MaxPreps 2016 preseason high school baseball Early Contenders: No. 5 Venice

Video: Venice (FL) Baseball - Preseason Rankings


Head coach: Craig Faulkner (363-156 career record)

2015 record: 29-3, Florida Class 6A state champions

State classification: Florida Class 6A

Enrollment: 1,866


Returning starters

Mitch Donofrio, 3B, sophomore, .368 batting average, 13 runs, 3 doubles, 6 RBIs.

Shane Shifflet, SS, junior, .333 batting average, 25 runs, 4 doubles, 7 triples, 17 RBIs - Committed to Florida

Scott Dubrule, 2B, senior, .429 batting average, 20 runs, 8 doubles, 14 RBIs - Committed to Jacksonville

Jake Grubbs, C, senior, .315 batting average, 2 runs, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 20 RBIs

Brent Killam, P/RF, senior, .325 batting average, 14 runs, 4 doubles, 17 RBIs - Committed to Georgetown

Tyler Gardner, CF, senior, .329 batting average, 25 runs, 2 doubles, 18 RBI

Trevor Holloway, P/1B, senior, .309 batting average, 13 runs, 7 doubles, 5 RBI - Committed to High Point

Other contributors

Rylee Buckmaster, P/IF, senior - Committed to State College of Florida

Caleb Williams, P, junior

Colton Frazier, C/P, sophomore

Joey Kinker, P/IF, sophomore

Danny Rodriguez, P/UTIL, freshman



Key dates

Feb. 19 - vs. Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.)

March 3 - vs. Sarasota (Fla.)

March 14 - vs. John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)

March 15 - vs. Jesuit (New Orleans)

March 16 - vs. Mosley (Lynn Haven, Fla.).

March 28 - vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)

April 12 - vs. Sarasota (Fla.)



Indians storylines

* Venice, under Faulkner, has become one of the premier baseball programs in Florida, winning 7A state championships in 2012 and 2013 and winning the Class 6A title last year. Over the past four seasons, Venice has averaged a 26-6 record. A total of seven starters return from last year's team that finished 29-3.

* MaxPreps All-American Cole Kragel (13-0 pitching record) has graduated, but Faulkner expects a pair of newcomers to bolster the pitching staff. Then-sophomore Caleb Williams started the 6A championship game against Bartram Trail and gave up just three hits in five innings. He's expected to carry more of a load in 2016. Senior Rylee Buckmaster is also expected to be a major contributor after throwing 10.1 innings last year with a 1.34 ERA. They will complement a staff that already includes strong arms in Trevor Holloway and Brent Killiam.

* The Indians will be tested early with games against Jesuit (Tampa), Bishop Verot (Fort Myers) and Sarasota. A trip to Louisiana pits Venice against two of the Pelican State's best teams in Jesuit (New Orleans) and Class 3A state champion Curtis (River Ridge). Venice will also participate in the always challenging Sarasota Tournament in late March.

* The Indians will be strong up the middle, led by veterans Jake Grubb at catcher, Shane Shifflet at shortstop, Scott Duburle at second base and Tyler Gardner in center field.

View entire photo gallery from the preseason photo shoot with No. 5 Venice