Panther Baseball is an 11 and Under Travel Baseball Team that practices and plays its home games in Coral Springs, Broward County, Florida. The team is comprised of 10 very dedicated players from 5 different cities (Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Coconut Creek, Parkland and Weston). The Manager of the team is Gregg Ernewein and his goals are to play the highest quality competition and to keep a lean roster so that no one sits for more than 1 inning and everyone bats. The Panthers are currently playing in the Perfect Competition League 12 and Under Division and in the Florida Premier Baseball League 11 and Under Division and the team plays in virtually all of the major tournaments. 

The Panthers were 36-10 in the Fall 2007 Season and the highlights were winning the Howl at the Moon Tournament in Orlando hosted by the Florida Fire and winning the Christmas Bash in Hialeah hosted by the Miami Dynasty Elite. In the Orlando Tournament, the Panthers put together an impressive string of 4 consecutive victories over the likes of the St. Pete Hurricanes, the Bullets Gold, the Wellington Warriors and the Miami Dynasty Elite. The Panthers were brilliant in their 11-2 victory over the Miami Dynasty Elite in the Championship Game. In the Hialeah Tournament, the Panthers shutout the Miami Brawlers 3-0 in the semi-finals behind the dominant 1 hit pitching of Andrew Gottfried. Gottfried had a no hitter for 5 2/3 innings and walked only 1 batter. The Brawlers are widely considered to be one of the two best teams in the entire State of Florida. In the championship game, the Panthers beat the West Pines Cobras 4-3 in a come from behind thriller. 

As for the Spring Season of 2008, the Panthers have already won the PPO Winter Extravaganza in Pembroke Pines.  In that Tournament, the Panthers staged a late rally and defeated the Miami Dynasty Elite by a score of 7-3 in the Championship Game. Other Spring highlights include doubleheader sweeps of the Hammertime and the Weston Rattlers Maroon and single game victories over two 12 and under teams - the Weston Hawks and the Weston Rattlers Black. The Panthers' Spring 2008 record is currently 16-5.  

The Panthers success is predicated on very strong pitching, solid defense and timely hitting.  The pitching staff is 7 deep and features Andrew Gottfried, Mitchell Carroll, Michael Grey, Zack Kone, Brendan Brundage, Spencer Diaz, and Andres Matouk. The defense is led by Matouk in centerfield (the minister of defense) and Gottfried in right field, by Devin Conn and Ryne Valek behind the plate, by Kone and Carroll on the left side of the infield, by Chris Ernewein at 2nd base and by Brundage at first base. On offense, Kone and Brundage are both hitting over .500 in the Spring of 2008 and both have an on base percentage of almost .600.  Kone already has 3 home runs, 6 triples and 27 rbis.  Ernewein and Matouk have also contributed heavily on offense and Diaz swung a big bat in the Fall. The Panthers have lots of team speed, lots of strong arms, and are very athletic. And, all of the Panther players have lots of big game experience.

The coaching staff consists of Manager Gregg Ernewein, Dean Brundage, Kevin Conn, Ed Kone, and Dave Carroll. The coaches and parents are very proud of the boys because they are great sportsmen and because they practice hard and play even harder.

Travel Ball Select is honored to feature the Panthers from South Florida and wish them a successful 2008 Season.

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