coast to play at Pasco-Hernando State College.
“It’s awesome to see this,” Lemon Bay coach Zach Gonzales said. “Just to see where we’ve gone as a program from Year 1, 2, 3 and so forth.
“And seeing them — like Joel and Wise and Gabe — coming in as small freshmen that didn’t know what to expect and now as the confident young adults they are? It’s special.”
BRADLEY HENSON
Henson hasn’t seen much action for the Mantas, but his promise was good enough for Lander, an NCAA Division II school, to add him to their haul of Southwest Florida recruits.
“He’ll join Cooper Backman and Kyle Bechtold, so there are a couple of guys that he grew up with and that he knows,” Gonzales said, referring to Riverview and Venice seniors, respectively. “That’s a good comfort factor and Lander’s also a very good Division II program. They’re having a very good year right now, so I’m super excited for him to go up there, compete, grow and learn.”
GABE TODARO
Todaro has mostly served as a fireballing relief pitcher this season for the Mantas. He’ll be joining a potent two-year program in the Tampa Bay area under fifth-year coach Lyndon Coleman.
“It’s a really good spot for him,” Gonzales said. “Gabe’s a hard thrower. He’s 88-91. I think it’s a really good place for him to go and develop further and hopefully continue after that.”
Under Coleman, the Bobcats have reached the NJCAA DII World Series, where they placed third in 2019.
JOEL VAZQUEZ
Vazquez came in to Lemon Bay as a fleet-footed shortstop and will go out as an anywhere in the order, jack of trades.
In his freshman year, Vazquez set a school record with 37 stolen bases, finishing second overall in Florida. In the field, he has moved around the infield and has even played some outfield. For the most part, he has settled in on the left side of the infield, moving interchangeably between third and short.
A career .315 hitter, Vazquez is leading the Mantas with a .352 mark this season. He also has 11 steals.
“I think he’s changed each year,” Gonzales said. “We’ve seen a different version of Joel in Year 1, 2, 3 and four. He’s played everywhere for us, he’s done everything for us. He’s done everything we’ve asked. I’m so super happy for him.”
BRADYN WISE
Vazquez is headed to Glen Oaks in big part because Wise, one of his best friends, is following in his father’s footsteps.
Wise’s father is a baseball alumnus of Glen Oaks.
At Lemon Bay, Wise had to wait his turn to play catcher behind Javi Albarran and Colin Gamber. He stepped in during his junior season and has been a big part of the Mantas’ roster ever since.
“He gets to play at the alma mater of his dad, so that was a really cool connection already,” Gonzales said. “And then Joel is a good buddy of his. I think instantly Joel was like, ‘I’m all for it.’
“And, you know with the kind of season (Joel) is having, leading our team in every offensive category, I think it was awesome for him to go up there and continue his athletic career with Bradyn.”
AUSTIN WOODBURY
Of the five Mantas signing on Wednesday, Woodbury’s journey has been the most compelling.
Woodbury was born without a left forearm and hand, but that hasn’t stopped the righthanded pitcher from following in the footsteps of his idol, Jim Abbott, who famously reached Major League Baseball.
“Where he has really developed is just learning how to be a pitcher,” Gonzales said. “Last year, he didn’t have as many innings as he does now. He’s in the top four in innings pitched for us.”
He’s headed to a Sarasota-based school that sports the area’s most unique nickname: The Fighting Banyans.
After not seeing much action at Venice, Woodbury transferred to Lemon Bay prior to his junior season with a fastball that sat in the low-80s at its peak. He has since boosted that number into the mid-80s and routinely burns opponents who attempt to test his fielding skills.
“I think it’s still shocking to all the teams we play,” Gonzales said. “They see a pitcher get up on the mound with one arm and it still cracks me up when they try to lay down bunts and he goes up there and fields it like normal and throws them out.
“The main thing about him is he’s one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet. I’m very excited for him moving on.”
The Fighting Banyans are currently playing their inaugural season of baseball and were 15-25 as of Wednesday.
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