After graduating key players, College Park casts net wide for 2015

College Park head coach Jason Washburn, right, high-fives junior Roosevelt Henderson and his Cavalier teammates after their win over Deer Park.

College Park junior Roosevelt Henderson drives the ball against Deer Park

College Park second baseman Justen Heinrich, front, tries to pump up his Cavalier teammates after doubling in the bottom of the first inning against Atascocita during their playoff game at College Park High School on Friday.

College Park coach Jason Washburn feels a little better this week. His Cavaliers fell in the first round of the playoffs last month, but the team that ousted them, Atascocita, won the Class 5A Region II championship and clinched a place in its first state tournament.

“Coach (Eric) Matthews does a good job,” Washburn said. “He coaches them up, and they do a lot of the little things right. And obviously when you get this far in the season some luck has gone your way, too, so you can be really good, but you better have some luck to go along with it, and they’ve had that.”

The Cavs didn’t have a whole lot of luck. They improved by four games over last season, finishing 21-11, but lost 3-1, 9-4 to the Eagles and never fully realized their potential in district. “Pound for pound, talent-wise, I would still put us up against anybody in the state,” Washburn said. click here to read complete story and view photo gallery