Dunedin has reloaded and eyes making a state championship run in Class 4A this spring

The Falcons lose a few key starters from last year, but has plenty of talent culminated to compete for a Class 4A state championship

DUNEDIN, Fla.- When you pass by Main Street in downtown Dunedin and begin to head south on Douglas Ave, you start to see banners for the Toronto Blue Jays. 

You continue down the road and come upon TD Bank Ballpark, the spring training home for the Major League Baseball team when February rolls around. 

The park also serves as the home of the Dunedin Falcons baseball team, giving them quite possibly the best home stadium for any high school ball club. Though it may not be where the 2023 season will begin for the Falcons, it is the location of a program not looking to take any steps backwards from last year. 

"I wouldn't say anything but the same expectations and more this year," Dunedin head coach Davis Kippen said. "It's just a great group of guys. Take baseball out of it and they're great people. Put baseball into it, they're great baseball players. It's going to be a lot of fun this year."

Davis Kippen heads into his first season as the head coach for Dunedin  / Photo by Alex Walworth

The former Southern Wesleyan product enters his first season as the bench boss for the Falcons and leads Dunedin into a season that sees them having to replace several starters from a year ago. Kippen won't have any issues as he manages having a star-studded cast when it comes to talent on the roster.

A player raved about throughout not only the Tampa Bay Area, but state, it senior pitcher/infielder Trey Beard (Florida Atlantic commitment). Just a year ago, Beard led the team with a .341 batting average, 30 hits and 19 runs scored. He returns as one of the top left-handers around on the mound and will see time at first base. 

Another player many will want to get reacquainted with is outfielder/pitcher AJ Shelton (Florida Atlantic commitment), who enters his senior season. Shelton batted .291 with 23 hits and 18 runs driven in. Infielder Sammy Mummau (Florida commitment) transferred in from Palm Harbor University and will be a force for the Falcons. 

Others that will also be contributing for Dunedin is outfielder Tristan Rogers (Pasco-Hernando State College commit), pitcher Tristan Fondren (Warner University commit), infielder Roc Helton, second baseman Jacob Riegel, catcher Brady Myers (Lake-Sumter State College commit) and freshman Madden James, who also plays on the football team. 

"Everyone has heard about Trey Beard. He's back," Kippen said. "He's been our guy for three going on four years now. He was pitching these big games as a freshman. We've got Sam Mummau in. He's heading to Florida to play. Jacob Riegel is going to start at second base for us. He's a USF de-commit."

The Falcons are coming off a 22-9 season in 2022, which saw Dunedin reach the Class 4A state semifinals  / Photo by Alex Walworth

Fate favors the fearless. That's the motto the Falcons are going with this spring as their schedule is one fit for a team looking to make a run to Fort Myers for the fourth time in five years. Dunedin starts the season against Pasco County power Mitchell at the Steve Georgiadis Memorial Tournament at Seminole High School. 

The scheduled is littered with the area's top baseball programs, with Calvary Christian, IMG Academy, Largo, East Lake, Jesuit, River Ridge and Sickles dotted on the calendar. 

Three of the teams the Falcons will play are sure fire state championship contenders, along with clubs that should make the playoffs. In search of the program's first state crown since 2008, the Falcons hope the tough schedule pays dividends. 

"We loaded our schedule up," Kippen added. "We have Calvary Christian, IMG national, Jesuit. We have the big guys, but to be the best we have to beat the best. I know that's cliche but it's true. We're in a great area to be the best because they're all local. We go in to every game fearless, no matter who's on the mound. If we go in scared, we have no chance."

Dunedin will play one of the toughest schedules in the Tampa Bay Area, with the Falcons facing state powers like Calvary Christian, IMG Academy and Jesuit  / Photo by Alex Walworth

Photo by Alex Walworth

Photo by Alex Walworth

Photo by Alex Walworth

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.