Hitting coach Riginos liked sport right off bat

Baseball has been a vital part of Tom Riginos' life since the age of 7.

At 33, Riginos (Countryside/Stetson/Eastern Kentucky) is beginning his ninth year as an assistant coach for Stetson.

"I guess my love for baseball started at Clearwater's Sid Lickton Fields when my dad was involved in baseball and softball," Riginos said. "I just sort of grew up around baseball and always knew I wanted to be involved in it."

Riginos was an outfielder for Countryside High School and the NCAA Division I Hatters. He was a Stetson tri-captain his senior season in 1990, batting .279 and leading the team in stolen bases. In four years with the Hatters, Riginos helped produce three Atlantic Sun Conference championships and as many NCAA Regional Tournament berths.

"A good outfielder needs to run pretty well, have a strong arm and be an offensive player," he said. "I tried to be that when I was a player, and I look for that in prospective players."

After graduating, Riginos spent two seasons as an assistant at Eastern Kentucky under former Stetson coach Jim Ward, and Riginos worked a year in the Countryside program.

In 1993, he returned to Stetson with a master's degree in sports administration from Eastern Kentucky and began his coaching career as an assistant to Hatters coach Pete Dunn.

"When I worked with Coach Ward and later with Pete, it certainly helped that I played for them as well," Riginos said. "It makes it easier to have a good relationship because you kind of know them."

Riginos is a hitting and outfielders coach and serves as the program's recruiting coordinator. He emphasizes to potential Stetson players the value of good grades and hard work.

It paid off for Pinellas County's Ryan Heacox (Shorecrest), Ian Church (Osceola) and Josh Laws (East Lake/Clemson), who are new members of the Stetson team.

MORE BASEBALL: Georgia Tech freshman pitcher Kyle Schmidt (Dunedin), armed with a 90-mph fastball, is expected to see action after having an impressive fall season.

Cody Clay (Countryside) earned Sunshine State Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week recognition in a game with Saint Leo University.

Defending NCAA champion Miami has high expectations for pitcher Ryan Dixon (Seminole), a freshman who was selected in the 15th round of the major-league draft by Texas but opted to play with the Hurricanes.

BASKETBALL: Gardner-Webb (N.C.) sophomore guard Ruth Hammond (Clearwater) hit five 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 21 points in a loss to Centenary College.

Southern Wesleyan freshman point guard Natalie Wilkinson (Clearwater) is ranked 19th in assists in the NAIA. Averaging 4.1, she is third in the Georgia Alabama Carolina Conference. Wilkinson is seventh in the league in steals, and she scored a career-high 12 points against Auburn at Montgomery.

SAILING: Old Dominion senior Brad Funk (Clearwater Central Catholic) was the runner-up in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association Singlehanded Championships. The All-American was tied for first entering the last of 16 races.

SOFTBALL: Three-time Pinellas County Player of the Year Crystal Crews (Countryside) set a Georgia Southern record, striking out 10 and allowing just two hits against Florida A&M.

Sophomore right fielder Stephanie Shrum (Palm Harbor) collected two hits and scored twice, sparking Gardner-Webb (N.C.) to two wins over Campbell.

SOCCER: Rhegan Hyppio (Lakewood/Marquette University) has been selected to receive her college alma mater's McCahill Award for scholastic, academic and athletic success.

The 2001 graduate and former All-American is only the second women's player to earn the award established in 1946.

DIVING: Ryan Braun (St. Petersburg) was named the University Athletic Association Conference Athlete of the Week after posting NCAA-qualifying victories on the one- and three-meter board recently for Division III Washington University in St. Louis.

SWIMMING: Freshman Jessica Schrock (East Lake) finished first in the 500-yard freestyle and second in the 1,000 free in a Florida win over Tennessee.

-- News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan (445-4119), e-mailed to

namgamma@gte.net, or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, Fla. 33756. Please include your phone number.

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