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Barons in search of answers

As the postseason nears, St. Petersburg Catholic is eager for tough games to find out just how good it can be.

By JOHN SCHWARB, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 4, 2002

The sign should be hung outside the visitor's dugout at St. Petersburg Catholic's softball field -- Competition Wanted.

The Barons mean no ill will toward county foes, mind you -- they've established many rivalries against both private and public schools in the area. But SPC is eager to find out how good it really is.

Early returns, though few in number, have indicated the season might last well into May. The Barons are 16-1 and No. 8 in Class 2A, poised to improve on a 2001 season that was quite notable itself after an 18-6 record and a district title.

"We're better than we were last year, which we expected to be," SPC coach Tom Fabian said. "But you're only going to be as good as the people you play.

"We want the competition at this point."

SPC started 10-0 but learned little about itself. Fabian could lift starters almost immediately as the Barons piled up early runs and ace pitcher Angela Vidal held the early leads. She, too, would be out by the third inning or so, and the Barons would head home after five innings.

Then came March 4 and a trip to Tampa Catholic.

The Crusaders were a thorn in the Barons' side last year, beating them during the regular season and in an agonizing 1-0 regional quarterfinal game at SPC. But after lopsided 2002 preseason and opening-day wins over TC, the Barons thought the demons had been exorcised.

Wrong. Tampa Catholic won 2-1, knocking SPC from the ranks of the unbeaten.

"That was a hard loss," senior catcher Jenny Feola said. "I think we went in kind of overconfident. It was a wake-up call -- 'Okay, we're not unbeatable."'

Since then, SPC has racked up quality wins against 2A-12 rival Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (1-0) and state-ranked Seminole Presbyterian (3-0) on consecutive days.

It was from these games that SPC learned there might be a long postseason in store.

"We're giving them a run," Feola said.

SPC has the necessary ingredient all state tournament teams have: a dominating pitcher. Last year as a sophomore, Vidal gave up one earned run all season -- the season-ending one to Tampa Catholic -- and this year has surrendered just one earned run in 58 innings.

She has also struck out a county best 108 batters, mixing in more dropballs and curveballs than she did a year ago.

"I like to be able to move it around," Vidal said. "That's what you're going to have to do later on."

She'll need to do that when SPC travels to Bradenton for a weekend tournament. The Barons' pool games are against Berkeley Prep and Orlando Lake Highland Prep, the top two teams in 2A, along with 6A Venice.

It is a bit of a daunting schedule to be sure, but the Barons want it, no, need it.

"I'd rather lose and play a tough ballgame than win 20-0. The kids aren't learning anything," Fabian said.

"If we can keep good games for them competition-wise, we'll be fine."

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