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Fun team's secret weapon
By STEVE LEE, Times Staff Writer
"That's the key to our success," Beck joked, "it's the Slip 'N Slide." Allowing ballplayers to run and dive onto a watered-down plastic sheet is not why River Ridge set a single-season record for victories, won its first three playoff games in school history and plays Naples Barron Collier today at 4:30 p.m. in a Class 4A state semifinal at the Ed Radice Sports Complex in Tampa. It is, however, a reflection of this team's chemistry. This group, Beck said, is more unified than in any other of his previous seven seasons at River Ridge. "We were begging for (the Slip 'N Slide) from the beginning of the year," said shortstop Stefanie Simon, a three-year starter. "It's definitely the highlight of the season." Teammate Adrienne Cicirello would not go that far, but the senior centerfielder acknowledged it as being among the numerous ways Beck rewards his players for working hard at practice. "We try to incorporate games" during batting and fielding drills, Cicirello said. "Like whoever hits the cutoff doesn't have to take a lap or pick up equipment. "It just kind of makes things more interesting, and we're still having fun while learning." Keeping his players loose and relaxed paid dividends in the Knights' most recent outing, a 13-2 win over Green Cove Springs Clay on Friday. Before that Class 4A, Region 2 final in which River Ridge banged out a season-high 18 hits, the team chartered a bus and stopped twice for breaks. That way, Beck pointed out, players were rested and not stiff from sitting too long. "We left in plenty of time," Beck said. "We stopped for snacks and we stopped for dinner." Keeping their cool is something the players have done all year, Beck said, recalling the regional semifinal. The Knights trailed Orange Park Ridgeview 1-0, thanks in part to one of three River Ridge errors, in the third inning before rallying for a 5-1 win. "They got upset," Beck said, "but not too upset to get out of their game." En route to their record-setting season, the Knights won 11 games by 10-run rule and outscored the opposition 138-41 as pitchers Christine Beck, the coach's daughter, and Kiki Von Holt combined for eight shutouts and a 28-2 record. River Ridge followed up its second consecutive Sunshine Athletic Conference championship by winning the Class 4A, District 8 title -- its first district crown after being a district runner-up four times -- and three regional playoff games. Yet for of all the team's success, the players appreciate how far they have come this season and will not be devastated if they do not win a state crown. "It would be nice to win state, but knowing we've gotten this far, it's still pretty nice," Cicirello said. "I think winning it would be the icing on the cake."
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