After winning the Florida Class 6A state championship last season,
Flanagan (Pembroke Pines) has a great chance for a repeat performance. The Falcons, arguably the nation's top team a year ago, enter the 2010-2011 season led by senior all-American shortstop
Ricky Santiago.
Along with the state title, Santiago (6-foot, 170 pounds) helped lead the Falcons to a 25-2 record after batting .420 with 23 RBIs, five doubles and four home runs. His efforts increased his stock as one of the nation's top players, thus being recognized as a MaxPreps Junior All-American. When asked how he felt about being recognized by Max Preps, Santiago replied, "It was an honor."
"Our coaches did a great job of preparing us for games and my growth as a player came as a result of what our team was able to do," he added.
Along with the standout shortstop, teammates
Michael Melendez (Sr., 1B/P),
Ryan Lozada (Sr., OF) and
Robert Collin (Sr., P/OF) will look to help the Falcons defend their title. If you ask Santiago, he feels that this year's team has a slightly different edge compared to last year's squad.
"We had awesome pitchers last year but most of them graduated," he said. "Our pitching is coming along game by game but our hitting lineup is much more dangerous. Our lineup, from 1-9, is really consistent and will make a huge difference."
Santiago, whose favorite baseball player is New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, understands the importance of his role on the team and says he wants to "mature as a leader" more than anything this season.
"I had a good season last year but didn't say much on the field because we had great senior leadership," he added. "Just like I was able to learn from them and how they worked, I'd like for the underclassmen to see me in that same way and work hard."
The type of mentality that Santiago has taken into this season is one that his coach, Ray Evans, is most proud of.
"Ricky leads by example," he said. "His work ethic speaks volumes and it's not so much in his verbal approach but rather in what he does. He never takes an inning off and I'm beginning to see how many of the younger infielders have taken from that. He is grounded in church and comes from a much disciplined family which serves as the foundation for what he has accomplished here."
Santiago, who has committed to Florida Atlantic University, understands the importance of hard work and continues to strive to be best. On the field, the standout shortstop still wants to strengthen his fielding as apart of perfecting his overall game.
Like last year, Santiago's hard work is beginning to pay off and is aiding in his team's success this season. The Falcons have a 13-2 record and, so far, Santiago, who has 43 at bats, is batting .488, with 10 RBIs, eight doubles and one home run. Despite being walked 14 times, he managed 21 hits, 22 runs and has an on base percentage of .604.
"We faced some good teams this year, especially in our recent trip to Jacksonville," he said. "But as long as our work ethic is the same, as it was last year, it will produce the same results. All we have to do is work harder and follow what our coaches are teaching."
Santiago, who has been at Flanagan all four years, has played on the varsity level since the ninth grade and accredits the leadership of his coaches toward his growth and the team's success.
"I was a decent player when I came in but coach Evans and his staff taught us well and helped me mature both physically and mentally," he said.
Coach Evans teaches his players to give all they have and make it a point to leave a legacy while at Flanagan. What he has in Santiago is a testament to the development of his younger players and the future of its baseball program.
"To make it in this program, a player must be dedicated, committed and have perseverance," he said. "Ricky represents all of those qualities and his legacy will be left by inspiring and motivating others. Our younger guys see what he does and push themselves harder, whether on the field or in the weight room."
