With three titles since 2018 Miami Christian has become a powerhouse

Pitching and defense are staples to Victors' success

MIAMI, FLORIDA – Since 2018, the Miami Christian Victors have won three state titles and cemented themselves as one of the top baseball programs in Florida.

Coach Chris Cuadra's squad took home its latest championship trophy last year, winning the Class 2A crown with a 4-1 victory over North Florida Christian (Tallahassee).

With their regular season starting on Friday in a tournament against John Carroll Catholic (Fort Pierce), the Victors projected to once again be among the elite teams in Florida.

"My dream was to build a powerhouse," Cuadra said. "I think Iíve done that."

Without question, Miami Christian deserves its seat at the table with the best in the state.

In 2022 Miami Christian captured its third state championship since 2018. The Victors begin their quest for fifth title when the 2023 season gets underway on Friday / Photo courtesy of Miami Christian Baseball

Cuadra graduated from Miami Christian in 2005, and he took over the baseball program in 2013. The Victors have been winning ever since.

Prior to his arrival as coach, the Victor's lone state baseball championship came in 1975.

Miami Christian improved from 7-15 in Cuadra's first season as coach to winning back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019.

The Victors were primed for a three-peat in 2020, but that season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pitching staff of the 2020 squad included Alejandro Rosario, currently a standout at the University of Miami and Carlos Martinez, a pitching prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers' system who has been invited to big league Spring Training this year.

In 2021, the Victors had a down year, even though they reached the regional finals. In 2022, they bounced back in dominant fashion, going 29-3 and adding another Class 2A trophy.

"I felt like we had our best team ever in 2020, but COVID came," Cuadra said. "That team was special to me. We had a bunch of big-name players."

This year, the talent is in place to make another run at a state championship.

A couple of keys to the Victors' success is Cuadra's emphasis on pitching and defense.

"I'm a stickler for that," he said. "The players get a little frustrated with me because they don't hit much in the beginning as we're getting ready for the season. But I feel like if your defense isn't right, and your pitching isn't right, you can score nine runs and they're going to score 12 on you, and you're still going to lose."

Defense is stressed in practices, with the first 40 minutes of work usually dedicated to fielding drills.

"If they make an error, the whole team has to run," Cuadra said. "At the end of the practice, I'll tally it up. If they make five errors, they've got to run some. I'm pretty sure they don't want to run some at the end of the practice."

A luxury Miami Christian has is its depth.

"Our depth is really good," Cuadra said. "That's one thing we pride ourselves on."

Cuadra usually carries more than 20 players, which creates an opportunity to groom some younger players.

One of the Victors' up-and-coming stars is sophomore first baseman Alejandro Abreut. Last year, he saw limited action, appearing in 10 games.

"He knows our system," Cuadra said. "He's going to be playing a big part in our season this year. He's our first baseman."

There's a mix of experience and youth in the program, which is why the Victors have enjoyed sustainable success.

Once again, the team features its share of players who have commitments to Division 1 colleges.

Jeter Polledo, a Wake Forest commit, is one of the team leaders. The senior is the starting shortstop.

Outfielder Fabio Peralta, committed to Miami, is one of the top juniors in the country.

Polledo hit .371 a year ago with 33 hits, 30 runs and 25 RBIs. A power threat, he added 10 doubles, a triple and four home runs.

Ronny Cruz, a sophomore, is an exciting utility player. A switch-hitter with power, he's versatile enough to play outfield. He has a plus arm, being clocked throwing the ball across the diamond at 92 mph. He runs the 60-yard dash in 6.5 seconds.

"Ronny is a very exciting player," Cuadra said. "He's athletic. You can put him anywhere in the infield. Even in the outfield."

Ray Yero is another utility player expected to contribute at multiple positions. And infielder Jendy Gonzalez, a junior, has already committed to Florida International University.

Pitching-wise, right-hander Chris Diaz is the ace of the staff. The senior, committed to Miami, had a 2.47 ERA last year, while striking out 38 with just nine walks in 28-1/3 innings.

Diaz's fastball touches 94 mph, but it usually sits in the 90-93 mph range. He mixes in a slider and a change-up.

Miami Christian will be replacing right-hander Henry Martinez, a standout on the 2022 squad. Martinez was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 16th round last year, and he is now playing professionally.

As impressive as the Victors' roster is, Cuadra stresses having well-rounded student athletes. Class work matters.

"My goal is to have them keep up with their academics," the coach said. "That will open the door for them to go to any school of their choice. I think weíve built something nice here."