TAMPA — For Hillsborough County baseball teams, school vacation week means two things: the spotlight of the prestigious Saladino Tournament and the start of the three-week sprint to the regular season finish line.
And for Wharton and Freedom, it also means taking different roads to the mutual goal of a strong postseason run.
“No doubt, there were challenges that we went through at the Saladino, things that will help us figure some things out,” said Wharton head coach Anthony Markle, following a convincing 12-2 victory over Freedom last week. “It’s been good to see this group of guys sticking together after a tough stretch of games.”
After a dazzling 27-win season and a berth in the Class 6A final four last year – with some potent bats powering that success – the early part of the season has been a period of discovery for Markle, including a 1-2-1 record at Saladino.
“We don’t have that Fawcett kid (Antonio, who hit a team-high eight home runs in 2025), we don’t have that Meadows kid (Justis with his six homers and 42 runs batted in) anymore,” Markle said. “We don’t have those boppers.”
What the Wildcats do have are productive batters that can effectively put the ball in play.
Seniors and top-notch batterymates Chase Andress, Chase Anello and Connor Evans have all posted solid seasons so far.
Andress, a pitcher/first baseman, is hitting near .500 with a pair of homers while allowing around half an earned run per game on the mound. Catcher Anello, a Seminole State College commit, is flirting with .300 while driving in 11 runs. Evans, another strong arm that recently committed to Eastern Florida State College, is hitting .440.
Packing 25 pounds onto his 6-foot-4 frame, the only thing Andress lost was his nickname of “Slim.”
“(Andress) is different from last year. He’s done everything necessary to prepare for these months,” Markle said. “He’s gained strength, he’s gained size … His hard work has come to fruition.”
Stepping in for the graduated power has been sophomore Robert Sindelar. Moving to the area from Phoenix just before the season started, Sindelar recovered effectively from a preseason setback.
“I dislocated my kneecap during batting practice,” said Sindelar, who needed several weeks of rehab to rebound from the injury. “I was telling coach, just let me get some at-bats, let me see some pitches, watch tape, and react. That’s what helped me stay on the game so much.”
And when he finally found his way on the field, as a first baseman and reliever like he was in Arizona, he produced beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, going 8-for-16 with a homer, two doubles, and nine RBIs, three of those coming in the win over Freedom.
“(Robert’s) been a very, very good surprise,” Markle said. “He’s a little bit stronger than your average 10th grader, especially in his lower half, and he’s learned to use that. He’s been a big addition we didn’t expect.”
Another pleasant surprise has been shortstop Jeremiah Brown, a positive influence and a defensive pillar.
“He’s worked his butt off and stuck his heart and soul into everything he’s done,” Markle said. “As one of the smallest guys on the team, he’s done a big-time job of putting the team on his back, and every day he’s got a big smile on his face. He’s awesome.”
With a 10-4 record and challenging match-ups against Gaither, Bloomingdale and Sickles to come, Wharton’s road to repeat will be challenging but something Andress feels can be accomplished.
“I feel like it can only get better for this team,” concluded Andress. “We’re putting the pieces of the puzzle together, using the term ‘pass the baton’ to get guys on base and get things rolling from there. There’s no reason we don’t repeat what we did last year.”
For Freedom, the road may be a little more challenging.
After a school record nine-game winning streak and “the best start Freedom’s ever had” according to head coach Dane Moore, the squad has come back to earth, going 2-4 in its last six contests to slide to 11-5.
“All in all, our team is drastically improved, and we showed that with the start of our season,” said Moore. “But now, we’ve hit a little bit of adversity and a tough point of the road.”
Moore is hoping a six-day break after the Saladino will allow the Patriots to refresh and recharge.
“It’s weird but it’ll be nice to have that break before we get back to the routine,” Moore said.
A pair of multi-faceted juniors, David Simpkins and Gaige Spano, will be the linchpins for whatever success Freedom can achieve in 2026.
“(David’s) had a phenomenal start, both on the mound and hitting,” Moore said of Simpkins’ .400 batting average with 14 RBIs along with a no-hitter. “And Gaige is our second pitcher who’s busted his tail from his freshman year when he threw around 62 miles per hour to touching 80 now. He’s really contributing.”
Joining the pair with strong starts has been junior Devon Acord (.423, nine RBIs) as well as sophomores Brady Hall (mid-.300s with eight runs scored) and Parker Crafton (.300, 15 RBIs).
“Brady and Parker have gotten some tough exposure as freshmen early on which has given them much more confidence,” Moore said. “They’ve been contributing, absolutely.”
With Sickles, Wesley Chapel and a road rematch with Wharton coming up, the Patriots’ road to a playoff berth is challenging.
“High school baseball is always unknown — it can be crazy — but I know what the kids are capable of,” Moore concluded. “They’re 100% capable of succeeding. At the end of the day, I can give them advice, guide them in the right direction, and hope it’s something they’ll be able to implement.”