After a few down seasons in the Sun Preps region, baseball was back with a vengeance in 2024.
Venice, Charlotte (!) and Imagine (!!) each won district titles while Port Charlotte entered district play as the top seed. For the Tarpons, it was the first district crown since 2009. For Imagine, it was the first district title in school history.
While Port Charlotte lost its district championship in heartbreaking fashion, the Pirates did make their first regional playoff appearance since 2014 and their 17 wins were their most in five seasons.
Imagine’s magical campaign saw it win two games each against Charlotte and district nemesis, Out-of-Door Academy. The Sharks were fueled by a potent offense and clutch pitching, much of which will return in 2025.
Charlotte’s breakthrough was the epitome of teamwork. The Tarpons were a little lean on flashy statistics, but their unselfish play paid off handsomely as they went 4-2 in one-run games.
Lemon Bay’s season was one of stranded base runners and bad luck, but the Mantas still managed to make a little noise in their district tournament before the season came to an end. Lemon Bay will be saying farewell to a raft of seniors who depart with tremendous career portfolios.
While DeSoto County’s 7-18 record seems to indicate a lost season, nothing could be further from the truth. The Bulldogs finished strong, going 7-7 after beginning the season 0-11.
All of this leads us to Venice and the undeniable truth the Indians have returned to championship form.
After a season-opening loss to Dunedin, Venice rattled off a school-record 16 consecutive victories against the area’s toughest schedule. The Indians then closed out the season with another nine-win run that propelled them into the Region 7A-2 championship, where they ran into eventual state runner-up, Windermere, and fell in extra innings.
To no surprise, the Indians dominate this year’s All-Area first team and also boast the Sun Preps Coach of the Year in Craig Faulkner.
First team honorees and Player of the Year finalists are invited, along with their families, to the Sun Preps All-Area Awards Show at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the North Port Performing Arts Center. Seating is limited but tickets are free and can be picked up at https://nphs.ludus.com.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
LANDON CARTER
Port Charlotte, senior
The reigning Sun Preps Baseball Player of the Year makes his fourth (and final) appearance on the All-Area first team. Why is he batting 1.000 for his career? Because his final bow saw him lead the area in home runs (5) while continuing to be a force on the mound.
In 58.2 innings on the bump, Carter permitted just 37 hits and struck out an area-best 85 batters, posting a 0.84 earned run average along the way.
JON EMBURY
Venice, senior
The Florida Gulf Coast-bound catcher wrapped up a stellar career by leading the Sun Preps region with a .411 batting average. Embury also led the area with 38 runs batted in and tied for the region lead with 12 doubles while batting in the heart of Venice’s potent lineup.
In the regular season finale, Embury delivered a five-RBI game. In the region playoffs, Embury closed out his prep career by batting .455 (5 of 11) across the three contests.
FRANK PLANER
Charlotte, junior
The key to Charlotte’s first district title run in 15 years was this two-way dynamo. Planer boosted his batting average by 68 points over last season to lead the Tarpons with a .325 mark. His 12 doubles tied Venice’s Jon Embury for the area lead.
On the mound, Planer evolved into the staff ace. In 51.1 innings, he permitted just 32 hits (and tossed a no-hitter) while striking out 78, second only to Port Charlotte’s Landon Carter.
FIRST TEAM, continued
COOPER BOGGESS
Imagine, junior
The Sharks center fielder batted .383 with four doubles, two triples and two home runs while leading the area with 23 stolen bases and tying for the lead with 28 runs scored.
JACOB CONNOR
Lemon Bay, senior
The Mantas center fielder who will be signing his letter of intent on Thursday to play for Warner batted .312 this season with 19 runs scored while swiping 21 bases. He is a repeat first-teamer.
RJ COOPER
Imagine, junior
Another of the area’s outstanding two-way players, Cooper batted .383 with three doubles, a triple and four home runs. Meanwhile, he tossed 46.1 innings, striking out 70 and posted a 2.42 ERA.
CARTER COX
Venice, sophomore
The Indians only lost once this season when Cox was on the mound and the reasons why are obvious. In 44.1 innings, he permitted just 24 hits while striking out 51, posting a miniscule 0.95 ERA.
JOSHUA DOERRFELD
North Port, senior
The Bobcats’ center fielder and pitcher moves up from the second team after a season that saw him bat .352 with 10 doubles, two triples and two homers as well as tossing 44.2 innings and striking out 56.
DAVID DUBRULE
Venice, junior
The Indians shortstop batted in the sweet spot between Brady Schumaker and Jon Embury and made the most of it, batting .337 with 23 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.
JACKSON LUCAS
Venice, junior
The Indians’ staff ace erupted onto the scene last season and earns a second consecutive first-team nod after posting a 1.87 ERA while drawing the toughest assignments on a brutal schedule. He also batted .361.
BRADDOCK MARSHALL
Charlotte, senior
Batting leadoff and playing shortstop for the Tarpons, Marshall batted .330 with five doubles, two triples and two home runs while swiping 11 bases.
ZACH MITCHELL
North Port, senior
The Bobcats’ catcher also rises up from last year’s second-team mention thanks to his .326 batting average. He also led the region by throwing out 16 would-be base thieves.
ADRIAN NINA
Port Charlotte, senior
The Pirates’ outfielder is a two-time, first-team honoree. This year, he batted .337 and stole 22 bases while providing spectacular defense in center field.
BRADY SCHUMAKER
Venice, senior
In earning his second straight first-team nod, Schumaker played a lockdown third base. Batting leadoff, he posted a .345 average and tied for the area lead with 28 runs scored. He also tossed 22.1 innings with a 1.25 ERA.
JOEL VAZQUEZ
Lemon Bay, senior
The Mantas’ jack-of-trades has been a first- or second-team All-Area selection for his entire prep career and he’s going out with a bang after batting .373 and swiping 14 bases.
NATE WINTERHALTER
Venice, senior
Winterhalter often paired with Lucas in Venice’s biggest contests, forming a potent 1A-1B duo. In 37 innings, he allowed 22 hits and just 5 walks while fanning 48 for a 0.77 ERA
SIMON YOCHUM
Venice, senior
While the Indians reliever entered games at any point, he was undeniably the area’s top fireman. In 24.2 innings, Yochum allowed just seven hits while fanning 38 for a 1.13 ERA.
SECOND TEAM
TRENTON ALLEY, DeSoto County, Fr.
REED BACKSTROM, Port Charlotte, Jr.
WYATT BUSH, Lemon Bay, Jr.
JASON CONTE, Imagine, Jr.
JASPER DAVIS, Port Charlotte, So.
EDWIN FELICIANO, Charlotte, Jr.
CORBIN GILMORE, DeSoto County, Sr.
KYLE HERRERA, Port Charlotte, Sr.
DYLAN KLOSSNER, Charlotte, Jr.
JACOB LOMBARD, Imagine, Jr.
PEYTON RASSBACH, Imagine, Fr.
KAYVON SANTANA, Port Charlotte, Sr.
CHASE SIVULICH, North Port, So.
JOSEPH STANDFORD, Imagine, Sr.
COACH OF THE YEAR
CRAIG FAULKNER, Venice
This honor is nothing new for the long-time Indians coach. That said, Venice’s 26-4 campaign stands out, thanks to where it began – a school-record, 16-game winning streak – and where it ended – in the Region 7A-2 championship. With a wealth of underclassmen returning in 2025, it’s possible Venice’s successful 2024 was merely the harbinger of another golden era for the program.
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