St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) baseball coach Danny Allie knows a thing or two about high school baseball prospects. As a coach at Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) in the 1990s, Allie coached future major leaguers Johnny Damon, A.J. Pierzynski, Danny Miceli and 1990 first-round draft pick Brian Barber, who was the Gatorade Player of the Year.
So when Allie says that he has a future major league ballplayer on his roster, it would be wise to listen. Especially since Allie has had an eye on this prospect for the past 18 years. That would be his son Stetson, who ranks as one of the best third baseman/pitching prospects in the country this year.
Ranked No. 2 overall on the MaxPreps Top 100 Player Rankings, Allie has been a familiar face at such summer events as the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., the Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field, the East Coast Pro Game at Lakeland, Fla., and the Aflac All-American Game in San Diego. Allie also took the time to play summer ball at East Cobb in Georgia, a team that went 91-7 and won the World Wood Bat Championship, despite living in the suburbs in Cleveland.
"It was a wonderful experience to participate in those events," said Allie. "Especially the Aflac All-American Game because we got to spend time with the children in the cancer center at the hospital. I will never forget that experience. (It was) life-changing for me because my sister was a cancer survivor when I was growing up, so it hit home. It was a friendly reminder just how wonderful I really have it. I thank God every day."
The folks at St. Edward High School are probably counting their blessings as well ever since the Allies arrived in Lakewood in 2007. Danny Allie, who was 157-57 in seven years at Dr. Phillips, replaced John Whelan as the head coach at St. Edward and Stetson joined the varsity team as a sophomore. St. Edward won the state championship that first season and are once again poised to challenge for a state title.
Last year, Allie batted .446 (29 for 65) with six doubles, three triples, five home runs and 26 RBI. He only pitched 14 innings last year, but he has been utilized more on the mound this season. This year, St. Edward is off to a strong start at 16-3 and Allie has provided, perhaps, the most memorable hit of the season.
Facing Walsh Jesuit, a team ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps, Allie hit a home run in the seventh inning to give St. Edward the win and effectively drop the Warriors from the No. 1 overall ranking.
"They have a bunch of prospects in that program," said Allie. "I really enjoy playing them during the season because it is always a great game against a class program."
The big win gives Allie confidence about his team's chances for the rest of the season.
"I expect we could be competing for the big prize, a state title," he said. "We are playing some of our best baseball right now. We are pretty solid throughout our lineup and our pitching (and) defense has been strong all year, so that gives us a chance to win it."
Besides a possible state title, Allie will also look toward possibly being selected in the Major League Baseball draft the second week of June. His father feels he has what it takes to make it to the big leagues.
"I saw it in Brian Barber back in 1991, Johnny Damon in 1992 and A.J. Pierzynski in 1993, they just outworked everyone and stayed true to themselves," said the elder Allie. "They were students of the game, always wanting to learn and be the best. Stetson has some of those qualities and desires as well.
"Stetson has all the making of a professional prospect and more importantly, he is a great kid. He has developed that burning desire to be the very best and accomplish his ultimate dream to play in the big leagues.
Stetson gives all the credit for his progress to his father.
"My father is the guy," he said. "He has taught me everything about how to carry yourself and how to play the game. He knows how to develop talent, period."
Allie has always dreamed of playing Major League Baseball, ever since he was a young kid itching to leave t-ball behind and play with the older boys.
"They wouldn't let me play up with the older kids, so I had to stay in t-ball," Allie said. "When I started hitting my growth spurts and things started coming together, I realized that I could play this game at the next level."
Allie has made a commitment to play at the University of North Carolina, and that will be one of his options come draft time.
"That is an awesome place to go to college. Great coaching staff, great college environment and great education. It doesn't get much better than that."
