Shortstop Drew LaBounty
Photo courtesy of Keith Haynes
Class 4A has some formidable teams including traditional powers Bishop Verot, Bishop Moore, Monsignor Pace, Gulliver Prep and Bolles. Pensacola Catholic does not have any of those teams on its schedule, but it is scheduled to play in the Bishop Moore Catholic Challenge in early April. There, it will likely face several of the top Catholic schools in the state. Pensacola Catholic has also faced Bishop Verot in the state finals each of the past two season.
Local outlook: The Crusaders play perennial 6A power Pace on March 28 and April 16. Pace has won a pair of state championships over the past 10 seasons (at the 5A level) and has won at least 25 games each of the past three seasons. Pensacola Catholic must also get past Mariana in district play. Mariana handed the Crusaders one of their three losses last season.
Overall outlook: Mental toughness could be the key for the Crusaders this year. According to LaBounty, Pensacola Catholic was 7-2 in one-run games last year and 11-2 in games decided by three runs. With 20 wins back from the pitching staff and a middle defense that returns every starter, Pensacola Catholic presents a number of problems for teams trying to scratch out runs against the Crusaders.
Coach quote: "The core group of players on this team has played in two consecutive state championship games and they expect to and know how to win. They never panic and always expect to find a way to pull out the close ones."
- Richard LaBounty
