Land O’ Lakes Softball Coaches Named National Coaches of the Year

LAND O’ LAKES, FL – The accolades keep piling up for the Land O’ Lakes softball team.

The Gators softball coaching staff were named the 2017 High School National Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The organization announced head coach Mitch Wilkins, along with his assistants Janet Sciales, Edwin Rodriguez and Vinny Guarracino, earned the honor on Thursday, July 27.

“What a great honor for a deserving state championship coaching staff,” said Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning.

The Land O’ Lakes softball team captured the program’s first-ever state championship with a 3-1 victory over Plantation American Heritage in the 6A title game. The Gators came from behind with three runs in the bottom of the sixth after giving up one run in the top of the frame to avenge their loss to American Heritage in the 2016 championship game.

The current Gators coaching staff has led Land O’ Lakes to a 29-3 record in 2017 and an 80-9-1 record over the past three seasons.

Land O’ Lakes first captured the NFC South Region Coaching Staff of the Year before being named the top staff in the nation. They were joined by Donovan Catholic High School (East), Beecher High School (North), Riverton High School (South Central) and Los Alamitos High School (West), which also received regional honors.

Image via Mariah OConnell, Flickr, used under Creative Commons