Inside JV: Matanzas coaches reflect on learning process

The Matanzas Pirates lost to the Seabreeze Sandcrabs 4-2 but, as a young team, gained valuable experience.

By Michele Meyers
| 9:20 a.m. March 31, 2021

Gaetano Scarol, Dillion Olsen, Ryland Adams

Joshua Cope on the mound.

Matanzas Pirates junior varsity baseball teams' head coach Lamont Breckenridge.

Ryland Adams with the swing.

Reece Monroe with a sprint to first.

Joshua Cope, ready for the pickoff attempt.

Ryland Adams

Cainan Beazley (6) prepares for the pickoff attempt as Dylan Cavanaugh dives back to first.

Joshua Cope (23)

Matanzas Pirates' JV team provides the bat archway for the varsity seniors.

Matanzas Pirates varsity baseball team assistant coach Charles Alfano.

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The Matanzas Pirates junior varsity baseball team lost 4-2 to the Seabreeze Sandcrabs on Monday, March 29. There was an error, a balk, another error — all part of learning the game at the JV level.

Varsity assistant coach Charles Alfano helped JV head coach Lamont Breckenridge for the game and stated he was very happy with the outcome considering Matanzas’ JV team is very young with some of the players being brand new to baseball.

“I thought they did really well. Three of our players have never played ball before and most of the others need experience,” said Alfano. “We don’t even have team captains because the goal is to teach the boys the basics of the game and the fine nuances of the sport. We use JV to get them ready for varsity. It’s all about learning.”

This is head coach Lamont Breckenridge’s third season with the team. Prior to coaching at Matanzas, he coached basketball and baseball in Virginia then made his way to Flagler Palm Coast High School to coach.

“I enjoy being with the kids,” said Breckenridge. “We are not winning so much this season but I get such a kick out of spending time with them. They pick on me. I pick on them.”

Breckenridge played baseball and football in high school and then chose to play football in college. A versatile athlete, he was a football running back and played first and third base as a baseball player.

“We have to learn how to work with each other. That’s what it’s all about,” Breckenridge said. “That’s why I like sports. You have to get to know people from different backgrounds, people you’ve never met. I have a bigger view on life due to sports. This is where it begins.”