Calvary Christian Academy baseball recognized as No. 3 team in the nation
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BVM) — This year, Fort Lauderdale’s Calvary Christian Academy baseball team was ranked as the No. 3 team in the nation in Perfect Game’s preseason top 50. As one of the nation’s top teams, the Eagles also have some of the country’s most talented players in Andrew Painter and Irving Carter. Both Painter and Carter are potential first-round draft picks this year in July, and they could be the best one-two punch of starting pitchers in the nation.
.Painter has shown to be a real workhorse with easy velocity and high rotation potential, while Carter has a mid-90s fastball paired with a wicked slider. Both Painter and Carter are also ranked in the top 15 of Baseball America’s top 100 high school draft rankings for the 2021 class, with Painter being the top pitcher overall at No. 3 and Carter ranked at No.12.
The talented duo has shown why they are regarded as some of the country’s best prep arms. In the abbreviated 2020 season, Painter had a 0.47 ERA with 33 strikeouts. He did this with 15 innings of work and finished with a record of 2-1. Painter’s career numbers speak for themselves, with a 14-3 record, 0.99 ERA, 147 strikeouts, and only 27 walks in 91.2 innings pitched. Painter is proven to be one of the best prep pitchers in the country. Painter is committed to the University of Florida, while Carter is signed with the University of Miami.
As a sophomore, Carter had a 1.26 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 50 innings. And during the shortened 2020 season, he had an ERA of 3.36 and 14 strikeouts.
Although Painter and Carter lead the way, the starting rotation’s national talent doesn’t end there. The Eagles also have University of Miami signee Nick Anello who is another talented high-velocity right-hander who adds to their depth.
The Eagles’ embarrassment of riches is scattered throughout the roster. With 11 of their players signing scholarship offers and nine of them being for Division I colleges. The Eagles depth is so talented that they have a collegiate signee at every position on the field with catcher Rene Lastras (Florida), shortstop Alex Ulloa (Oklahoma State), right fielder Kyle Tako (Florida Gulf Coast), center fielder Ty Hollandsworth (Hillsborough Community College), second baseman Sean Ambrose (Florida International), third baseman Jonny Lane (North Alabama), first baseman Santiago Barcelo (Tallahassee Community College), and left fielder Brandon Delapenha (Eastern Kentucky).
Although they only had six of these players last season, the Eagles hope to make a big turnaround this season after only going 2-6 in the abbreviated season. Without a doubt, this team will be one of the nation’s best, with three standout starting pitchers in Painter, Carter, Anello, and a lineup with a collegiate signee at every position. With this star-studded lineup, the Eagles will be set up to not only be much better than last year’s record but quite possibly the best team in the entire country and one of the favorites for the national title.
