Cardinal Newman baseball coach is close to win No. 700

Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach) baseball coach Jack Kokinda needs only five more wins to reach his 700th career coaching victory, but it's taking longer to reach that milestone than the winningest coach in Palm Beach County history would like. Kokinda is more concerned with how his team is playing.

Unlike most of his other 40 seasons at the West Palm Beach private school, Kokinda's Crusaders are struggling through a losing season with a uncharacteristic 2-15 record entering this week.

"I've never been a numbers guy. If you coach long enough, you will eventually get to it," Kokinda told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "Reaching 700 is not what's important."

Kokinda, who has a career record of 695-515-6, said he is hoping his team can reverse its direction over the next eight regular-season games and win its sixth consecutive district championship.

"When you stay in coaching as long as I have, you need to keep a positive outlook," said Kokinda, 64. "We're not dead yet, and hopefully we will right the ship."

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, most observers might not guess that outfielder Dereck Rodriguez is the son of Pudge Rodriguez, one of the greatest catchers to ever lace up a pair of baseball cleats. After all, Pudge, who now plays for the Washington Nationals, is only 5-9 and weighs 190 pounds. But the younger Rodriguez might be following in his famous father's footsteps.

He smacked seven home runs and had 22 RBIs to go along with a .414 batting average last season when he attended Chaminade (Hollywood). This season, Rodriguez is hitting .439 for Monsignor Pace (Miami) heading into the second half of the season. He has made a verbal commitment to Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, but he might forego college if he is drafted this summer.

Rodriguez is not the only player on the Pace roster whose father is famous. Middle infielder Reynaldo Ordonez is the son of former major league shortstop Rey Ordonez.

MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS NAMED
Three players from south Florida have been voted finalists for the state's Mr. Basketball, the award given to the overall best player in Florida this past season.

Senior Jacoby Brissett of Class 5A state champion Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens), senior Rod Days of 2A state champion Sagemont (Weston) and junior Farad Cobb of 1A state champion Summit Christian (West Palm Beach) were announced Tuesday as the players of the year in their respective classifications in voting for the Florida Dairy Farmers annual award. They are among the six Mr. Basketball finalists, which also includes Austin Rivers of 6A Winter Park, Joe Toolie of 4A Leesburg and Angelo Warner of 3A Jones (Orlando).