LAKE CITY, SC – Matt Apicella was a superb baseball player in his prep days at Shadyside.

He was named all-Ohio in 1994 for his sparkling diamond performance as a Tigers’ senior. He went on to play at Muskingum University.

After finishing his degree at The Ohio State University, Apicella went job hunting.

“I found out that South Carolina was in need of teachers. I was fully intent on making it just a one-year plan. I got an alternative certification,” Apicella said. “I enjoyed it so much, I have been here ever since. I expect to spend my entire career here. I am at school everyday at 5:30 a.m. I love it here. You couldn’t ask for better people to work with and to coach.”

South Carolina and Apicella have proven to be an ideal match. He has authored an impressive teaching and coaching resume in his 17 years in the Palmetto State.

Apicella is head baseball coach, athletic director and English teacher at Lake City High School in Lake City, S.C. The school is ideally placed, located just 45 minutes from Myrtle Beach.

His baseball teams have been quite successful.

So much so that he has been named as the coach of the South team for the 2016 South Carolina North-South All-Star game June 9-11.

“This is a humbling personal accolade but more importantly a tremendous program honor,” Apicella commented. “I have been blessed to work under incredible head coaches,” he said. “Over the years, the players have bought into the program we have established and worked hard to meet the standards set.

“This validates the efforts of many former players and coaches,” he continued. “I am honored to represent Lake City High School.”

Apicella has coached baseball at Lake City High School since 2002 and was named head coach in 2010. His Panther teams were region champs in 2011 and district champions in 2010. Since 2002, 21 Lake City High School baseball players have signed to play college baseball.

He was the 2011 region coach of the year. That same year, Apicella was also named Florence County District 3’s teacher of the year.

“Our athletic department has really stressed community service with the kids and recorded more than 200 hours last year as a department. We are proud of that program because it features what great kids we have in Lake City and teaches them to pay forward,” Apicella said. “We are also targeting the gender gap in academics and continuing to spotlight our All-Academic team with athletes that maintain a 3.0+ GPA for each grading quarter.

“Our female athletes do a great job overall in the classroom but we really need our males to keep pace and cash in their athletic abilities for free college educations. Even if they do not continue athletic careers, they enter college with a strong academic foundation,” he continued. “In athletics, we are working on creating the school’s first cross country program next fall and moving into a new region as SC changes from four overall classifications to five. That change will put us on a more even playing field in terms of overall school population.”

While the Ohio Valley is enduring nasty winter weather, Apicella is preparing his team for its first scrimmage. The regular season begins the first week in March.

“In South Carolina, we have different rules where we can basically practice year round. We will play about 25 regular-season games. We play a tournament in March in Myrtle Beach which includes some Ohio Valley teams.

“We are a junior-dominated team. We have high expectations this year because many of them have started since they were freshmen,” he continued. “We are in a tough region. We are in with all the teams from the Myrtle Beach area which has strong baseball.”

Matt’s mother Susan (Foster) Apicella still resides in Shadyside. She is a former St. John Central homecoming queen and is employed at the Augusta Levy Learning Center.

SUPER BOWL

I WAS nearly spot on with my Super Bowl prediction. Hopefully, it was Peyton Manning’s last rodeo – it would be the perfect exit.

Von Miller was the game’s MVP. Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, however, was the true MVP as he scripted a suffocating game plan. It needed to be as the Broncos had minimal offense.

Beaver Local’s Derek Wolfe was one of Denver’s defensive standouts in the game. He had five tackles and half a sack.

Lady Gaga nailed the national anthem. It wasn’t Whitney Houston-esque, but it was terrific. The halftime show was disappointing. Coldplay, Beyonce and Bruno Mars would have been dynamite separately, but not thrown together as was the case.

Cam Newton struggled in the game and then fumbled how he handled his post-game interview, walking out after less than three minutes. The former Heisman Trophy winner loves the spotlight, but cannot handle the low lights. He still has some maturing to do.

BUBBA’S BITS

KUDOS GO out to Magnolia High girls’ basketball coach Tom Tisher for recording his 400th career victory when his Blue Eagles defeated Madonna Monday. Tisher pocketed 373 victories as River High’s hoop boss before crossing the Ohio River to take the Magnolia helm.

THESE ARE the best of times with local college basketball. Wheeling Jesuit and West Liberty men’s hoop squads are ranked second and third, respectively, nationally in Division II while the Hilltopper women are 18th.

FOR THE second straight year, Old Man Winter is wreaking havoc with the boys’ OVAC Basketball Championships. The finals should have been already set, but thanks to snow, ice and cold, one semifinal – Meadowbrook at East Liverpool – will not be contested until Friday night. The winner will be playing for the OVAC title just 24 hours later.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonli

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