Mriami Dade College
Sharks Baseball
STEVE
HERTZ
Head Coach
Steve Hertz is among the winningest coaches in the annals of the NJCAA, and his 903+ wins places him among the top 10 in active baseball coaches within the NJCAA.
Since the 1983 season when Hertz was hired as Head Coach of the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus program, he has been a consistent winner, following an outstanding high school coaching career which included the Florida High School State Championship at Coral Park High School in 1978. Amassing over 300 victories at the high school level, Hertz has brought his team to the FCCAA State Tournament 18 times since 1986. With a 44-12 record in 2008, Hertz’s career mark at Miami Dade stood at an impressive 866-307, a 73.8% winning percentage, averaging over 34 wins per season. Hertz has led the MDC Baseball team to 4 Southern Conference titles, in the past 5 years, and has 10 Conference Championships and eight Southern Conference runners-up finishes.
Hertz picked up his 600th win at Miami-Dade on May 10, 2001 with a 9-0 win over Daytona Beach CC in the FCCAA State Tournament as his Sharks came out of the losers’ bracket to win the NJCAA Gulf District title and a trip to the NJCAA World Series. Love and respect of the game, dedication and a hard-working yet fun approach has made Hertz's Miami-Dade teams constant winners.
When the Miami Dade athletic program was consolidated into a district-wide program after the 1997 season, Hertz was selected to guide the baseball fortunes. During his 30-year career, Hertz has had the opportunity to coach and influence an array of talented athletes. Several of his former players have advanced to the major league level including Jamie Navarro, Placido Polanco, Omar Olivares, Juan Pena, Jonathan Albaladejo and Andres Torres.
No stranger to pro baseball, Hertz signed a contract with the Houston Colt 45's (now Astros) in 1963. He became the youngest player at that time to break spring training and stay with the major league club. He had a productive minor league career and ended his playing days by winning an International League title with the New York Mets Triple A farm team, the Tidewater Tides in 1969. A Miami native, Hertz starred as an All-City & All-State infielder at Miami High School. During his pro career, Hertz found time to return to Miami in the off-season and receive his physical education degree from the University of Miami.
Hertz was has been selected the "Miami Coach of the Year" on four occasions. In 1985, he was inducted into the Miami High School Hall of Fame and in 1987; Hertz was coach of the silver medal winning South squad at the United States Olympic Festival.
He has received numerous awards during his career, including the MDC Wolfson "Employee of the Month" and Outstanding Faculty Member in 1992 and 1994. Last summer, Hertz coached the United States entry in the Junior Pan American Maccabi Games to a second consecutive gold medal in Chili. Hertz teamed with former LSU head coach Skip Bertman to capture the Maccabi Games Gold in 2001 in Mexico City. Hertz earned his masters degree in educational administration and supervision from Nova University in 1987.
JIM MANSILLA
Assistant Coach
Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Jim Mansilla
has been a fixture of the Miami Dade baseball program since his
arrival in Miami to play for Demie Mainieri’s MDCC North team
in 1969. The 2005 season will be Mansilla’s eighth with Miami
Dade head coach Steve Hertz. Jim also served as the assistant coach
for the North Campus program under both Demie Mainieri and Tony Simone.
Jim has also served as an assistant coach at the University of Miami.
In his sophomore season at Miami Dade North,
Mansilla’s team
captured the FCCAA State Championship and advanced to the JUCO World
Series, where the Falcons finished second in the ten-team event. Interestingly
enough, Jim returned to Grand Junction, Colorado after 30 years in
2001 as associate head coach with the Sharks as Miami-Dade participated
in the JUCO World Series for the first time since 1981.
After his first stint at Miami Dade, Mansilla moved on to the University
of Toledo, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1974.
After playing one season of professional baseball with the Oakland
Athletics affiliate in the Midwest League, Jim accepted an opportunity
to play professionally in Italy where he played and coach for fifteen
seasons. As head coach of the Rimini Pirates for six years, Mansilla’s
teams captured three league championships, one Cup of Champions and
the European Cup. In 1981, Jim was promoted to lead the Italian National
Team in both the junior and senior divisions. In 1983, Jim’s
Italy team won the European Cup and qualified to participate in the
1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles where they finished a respectable
fifth against the world’s best.
Jim received his Masters Degree in Sports Administration form the
United States Sports Academy in 1990. Jim resides in Pembroke Pines
and was married to Metro-Dade firefighter Wendy Martin in 1985. They
have two children, Matthew James and Katie Michele.
KEVIN LONG
Assistant Coach
Coach Kevin Long has been the Pitching Coach for Miami Dade since 2003. He is also assistant to the Athletic Director, since 2007. In 2008, Coach Long helped MDC to 44-12, 18-7 (in conference) Southern Conference Champions, and the FCCAA State Tournament. Also, in March of ‘08 MDC was ranked #1 in the Nation, and in April #8. He also coached a handful of pitchers had Conference honors, moved on to play at the University level, and who were drafted in the MLB.
In 2007, Coach Long assisted in leading the team to capture the Southern Conference Championship, and the FCCAA State Tournament. The record for MDC was 44-12, 20-5 in conference. MDC Baseball also had the lowest ERA for pitchers in the State of Florida (1.63) For the 2006 season, the Sharks finished the season 42-18, 13-12 as Southern Conference runners-up, went to the FCCAA State tournament where they finished 3rd in the State and were ranked as high as #11 in the Nation during the season.
For the 2005 season, Coach Long helped lead the Sharks to a 38-19, 15-5 season team record; Southern Conference Champions and the FCCAA State Tournament. The pitchers had the lowest ERA in Florida at 2.56. During Long’s 1st season with MDC, the overall team record was 35-15, 11-9, 3rd place in the Southern Conference, and participated in the FCCAA State Tournament.
Coach Long has also worked various baseball camps: Red Berry’s Baseball World (2007, 2008), Barry University Holiday Baseball Camps (2005-2007), and the University of Miami Jim Morris Baseball Camps (2004, 2006-2008). Previous to working at Miami Dade, Coach Long was the Volunteer Pitching Coach at Miami Southridge Sr. High School in Miami from 1997-2003 where helped lead the Spartans: State Runner Up Title (2002), State Semi-Finals (2001), State Final Four (1998), 2 Region Championships, and won 3 District Championships.
Kevin Long holds his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Dayton, his Mater of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Haven, and attended the Southeast Florida Institute of Criminal Justice, where he acquired his Basic Law Enforcement Certification.
MDC Baseball Pitchers Sent to the Next Level
2008
Eric Berkowitz (RHP) 2nd Team All State, Conference Fireman of the yr, Florida Int. University
Eric Fornataro (RHP) Conference 2nd Team, Signed professionally MLB St. Louis Cardinals
Marcus Salmon (RHP) Conference 1st Team, Signed professionally MLB Milwaukee Brewers
Clayton Suss (RHP) Signed professionally MLB Kansas City Royals
Charles Short (RHP) Scholarship to Barry University
Carlos Pertuz (LHP) Scholarship to Freed-Hardman University
Jorge Lorie (RHP) Scholarship to Freed-Hardman University
2007
Eli Villeanueva (RHP) NJCAA 2nd All American, State Pitcher of the year, scholarship to Florida State University, signed professionally with the Florida Marlins 2008
Philip Roy (RHP) 2nd All Conference, signed professionally Seattle Mariners
Tim Sexton (RHP) 1st All Conference, 2nd All State, signed professionally Los Angeles Dodgers
Raudel Alfonso (RHP) Scholarship to St. Thomas University
Javier Gomez (RHP) Scholarship to Freed-Hardman University
2006
Robert Palencia (RHP) NJCAA All American 1st Team, State Pitcher of the Year, Conference 1st Team
Jon Montoya (RHP) Scholarship to St. Thomas University
Michel Medina (RHP) 2nd All Conference, scholarship to St. Thomas University
Omar Chaviano (RHP) Scholarship to St. Thomas University
Paul Fisher (LHP) 2nd Team All Conference, scholarship to University of Miami
Roland Rodriguez (RHP) scholarship to Marshall University and Ohio Dominican University
2005
Danny Rosen (RHP) scholarship Florida State University, signed professionally Arizona Diamondbacks
Akeem Frances (RHP) scholarship Florida International University
Jimmy Lajiness (RHP) scholarship Florida International University
Xavier Cedeno (LHP) signed professionally Colorado Rockies
Anthony Bello (LHP) All American honors, scholarship Nova Southeastern University, signed professionally Houston Astros
Frank Hassan (RHP) Conference Fireman of the Yr, scholarship to Florida International University
2004
Jon McLean (RHP) State Fireman of the Yr, scholarship to University of Miami
| MDC Baseball: Players Sent to the Next Level
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yosvany Almario |
|
15th RD Draftee NY Yankees |
|
|
|
David Hernandez |
|
19th RD Draftee LA Angles |
|
|
|
Jonathan Castillo |
|
20th RD Draftee NY Mets |
|
|
|
Carlos Ceron |
|
47th RD Draftee. Washington Nationals |
|
|
Daniel Santin |
|
DF Signee Seattle Mariners |
|
|
|
Gregory Picart |
|
DF Signee. Pittsburg Pirates |
|
|
|
Gerardo Cabrera |
|
Free Agent Signee. Cincinnati Reds |
|
|
Carlos Ramos |
|
Free Agent Signee Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
|
|
John McLean |
|
University of Miami Signee |
|
|
|
Yosvel Barrosso |
|
Florida International University Signee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hamzeld Diaz |
|
19th RD Draftee. NY Yankees |
|
|
|
Brian Van Kirk |
|
20th RD DF. Boston Red Sox. University of Tennesse Signee |
|
Jose Castro |
|
32nd RD Draftee. NY Mets |
|
|
|
Xavier Cedeno |
|
DF Signee. Colorado Rockies |
|
|
|
Gus Menendez |
|
University of Miami Signee |
|
|
|
James Laginess |
|
Florida International University Signee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erick Santiago |
|
20th Round Draftee Minnesota Twins |
|
|
Johan Limonta |
|
20th Round Draftee Seattle Mariners |
|
|
Victor Rodriguez |
|
Florida Gulf Coast University Signee |
|
|
Matt Mansilla |
|
College of Charleston Signee |
|
|
|
Raimy Fuentes |
|
Florida International University Signee |
|
|
Ozzie Borrell |
|
Florida Gulf Coast University Signee |
|
|
P.J. Fisher |
|
University of Miami Signee |
|
|
|
Roly Rodriguez |
|
Marshall Signee |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elih Villanueva |
|
Florida State University Signee |
|
|
Timothy Sexton |
|
21st RD Draftee Los Angeles Dodgers |
|
|
|
Leonardo alvarez |
|
University of Tampa Signee |
|
|
|
Chris Ray |
|
|
University of South Florida Signee |
|
|
Phil Roy |
|
|
DF Signee. Seattle Mariners |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric Fornataro |
|
6th RD Draftee St.Louis Cardinals |
|
|
Carmelo Jamie |
|
20th RD Draftee Detroit Tigers |
|
|
|
Karim Turkamani |
|
22nd RD Draftee Toranto Blue Jays |
|
|
Chris Curran |
|
22nd RD Draftee Washington Nationals |
|
|
Danny Rodriguez |
|
32nd RD Draftee Arizona Diamondbacks |
|
|
Reynaldo Cotilla |
|
30th RD Draftee Kansas City Royals |
|
|
Clayton Suss |
|
35th RD Draftee Arizona Diamondbacks |
|
|
Marcus Salmon |
|
48th RD Draftee Milwakee Brewers |
|
|
Eric Berkowitz |
|
Florida International University Signee |
|
|
Greg Waddell |
|
Florida International University Signee |
|
|
C.J. Lauriello |
|
Bethune Cookman College Signee |
|
|
Victor Madrazo |
|
Lee University Sginee |
|
|
